Salad

I love a good healthy salad. I also love to be able to eat out while sticking to my diet, or at least without feeling like I TOTALLY blew it. I feel pretty stumped every time I try to think of a place that offers a really great, healthy dinner-type salad. There are plenty of tasty salads out there, but I am not interested in the kind that are the caloric equivalent of a bacon cheeseburger. I really like the Big Salad at City Cafe as well as the Spinach Salad at Third Avenue. Can anyone else recommend any really great restaurant salads that you can make a meal out of?

[Robin Garr]

I was going to recommend City Cafe's Big Salad, d'oh! I love that thing.

Try the salads at the new Zen Teahouse on Frankfort ...

Laura, you have to try the Tilapia salad at St. Matthews Lou Lou. It's spring mix, hearts of palm, mandarin oranges, black olives, red onion, avocado, and a grilled (or blackened, if you prefer) filet of tilapia with house-made orange-tarragon vinaigrette.

I LOVE the Tilapia Salad at Cafe Lou Lou. It is my favorite salad. Laura you really need to try it.

Not a pre-made type salad, but the salad bar at Jason's Deli is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

The Tilapia Salad at LouLou sounds awesome! It is definitely on my list.

Where is Jason's Deli?

410 S Hurstbourne Pkwy and 4600 Shelbyville Rd. For some reason, I thought they had a location across from the old Showcase Cinemas too; attached to Starbucks. But, am pretty sure that is not accurate.

There is a third Jason's location going in where the Blockbuster used to be on H'bourne between the icky Wal-Mart shopping center & the strip mall with Moe's and Melting Pot.

Oh, nice. That Hurstbourne location is one that I am slightly more likely to visit than the others mentioned. I checked out the menu online, and it really sounds good to me.

I'm a fan of the ginormous salad! I love the the salads at The Cafe (formerly at the Louisville Antique Mall). I had a gorgeous roasted vegetable salad at Butterfly Garden a few months ago.

I feel a little bit guilty about naming chains, but California Pizza Kitchen and J. Alexanders serve some nice, BIG salads. CPK's mediterranean, which sits on a layer of hummus, is probbly my favorite, and Thai Kai at Alexander's is a close second.

Thanks for mentioning the chain salads as well, because when I'm going out with groups (like family) it's always nice to be able to steer them in the direction of a chain that's going to offer me a delicious salad. All of those described sound yummy.

I had a salad bar at Jason's Deli for lunch today and it was awesome! That place is great! I also really appreciate how they are pro-organic and anti-MSG, HFCS, and the like.

Laura, you have to try the Tilapia salad at St. Matthews Lou Lou. It's spring mix, hearts of palm, mandarin oranges, black olives, red onion, avocado, and a grilled (or blackened, if you prefer) filet of tilapia with house-made orange-tarragon vinaigrette.

If Cafe Lou Lou makes it, I'm sure it is a great salad but my experience has been that ANYTHING "Tilapia" can be made better by using something other than this second cousin to a Carp. Oooops !!! Outside voice. My bad. Sorry. Carry on.

Perhaps one of these would fits your healthy, but meal satisfing requirement. While all are popular, the Salmon Salad is our top seling entree salad. Items with a ☺ indicate KY Proud ingrediant(s) are being used.

All Natural Chicken Salad - $ 8.50
Grilled All Natural Chicken Breast on a bed of Mixed Greens, Granny Smith Apple, Shredded Cheddar, Red Onion, Toasted Pecans with a Maple Cider Vinaigrette

Steak Salad - ☺ $10.50
All Natural Strips of Sirloin on a bed of Mixed Greens, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Red Pepper, Red Onion, Blue Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette

Salmon Salad - ☺ $ 8.95
Mixed Greens, Dried Cranberry, Cucumber, Chives, Fried Garlic Chips, Crumbled Feta Cheese and Raspberry Vinaigrette

Quiche - ☺ $ 8.25
Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Quiche served beside our House Salad

Baked Vegetable Duo – ☺ $ 8.50
A Zucchini Filled with a Blend of Roasted Vegetables and Aged Parmesan Paired with a Yellow Pepper
Filled with a Rice and Pecan Stuffing served with our House Salad

Caesar Salad - $ 6.50
Crisp Romaine, Shaved Aged Parmesan and Homemade Croutons with a Creamy Caesar Dressing
Add Grilled Chicken $ 2.00 ~ Salmon $ 3.00
Steak $ 3.50 ~ Shrimp $ 3.50

I usually get the big salad at Mark's Feed Store when I go there. You can have them put grilled chicken, pork or beef on it..and it's huge! They don't have a large selection of dressings, but I love their homemade ranch.