Sweetgreen's seasonal offerings are reliably delicious, but the Harvest Bowl is the heartiest we've had thanks to the addition of wild rice and a few hunks of goat cheese to the kale, apple, chicken and sweet-potato base. Read More »
Multiple locations | 215-454-6770 | Website
The roasted root salad isn't your average salad. It's a brilliantly composed plate of cared-for veggies, tangled wilted pea greens, caramelized rainbow-hued carrots, paper-thin slices of wood-fired beets, served warm and topped with creamy chévre. But then again, Nomad isn't really your average pizza joint. Read More »
611 South 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-238-0900 | Website
Now here's a way to appeal to folks who don't judge salad by its healthfulness: deep-fry the greens. That's what makes the fronds of watercress so crispy in this one. Battered in ultra-light rice flour, they're flash-fried before getting sauced with a sweet-and-spicy lime/basil/chili dressing. Read More »
112 North 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-829-8939
The Arugula Taco Salad keeps it interesting at every bite with a medley of black beans, grilled corn, pico de gallo, tortilla strips, avocado, and a cilantro dressing so good that you'll want to lick the bowl (which we did). Read More »
127 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-278-7605 | Website
To escape DIYing our greens in front of a sneeze shield, we head for this creatively assembled (by someone else) salad with warm shrimp, shaved parm and half an avocado, atop a bed of greens dressed in lemon vinaigrette. Ah, dignity. Read More »
227 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215-545-2262 | Website
We aren't a town known for our greens. Which is why the meal-sized tossed salads at Cake have us going out of our way to set lunch dates at this charming Chestnut Hill bakery-slash-cafe, a former greenhouse with a French-picnic atmosphere. There are enjoyable standards like tuna Nioise, classic chopped versions, and a carbed-up sesame chicken and udon noodle salad. But what we really love are the inventive options, like the generous Greek grain salad cleverly amped up with wheat berries, barley and red wine/dill vinaigrette, or the colorful roasted beet and mango dish tossed in vanilla oil with pomegranate balsamic syrup. Read More »
8501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA | 215-247-6887 | Website
EXPERT PICK: "This organic salad includes brussels sprouts, carrots, raw cashews and orange slices, and is mixed with a spicy mustard dressing. The good-quality oils they use in dressings here are a restaurant rarity. And the mix of textures helps stave off salad boredom." —Ali Shapiro, health counselor, alishapiro.com. Read More »
119 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA | 267-318-7441 | Website