acai of contentment.

Though it’s hardly a news worthy trend at this point, there are many places on Long Island where you can get an excellent Acai bowl. And the good news is, many of them feature other delicious and healthful dining options!

NY Beanery (631-598-2888, 114 Merrick Road, Amityville)
A charming rustic-modern coffee shop with a lovely staff who have the patience of Job. Their signature beverage, a vanilla honey latte, is truly delightful. The Hampton Bowl (unlike its namesake) is not only affordable, it is one of my favorite acai bowls you can get on the Island. Delicious, recognizable ingredients can suit even the pickiest palate. For something more adventuresome and tropical, try the Long Beach Bowl.

Crazy Crepe Café (crazycrepecafe.com, with locations in Selden, Smithtown, Miller Place, Ronkonkoma, and Mt. Sinai)
Crazy Crepe may be known for their delicious crepes (particularly the strawberry-banana-Nutella version named after the shop), but they also make a very reasonably priced bowls with a pleasant acai base. As with anything on their menu you, you can make it “crazy” by adding Nutella! Don’t miss the seasonal lattes here, especially in the Fall—they are stunning.

Vitality Bowls (631-652-4262, 96 E. Main Street, Smithtown)
There are a few things you can expect when coming to Vitality Bowls: excellent, fresh ingredients, innovative combinations, and ability to handle various dietary food preparation needs (though the onus is on the customer to request it). Because they prepare things from scratch, prepare to wait, or call in an order in advance.

Vitality Bowls features a lot of different types of bases, including graviola, acerola and pitaya. Some may find certain super foods an acquired taste, but they can accommodate and customize a bowl to fit your needs and preferences. If you prefer a hot pick-me-up, I love the Pitaya Latte and Superfood Mocha, which are made using Tend espresso from Shirley. They can add coconut sugar to taste, so don’t hesitate to ask for it. A new location has just opened in Commack, and they are offering a lot of coupon promotions worth keeping one’s eyes peeled for.