Tender Greens-yet again

Sometimes there are other subjects, but today, mmm-yoso!!! is just about food.  Kirk and Ed(from Yuma) are, again, busy; it's Cathy doing the writing.  

After a week of rain, winds, gloom, cold and chilliness, along with consumption of way too much chili, stews and soup (which will be in different posts, interspersed in the coming weeks) (because I'm sure that's what most of you have been eating) a bit of 'healthy' eating for the New Year did occur.  

A first post, in 2009 a short mention in 2010, another visit in 2011, Kirk wrote a post in 2013, I wrote about Tender Greens a few months later, then in 2015, even breakfast was included in a post.  So, here we are, again.  There are now four San Diego locations. 

  The drill is the same, walk in, order, follow the line, maybe watch your own order being constructed, pay and pick up your tray at the end.     The 'comfort soups' are now $5 (that's a basil oil and some sunflower seeds floating on top of the wonderful, fresh squash soup). Standard/daily soups are roasted roma tomato and rustic chicken, which are each wonderful and filling for a small meal.  Items we've ordered before (and fall back on) include the Tuna Nicoise Salad ($12.50) Albacore grilled rare on top of potato, capers, tomato green beans, a quail egg and olives and greens tossed in a sherry vinaigrette.     The Backyard Steak Salad ($12.50) is topped with rare (or more cooked if you prefer) steak. The radishes and beets on top of red and green lettuces are tossed in a horseradish vinaigrette.  This was a chicken chili soup ($5) filled with vegetables and deep tomato flavor.     There were a few times we've ordered out of our 'comfort zone'- this Southern Fried Chicken salad ($11.50) is a good example.  Simple greens, tossed in a dill dressing with sliced radish and cucumber all topped with fresh fried, light and crunchy breaded large chicken chunks, this was a really decadent, fully flavored meal which will be ordered again.  We had never ordered anything with chicken (other than soup) here and were so happy with this salad.   One of the whiteboard specials was, again, mussels ($11.50) and of course we ordered it.  Steamed in a garlicky broth and served with the toasted bread slices, this was another great choice.   Of course, my absolute fallback salad here is the Happy Vegan ($11.50). Tender greens in the center, topped with a (fresh!) lemon vinaigrette, surrounded by mounds of four other salads: farrow (wheat berry) with cranberry and hazelnuts; quinoa with cucumber and beets; green hummus; tabbouleh.  This is the meal that satisfies and which I would eat daily if given the choice.   Once again, trying something new (to me), the Chinese Chicken Salad ($11.50)was a wonderful choice.  Shredded (warm, fresh) chicken and crispy wontons on top of a mix of tatsoi, mizuna, yellow pea sprouts, carrots, peanuts, cilantro and green onion tossed in a sesame dressing.  We did not expect such a great tasting salad.  The thesaurus doesn't have words to describe what was the freshness and flavor in every bite.  

Hope your February is going well!

Tender Greens. Four San Diego locations.  Website


 

Comments

[caninecologne]

Great post on Tender Greens! The Happy Vegan looks pretty good (and I'm not vegan) as well as the salads with the fried chicken and steak. I need to do a revisit (it's been nearly 8 years, yikes).

[Nhbilly]

The proteins looks awesome and the greens too,🤢

[janfrederick]

We were there last week. Love sitting outside. The tomato soup was awesome!

[Cathy]

Thanks, cc. Happy Vegan is just so very nice and leaves you feeling satisfied; fresh and flavorful. Go back!
This is only one of two places we returned to the same day following a first lunchtime visit, Bill. It is that good. Never feel the need to 'personalize an order-each ingredient is just right and even the salad dressing is not too heavy nor too light.
Something so simple as a tomato soup does seem way better here, JF...fresh roasted tomatoes and all. So nice to be able to sit outside in January/February,etc.