“He that sups upon salad goes not to bed fasting” isappropriately inscribed at the bottom of the to-go menu of the newuptown hotspot, Greenz. Just stroll down the ever-so-trendyMcKinney Avenue until you reach a cluster of neon green umbrellaspartnered with a bright purple awning. You, along with your tastebuds will be instantly welcomed to venture into this fresh, fast,casual restaurant.
Greenz, subtitled salads for z’adventurous, preparesentrée-sized salads piled high with the freshest and mostexotic ingredients around. Even your biggest burger fan will lovethe inventive and intriguing salad creations. Theorder-at-the-counter style makes the ambiance casual, with just theright amount of time lapsing between ordering and having theremarkable presentation appear at your table.
The menu is divided into two main sections: “For theVeggie Lover” and “For the More Carnivorous.” Theveggie list includes the warm pear and goat cheese ($7.95), a giantwhite bowl heaped high with arugula and mixed greens topped withpears, goat cheese, strawberries and candied pecans (no one’ssalad is complete without them). To-die-for apple, chamomile andhoney vinaigrette perfectly accompanies the salad. Both chicken($2.00) and steak ($2.50) can be added to any of the vegetariandishes.
The Chipotle chicken ($7.95) ranks high on the most popular listwith fresh greens, grilled chicken, tomatoes, jack cheese andtoasted pecans. The addition of zesty Chipotle cream dressing andcrispy tortilla strips allows this creation to send all appetitessoaring.
If generously sized and ingredient gorging salads don’tblow your whistle, you can choose to turn many of Greenz saladsinto delicious wraps, or choose from a small array of soups. TheAncho Tortilla Soup ($2.50 cup / $3.75 bowl) garnished withavocado, sour cream and crispy tortilla strips hit top notch.
Owners Casie Caldwell and Jennifer Huval set out to create aplace with a combination of healthy ingredients and a funatmosphere. Caldwell and Huval explained how “people [were]so tired of the traditional salad bar” and they could notfigure out why a place like Greenz had not already beenestablished. The two owners are constantly at the restaurant readyto dish out descriptions of their most adventurous ingredients (thedescriptions are also posted on their menu to make selectionseasier).
If you’re thinking that this is just another dietsatisfying restaurant filled with nibbling eaters who fork aroundtheir lettuce and croutons, you are mistaken. For heaven’ssake, my football playing brother was the one who told me I had totry it, and man was he right. Caldwell is promising that Greenzwill be “the most fun you’ll have eatingsalads.”