Restaurant Review: The Salad Stop

There's an episode of The Cosby Show where Theo inadvertently lands a job with a food company by criticizing their new ad campaign. The new tagline is "We're not just soup anymore." He insists that it would be better to have said, "We're still soup." He goes on to explain that soup is economical, delicious, nutritious and an ideal meal choice for struggling families. On the menu for it says "More than just salads" right below the name of the business. I think this too is a mistake, since what the Salad Stop does best is salads. And like soup, salads are "economical, delicious and nutritious". The menu items are reportedly made with "healthy, homemade, local and fresh" ingredients which is great but how does the food taste?

I went in for a quick bite a few weeks back and caught the beginning of the lunch rush. As more of America succumbs to the battle of the bulge there is a simultaneous push in the opposite direction. Studies have shown that those who are better educated and typically of higher socio-economic status tend to eat healthier, take vitamins and exercise. As we see the rising health insurance premiums and increasing rates of heart disease and diabetes in the general public I am always dumbfounded by the dietary and exercise habits of most Americans. If you told someone they were going to die if they pushed a certain button they wouldn't do it. But yet, people continue to treat their bodies as though it's not affecting their health in any way. People are pushing that button on a daily basis and despite warnings from doctors and their loved ones, they continue to live with reckless abandon.

The Salad Stop has a wide array of high protein, vegetarian and whole grain options. Though they were out of salmon when I went in (BOO!) I did get to order a great Cobb salad and caprese panini. 

The Cobb salad had plenty of grilled chicken, bacon, egg and blue cheese crumbles. The chicken was white breast meat, cooked all the way through. The bacon was salty, crisp and fatty in just the right places. The eggs were a tad overcooked for my taste but not inedible by any means. The blue cheese crumbles provided a savory and slightly funky note whenever they crossed paths with other elements of the salad. My only complaint was that instead of actual slices of fresh avocado, it was some sort of avocado puree which was somewhat unappetizing. I know intellectually that it's all the same thing but something about the streaks of avocado puree all over my salad was unsettling. The green goddess dressing was herbaceous, creamy and wonderful. An ideal dressing for such a protein packed salad, green goddess is not something you see all that often. I especially enjoyed the fresh tarragon I could taste in the dressing (it's my favorite herb). A light sprinkling of salt and freshly ground black pepper took this salad from good to extraordinary. Always remember to season everything you eat! The croutons on top were well seasoned and delicious.

The panini wasn't much to look at, but was quite tasty. There were thick slices of fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil leaves and the white balsamic vinegar reduction added a nice sweet and acidic accent to each bite. The panini took some time to come out and I imagine it had a nice crust but by the time I got it home the steam had done its damage and the bread was a bit soggy. It was my fault for taking my food to go. A panini should be enjoyed fresh off the panini press, you should be able to hear the crunch of the bread between your teeth. 

I washed it all down with some Teak iced tea, which was a perfect compliment on a hot day.

The decor is simple. The spaces and surfaces are clean with some random vegetable and food paraphernalia adorning the walls. The functional tables and chairs are black metal and the main dining area is in the back while there is limited seating in the front. The long and high counter divide the customers from the staff who are preparing their food. When I did peek into the food prep area it was fairly clean and brightly lit.

The service is good. Staff members were patient with me as I went over the extensive menu and answered my questions. My food was packaged nicely for my long drive home. 

In a time when we should all strive to eat more vegetables, The Salad Stop does great work with salads. Their healthy, homemade, local and fresh items are ideal choices for those of us looking to eat better. Next time you're on the run, step away from the fast food and frozen food bonanza of the supermarket and stop into The Salad Stop for some real food. Your waistline will thank you for it.