Looking for a place with great salads (PHX)

[azhotdish]

No particular ingredient, just focus on quality. My mother seems to be on a salad-kick these days, and I'd like to take her to a place where salad is not an after-thought. I've had some good ones at Bloom and Cafe Citron, but have not been to either in quite some time.

All prices, anything east of Central Ave. Thanks!

[ejs1492]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Country Glazed Ham, at Hilton Village in Scottsdale. Their salads are GREAT. Same with the sandwiches. It has been around since the 80s but hasn't lots it's touch and they keep adding good things to the menu. I'm not much of a salad-for-a-meal guy, but when I do have the craving this is where I head. It has a devoted following and is always packed for lunch.

My only gripe with the place is that they wouldn't hire me when I applied for a job in high school. How was I "not qualified" to be a cashier? ;-)

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Country Glazed Ham Co
6107 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

[Kam7185]

Z-TEJAS has some wonderful salads. I LOVE the southwest ceasar at ZTEJAS. I have them swap out the chicken for grilled shrimp! It's delcious! The jerk chicken salad with feta and a sesame vinagrette is also awesome. My friends also rave about the chopped chicken salad.

[firecooked]

My two favorites for salads (at least at lunch):

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Cowboy Ciao
7133 East Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

the farm at south mountain
phoenix, az, phoenix, az

[hohokam]

working place link for Quiessence (The Farm)...

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Quiessence Restaurant & Wine
6106 S 32nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85042

[hollyeve]

I love the salads at Ticoz. The chopped salad is my favorite. The service sucks, but the salads rock. And I can highly recommend the passionfruit mojito =D

[tastyjon]

Though not a restaurant, I like to go for the occasional salad at AJs and Whole Foods. Maybe I'm a control freak, but it's nice to be able to build your own, with a wide selection of ingredients. Plus you can sit up front and people watch, as both places seem to draw a diverse crowd!

[hzp]

actually, i completely agree!! infact.....(shhhhh!) once in a blue moon, i find myself pining for the bobby mcgee's salad bar of my youth.

[lapazlinda]

I was embarrased to post the same thing, and I like the salad bar at Wild Oats as well. They put some of their fresh deli items in, differing each day, and it's a great way to sample, or get lucky and get their chicken salad with radishes.

[azhotdish]

Yes, I used to do this at Wild Oats a lot for lunch; add too many ingredients though, and that pay-by-the-pound salad can get pricey!

[tastyjon]

Actually it was Wild Oats and not Whole Foods where I liked grabbing a salad - 40th St & Camelback. It must have been the merger making me think it was a WF. In any case, they just shuttered this location a couple of weeks ago.

[barry]

If salad bars count, I have to mention Cork and Cleaver on 44th St and Camelback. Nothing crazy, but they keep everything really cold and fresh. For some reason I just love it. The plates are so cold they hurt your hand if you hold them too long.

Barry

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Cork'n Cleaver
5101 N 44th St, Phoenix, AZ 85018

[hzp]

you know, i ALWAYS wonder about cork n cleaver... how are they otherwise?

[azhotdish]

as do i - i live two miles from there and have never visited. curious to hear your thoughts...

[barry]

I hate to disappoint, but I've only had lunch there, and then only the salad bar. The burgers I see on the open grill look pretty good, and the place is always pretty full, for what its worth. It's a pretty big restaurant with lots of separate rooms. There is also a bar and small patio. The service is always very friendly and efficient. Sorry I can't provide more info.

Barry

[lapazlinda]

Taking your rec today, barry, I work in the area, and have a friend coming by today for lunch. I will salad bar, and he will do a burger, I suspect. Thanks!!

[Lala0310]

I love the "old school" salad bar at Feeney's. The hostess is so nice and welcoming, always makes us feel like family. I've been there for lunch and just got the salad bar, it's a great price and yummy too.

[hzp]

i completely agree. its our goto spot for neighborhood stuff, and there is just something about the fake bacon bits.. the croutons, and the old school salad bar there we just unabashedly adore.

[1wino]

Not nearly as trendy or pricey but top-quality nonetheless is Crackers & Co. in Mesa. It's in an industrial area behind the Home Depot off Country Club just south of US 60. Despite this obscure location, it's always packed because their salads are hearty and scrumptious. Soups and homemade desserts rock, too.

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Crackers & Co Cafe
535 W Iron Ave Ste 131, Mesa, AZ 85210

[azhotdish]

Veronika used to bring in desserts to the Starbucks I worked at years ago - she was a regular; what a nice lady. Thanks for the reminder, and yeah, it's in a weird spot.

[modthyrth]

I'd say your review used to be right, but the last time we were there, the quality had slipped tremendously. My turkey sandwich had cold cuts--not house-cooked slices of turkey breast (something I'm *very* picky about). My mother's Strawberry Spinach salad had only *one* strawberry, and the candied nuts were small and skimpy, and no longer fresh and made in house (she's a pastry chef with a VERY discriminating palette and can always suss these things out, but it was confirmed by our server).

Maybe things have changed in the last months; nothing would make us happier than to ad Crackers back to our list of favored places. But we were very disappointed by the changes the last time we were there, and aren't inclined to go back.

[modthyrth]

I like three things at Old Town Tortilla Factory: the margaritas, the patio, and the tequila lime salad. Get it with some rock shrimp and you have a filling, delightful, light meal.

[winedubar]

personally i love the salad's at lisa g's, the steak salad and the fruitti de mar especially.

[hzp]

you know, i LOVE LOVE delux's salads. I never end up with a burger there.

and also, surprisingly, I find myself really attracted to the salads at CPK on occasion.

[azhotdish]

i hadn't thought of delux - their beet salad sounds perfect. thanks!

any idea how the salads are at orange table? i know you're a fan of that place.

[hzp]

you know, haven't been in a while.... its one of those places that just sort of fades into the background sometimes... nothing wrong, just forget about it...

it occured to me, of course the liegeoise is renowned, but I'm a big fan of the endive salad at trente cinq as well.....

i agree with poster below about lisa g...

[mamamia]

West of Central, really? If you're open to a bit east:

I've had a great Thai Beef Salad at Cherryblossom Noodle Cafe.

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Cherryblossom Noodle Cafe
914 E Camelback Rd Ste 1, Phoenix, AZ 85014

[azhotdish]

Thanks mamamia - I have edited my post - I meant EAST of Central.

[ciaogal]

One of my Mother's favorite Salad places is Arcadia Farms in Old Town.
They have a great salad selection and a few heartier dishes for the bigger eater.
My Favorite is the warm gilled vegetable salad w/ chicken. My Mom loves the Greek Salad. You can't beat the setting as well! It's beautiful.

I highly suggest a reservation!

http://www.arcadiafarmscafe.com/afs/m...

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Arcadia Farms Restaurant
7014 East First Avenue, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

[Booger]

Il Postino is good for salads. My wife had the Mixed Greens (way more to it than it sounds), and I had the Italian Picnic (I think that was the name). Both were wonderful. For more substance, you can add chicken or fish (I think) to them for an upcharge, but I thought they were perfect as is (and we had bruschetta anyways, so we didn't leave hungry by a long shot).

$5 glasses of wine before 4pm is also a wonderful thing.

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Postino Winebar
3939 E Campbell Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85018