Zia’s Café offers a juice bar, café and dinner service in a modest, modern space on Allegheny Avenue in Towson. The atmosphere is minimalist, a green banner hanging behind the bar proclaiming their use of 100% solar energy. Upon entrance, I am presented with a long list of possibilities among juices, smoothies, coffees and sandwiches on the black boards behind the juice bar. After practice one day, my sister and I choose a PB n’ Java, consisting of organic peanut butter, espresso, chocolate syrup & almond milk. Simply glancing at the colorful menu, it is easy to see that Zia’s Café is healthy, flavorful and affordable. Smoothies range from $4.00 to $6.00, and sandwiches and wraps range from $3.00 to $7.00.
The pale yellow and light green walls, wooden chairs and tables, ceiling hangings and windows along the back wall of this one-roomed café and restaurant set the relaxing mood inside. Jazz music plays over the radio. People behind the bar chop bean sprouts, spread hummus, fold whole wheat tortillas into wraps. All ingredients are not only organic, but locally grown too.
Zia’s has been a favorite of mine for healthy lunches of reasonable portions and quick snacks or smoothies after practices for a while now, but recently I decided to dine in for dinner with a few friends.
As a vegetarian, I sometimes get tired of the same pasta, salad, pizza or black bean burger at chain restaurants where most of the fancy entrees involve some sort of steak or fillet. Zia’s offers a wide selection of fresh meals for vegetarians, vegans, raw foodies and omnivores alike. It’s definitely not one of those places where the non-vegans find themselves staring into a dish of seaweed and pine nuts.
Instead, I’ve discovered the delicious crispness of the locally baked bread, juicy tomato, crunchy cucumbers and sweet avocado mayonnaise which compose only a few of the fresh and local ingredients of the Sunflower Powerhouse sandwich. And at another time, when I went back, I tried something different. With separate likings for red onions, hummus and tofu, I could hardly explain my excitement when I found all three included in the Vegan Tofu Wrap. The flavors all combine in this perfect portion for lunch or dinner.
The wait staff is casual, yet very polite and efficient. Diners will not be waiting more than ten or fifteen minutes for their meals. Zia’s Café provides reasonably priced, healthy and delicious locally produced meals for everyone in the Towson area.