Top 5 Salads in Chicago

Warm weather always results in the same sort of lunch, during the week at least. I guess that’s why everyone in L.A. is so thin. It’s the salads! (Easy on the dressing, of course.) In Chicago, there’s nothing better than a thick, tender hunk of shortrib over a mound of polenta in December, but come June, I go crazy trying to find a great salad. Here are my top 5. Suggestions for additional ones are welcome.

1. Bandera’s Macho Salad (rotisserie chicken, avocado, roasted corn, goat cheese, arugula, chopped dates and cornbread croutons)

2. Naha’s “Southern Fried” Chicken Salad (romaine, roasted corn, glazed pecans, shaved bermuda onions, and Spice House buttermilk “ranch” dressing)

3. Shaw’s Crab House’s Signature Chopped Seafood Salad (King and Dungeness crab, shrimp, lobster, hearts of palm, avocado, egg, cucumber, olives, tomatoes and scallions; Louis dressing and vinaigrette on the side)

4. Province’s Granny Smith apple and chicken salad, candied olives, toasted almonds

5. Do-it-yourself (Salad Bars) – R.J. Grunts and Fogo de Chão