This past weekend, the fiance and I drove to San Diego to jump start the holiday season. We had a Thanksgiving party with my college friends. Let the holiday feasting begin.
It rained all weekend in San Diego, but the skies did clear up around Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday, we had lunch at Tender Greens in Point Loma in San Diego.
This is my first time dining at this restaurant chain. It had good reviews so I was excited to try it.
After we placed our order, we went through a quick line where we can see all the action with the salad making and the main kitchen. Seeing all the ingredients definitely helped with my appetite.
Once our food was ready, we paid at the register and found a comfortable booth to sit. The whole process of ordering our food and lining up to pay is sort of cafeteria style, but definitely an upscale restaurant type of food. No cafeteria food here.
I ordered one of the specials for the week, Parsnip and Apple Soup with basil oil. It was a hearty soup but not as thick as squash soup, and surprisingly not sweet from the apples. It was tasty and even the fiance said it was very good. I will be searching for a similar recipe for this soup.
I also ordered a big salad which was Chipotle Barbecue Chicken Salad which was served with romaine hearts, avocado, green onion, queso fresco, crispy tortilla strips and cilantro lime dressing.
The dressing had a mild taste which was great because the chipotle chicken was very flavorful. Next time, I would order the salad with the dressing on the side as it tasted a too oily for me. I like my dressing very light.
I believe they served the chicken with the skin still on, it definitely carried the chipotle marinate into the salad mix and help the chicken meat stay moist.
Fresh toast with my salad, love the oil on the bread.
The fiance ordered a hot plate from the grill, the marinated flat iron steak sandwich with aioli and roasted peppers.
He said it was good.
Applie Pie to go. I ate it when we came home and it was good too. It was not overly sweet and I like the ratio of the crust and apple. Just right 🙂
After lunch, we headed north towards home and stopped by the factory outlets in Carlsbad. I only visited a few stores, it was already crowded with the holiday shopping in full swing.
I couldn’t resist buying a few items at the Crate & Barrel Outlet.
Things that I WANT but don’t really NEED! (I kept repeating to myself while I was at the store).
Healthy Coconut 
What a cool dinner spot! The soup looks delicious. I love places that SHOW the chefs making the food (always makes you feel better about what you’re eating). I can’t believe we’re like a month away from Christmas- ahhhh!
I know, time is going by so fast. I will try to live it up everyday and be present so I can remember the holidays and not feel rushed.
Baking helps a lot, my memories are associated with smell so when I bake, my whole day smells like like Christmas 🙂
i LOVE fresh salad places!! i agree with the dressing- they ALWAYS put wayyy too much. Looks like a neat spot though!
I normally always asked to have my salad dressing on the side, I forgot on this day. Lesson learned.
I never knew that Crate and Barrel has a factory store! I hope there is one near me! 🙂
I’ve only seen one and it’s the one in San Diego. I believe they have an outlet store on line too? It’s very tempting to buy a lot of stuff because you think that it’s cheaper than the real store, but then I always keep in mind to buy stuff that I will use all the time.
Oh, I love love love tender greens! there is one near my place in Culver City that I like to go to. I didn’t even realize there were others. MMM… now I want to go there for dinner tonight.
Hi Roxan, what’s your favorite dish at Tender Greens? It was my first time so I just ordered what sounded good, my food was great but I’m curious to try the rest of the menu.
Andy and I are going to San Diego for Thanksgiving and now i’m determined to find that C & B outlet. I really want to go!
I think it’s a good idea that you check it out 🙂 I hope Andy doesn’t mind you spending a lot of time in there. The fiance took a cat nap in the car.
It’s on the 5 freeway, in Carlsbad, exit Palomar Airport Rd.
I’ve never heard of Tasty Greens but it reminds me of a place up here called Pluto’s that I absolutely love =)
Is it in San Fran too? or just near your area?
that place looks so good! I wish we had those in VA 😦
Sounds like you had a great lunch date! The soup and salad look so yummy! Outlet stores! So good and so bad. 😉
Karin, so good BUT very very bad. That’s why I don’t go often, it’s too dangerous for the pocketbook.
I have not heard of that restaurant…looks and sounds amazing! I love that there are a lot more options for healthy eating on the go now. 🙂
Carrie, me too, I love that there are a lot more options to eat healthier and that it’s affordable. This restaurant is very simple in style/decor but the food is great, so to me, that’s what matters.