Summertime and the weather’s HOT. While we’re totally not against having ice cream for lunch and dinner, we recommend trying one of these refreshing salads when you need to cool down.
Fast & Fresh
Chopt
Where: 4125 Park Rd., 8022 Providence Rd., 9844 Rea Rd. (Charlotte)
Order: Any of the seasonal salads (known as Destination Salads)
Verde
Where: 15105-F John Delaney Dr., Charlotte
Order: Buffalo Caulipower – romaine, buffalo cauliflower, roasted chicken, shredded carrots, bleu cheese, buttermilk dressing, Red Clay Hot Sauce
Seoul Poke Bowl
Where: 3609 South Blvd., Charlotte
Order: Build your own salad (just choose mixed greens as your base) and top with protein of choice plus carrots, edamame, ginger, daikon, cucumber, and more.
Crunch Bistro
Where: 6414 Rea Rd., 401 N Tryon St. (Charlotte)
Order: Buffalo Bleu – romaine, grilled buffalo chicken, onion straws, bleu cheese crumbles, red onions, tomatoes, house bleu cheese dressing
Casual Crunch
Urban Cookhouse
Where: 1601 E Woodlawn Rd. Suite B, Charlotte
Order: Pepper Patch – black beans, corn, red onions, tomatoes, pepper jack, roasted jalapeno vinaigrette (protein is an additional charge, but I recommend the shrimp kababs or lime-marinated steak)
Living Kitchen
Where: 2000 South Blvd. (Charlotte)
Order: Rawco Taco – romaine, avocado, pico de gallo, walnut-almond rawco meat, raw crackers, cashew sour cream, fire and brimstone sauce, sprouts, micro cilantro
The Mad Greek
Where: 5011 South Blvd., Charlotte
Order: Village Salad – tomato, onion, cucumber, feta, bell pepper, peperoncino, olives
Inizio Pizza
Where: 10620 Providence Rd., 2230 Park Rd. (Charlotte)
Order: Italian Chopped – romaine and arugula, salami, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, kalamata olives, croutons, shaved Parmesan, house vinaigrette
B. GOOD
Where: 400 S Tryon St. Unit R1, 7926 Rea Rd., 14825 Ballantyne Village Way (Charlotte)
Order: Thai Noodle – tofu (the one above is chicken instead), zucchini noodles, spicy slaw, romaine, pecans, cilantro, spicy coconut dressing (seasonal salad)
Have a Beer with That
Duckworth’s Kitchen & Taphouse
Where: 4425 Park Rd., Charlotte
Order: Blackened Salmon Salad – Scottish salmon lightly blackened and drizzled with a sweet chili sauce served atop greens, charred corn, edamame, quinoa, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, green onion, and chipotle ranch
Growler’s Pourhouse
Where: 3120 N Davidson St., Charlotte
Order: Corn Off the Cob Salad – roasted corn, tomato, bleu cheese, bacon, hard-boiled egg, romaine, roasted tomato ranch
Legion Brewing (SouthPark)
Where: 5610 Carnegie Blvd., Charlotte
Order: Spicy Shrimp Cobb Salad – Santa Maria spiced grilled shrimp with eggs, avocado, corn, tomato, bacon, and herbed goat cheese with romaine, local greens, and cilantro lime vinaigrette
Lunch is Served
Reid’s Fine Foods (Myers Park)
Where: 2823 Selwyn Ave., Charlotte
Order: Classic Caesar – romaine, house croutons, classic dressing, Parmesan crisps
Reid’s Fine Foods (SouthPark)
Where: 4331 Barclay Downs Dr., Charlotte
Order: Wedge BLT – heirloom tomatoes, pork belly lardons, Boston bibb lettuce, house croutons, creamy sun-dried tomato dressing
Kid Cashew
Where: 1608 East Blvd., Charlotte
Order: Wild-Caught Salmon, Kale & Quinoa – wood-fired salmon on kale and topped with cucumber salsa
ROOTS Cafe
Where: 2135 Southend Dr., Charlotte
Order: Bunless Veggie Burger – house recipe veggie burger, fresh greens, pickled peppers, sliced red onion, fresh spring veggies, simple vinaigrette, fire-roasted chili aioli
