CORRECTION: The article previously incorrectly stated that Frutta Bowls was the only restaurant removed from the Taste of Nashville program this semester. It was updated on Sept. 16, 2024, to state that Chili’s was also removed from the program.
Wild Berry Acai joined the Taste of Nashville program this fall after taking over the old Frutta Bowls storefront on Elliston Place last August. The restaurant serves Nashville- and music-themed acai bowls and smoothies, such as the East Park bowl, the Golden Hour bowl and the Berry Hill smoothie.
All other restaurants in the Taste of Nashville program except Chili’s carried over from last semester. Junior Drina Agojci shared a positive experience at the new location.
“I liked all of the premade bowl options that Wild Berry Acai had, so I didn’t even have to make my own,” Agojci said. “I liked that there’s lots of fresh fruit options, because it’s a little bit hard to get that on campus.”
Agojci noted differences between Wild Berry Acai and Frutta Bowls’ menus.
“One thing I do miss from Frutta Bowls is that they had toast options, which was more of a filling breakfast combined with the acai,” Agojci said. “But overall I still really like Wild Berry Acai, and they have good portion sizes too.”
Wild Berry’s first location opened in East Nashville in 2021. Proximity to Vanderbilt’s campus was Wild Berry Acai’s “number one draw” to the new location, according to owner Justin Whittaker.
“It was a pretty quick transition,” Whittaker said. “Frutta Bowls closed, we signed the lease three days after, and we were open three weeks later.”
A Campus Dining representative addressed these changes in a statement to The Hustler.
“The previous tenant of the space now occupied by Wild Berry was Frutta Bowls, a similar concept and previous Taste of Nashville partner,” the representative said. “The decision was made to allow Wild Berry to become a Taste of Nashville partner once it took over the lease of that space.”
Taste of Nashville is currently closed to new applicants. Typically, restaurants cannot join the Taste of Nashville program so immediately, but due to Wild Berry’s similarity to Frutta Bowls, Whittaker said Campus Dining was willing to add it to the program.
Four locations on the dining plan this year serve acai bowls — Wild Berry Acai, Grain and Berry and The Urban Juicer as part of Taste of Nashville as well as VandyBlenz in Rand Dining Center.
“I have not been to Wild Berry yet, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it,” sophomore Carly Wemmlinger said. “I don’t think we need another smoothie option, but it is great for those who like acai and smoothies.”
Wild Berry employee Zoe Prochkow noted that the restaurant has been seeing Vanderbilt students since the start of the school year. The restaurant started offering a Nutella topping to meet popular demand, especially from students.
Whittaker expressed optimism about the ways in which Wild Berry will stand out among other acai stores in the area.
“One thing that sets us apart is the soft serve process,” Whittaker said. “No one else in Nashville does soft serve. It makes for a really creamy, kind of ice cream texture. The other thing is we make our toasted coconut, almond butter and raspberry puree in house.”
