We are here to set the record straight. Salads are amazing. Sometimes your body craves a leafy green salad plain and simple. But don’t forget, a bed of lettuce can always be way more than a “diet” food. Leafy greens can also be the start of a masterpiece. Pittsburgh is full of spots to grab salads like Honeygrow, Hello Bistro, and Earth Inspired salads just to name a few and for these, we are eternally grateful. We wanted to share and shout out some of the most delicious and fulfilling salads we’ve found thus far in the city of bridges.
Cinderlands – Pickled Beet Salad
Cinderlands knows salads. Trust me. With two locations, the warehouse can be found in the Strip District and the OG calling Butler street home, both Cinderlands locations have decked out menus each with their own unique options. Don’t sleep on the idea of ordering beets. Cinderlands Foederhouse aka the OG location offers a Pickled Beet Salad which is plated with endive, grilled pears, amaranth, hazelnuts, whipped greek yogurt & crispy shallots. It’s fresh, it’s creamy and it’s the perfect amount of crunchy. Whether you’re sharing this beautiful beet salad, starting with someone or enjoying it for your meal you will most definitely be satisfied.
Bakersfield – The Willie Salad
She’s fresh, she’s crunchy, and she pairs perfectly with a shot of Patron. At least in my opinion. Bakersfield offers some of the most delicious tacos in town and their queso is something out of a dream. But have you ever given their salads a shot? The Willie is based with a romaine mix, roasted chicken, crispy tortilla, bacon, black beans, tomatoes, corn, chives, fresno, queso fresco, buttermilk dressing. Order a half or whole, either way, these flavors will make your taste buds holla.
Pro Tip: Brought to you by Kari, a Willie salad vet – Skip the buttermilk dressing and order The Johnny dressing, a cider vinaigrette. You can thank her later.
Bar Marco – Caesar Kale Salad
First and foremost, if you have not been to Bar Marco, please drop what you are doing a make a reservation. Brunch or dinner, just get there. Everything coming out of this kitchen is made with love and the proof is in the pudding or in this case, the Caesar Kale Salad. Menu items often change on this menu so the more often so hustle just in case. The base of this crunchy and wholesome salad is *obviously* kale and topped with anchovy, croutons & Parmigiano sprinkled throughout. If you’re lucky, the brunch menu will offer this bad boy and include soft boiled eggs. After biting into this salad you will see kale in a whole new way.
Totopo – Aguacate Salad
Ordering a salad at a Mexican restaurant might seem ridiculous considering all the delicious burritos and tacos you can enjoy. But please highly consider the Aguacate Salad next time you are dining at Totopo. This beauty features mixed greens, tomatoes, cilantro, roasted poblano peppers, corn & black beans all tossed in a vinaigrette dressing & topped with avocado. It’s fresh and of course can pair well with a quesadilla, or of course all by itself.
Mediterra Cafe – Chickpea Salad
Mediterra Cafe in general a utopia of deliciously wholesome food options so to no surprise, their salads are simply perfect. What makes their salads so special is having the ability to pick your protein which can ultimately change a salad dramatically. Another special thing about these salads…you don’t even need to add a protein to make them amazing. They are just amazing all on their own. The Chickpea Salad is complete with cucumber, tomato, feta, herbs, croutons, mesclun & red wine vinaigrette. If you are looking to add some more girth, chicken, tuna, salmon, eggs & avocado are all available for a small upcharge.
Eleven – Blackened Salmon Salad
Blackened Salmon Salad…enough said, right? But wait there’s more. The fixings in this salad will have you coming back for more, more often than you would think. Eleven uses locally sourced mesclun greens, gala apples, fennel, pomegranate, crispy wild rice, feta & ice wine vinaigrette.
Aladdin’s Eatery – Taza Chicken Salad
With Aladdin’s Eatery having multiple locations across the board, the chances of you experience this salad just got higher. This delicious salad is hearty and oh so satisfying. The Taza Chicken Salad offers chopped spinach, romaine, yellow squash, zucchini, grapes, tomatoes, chopped marinated chicken & honey dijon topped with feta, dried cranberries & roasted pine nuts. Pita bread, of course, comes on the side perfect for wrapping, dipping, and mashing or really however you prefer it.
Shady Grove – Veggie Powerhouse Salad
Shady Grove is anything but Shady. This spot has some seriously good eats including a pierogi pizza that will absolutely blow your mind. But if you’re trying to be more gentle on the waistline, give the Veggie Powerhouse Salad a try and you just might never look back. This large and in charge salad is complete with mixed greens, broccoli, carrots, sunflower seeds, walnuts, craisins, granny smith apples & grilled portobello.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.