Another quasi-corporate dessert stand marketed to health nuts? To anyone slightly annoyed with Jamba Juice-mania, Berry Chill's yogurt-loving existence seems inauspiciously similar to the California-dominated chain at first glance of their Ogilvie Transportation Center location. Breathe easy: Berry Chill is still just a Chicago chain (this is their third location), and the yogurt couldn't be sweeter or smoother – a high-quality treat just before you board the train.
Four flat screens will greet your eyes upon stepping to the counter. These screens are your menu, with a few of them scrolling through possible combinations and/or Berry Chill apparel to purchase (is there really a demand for Berry Chill hoodies?). The yogurt runs from $2.99 for a small with no toppings to $8.49 for a large (huge!) with up to three toppings, so you could get Coldstoned on the prices should you lose track of your order.
Flavors rotate on a monthly basis, and you can vote on next month's flavors online with plenty of tempting choices: ginger green tea, banana walnut bread, chilled latte, mint chocolate, just to name of few. Berry Chill also gets quite creative and delightfully clever with the toppings – fruits like pineapple, raspberries and kiwi are healthy choices, but Samoa Girl Scout cookies, peanut butter pretzels, and a host of cereals like Golden Grahams, Cap'n Crunch and Lucky Charms clearly steal the show, and possibly your heart.
Of course, yogurt's most rational attribute remains its wonderful nutritional values, and Berry Chill's numbers don't buck the trend: about 20 calories per ounce, with minuscule fat or cholesterol content (if any at all). So – assuming you're not loading up your cup with Girl Scout cookies – you can pretty much burn off whatever you've eaten just by sleeping on the train.
Average cost: <$10
Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert