The downtown health and wellness game just got a whole lot better. Wellness eatery K2 Roots moved to its new location on 114 S. Garner St. late this summer and has expanded its menu items.

It seemed only right to see how some of the new additions and classic staples shaped up in the new location, so our staffers went to check it out.

James Russell: Let’s Go State Smoothie

I ordered the “Let’s Go State” smoothie, a blue and white smoothie with banana, pineapple, coconut, whipped cream, and blue majik. I would recommend this based solely on the presentation. It’s quite mesmerizing to look at. This was my introduction to K2 Roots, and I will say, it delivered. The smoothie wasn’t too sweet and the most identifiable flavor was coconut, although the other ingredients blended exceptionally well.

The $10 price point is a tad egregious for a 16-ounce smoothie, but it also didn’t last five minutes on the table. I will definitely be back to K2. The ambiance alone made it a walk well spent. I’m giving a solid 8.5 out of 10 on the “Let’s Go State” smoothie — the most aesthetically pleasing smoothie I have ever seen.

Ashley Connington: Hailey Bieber Smoothie

I got the Hailey Bieber smoothie because I, of course, had to see what the hype was about. It was $11, which is overpriced, and I waited 15 minutes for it. (Spoiler alert: not worth the $11 and 15-minute wait.)

I’ll give it a solid 5/10. It was OK, but it was nothing special, and once mixed, it didn’t look appetizing. The dates were a weird texture for the smoothie, too. I can say I’ve had the viral Hailey Bieber smoothie now, but I won’t be in a rush to get it again.

Ally Eaton: Resistance Juice

As a frequent K2 Roots customer, due to the fact that I love a healthy bite to eat and it is conveniently located two minutes from my apartment, I’d say I’m constantly impressed with the quality of service and food. I have had everything from smoothies, paninis, bowls, breakfast sandwiches, and juices. On this particular trip, I was feeling a bit under the weather and wanted to try out one of the juices on display.

The Resistance juice was a blend of apples, oranges, carrots, pineapple, lemon, and turmeric. I’m not normally a huge turmeric fan, but you could barely taste it, which I appreciated. The juice tasted refreshing and delicious. But unfortunately, sometimes healthy ingredients come with a hefty price tag. I spent $9 on the juice, which in hindsight, seems excessive considering it is just a drink. I will certainly be back to continue trying new things and studying in my new favorite spot downtown.

Hailey Stutzman: Hailey Bieber Smoothie

I was so excited to learn that K2 has a Hailey Bieber smoothie, which originates from Erewhon in Los Angeles. This summer, I lived in Los Angeles and got the Hailey Bieber smoothie more times than I’d like to admit. At Erewhon, it’s $19 and is by far the best smoothie I’ve ever had.

I walked into K2 and was blown away by how nice the new building is. However, I was upset when I paid $12 for a smoothie in the middle of Pennsylvania. The K2 Hailey Bieber smoothie tastes very different from the original Erewhon one. It’s less smoothie-like and more like a milkshake. Overall, it didn’t taste good, and I was very disappointed.

Ericka Apolskis: Hailey Bieber Smoothie

I had gone to K2 Roots a bunch at its previous location, so I was definitely excited to see what its new location had in store. Walking inside, the store felt about 10 times the size of the previous store with many more places to sit and study. My staple order was always the Hailey Bieber smoothie, so, of course, that’s what I had to get. It was perfect, and I definitely could justify spending $11 on the smoothie again and again. While most of the menu stayed the same, it had a bunch of new additions. I will definitely be making another trip soon to try them out.

Angelina Marzano: Buffalo Chicken Panini & Hailey Bieber Smoothie

My go-to order is a buffalo chicken panini and a Hailey Bieber smoothie, which is a must-try because it is the same recipe as Erewhon’s popular smoothie, prepared right here in State College. My favorite part of the buffalo chicken panini is the bread. They toast the sandwich in a panini press, giving the bread the right crispy grilled lines. Hailey Bieber nailed this smoothie recipe, which is both refreshing and not too sweet.