With a name like Fresh, there are a few things you're likely to automatically assume about this Downtown Tampa eatery, and they're probably all, more or less, correct - a leafy green-heavy menu, contemporary, chic décor, and a bustling crowd of professionals, young and old, from around the city.
Fresh is, of course, more than this. In fact, at times it’s almost too much. Offering fare all throughout the day, Fresh’s menus are as big as its apparent ambition. For breakfast, there’s a cereal bar with a massive selection of cereals and toppings, and lunch/dinner, more varieties of sandwiches and salads than ever necessary.
While the ambition is admirable, something tells me if Fresh whittled down their menus to a few all-star items, they’d transcend from good to great.
After reading the entire novel of their lunch menu, a salad seemed like the meal where Fresh would really shine. The Club Salad comes packed with slow roasted turkey, applewood smoked bacon, tomatoes, and Switzerland cheese on a bed of rich, leafy greens and tossed in ranch.
Adequate is the word for this thing. It’s well portioned, tasty enough, but nothing amazing or anything you couldn’t find at any restaurant around the block. The team here felt, more or less, the same about their sandwiches as well.
I’d still recommend Fresh if you’re on the go and want a quick, affordable lunch in Downtown Tampa. Their service is speedy, the staff nice enough, and the location is great. Just don’t expect too much more than that.
