With its tiny interior and minimal seating, this little juice bar and sandwich shop would probably get passed by on the regular if it didn't have the most garish facade on the seedy stretch of Newport Ave that makes up the main commercial thoroughfare in Ocean Beach. To be fair, it stands out in a cool way; more "get noticed at Burning Man" than "wear white to a funeral."

Despite its small size, the Smoothie Bar sports an impressive menu of sandwiches, smoothies, coffee, and juices. Prices are reasonable with wraps going for $4.50 a pop and the median price for the larger sandwiches is about $6.25.

A "California Surf Sub" with steak, cheese, avocado, and jalapenos looked like just the ticket, but the steak was 86'd for the day. An "Italian Club" had to pinch hit. It was alright. Turkey, ham, Swiss cheese, and bacon do not exactly make an Italian sub. Still, the whole wheat bread was nicely toasted and the sub was fine--average, yes, but far from bad.

Smoothies are downright reasonably priced at $4.25 for a small, $5 for a large, and $6 for a massive, 32-ounce cup. The Smoothie Bar blends up a delicious smoothie, make no bones about it, but the drinks don't seem quite as healthy as what can be gotten at a more health-centered juice bar.

Lots of them contain frozen yogurt, milk, or sherbet. That's not to say that those things aren't healthy, but they don't seem as heavy on the "superfoods" as smoothies filled with kale, garlic, and other such vegetables do. Still, smoothies with sherbet are undeniably tasty.

OB Smoothie Bar & Sub Express
5001 Newport Avenue
619-222-0293
Monday-Saturday 10-7
Sunday 7-7