Tender Greens (Liberty Station) (another visit)

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of the food blog you are reading.  Kirk and Ed (from Yuma) are both way too busy to be writing a blog post.  Cathy is not busy and is sharing a few meals with you today.

Well, it's been another crazy hot day in San Diego. The Mister and I have been staying at home and eating and cooking here, but last month, we went to Tender Greens twice, so I thought sharing those meals would be a good idea for a post.  Kirk posted about a recent lunch visit to the downtown Tender Greens location in July and I posted in 2009  as well as in 2011.  

The location in Liberty Station is unchanged.  Two more locations have been added over the past four years. 

The "Specials" board is now along the wall where you wait in line to order, instead of just above the ordering register.  Prices have increased a bit over the years.  The menu and specials reflect what is fresh/available and in season. 

You place your order, then walk along the open kitchen and can see your meals being prepared from all the fresh raw and roasted vegetables and proteins. 

When you reach the end of the line, you can order a beverage and perhaps...

some sort of freshly baked dessert.

Anyhow, onto our meals here-

These two photos are different views of one of my favorite salads here, the Happy Vegan($11.50).  There are a total of five salad items on the plate. The tender greens, in the center, are topped with a vinaigrette. Next to the toasted bread you can see the scoop of green hummus (fresh chickpeas, parsley, lemon juice and garlic).  The wheat berries are more commonly known as farro and are mixed with dried cranberries and hazelnuts.

On the left is a fresh tabbouleh(bulgur, parsley, cucumber and tomato) and to the right is red quinoa with cucumber and beets. The Happy Vegan is filling and balanced and a complete meal. Sometimes I crave it. If all vegan meals are like this, I'd have no problem changing me eating habits.

The above salad is the Daily Special from the chalkboard($11.50)- P. Balesteri salumi, heirloom tomatoes, Feta, olives all on top of a baby kale salad with a roasted garlic vinaigrette.

Soup of the day- heirloom tomato gazpacho ($4).  We almost always order one of the available soups whenever we are here; each one is good. 

On another visit, the Soup of the Day was roasted tomato topped with a basil oil ($4)

The Thai shrimp salad ($11.50) is made with Little Gem lettuce, green papaya, thai basil, citrus peanuts, coriander(cilantro) and topped with a chili lime vinaigrette. The large, plump shrimp are cooked and chilled.  There were seven on this delicious salad.

Recalling the baby kale salad with roasted garlic vinaigrette from the previous visit, I made my own plate this visit with it (it's called a 'simple salad')($6) and added the herb brushed albacore ($5.50).  This was a great combination and since my discovery that baby kale is delicious raw, I've been making salads at home using it. 

All in all, fresh, good food here. 

Tender Greens  2400 Historic Decatur Road San Diego 92107 (619) 226-6254  Website

Comments

[Dennis]

It's midnight and I'm getting hungry for a salad!

[caninecologne]

I haven't been to TG in a while. Time for a revisit with all their new salad variations.

[Cathy]

Barely any carbs, fresh and filling, Dennis. I like that it's the same menu no matter the time of day.
Yes, the TG menu has changed a bit, but the same fresh quality is still here, cc. I think I have tried every variation, or minimally, every menu item...

[Jinxi]

Mm I love TG. The salads are really inspiring, love the variety of ingredients and flavors. Time for another visit!

[Cathy]

Everything here is so fresh, tasty and done right Jinxi. (I've never had too much or too little dressing on the greens). With the new locations at UTC and downtown, there's no excuse.