Recently I dragged my sister to one of Folsom’s relatively new restaurants, Freshii, in search of the fresh food that they are quickly becoming known for. The minute we walked in, a friendly young woman welcomed us and talked us through the ordering process. Since every meal is customizable, you order by filling out a slip of paper, which details all of your many options.

I was unsure whether to get a wrap, soup, bowl (rice, noodle or quinoa) or salad, so I let my toppings decide for me. All of the fixings were listed in different groups on the ordering menu. You can add fruit, vegetables, dressing/sauce and for premium toppings – nuts, cheeses, tofu, chicken or turkey…to name a few. My favorite part was the selection of “unlimited toppings.” I chose my fair share of these, which included two of my favorites – edamame and artichoke hearts!

Since I ended up selecting an eclectic mix of ingredients, I played it safe with a salad dressed in balsamic vinaigrette. It arrived in a to-go container (made from eco-friendly vegetable starches), which made it easy to bring home my leftovers. The greens were incredibly fresh and had the perfect ratio of toppings to dressing. All of the vegetables were prepared that day, and the open layout lets you see them create your meal. My sister was equally as impressed with her chicken teriyaki bowl, customized with Asian sesame dressing and a plethora of vegetables. For dessert, we split a vegan double chocolate walnut cookie…the perfect way to finish a meal! Both of us ended up taking home ample leftovers, which was fine by us.

If you enjoy fresh, colorful food with an eco-friendly flair that you can customize, Freshii will not disappoint. This great new diner is also perfect for those with dietary restrictions. The next time you’re craving dinner from scratch, but don’t want to do all the work, check out Freshii! •