Clean Eatz — Restaurant in Durham

On July 15th, I picked up a custom meal plan with the intention of eliminating the extra planning and time needed for meal prep to aid me in my weight loss journey. The initial visit was welcoming and the woman at the front (she's the only one I interacted with during the short time I purchased from Clean Eatz) provided suggestions and was patient while I explored additional offerings provided in store. I left satisfied. My 2nd visit, July 21st, I spoke with the lady regarding a mix up with my 1st order. I'd ordered a cheeseburger empanada and received a beef empanada. I asked if we could swap the beef empanada I'd order with my custom meal plan scheduled for pickup on July 22nd and she said it wouldn't be a problem. On July 22nd, I returned for the 3rd time and the customer service had declined a bit. She took the time to "correct" me because as she stated she looked at my order and I hadn't ordered the cheeseburger empanada as I said I did. I explained that I had order the beef empanada with my 2nd custom meal plan (the one I was there to pick up) and she insisted that I was wrong. I began to apologize profusely while thumbing through my emails to review the order in question and she hurriedly waved her hand to stop me while telling me it was okay. Of course, in my car, I realized I was right. Although that encounter was quite irritating, I chose to move forward. My 4th and final visit came on July 27th. On this particular day I inquired about how long meals could be held. She answered and I stated that I was only asking. Then, I inquired about getting the menu that comes with the custom meal plan (time did not permit me to order a custom meal plan as I wouldn't be able to pick up on that Tuesday). She said no and I responded I was asking because and she rudely cuts me off and gives me a short and very condescending response of I know because you were asking a question. I then had to correct her by finishing my statement of wanting it for future reference. I've spent the past few weeks searching for other meal prep services. I've found several local ones out of Raleigh that provide individually packaged portions. I have settled on one because they provide delivery from their location throughout the week and have increased my haul from roughly 9 meals to 20 because of my increased need for convenience. If I'm ever in a bind, I'll visit the local grocery stores for their precooked meals to go items before visiting this...

I cannot say enough good things about Clean Eatz Durham. The weekly meal plan process is easy from a variety of angles - easy to order, easy to pick up, easy to warm up, easy to track macros/calories, and easy to eat these delicious meals! The store is a 3-in-1. It's a healthy restaurant, a quick grab heat and eat (frozen) meals and a weekly meal plan with six different FRESH/not frozen choices each week, and tiered pricing so the more you buy the cheaper it is per item. The restaurant is good, with healthy options that taste good with surprising flavors that are tasty and fun! The frozen quick grab meals are delicious. There are lots of options to chose from among a whole wall of freezers similar to a grocery store frozen section. The portions are reasonable and the pricing is easy, with regular options being $6.99 and the XL protein being $8.49. The meal plan with 6 fresh options each week is our favorite. We had previously done a delivery meal service but were unimpressed at the value and the quality of food. Clean Eats uses all fresh ingredients including fresh herbs, dynamic flavors and surprising combinations. For example, I just finished an egg frittata that was so so good, with fresh potatoes, onions and green peppers, eggs, shredded beef, cheese and flavorful seasonings. Their meals actually make me excited for the next one, and having them ready to heat and eat, versus spending 15-30 minutes prepping a meal, trying to figure out how to use the ingredients we have, and overall having decision fatigue at the end of a long work day - this is the answer to our unspoken needs. Thank you, Clean Eatz, we hope you are...

For a place called Clean Eatz, I was surprised to find pizzas, burgers and fries, and no mention of organic ingredients, grass-fed beef or really anything I associate with the word "clean" when it comes to food and nutrition. That being said, they do have some "clean" options that may or may not fit your dietary needs and goals. I went with a (medium size) build-my-own bowl--which has increased in price by around a dollar (and with more upcharges for the proteins) since the menu photos posted 6 months ago.

The man who took my order was impatient to get back to hanging out with his coworkers while I chose my ingredients. The limit of 1 base and 3 vegetables was a little disappointing compared to other places that are more flexible/generous. After some wait (it's cooked to order), my bowl came out. The components were very lightly seasoned and plain, relying on the sauce(s) for flavor. After adding some salt and pepper, teriyaki and goddess sauce, it was ok. The "roasted" carrots were still mostly crunchy, and the farmed salmon (+$2) pale and bland. The sauces were each mediocre, and I yearned for some herbs, sesame seeds, or perhaps pickled red onion to liven things up. It also didn't have quite enough brown rice (the base I chose) for the amount of veggies and protein.

Overall, swing and a miss for me, and I could have easily cooked a better version of this at home. For the price and "clean" or cleaner ingredients with better flavor (and faster! and outdoor seating!) I'd go back to Chipotle or Panera around the corner, Tasu Express (for poke)...