My Favorite....SALAD

Arugula, Spinach, Bibb, Romaine, Iceberg….a plain, boring vegetable? Not when these Fort Worth restaurants dress them. Although these salads may not be the healthiest options on the menu, they are my favorites. For lunch, I love going to Yogi’s Bagel Café or McKinley’s, and for a date night or night out with the girls, I go to Winslows for my favorite soup and salad combo.

YOGI'S BAGEL CAFE

It may be embarrassing, but I eat at Yogi’s two to three times per week and never get sick of it! The menu is endless and serves breakfast all day. Even though the Migas ($7.89) and enormous buttermilk pancakes ($4.69) are tempting at 12:30 pm, I can’t order anything else but the Oriental Chicken Salad ($7.25). The chicken is flavored with teriyaki sauce served over romaine lettuce with chow mein noodles, feta cheese, and sesame seeds all tossed in a sweet oriental dressing. Usually I do not like hot chicken on my cold salad, but any flavor this bold can make an exception. In the winter I get the half salad/half soup combination ($6.59+for chicken) with my favorite salad and the corn chowder. The friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere make Yogi’s the ultimate everyday restaurant.

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WINSLOW'S WINE CAFE

Changing to a more upscale environment is Winslows Wine Café at 4101 Camp Bowie. I have met owner Joe Barry at Patrizio’s bar, his new competitor restaurant right down the road, as he was scouting out his competition. He serves one of the best salads in town. I always order the West Side Wedge ($8), a wedge of baby iceberg lettuce covered in a homemade blue cheese dressing, blue cheese crumbles, warm and crisp apple wood smoked bacon, and Roma tomatoes. I order this rich salad before splitting my favorite pizza, the Jim Bowie ($15 for 10”) with BBQ grilled chicken, smoked cheddar cheese, jalapenos, apple wood smoked bacon, and a hickory BBQ sauce. Or, if I am at Winslow’s more for the wine than the food, I will order a cup of the Roasted Tomato Basil Soup to accompany my salad. The soup is made with Roma, Beefsteak, and grape tomatoes, apple wood smoked bacon, and basil crème fraiche. I guess I can’t get enough of that apple wood smoked bacon!!

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McKINLEY'S FINE BAKERY AND CAFE

Located in University Shopping Center, McKinley’s bakery is perfect for a ladies lunch. Even though it has changed locations, the food is still the same, including my favorite…the Barbi Salad ($8.95). Large portions sometimes call for the downsized version ($6.50). The Barbi Salad is composed of fresh romaine lettuce, chopped roasted chicken breast, sweet sliced strawberries, toasted walnuts, crumbled goat cheese, and a light honey vinaigrette. The lively atmosphere with green and purple walls make this order-at-the counter restaurant hard to beat. And good luck getting out of there without purchasing some sort of dessert or treat!

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