Archive for July, 2009

It’s hard to believe that we are midway through July, and the interminable humidity has literally just arrived on the East Coast. Anyway you slice it, these are salad days, and several new companies are sprouting up ready to accommodate. Some blocks have them positioned within eyeshot of each other so you can watch the parade of new fans.

I like the new salad bar concept–not pre-made, nor open double-aisled lines where customers create their own salads, but the new counter version where you choose the type of lettuce you want, the ingredients, the dressing, and all the extra toppings. These new places are different from the first entrant, Cosi, which stepped out into this terrain several years ago. These new companies have dedicated themselves to being green or organic and in the process have elevated the overall appearance of the experience and attention to ingredients.

Sweetgreen should be credited with starting the new concept in the Washington DC area with their yogurt and salad menu. Now they travel the city with what they affectionately call Sweetflow Mobile to reach out to more yogurt fans. The concept was created by 3 Georgetown U students (yes, they did eventually graduate), and they have successfully targeted the community’s love for freshness.

Their major new competition is from Organic to Go (OgoBethesda) which had a less pleasant ride into the marketplace including a shift in management and strategy. Their Bethesda, MD location is directly across the street from Sweetgreen and serves as the model for the company’s future expansion. Both have outdoor tables so you can just sit and watch competition in action. It’s a fun game. Yogurt’s not the second focus here but pizza and sandwiches make this concept a favorite for those looking for more than a salad.

Let’s break it down: Both Sweetgreen and Ogo tout their environmentally friendly approach to products (all compostable and recyclable, ecologically sound dining). We should feel good about their purchasing power and supportive of their efforts.

As for the taste test, I prefer the organic approach and the breadth of possibilities at Ogo. So many choices to personalize my meal. I did salad:salad matching of ingredients and preferred the end result at Ogo. Pricewise they scored high as well. They both offer pleasant outdoor dining, so that’s a draw, but Ogo wins the indoor contest as their space is more ample and less claustrophobic. The fact that it is less chaotic makes the overall experience more pleasant.

I have never eaten this much salad in my life. It’s seldom of interest to me, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the new salad experience.

I could grow to like arugula!

Tags: dining out, trends