CoreLife Eatery — Restaurant in Indianapolis

CoreLife is a build-your-own bowl, taco, and smoothie place, with a lot of options. It seems to live up to its healthy food image with a significant number of fresh toppings. This was our first time to visit, so we carefully looked through the menu. Three of us all ordered regular bowls with various modifications, which was easy. For example I ordered Chicken Cobb but made some substitutions, including switching out bleu cheese dressing for cucumber basil dressing.

The salad was fresh, the chicken tasty, and overall it was a very satisfying meal. Not to overshadow the main meal, but the highlight for me was the variety of drinks. Check out my pictures so you can zoom in and see the main ingredients of each concoction. Other similar places often have specialty teas and uncarbonated drinks but rarely with this variety. I can be a picky tea drinker and was very happy with all the choices. I ended up filling my cup about 1/4 way each time so I could sample each flavor through our meal.

My two favorites were organic fig and vanilla (figs, cinnamon, vanilla, & apple cider vinegar) and cranberry cayenne lemonade (cranberry, cayenne pepper, lemon juice, cane sugar) but mandarin cardamom and beet lemonade were surprisingly awesome as well.

The place was clean and only a couple tables were in use. The servers were knowledgeable. Everything about this visit, about 45 minutes before closing, was 5 star level - except perhaps the cost. Three of us ordered regular sized bowls, one drink, one mango smoothie, one water, and with tip was well over $50. I realize fresh food can cost more, but my frugal side thinks this is just a little pricy for the amount of food received. 2 of 3 of us thought the serving size was rather small. So ... Quality 5 star, value 4 star. Perhaps next time I'll get the larger size and that might be a better value.

But next time I'm in this area at meal time, this is a solid choice. The drinks alone may be enough to bring me back. This review is specifically for the 82nd Street location but I expect all locations...

Dear google readers, my 1st recommendation for this location... DO NOT GO! For what you pay, the portions are pretty skimpy, but more importantly, the service and overall atmosphere are HORRIBLE. Every time I have been here, the person at the register has the worst attitude. Plus, the overall vibe of everyone behind the counter is just plain hostile. And they have the nerve to ask for tips as you pay?! For what??? My 2nd recommendation is that if you do go, DO NOT ORDER a smoothie. They have NO system set up to ensure you get your smoothie in a timely manner or at all. At the time of ordering mine, there was already another smoothie sitting there that the aforementioned attitude laden cashier yelled "Mango Smoothie". Good luck if you are on the phone hard of hearing or sitting outside. I sat at the table closest to the counter and faced the counter as I ate to make sure I would see and hear when my smoothie was ready. It didn't matter. I finished my whole lunch NO smoothie. 5 people working behind the counter. Read the reviews for the past 6 months... there are over 6 that echo my review. I have given this location too many chances and too much of my money, I will not be back and make sure others know they shouldn't go as well. As much as their responses to negative reviews try to make it seem like they "care" about their customers, the simple facts are they will just try to buy a better review from you with something free or a coupon... they will and have not actually...

1-star less for the service. Their service needs a lot of improvement. As it was my first visit to CoreLife, I had some queries before ordering the food (portion/size, protein options under vegetarian menu, if I skipped cheese, what can they substitute with). It was a sunday afternoon, with just one customer behind me. Any employee at the food counter, who comes with a good experience, would be able to understand if the customer is a first time or, returning. The order taking employee at the food counter was explaining the portion/size, but the employee responsible for preparing the dish interrupted the conversation and repeated the other employee's explanation in a hurried manner. She hurried to prepare my order, and hardly gave me a chance to post my next question. I wanted a substitute for the cheese in my order. The food preparing employee instead rushed me towards billing. I understand if you rush me on a weekday, or on day where there are a plenty of customers behind me. I chose this place for their healthy options on the menu. With this kind of service, and irrespective of the healthy options and the taste, I wonder if I would ever return. I had seen an option of build your own bowl menu on their website. It was hard to locate the same on their store menu board. This left me being even more...