It's not typical for me to get a salad when I go out to eat, instead, I usually opt to make my own salads and reserve my dining out options for things that a little more indulgent and exciting. However, a couple weeks back, I got invited to try a complimentary salad at Tossed. Tossed is located in the Pru and boasts a wide selection of fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps and over 50 add-ins and dressings. The space itself isn't very large but it definitely packs a crowd at lunch, which is when I stopped in to try one of their salads. After I was greeted by a rather frazzled employee that was aggravated that I was in the "to-go" waiting area when I hadn't ordered yet, I was welcomed by Bob, who was warm, friendly and took some time to go over the menu with me. He also made helpful suggestions and pointed out popular selections. I decided to go with the "design your own salad" option and created a salad consisting of an arugula and spinach mix "tossed" with carrot slivers, dried cranberries, cherry tomatoes, grilled chicken, sugar snap peas and dressed with a citrus chipotle dressing.
A couple quick minutes after ordering, I had my salad in hand and was settling into a small table. The salad was large and filled with a decent amount of my requested toppings. All of the vegetables were fresh, with the exception of the sugar snap peas that were showing their age a little. That being said, the salad overall was very crisp and satisfying and the portion size very large. I found the dressing to be a little watery but still tasty with just the slightest suggestion of smoky chipotle heat.
My only gripe was the price tag. My "design your own salad" came with a large portion of lettuce and four options of vegetables to choose from a list of 29 fruits and vegetables (each additional item is $0.50). Then, for anywhere between $1.00-$4.95, there's the option to add in meats and cheeses or "gourmet" items like avocado or mango. My only add-in was roasted chicken and I did get a bottle of water to accompany my salad and my meal came to just under $12. While some of the pre-selected salad options are cheaper (they run a more reasonable $7-10) I couldn't help but contemplate the price tag. It's funny, had I been sitting down at a restaurant and had been waited on, I wouldn't flinch at a $12 price tag but because my salad was served to me in a plastic bowl and was intended to be eaten quickly and on the go, I felt that the price was a little steep. Maybe that's just my lighter, culinary school wallet speaking?
7 comments:
I had a nice lunch at Tossed awhile back as well. What surprised me was just how crowded it was!
I loved my salad at Tossed, but I agree $12 is pricey for a salad, especially at lunch time, but a salad at a sit-down restaurant would probably cost about the same - at least at a place like Cheesecake Factory. I didn't bother to calculate how much mine would've cost, but I'm sure it would be up there too. At least the Tossed salads are large portions!
Yum I love salad! 29 fruit and veggie options?! I do agree about the price being a little high though. I love this place in Boston called Sebastians and they have unlimited veggie, fruit, tofu and cheese toppings! It does get quite expensive when you add meat or eggs to it though. Without the added meat it's $8 and it's HUGE!
Great review! When I visited Tossed, I wasn't super impressed, either - although I like the idea of a healthier alternative to mall food.
Great review Katie. When I worked nearby I would get lunch at Tossed every once-in-a-while. The salads are tasty, but I also thought the price tag was a bit high for a salad.
Definitely pricey... Sebastian's is like that too. But it sounds like a good grab 'n' go option.
That is pretty expensive for a salad.
Post a Comment