Ask George: What’s the best place in St. Louis to get a hearty, entrée-sized salad?

What’s the best place in St. Louis to get a hearty, entrée-sized salad? – Mary B., St. Louis

Swimsuit season has arrived—bringing with it poolside afternoons, beach getaways, and the annual urge to lighten things up at mealtime. That’s where the power salad comes in. Not a skimpy side of greens, mind you, but a full-on, entrée-worthy dish that satisfies. Whether you’re watching calories, craving something crisp and fresh, or just trading your usual burger for a bowl packed with flavor and texture, we’ve rounded up some of the best spots in St. Louis to grab a hearty, summertime salad. And to minimize caloric intake, you can always request the dressing on the side.

On a side note, like every other foodstuff, restaurant salads have become pricey. It’s not uncommon for salads to cost $15—which can creep closer to $30 if proteins (especially seafood) are added. Alas, entrée salads are now entrée-priced! Here’s the list in alpha order. Reader’s additions are noted with an asterisk (*):

• 5 Star Burgers (8125 Maryland) The $12 signature salad contains mixed organic greens, sunflower seeds, Gorgonzola cheese, smoked bacon, dressed with port wine vinaigrette. The secret ingredient is black mission figs.
• * Anthonino’s Taverna (2225 Macklind): Any one of their three salads can be topped with gyro meat, grilled chicken, or chopped Volpi salami. The house salad with Buffalo chicken is one of my favorites.
• Bartolino’s (three locations): In this recent Arch Eats podcast, I declared Bartolino’s salad “the best house salad in town.” It’s made with mixed greens (mainly iceberg), Volpi salami, St. Louis-style pizza cheese, pepperoncini, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, plus Bartolino’s famous anchovy and buttermilk-based, Mayfair-style dressing. It’s $16 at Twin Oaks location.
• * Black Bear Diner (2865 Veterans Memorial, St. Charles): The Crispy Chicken Cobb ($13.69), with chopped crispy chicken strips, cherry tomato, thick-cut bacon, hard-boiled egg, avocado, bleu cheese, red onion, and croutons, can also be ordered with chicken tossed with Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wing Sauce.
• BrickTops (10342 Clayton): The aptly named Palm Beach (on the lunch menu but can be requested at dinner) includes lump crab meat, poached shrimp rémoulade, avocado, diced tomato, and chopped egg is one of the more memorable salads in town, and a relative bargain at $24.
• BRIO (1601 S. Lindbergh) The sticker-shock price ($27.49) of two salads—one topped with grilled salmon, the other with grilled tenderloin—is mitigated by the addition of a quartered, crispy sourdough boule and butter, one of the best bread offerings in town.
• Crushed Red (multiple locations): Of the 16 available salads, a current favorite is This Pear is on Fire ($16.79 at the Clayton location), with spiced pears, dried cranberries, bacon, goat cheese, and avocado with spinach and house greens, tossed with jalapeño honey dressing and topped with candied walnuts.
• * Dalie’s Smokehouse (Dougherty Ferry): The Blackened Chicken Salad ($13.25), with baby spinach, Bibb lettuce, blackened smoked chicken, sweet and spicy pecans, sliced red onion, diced pear, bleu cheese crumbles, and balsamic vin, is delicious and filling.
• Dewey’s Pizza (multiple locations): There’s always a seasonal special, but the Candied Walnut and Grape salad—with field greens, gorgonzola, and citrus basil vinaigrette—is always available. It’s $11.25 at the U. City location.
• Flower Child (10336 Clayton): Fairly new on the local scene, this popular chain boasts healthy eats including the Turkey & Avocado Cobb salad ($14.45) with romaine, arugula, red cabbage, avocado, tomato, cucumber, crunchy corn, pickled onion, smoked almond, and gorgonzola vinaigrette.
• The Frisco (8110 Big Bend): The Cobb salad ($17), with romaine and green leaf lettuce, hard boiled egg, bacon, tomato, cucumber, avocado, red onion, cheddar, and buttermilk dressing, really shines with the addition of smoked trout (for $25 total).
• Grassi’s (10450 German): Prepped a giant bowlful at a time, the Italian salad ($4.29 for a small salad or $8.59 for a large) has generous amounts of fried croutons, green olives, and parmesan cheese. It’s one of the must-haves at this classic institution.
• * Havana’s Cuisine (12 S. Euclid): The Cuban Breeze ($10, + $5 for added chicken or pork) includes fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, chimichurri seasoned feta cheese, house-made Cuban breadcrumbs, and poblano avocado ranch dressing.
• Joey B’s (multiple locations): The chef salad (all of the salads, really) at Joey B’s are so massive, we once asked if anyone had ever finished one. The server deadpanned, “Not to my knowledge.” It’s $16.99 at the Hill location.
• Katie’s (multiple locations): While many clamor for Katie’s Fried Artichoke Salad, we gravitate to the one named after Katie Lee’s father, Tom’s Chopped, with market lettuce, sopressata, wild fennel, garbanzo beans, castelvetrano olives, pecorino romano, red wine vin, and a special Italian cheese called caciocavera. It’s $20 in Rock Hill.
• Michael’s (7101 Manchester): Michael’s does almost everything right. The Gyro Salad ($14.99), with fresh meat carved off the spit, is no exception.
• * Mike Duffy’s (multiple locations): You can’t beat their steak salad, but I lean to the Southwest Chicken Salad ($16), with grilled or crispy chicken, bacon, red onions, cheddar cheese, and housemade southwest ranch.
• Neon Greens (4176 Manchester): It doesn’t get any fresher than when the salad lettuce is grown on site, as it is here. Of the nine available salads, all have been winners, with a slight edge to the Thai BBQ, with mizuna, red cabbage, carrot-jicama slaw, avocado, peanuts, crunchy chow mein noodles, local smoked chicken, and a peanut vinaigrette. The Chewy Cheese Bread on the side is a must. It’s $17.50 and $2.65 for the bread.
• * Pasta House Co. (multiple locations): Chances are good that most readers have created the legendary Famous Salad ($11.99 at most locations) at home: Romaine and iceberg, with artichoke hearts, sliced red onion, pimento, aged Wisconsin parmesan, and signature red wine vinaigrette.
• Pastaria (7734 Forsyth): The Chopped Salad ($22.95), with little gem lettuce, pepperoni, chickpeas, green olives, pistachios, oregano, red wine vinaigrette, and pecorino, is an excellent version of the genre.
• Peel Wood Fired Pizza (multiple locations): We’ll often pair either of Peel’s two excellent soups with a pizza or a salad, such as the Mixed Berry Salad ($17 in Clayton ), with blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, shaved fennel, arugula, sunflower seeds, toasted goat cheese, and basil vinaigrette.
• Perennial on Lockwood (216 W. Lockwood): The Berry + Feta Salad ($14), with arugula, pickled shallots, candied oats, local berries, Baetje Farms feta, orange, and tarragon vinaigrette, is especially refreshing in the warmer months.
• Taco Buddha (multiple locations): Those who didn’t know Taco Buddha even offered a salad should consider the Baja Salad, with fresh greens, pico de gallo, radish, grilled corn salsa, cotija, avocado, pepitas, and Baja dressing. As an entree, add one of TB’s proteins. It’s $8.50 without a protein.
• UKraft (701 Market): Of the nine available salads, we give a summertime nod to the Honey Apple ($14), with antibiotic-free chicken, apples, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, cucumbers, almonds, granola, and honey apple vinaigrette.

Send any worthy additions/suggestions to [email protected]

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