Move over, burgers and BBQ, you’re not the only foods being celebrated this summer. If the hot humid days have you craving a crisp salad instead, may we suggest a few of Charlotte’s best?
To make this list the best it could be, we reached out to Scoop readers on social media for their top picks. Follow Scoop on Instagram(@scoopcharlotte), Twitter (@scoopcharlotte) and Facebook so that your favorites can be included in our next round up!
Luna’s Living Kitchen
2000 South Blvd
What to get: The Rawco Taco Salad: Slices of avocado, pico de gallo, meaty walnutâ€almond crumbles and cashew sour cream atop a bed of organic lettuce. Served with hot sauce and raw, herbed veggie triangles.
Our Editor’s Pick is also from Luna’s- The Arugala Harvest Salad: a tangy, savory arugula salad tossed in a maple-mustard vinaigrette, topped with red cabbage, spiralized root vegetables, avocado, pear, caramelized pecans, pumpkin seeds, raisins and homemade cashew-basil cheese.
300 East
300 East Blvd
What to get: Try the Seared Ahi Tuna Salad, a Scoop Editor’s pick! Organic Greens, Avocado, Fried Wontons,Seared Rice Cake, Sesame Dressing, Wasabi, Shoyu.
Cafe Nordstrom
South Park Mall
Scoop reader’s pick: Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad: organic baby greens, romaine lettuce, jack cheese, tomato, grilled corn, pumpkin seeds, cilantro lime vinaigrette. Perfect for a mid-shopping break with the girls.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
3920 Sharon Road
Scoop reader’s pick: Grilled Shrimp & Strawberry Salad: mixed greens, fire grilled shrimp, goat cheese, jicama, spiced pecans, strawberries and balsamic vinaigrette.
Nolen Kitchen
2839 Selwyn Ave
What to get: The NK Salad: mesclun greens, herbed goat cheese, granny smith apple, red onion, spiced pecans, tart cherry vinaigrette.
Scoop reader’s pick: Nolan Kitchen’s Kale Salad
Cowfish Burgers and Sushi
4310 Sharon Road
What to get: Chinese Chicken Saled: Grilled all natural chicken, mixed greens, Asian slaw, snow peas, red peppers, cilantro, green onion, tangerines, peanuts, carrot & beet curls, crispy noodles, crispy wontons with peanut ranch vinaigrette.
Cafe Monte
6700 Fairview Rd.
Scoop reader’s pick: The Endive Salad: green apple, bleu cheese, candied walnut, dijon vinaigrette.
Bad Daddy’s
1626 East Blvd
What to get: I’ve heard from multiple people that “any salad” on bad Daddy’s menu is their favorite, and you can’t go wrong. However today we’re focusing on their “Cue†The Chicken Salad for one major reason: the BBQ Ranch Dressing. People are freaking out over it. Here’s the salad: Romaine lettuce, red cabbage, pulled BBQ chicken,Roma tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, avocado, spicy corn slaw, cilantro and topped with crispy onion straws and of course, the BBQ Ranch dressing.
131 Main
1315 East Blvd.
Scoop reader’s pick: The Ahi Tuna Salad: Grilled Ahi served rare with mixed greens, avocado, mango,
red onions and ginger vinaigrette 
The Palm
6705 Phillips Place Court
What to get: This salad was created back in 1973. We’re taking that as a sign that it’s a tried and true favorite. The Louis “Gigi” Delmaestro Salad: shrimp, green beans, tomato, onion, bacon, iceberg lettuce, roasted pepper, egg and avocado tossed in a garlic vinaigrette.
Brixx Pizza
Multiple locations
Scoop reader’s pick: The Brixx Salad with grilled or blackened salmon: fresh spring mix with pistachios, crumbled goat cheese and croutons tossed with house-made balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
The Mayobird
1531 East Blvd
What to get: Their “Health Nut” menu option includes a scoop of any of their homemade chicken salads on top of their house salad, so you can really build your own flavors. 14 Chicken salad options range from “The Skinny Bird” made with light mayo to “The Greek” made with greek yogurt, feta and other Greek fixings.
Crisp
1961 E 7th St.
What to get: Create your own salad from their fresh selections, or the F.C.N. Salad: Fruit, Cheese & Nuts: Mixed Greens, Apple, Pear, Blue Cheese, Walnuts, Craisins, Lemon Vinaigrette.
Dressler’s
1100 Metropolitan Avenue #125
What to get: G’s House Salad: mixed greens, goat cheese, apple caramelized onions, candied walnuts, balsamic vinaigrette.
Vapiano
201 S Tryon St.
What to get: Insalata Reef’n Beef: Grilled beef filet, shrimp, grilled vegetables, cherry tomatoes, spring onions and lettuce.
Zio Casual Italian
116 Middleton Drive
What to get: Zio makes our list not only because we heard their salad are great, but they’re possibly also some of the freshest. Zion takes their greens and vegetables right from the source-they have a garden on-site. Try The Shrimp & Spiedie Salad: Mixed greens, tomato, dried cranberry, Gorgonzola crumbles, glazed almond, grilled shrimp, beef spiedies, Italian vinaigrette dressing.
Other Notable Picks from our Readers:
Pasta & Provisions: The Kale Salad
1528 Providence Rd. = Get it TO GO for your family’s dinner. Our reader swears even the Kale Haters at the table will fall for it.
Moosehead Grill: The Strawberry Salmon Salad
1807 Montford Dr.
