RESTAURANT REVIEW
was especially intrigued with his story
of becoming a TSC franchise owner.
Gary is a Certified Public Accountant
(CPA) and has spent his career working
on financials in the business industry,
spending most of his time sitting behind
a computer for hours each day. As
his career in the white-collar industry
matured, Gary began to reflect about
his past, contemplating about when
he had been happiest in his work
life. He recalled his experiences as a
younger man when he worked in the
fast food locations such as Kentucky
Fried Chicken and McDonalds, and
realized that he enjoyed the energy that
surrounds the food services industry—
working with mostly young co-workers
and providing good customer service
experiences. So he decided to set
about looking for a suitable franchise
opportunity where he could re-engage
in that which made him happiest. He
researched many opportunities, and
traveled throughout the United States
to evaluate those which he found of
interest. When Gary visited a Tropical
Smoothie Café location for the first
time, he really enjoyed the food quality,
and knew he’d found something special.
The next challenge was to find a suitable
location for his new endeavor, which
was a fairly lengthy process, especially
since Tropical Smoothie Café is not
widely franchised in California, and
therefore is not well-known. The Pinole
location was ultimately determined to be
a suitable location and Gary’s aspiration
became a reality! Gary considers owning
and operating Tropical Smoothie Café
his hobby, and spends most of his free
time working there alongside his staff.
He still periodically works as a corporate
accounting consultant.
The bright, clean, and modern
interior of the Tropical Smoothie Café
is inviting and provides a casual and
comfortable atmosphere. Plenty of table
and counter seating is available, flanked
by colorful metal chairs and high stools.
Three-dimensional, beach-themed
artwork adorns the walls—I especially
like the one with the long wooden
pier extending into the beautiful blue
sea that hangs on the back wall, adding
a dimension of depth to the interior
of the café. Ample interior lighting
supplements the natural lighting from
the floor-to-ceiling glass walls at the
front and on one side of the café. Large,
colorful menu boards, featuring pictures
of some of the delicious smoothies and
food items, are prominently displayed
behind the counter. Ceiling fans keep
the air circulating and comfortable
for guests who choose to dine in.
All Tropical Smoothie Cafes across
the nation feature identical decor to
promote a consistent and familiar dining
experience for customers regardless of
the location they visit.
34 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM NOVEMBER 2017
Not surprisingly, Tropical Smoothie
Café does a robust smoothie business.
All smoothies are one size (BIG)
measuring a full 24 ounces. The prices
range from $6.29 for Classic Smoothies
to $6.99 for Specialty and Superfood
Smoothies. For an additional $1.00,
customers can request the addition
of supplements, such as vitamin
C-immune complex or vitamin B-12,
various proteins, or a fat burner. Also
available for an additional $1.00 are
fresh add-ins such as a spinach and kale
super pack, peanut butter, chia sees,
and several other options. The menu
boards (and the available paper menus)
list the individual ingredients for each
smoothie. Modifications to remove
selected ingredients or to substitute
others are allowable for no additional
charge. All smoothies are made with
turbinado sugar (i.e., made from sugar
cane extract) unless otherwise noted or
requested (Splenda substitute is available).
TSC’s signature smoothie (and the most
popular) is the Island Green, which
is made with spinach, kale, mango,
pineapple and banana. Another very
popular choice is the Avcoloda, which is
made with avocado, pineapple, spinach,
kale, coconut and lime. Gary described
the flavor of this smoothie as a Pina
Colada without the alcohol!
During my visit, I was treated to
one of TSC’s Limited Time Offerings
(LTO)—a Green Apple Matcha
smoothie. LTO’s are offered several
times a year featuring specialties and
seasonal options. Gary made my
smoothie, which included kale, spinach,
basil, apples, lime and banana. I must
admit that I was a little dubious about
this combination of ingredients, but was
open to trying something new. It was
delicious! I did not taste the spinach or
kale at all, and the fruit flavors blended
together were very tasty. I could detect
just the slightest hint of the basil, but
it enhanced the flavor of the smoothie,
which was a pleasant combination of
sweetness and tartness. I enjoyed this
smoothie so much that on a subsequent
visit, I ordered it again. I also had
the opportunity to try another of the
superfood smoothies during my visit—
the Orange Ginger Glow. This healthy
concoction is made of mango, fresh
ginger, green apple, pineapple, carrot
and orange juice. Based on reviews,
this is a favorite of many customers;
however, this blend of flavors was not
as pleasing to me. I enjoy the taste
of ginger, which was evident but not
overpowering. It was less sweet than the
Green Apple Matcha, and so not quite
as appealing; but I will admit that the
flavor of it grew on me as I continued
to drink it. Gary’s personal favorite
is the Chia Banana Boost, made with
roasted bananas, chia seeds, almonds,
whole grain oats, cinnamon, dates and
coconut, with a choice of either peanut
butter or strawberries. Gary explained
that the roasted bananas enhance the
flavor of this smoothie because when
roasted, the sugars of the fruit bubble
up providing a more intense taste. A
guest and I returned soon after this
review, and I tried this smoothie with
the strawberries and found it to be quite
delicious, boasting a lovely fruity flavor
with a hint of cinnamon. During that
visit, my guest opted for a specialty
smoothie, the Peanut Butter Cup,
made with peanut butter, banana and
chocolate. This smoothie was thick
and decadent, and had a luscious and
delicious flavor—a perfect treat! When
my daughter visited TSC, she ordered
the Bahama Mama, a specialty smoothie
made with strawberries, pineapple, white
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM | Friday & Saturday 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM