Restaurants toss salads onto summer menusRestaurants toss salads onto summer menus

Lisa Jennings

The summer salad wars continue to heat up along with the weather as restaurant chains across all segments aggressively compete with innovative offerings.
 
The use of fresh fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, apples and even watermelon in green salads is a theme this season, particularly among chains offering salads as a limited-time offer during the weeks when such fruits are in season.
 
Restaurant chains that have never been known for salads, such as the Las Vegas-based sandwich chain Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, are also getting in the game.
 
Ashley Morris, chief executive of Capriotti’s, said the addition of salads this week was the first menu line extension for the 70-unit chain in 35 years.
 
Morris said the salad additions were a natural complement to the brand’s premium subs. They’re also designed to eliminate the veto vote for groups that might include salad eaters and calorie counters.
 
“With people making healthier eating decisions these days, you have that X vote,” he said. “There’s that one who says, ‘I really wanted a salad.’”
 
Capriotti’s new line includes two signature salads: the Black and Bleu features iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, purple cabbage, house-made roast beef, tomatoes and diced cucumbers topped with blue cheese crumbles; and the Chopped Italian Salad includes iceberg lettuce, carrots, cabbage, salami, capacola, ham, pepper ham, provolone cheese, garbanzo beans, black olives, tomatoes and diced cucumbers.
 
A third option, the Cap’s Creation, allows guests to build their own salad with ingredients also available for sandwiches. Prices for all versions range between $5.50 and $7.00.
 
“We definitely thought about the calorie-conscious person” in creating the salad options, Morris said.
 
Though guests can select more indulgent dressings, such as creamy ranch or bleu cheese, the fat-free Italian is the standard option, allowing guests to keep under 300 calories, depending on the toppings added, he said.
 
Last month, Wendy’s amped up its salad offerings with the launch in late May of a new Berry Almond Chicken Salad, which features both fresh strawberries and blueberries, along with mixed greens, almonds roasted with sea salt, shaved Asiago cheese and grilled chicken breast.
 
Adding to its health halo, the fat-free raspberry vinaigrette dressing served with the salad also includes acai berry juice.
 
McDonald’s also brought back its once-popular Asian Salad -- which features mandarin oranges, snow peas, edamame, red peppers and almonds on greens with crispy or grilled chicken -- as a limited time offer. And Bruegger’s Bagels and Subway were also promoting new salads with fruit.
 
EARLIER: Bruegger's expands low-cal menu with new salads
 
Like Wendy’s, Quiznos is also using an acai vinaigrette for one of its new Farmers Market salad LTOs rolled out this week.
 
The Harvest Chicken Salad includes honey Dijon chicken, pumpkin seeds, grapes, apples, dried cranberries, cucumbers and tomatoes, tossed with the acai-spiked dressing.
 
The Denver-based sandwich chain also offers a Caprese Chicken Salad with fresh mozzarella pearls marinated in a basil pesto dressing. The salads are priced at a recommended $3.19 for a small and $5.99 for a regular.

SLIDE SHOW: See how chains are getting in on the salad act

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].

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