Tampa, although relatively small, is constantly introducing new and exciting spots for a quick meal. One of these great places includes the freshly-opened Bolay. Focused on providing healthy but hearty and delicious food, Bolay’s style is reminiscent of Chipotle’s, without the primarily Mexican-style meals.

The “bol” is exactly what they sound like, a bowl of food. You can choose from many different proteins, grains, hearty aspects and sauces, nothing sticks to one style.

Although it’s the restaurant’s 24th location, this one has a feature no other does: a drive-thru. As a busy city, Tampa and its residents always prefer things on the go. But is it worth the trip? I definitely think so. During my visit to Bolay, I ordered online out of convenience, but the drive-thru seems very efficient as well.

When I arrived to get my order, I was immediately attracted to the bright blue building. Its inside also looked very clean, with modern-looking chairs/tables. My order was all ready for me on a convenient shelf right in the front. The staff acknowledged me politely as I walked out too.

You’re able to choose pre-designed “bols” or can create your own. It’s also an option to put everything you order into a burrito; another option that reminded me of Chipotle. My choice, the “Build-Your-Own-Bol”, came with an immense amount of options. Starting with protein, they had everything from vegan-friendly avocado to steak au jus. I went with the lemon chicken. My regular-sized “bol” also came with 3 grains/greens/veggies. Having delicious options to choose from was pretty stressful, but I decided on the street roasted corn, herb-roasted potatoes and pesto noodles. A few of the choices for add-ons were free, so I also topped my “bol” with parmesan cheese and cilantro. I’m not much of a sauce girl, so I skipped on that, but a few were vegan and all looked yummy, such as the pineapple habanero sauce or the creamy garlic herb one.

 

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The “bol” is the exact shape of Chipotle’s bowls. They’re covered by an aluminum top to keep the food nice and warm. Digging in, I was already delighted by the potatoes on top. The herb seasoning blend was delicious and they were perfectly crispy. The lemon chicken was to die for: juicy, tender and a great balance of sour and savory. The corn also added a crunch that really tied everything together. Best of all, though, were the pesto noodles, which had a strong herb flavor and were cooked to perfection.

All the elements together created such a hearty and delicious meal. The price was only $12 including tip and tax, too, which was super affordable. I will definitely be returning and trying some of their other options and so should you!