Village Juice Co.

Located at 205 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem, Village Juice Co. offers bottled juices as well as house-made smoothies, salads, bowls, and toasts. Most food items are vegan, and many use local organic ingredients. Limited outdoor seating is available.

Having tried and enjoyed their juices at different events and needing a healthy counterpoint to the coffee and chocolate we enjoyed earlier, my wife and I finally decided to give Village Juice Co.’s store a try. It was the classic great on paper/flawed execution through and through.

First, the good: Village Juice Co. shows that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring. The selection of salads includes tropical chicken and herb and pumpkin seed while some of the bowl offerings feature Asian influences (and you can also build your own). We split a Miso Bowl (brown rice, kale, red pepper, avocado, carrot, seeds, and nori strips with a miso ginger dressing) and were not disappointed. The bowl was vibrantly colored, the vegetables were fresh, the textures balanced well, and the dressing elevated the flavors. At $8.95 for 32 ounces, the price paid was not unreasonable.

Now the bad: the ordering experience is chaotic. Though Village Juice Co. appears to be adequately staffed, there is a constant stream of foot traffic and little room to wait after your order is placed (unless you are lucky enough to grab an open table). Moreover, the salads, bowls, and toasts are made in a kitchen whereas smoothies are made in a small prep area behind the registers. Order both, and one may come out quite a bit later than the other.

Speaking of smoothies, they are rather overpriced. While it’s a given that organic ingredients tend to cost more, $7 to $10 for a 16-ounce smoothie is a stretch of Reed Richards proportions.

Given their commitment to fresh, homemade, healthy eats and drinks, it is easy to want to see Village Juice Co. succeed. But high prices and a frenzied dine-in experience make it something better admired from afar.

7/10