Motor City Bowls: Beyond Your Average Salad

By: Carolyn Hall | August 1, 2024
caulicous salad from zingermans deli

Photo courtesy of Zingerman's Deli

Salads are a great go-to on hot days, especially when looking for something fresh. While many think of leafy greens and savory dressings, there are many other salad options around Metro Detroit. From deli specials and pasta salads to a bowl of greens, these options are not your average house salads. All mixing a variety of flavors to delight the palette, these local spots are serving up high-quality bowls of deliciousness. Here’s a look at where you can find some of the stand-out salads Metro Detroit has to offer…

GAUDINO’S

27919 Harper Avenue, St. Clair Shores

Gaudino’s in St. Clair Shores brings modern Italian to their menus. With a full deli counter at the center of the restaurant, fresh cheeses, meats, and salad offerings are just a stop away. On the dining menu, you can find options like Genovesi with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red onion, and a red wine vinaigrette, to Rustica with a spring mix, soppressata, artichoke, Gorgonzola, and balsamic vinaigrette, and Casear with housemade dressing. Pair it with a charcuterie board for a lighter pairing or other appetizers like Nonna Marra’s meatballs and Salsicca (house-made sausage, peppers, and onions).

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CHARTREUSE KITCHEN & COCKTAILS

15 East Kirby Street, Detroit

Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails is renowned for its inventive cuisine and commitment to fresh, locally sourced ingredients. As entrees are highly dependent on the day’s deliveries, you have to keep an eye on the menu for fast changes with new innovative twists. The Brothers Nature Greens, for one, is perfect for a warm day with fresh fruit and light flavors. Featuring blueberry, pickled strawberries, radishes, toasted pecans, smoked blue cheese, and topped with a sherry vinaigrette, it is a must-try when on the menu. The Maple Creek is also excellent, with breen lettuce (think purple romaine), lemon feta, asparagus, chive, and crispy garlic pieces. 

ZINGERMAN’S DELI

422 Detroit Street, Ann Arbor

Looking for a delicious deli salad? Check out Zingerman’s! Zingerman’s Delicatessen is an institution known for its commitment to “full-flavored, traditionally-made foods – from storied sandwiches and Jewish classics to seasonal side dishes and specialty food staples,” shares Jennifer Santi, Marketing & Communications Manager. The salads are no exception, offering a variety of fresh and hearty options. You can find three kinds of potato salad here (old-fashioned, Zingerman’s, and garlic), chicken or tuna salad by the half-pound, spicy chicken pasta salad, and more deli choices. On the veggie side, the ABC Kale keeps things simple as a raw kale salad with olive oil, Marcona almonds, dried cherries, and romano cheese. CauliCous is another standout, as an Indian-influencer couscous salad with roasted cauliflower, along with Julie’s Farr Out with grilled asparagus, red peppers, goat cheese, and kale. If you’re looking for your fill of greens, the Cyprus and Caesar salads are both excellent options as well.

zingerman's deli salad trio: potato salad, tuna salad, and abc kale
Photo courtesy of Zingerman’s Deli

OAK HOUSE DELI

603 South Washington Avenue, Royal Oak

Oak House Deli is a gem that offers a variety of delicious salads and sandwiches perfect for a light lunch or a satisfying dinner. Oak House Deli’s menu features several ‘wet salads’, including a variety of pasta salad choices, like fire-roasted red pepper, zesty bowtie, Southwestern Taco, Greek Feta Village, and more. On the vegetable side, options range from vegan broccoli crunch to feta and mint couscous. Not forgetting the creamy salads, there is everything from egg and macaroni to tuna and chicken. For those looking for some lettuce-based bowls, the antipasto, goat cheese, and vegan corned beef salads are all great options. 

SAN MORELLO

1400 Woodward Avenue, Detroit

Located in the Shinola Hotel, San Morello offers a contemporary take on Italian cuisine. One of their signature appetizers is the Arugula Salad. Simple yet elevated, this dish highlights the peppery flavor of fresh arugula with a roasted garlic vinaigrette, Castelrosso cheese, and black mission fig. The combination of flavors and textures makes it a perfect starter or light main course. Try it with one of the other appetizers, like the housemade focaccia or the tuna crudo, or enjoy it while your wood-fired pizza or housemade pasta is being made to perfection. 

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