Fran’s Filling Station
Where: 2410 Park Rd., Charlotte
Order: Great Big Salad – beets, green beans, goat cheese, garbanzo beans, veggies, sunflower seeds
Midwood Smokehouse
Where: various locations
Order: Dixie Chicken – romaine, pulled BBQ chicken, Roma tomatoes, black beans, red onion, avocado, smoked corn, cilantro, crispy tortilla strips, chipotle ranch
Leroy Fox
Where: 705 S Sharon Amity Rd., 1616 Camden Rd. Suite 150 (Charlotte)
Order: Linda Lou’s Chef Salad – fried or grilled chicken, mixed greens, hard-boiled egg, shredded cheddar, diced tomato, cucumber, croutons, honey mustard
Amelie’s
Where: various locations
Order: Blueberry, roasted peach, bleu cheese, blueberry balsamic vinaigrette
Have Some Salad with Your Pasta
Mama Ricotta’s
Where: 601 S Kings Dr. AA, Charlotte
Order: Tuscan Salad – romaine, diced Roma tomatoes, house-made mozzarella, red onions, kalamata olives, tossed and topped with balsamic vinegar and EVOO
Aria Tuscan Grill
Where: 100 N Tryon St., Charlotte
Order: Gem Lettuce Salad – endive, radicchio, pomegranate, Pecorino, hazelnuts, walnut vinaigrette
Pasta & Provisions
Where: 1528 Providence Rd., 4700 Park Rd., 1600 S Mint St. (Charlotte)
Order: Kale Salad – baby kale, shaved carrots, radishes, cherry tomato, cucumber, champagne vinaigrette
Angeline’s
Where: 303 S Church St., Charlotte
Order: Grilled Caesar – grilled baby gem, fried anchovy, pickled shallots, frico chips
Civetta
Where: 7828-E Rea Rd., Charlotte
Order: Chopped Antipasto – arugula, romaine, radicchio, spicy salami picante, aged provolone, artichoke, romano cheese, fresh basil, red onion
Cool SouthPark Spots
WP Kitchen
Where: 6706 Phillips Place Ct. C, Charlotte
Order: Chinese Chicken Salad – candied cashews, sesame ginger dressing
Harper’s
Where: 6518 Fairview Rd., Charlotte
Order: Oriental Chicken Salad – Asian chicken, greens, mushrooms, almonds, scallions
Paco’s Tacos
Where: 6401 Morrison Blvd. #8A, Charlotte
Order: Too Big Taco Salad – crispy wheat and flour tortilla triangles, black beans, chili con queso, romaine, corn, tomatoes, mixed cheeses, creamy chili lime dressing, topped with seasoned ground beef, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole
Bulla Gastrobar
Where: 4310 Sharon Rd. Suite W01, Charlotte
Order: Grilled Octopus Salad – Roma tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons, lemon
Yafo Kitchen
Where: various locations
Order: Build your own salad and top it with lots of flavorful ingredients (beets, chick peas, tabbouleh, feta, olives, cabbage, and more, plus your choice of protein)
Date Night
Upstream
Where: 6902 Phillips Place
Order: Kale Salad – duck confit, Asian pear, candied ginger, cider sesame vinaigrette
The Stanley
Where: 1961 E 7th St., Charlotte
Order: Arugula, country ham, bleu cheese, pecans, strawberries, balsamic
McNinch House
Where: 511 N Church St., Charlotte
Order: Grilled Peach Salad – grilled peaches, arugula, mint pesto, goat cheese
Burton’s Grill
Where: 1601 E. Woodlawn Rd., 9816-J Rea Rd. (Charlotte)
Order: Superfood – quinoa, baby spinach, golden raisins, feta, grape tomatoes, julienne veggies, lemon vinaigrette
Mimosa Grill
Where: 327 S Tryon St., Charlotte
Order: Seafood Salad – three Carolina shrimp with market fish or salmon over mixed greens or classic Caesar
Fahrenheit
Where: 222 S Caldwell St., Charlotte
Order: Blake Kale Caesar – shaved kale, homemade garlic croutons, Pecorino, burnt lemon dressing
