The new health food craze on the Corner, Roots Natural Kitchen, has an amazing selection of different salads. UVA alums Alvaro Anspach, Jung Kim, Joseph Linzon and Alberto Namnum started the restaurant as a company that would compensate for the "lack of healthy food in a fast, casual setting" on the Corner. Read more about Roots' origins here. Looking at the menu can be overwhelming, especially if there is a long line, so keep reading to see which salad is best for you.
If you want a healthier version of a burrito and are trying to cut down on your Chipotle consumption: The El Jefe
Ingredients: brown rice, chicken, kale, black beans, charred white corn, red onions, feta, pita chips, avocado, cilantro lime vinaigrette
If you're craving a classic Cobb salad, but want a healthier version: The Corner Cobb
Ingredients: Arcadian salad mix, chicken, kale, roots rice, sweet potatoes, charred white corn, red onions, cucumbers, hard-boiled egg, avocado, cucumber feta dressing
If you're in the mood for something that feels Mediterranean: The Apollo
Ingredients: brown rice, chicken, spinach, cucumbers x2, grape tomatoes, red onions, feta, pita chips, olive oil and lemon dressing
If you're sick of eating boring, tasteless salads with limited variety of ingredients: The Mayweather
Ingredients: chicken, bulgur, roasted beets, sweet potatoes, red onions, goat cheese, avocado, lemon tahini and pesto vinaigrette
If you're not feeling too adventurous and want to stick with something on the safer side: Adobo Caesar
Ingredients: kale, chicken, bulgur, grape tomatoes, lime-pickled onions, shaved parmesan, pita chips, Caesar dressing
If you want to try tofu for the first time: The Southern
Ingredients: Roots rice, BBQ tofu, kale, chickpeas, roasted broccoli, charred white corn, lime-pickled onions, white cheddar, lemon tahini dressing
If you're in the mood for veggies: The Mad Bowl
Ingredients: brown rice, mushrooms, spinach, cannellini beans, roasted broccoli, red onions, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, shaved parmesan, basil balsamic and pesto vinaigrette
If you're feeling creative and nothing on the menu is speaking to you: The create your own option for a salad or grain bowl. Choose a base meat, vegetable, or tofu (chicken, grilled mushrooms, veggie, hot bbq tofu, or cold miso tofu) and then add a salad (Arcadian mix, kale, spinach) or grain (brown rice, Roots rice, bulgur). After that, pretty much anything on the main menu is fair game to add to your personalized bowl!
All Roots dressings are made in house, and the staff is very accommodating if you want to substitute an ingredient for another. All items are under $10 and portions are large. Happy eating!
