Jungle Juice Health Bar

Jungle Juice Health Bar

Written by Tiffany Young Monday, 07 January 2008

Jungle Juice Health Bar offers 100 percent natural and organic options for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Walking into Jungle Juice felt like stepping from a black and white movie into a color film. The walls are painted a bright yellow-orange, colorful hammocks hang from the ceiling and a large jungle mural — complete with monkeys — adorns the wall.

After ordering a slice of Quiche ($4.60), the Meat Lover’s Panini ($5.95) and the Chicken Baked Pie ($5.95) at the front counter, we took a seat at a table by the window.

The owner, Arthur LaGuette, greeted us and said to make ourselves at home with the air hockey, chess and backgammon games around the restaurant.

He also mentioned the bar’s WiFi connection and power outlets in case we wanted to browse the Internet while eating. Jungle Juice also offers bagged coffee beans, containers of juice, vitamins and supplements for home use.

Our drinks came promptly, chosen from an array of smoothies, teas and coffees, followed shortly by our meal.

All dishes came with fresh fruit, veggies, hummus and spinach dip. The dips were delicious and outlasted our carrots, broccoli, grapes, orange wedges and spinach.

The chicken pie had chunks of white chicken accompanied by tasty bits of turkey bacon and three cheeses blended within flaky Ezequiel bread.

The fresh quiche tasted of eggs, a blend of cheeses and broccoli and a soft crust — it was one of the best quiches I’ve tasted.

For dessert, we enjoyed the Hot Chocolate Cake ($1.85 a slice), which reminded us of devil’s food cake garnished with chocolate icing and shavings.

Though we were full, LaGuette insisted we try several shots of health juices he concocted, including the three on the menu: Napa, Tango 7 and Rain Forest.

LaGuette, a French native who studied medicine in college but ultimately got his undergraduate degree in economics and master’s degree in business, became more interested in health food when his wife was diagnosed with high cholesterol.

He made Rain Forest juice for her by blending oranges, carrots, cucumbers, celery, broccoli, spinach, garlic and beets. Within a few weeks, her cholesterol had dropped.

LaGuette is studying to be a nutritionist and is in the process of getting his health drinks bottled for sale. He said he hopes to have them available in health stores early this year.

Jungle Juice opened in February and started well, LaGuette said, but business dropped with the opening of 183A Toll.

However, he has a positive attitude and said he believes if he continues to give people a great product at economical prices, they will seek out his store.

New services

To increase business, LaGuette plans to turn Jungle Juice into a sports bar and deli at the end of January, adding an extended menu and plasma screens to broadcast NFL football games and pay-per-view sports.

Jungle Juice Health Bar, 2423 S. Bell Blvd. • 219-1963, ajunglejuice.com

Winter hours: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sun. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.