Staff Blogger: Casey Sudzina, Advancement/Communications Intern
This summer, there was a new little birdie in town. Bluebird Café was built in place of Dockside, located on the East side of the pavilion. Bluebird’s signature staple is healthy eating, so I was personally very excited to try Bluebird, as the healthy options they were offering seemed to be a great addition to Lakeside’s community. The café seemed as though it would be new and refreshing, so naturally I had to head over upon their opening.
I am happy to say Bluebird Café did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, it exceeded every expectation I had!
From the very moment I walked into the building I was sold. The Linvilles worked extremely hard to makeover the space, and it showed. There were beautiful, vibrant colors on the walls that instantly brightened my day upon entering. There was a big orange welcome sign with fancy cursive writing above the door, and the walls were painted bright shades of blue, orange, yellow, and green. All of these colors accented the hanging white paper lanterns and the wood paneling on the walls and food counter.
The café had a very elegant, but modern look. Aesthetics are very important when you want to sell a product, and Bluebird didn’t stop there. The food was very pleasing to the eye as well. My mouth was watering just watching other customers get their food;
all the dishes looked like pictures in a magazine!
Bluebird’s menu offers a variety of options, including various fruit and veggie smoothies, salads, paninis, frozen yogurt and kids’
boxes. When I stopped in, the staff was very welcoming and extremely helpful with recommendations.
When I stopped in, I tried the Night Sky smoothie to start, which is a refreshing spinach, kale, and berry combination. I must admit that I was slightly skeptical with both spinach and kale being included, but the employees recommended it. The first sip was full of raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry flavors—it was beyond fresh!
Next, I decided on the Rockin’ Robin salad. The salad included goat cheese, strawberries, sweet potatoes and roasted nuts all over a bed of spinach. To top it off, it was dressed with balsamic reduction. Bluebird makes all of the food upon order, which I really enjoyed. The café is completely transparent in their meal preparation, and all of the food is non-GMO. What’s not to love?
The salad was wonderful. It was the perfect blend of sweet and sour because of the sweet potatoes and strawberries paired with the balsamic. There was also the perfect balance of crunchy and creamy with the goat cheese and candied nuts. I chose the option to add chicken, and was very full after eating it, which does not always happen when you eat a salad.
To put the cherry on top of my Bluebird adventure, I decided to give the pomegranate frozen yogurt a try. The frozen yogurt is made with all natural ingredients in-house, and you most certainly could tell upon tasting it. It was so light and refreshing. It was a natural sweet that was just right.
It is safe to say that Bluebird has certainly left the nest and spread their wings with the success they have had! I know that I will most certainly be returning to Bluebird to give the rest of the menu a peck.
