Searching for Salad

[kiwijen]

OK, this is not a joke. There are times when what I most want is a really great salad. Good quality greens. Large portions. Creative combinations. A stellar salad makes me really happy.

But I'm out of ideas. So I turn to you, kind chowhounds.

What's your favorite salad available in the Philly area and why? Where do you find it?

Thanks in advance!

[padovana]

Ah, PEOPLE, Gia Pronto. West Philly (Penn's campus) or at 20th and Maret (only weekdays during lunch). It's my absolute must and I really don't care about getting salad otherwise out.

Also, randomly, Du Juor has a decent salad with candied walnut and cranberry and onion

[kiwijen]

Great ideas, everyone! Thanks so much for the responses.

Any ideas in the burbs? Chestnut Hill? Mount Airy? Conshohocken?

I love Zakes Cakes for lunch salads, but it's often really crowded; their dinner menu's too pricey for what you get.

[bananafish]

I second the votes for Marathon Grill and Pietro's. Both places have creative, large and tasty salads. There's also several Asian grocery stores with great NY-style salad bars. I like VIP on Walnut (between 12th and 13th, I think), but there are others that are good, too.

[berbadeerface]

I would just about put Maoz in this category. I've always ordered the sandwich before, but today I just felt like a big salad. The salad box meal deal comes with some greens, about 5 falafel balls, eggplant and hummus, and then you go to town loading it up with all the other great stuff (corn salad, spiced carrots, coleslaw, pickled eggplant, roasted peppers, broccoli and cauliflower etc etc), and the tahini sauce mixed with the fresh coriander sauce is great for making your own dressing. All this comes with a nice big fresh carrot juice for about $7.50. Does not leave you wanting...

[kiwijen]

Wow, that sounds awesome! I'll definitely try that!

[Elaine]

Couch Tomato - Manayunk. Ingredients are always fresh, dressing options include fat-free raspberry, and the included rolls (esp. the whole wheat) are good.

[AmblerGirl]

I just adore the calamari salad at Buddakan, perfectly dressed, perfect acidity, perfectly crisp calamari. The fig and blue cheese salad at Amada is really good too, you should try the lunch menu at Amada, its great!

[Chefmonty]

I like the chopped greek salad at The Drafting Room. Will be getting one tomorrow with the Monday night AYCE Mussels special

[Max Buten]

Corner Bakery. I have their Chopped Salad at least once a week. They leave out the green onions for me and give me harvest bread instead of the roll. Yum! And big - too much for my lunch.
- Max

[katesprings]

Nowhere near Center City but if you are out in the southern Chester County area you must try Talula's Table. I recently had the best beet salad there. It had red and yellow beets, candied walnuts, mixed greens, croutons. It was awesome!

[rocknroll52]

They have great salads at the Marathon Grill. Another place that has good, humongous salads is Pietros Coal Oven Pizza.

[jerseytomato]

Gia Pronto. I also like going to Grocery at 13th and Chestnut and making my own for takeout. I like Marathon's salads but they can be pricey depending on what you get. I had a really interesting and tasty salad at Sabrina's this weekend that was a special (and it was enormous, surprise!)- I'm unsure of their regular salad offerings.

[barryg]

Marathon Grill has a "control freak" salad where you can build your own creation. Kinda like a higher end salad works.

[Chefpaulo]

Salad Works? Not bad if having a sudden craving for greenery.

As for more upscale places, Teresa's Cafe in Wayne has a large arugula salad with shaved parmesan and aged Balsamic that I love. They also have salad specials that may ring your chimes.

[TwoBellies]

I dig Salad Works.

[kiwijen]

Hmm... got a sandwich with a large moth in it a few weeks back from CC Salad Works. I know, I know, it could happen anywhere, but I might have trouble eating at Salad Works for a while.