Spring Salad Selections in Tampa

Apr 12th 2011 12:00PM / by Nanette Wiser

If you like Sweet Tomatoes salad bar, you'll love these audacious salads, brimming with farm to fork bounty. Boasting ethnic influences, unique dressings, artisanal cheeses and toasted nuts, these sensational entrees turn even the most dedicated carnivore into a salad fan.

Cafe Ponte: Chef Chris Ponte's inspired dishes at this trendy cafe is a Zagat's favorite, from the sleek modern decor to the extensive wine list. Best of show is the Mediterranean parmesan-pine nut crusted chicken salad (roasted peppers, feta, pesto pasta, artichokes) served with kalamata tapenade crostini and drizzled in a balsamic sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. Equally delicious is Ponte's shrimp BLT, Asian chicken salad, chopped Tuscan and Bosc pear candied pecan cafe concoctions.
13505 Icot Blvd #214, Clearwater; 727-538-5768

California Pizza Kitchen: Skip the Thai chickie pie. Enjoy CPK's international healthy salads big enough for two such as the warm roasted veggie (artichoke hearts, asparagus, Japanese eggplant, yellow peppers in Dijon balsamic vinaigrette), BBQ chicken chopped or the Moroccan chicken salad (roasted butternut squash, Medjool dates, avo, beets, chopped egg, dried cranberries, etc.).

International Plaza, 2223 N. Westshore Blvd., #189; 813-353-8155

Westfield Brandon, 827 Brandon Town Center; 813-684-2375

Mitchell's Fish Market: If you crave seafood, the Fish Market salads are for you. You won't be disappointed by this sensational trio: seared tuna (sliced egg, green beans, olives, fingerling potatos), chilled shrimp salad with lemon-poppyseed vinaigrette and blackened salmon and spinach salad (Granny Smith apples, goat cheese, maple bacon vinaigrette).
204 WestShore Blvd.; 813-289-3663


NoHo Cafe : Using Urban Oasis farm greens as a palette, NoHo's culinary elves toss butter-roasted flat iron steak on the anchovy-garlicky Caesar or toast walnuts and layer seasonal fruits and gorgonzola crumbles on the signature salad.
1714 N. Armenia Ave.; 813-514-0691

Photo Courtesy of MCT