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Best Spring Salads In Pittsburgh

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As the weather gets warmer, we often crave lighter and healthier foods. That is why spring is the perfect time to restart your efforts to get yourself in shape for the summer and eat right. From fresh spring greens to tasty fruit and lean meats, these Pittsburgh-area restaurants serve up some salads that are perfect for enjoying in the spring sunshine.

Upper Crust
201 S. Main St.
Washington, PA 15301
(724) 222-5050
www.facebook.com/TheUpperCrustGourmetItalianDeli

If you are looking for a fresh and crisp salad with an Italian twist, Upper Crust, located in Washington, offers and especially tasty house salad. Mixed spring greens are topped with tomato, onion, cucumbers, kalamata olives and fresh mozzarella cheese slices. The salad comes in a large meal size or a half size that is perfect with a bowl of one Upper Crust's homemade soups. You can choose your favorite dressing, but the house Italian has just the right blend of seasoning to make this salad's flavors pop.

Sharp Edge Brasserie
102 Gallery Drive
McMurray, PA 15317
(724) 942-2437
www.sharpedgebeer.com

If you like some fresh fruit with your salad, Sharp Edge Brasserie's field green salad is a great choice. This salad features the complementary flavors of crisp, sliced apples and tart dried cranberries with a base of baby greens. Creamy goat cheese and crunchy, toasted pecans add texture and flavor sophistication. Although you can choose your dressing, the Lindeman's Framboise vinaigrette offers a tangy raspberry flavor.

Downey's House
6080 Steubenville Pike
Pittsburgh, PA 15205
(412) 489-5631
www.downeyshouse.com

If you are a fan of bleu cheese, Downey's House, located in Robinson Township, offers a tasty choice with its Heather's wedge salad. This tasty salad features a simple wedge of iceberg lettuce topped with bacon crumbles, tomatoes and dried cranberries. The bleu cheese dressing is the perfect pairing to the bacon and cranberries. It is light, yet full of flavor. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy it on Downey's House's large outdoor patio to soak up the spring sunshine.

Related: Best Vegetarian Burgers In Pittsburgh

Eleven
1150 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 201-5656
www.elevenck.com

If an exotic salad is more your speed, Eleven, located in the Strip District, has a beet salad that is a culinary delight. This salad features maple-cured duck ham with fresh beets and pickled red beets. The combination is mixed with little gem lettuce, cornbread croutons and Meadowcreek Appalachian cheese. Molasses vinaigrette unites the earthy beet and lettuce flavors with the meat and cheese. The salad is a study in contrasting textures and flavors.

Piper's Pub
1828 E. Carson St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 381-3977
www.piperspub.com

For a tasty main course salad, try Piper's Pub, located in the South Side. The Pub salad starts with a large plate of mixed greens with grape tomatoes, red onion and cherry peppers. Hard-boiled egg and crispy chips add some hearty texture. The salad is topped with your choice of chicken or steak and then sprinkled with tangy capers and shredded provolone cheese. Piper's Pub offers a variety of dressings to choose from, but hearty bleu cheese or tangy vinaigrette both complement this salad nicely. Piper's also offers a similar salad topped with grilled salmon or grilled vegetables if you prefer.

Related: Best Chocolate Shops In Pittsburgh

Jennifer Stockdale is a native of the greater Pittsburgh, PA area. She is a restaurant marketer and wine enthusiast and one of the hosts of the East Coast Wine Geeks Podcast. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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