In the center of the Bay Area’s up-and-coming SoHo district, Fresh Kitchen takes the concept of personalized fast food and transforms it into a holistic culinary experience that consecrates the practice of healthy eating.

Fresh Kitchen is the latest addition to the restaurant dynasty that is Ciccio Restaurant Group, joining such local establishments as Green Lemon, Daily Eats and Ciccio’s Water.

A few block from Bayshore, the white and simple exterior lends feeling to an urban look, as do the clean lines of the tables, display menus and decorations seen upon entry. Similar to the style of Chipotle or Subway, a foodie enters Fresh Kitchen and approaches a counter where options for bowl ingredients sit behind a glass partition. However, the correlations to conventional fast food stop here.

Moving down the line, customers select two “bases,” principally carbohydrate choices, or alternatively lettuce, next two proteins, two vegetables and finally a sauce, until your recyclable bowl is left steaming with delicious smells at the register. The entire process can, in theory, take less than a minute, yet even so, the smiling and helpful staff worked patiently at the pace of even the most indecisive customer.

The pure number of options positioned at each station can be overwhelming, but present the opportunity for endless and diverse combinations of flavors. It is the wide selection of high-quality ingredients that makes Fresh Kitchen a memorable and distinct South Tampa hot spot.

The food pops with flavor but is not overpowering in any sense. None of the unique seasonings and sauces mask the ingredients, rather, they act as mediators, helping to create a medley of diverse tastes when combined. The greens are sautéed and lightly salted to perfection, lettuce crisp, chicken juicy yet greaseless and add-ons hold the perfect supplemental texture.

Besides the outstanding food, the atmosphere of Fresh Kitchen is one completely distinct. The diverse clientele of a single hour’s observation included the likes of business men in coats post-work day to teenagers to communing yuppies instagramming their latest culinary creations.

Overall, Fresh Kitchen leaves you feeling refreshed from the hearty and natural food, instead of 10 pounds heavier, weighed down by guac, double steak and cheese.