Mixed Greens Chicago – Gorgeous Greens and Lively Atmosphere

If I’m being honest, I would say that salads are not my favorite thing to order when we go out to eat. Mixed Greens Chicago has definitely changed that! This fast-casual dining experience revealed an upbeat way to offer a wide variety of salads for every taste as well as the usual and some unexpected protein add-ins (grilled and crispy chicken, ahi tuna, tofu, etc.). They also offered other options including paninis, flat bread pizza, and soup.

Our visit to Mixed Greens Chicago in the Loop was definitely a welcomed treat. Most notable was the lively vibe we immediately felt when we entered. Mixed Greens in the Loop offered a convenient location, energetic wait staff and a clean, urban atmosphere.

Each menu item truly felt and tasted like something special. The ingredients were thoughtfully combined for flavor and texture. There were many options to personalize our meal, and our food was made right in front of us. Everything was prepared fresh as we waited; salads were individually hand tossed in big silver bowls, paninis were hand-made, and pizzas were baked to order.  There was a soup bar and warm pita wedges to go with our meal, as well as freshly baked cookies. Yummy!

First we ordered the Mexicali Salad: a mix of Corn, Tomatoes, Black Beans, White Cheddar Cheese, Corn Chips and Cilantro over a bed of Greens, drizzled with a Honey-Lime Vinaigrette that is out of this world.  There was also a Spicy Peanut Sauce to top it all off.

Next we ordered the Buffalo Blue Salad, which served the perfect amount of heat mixed with tender Buffalo Chicken, Blue Cheese, Cucumbers and a Spicy Ranch Dressing.  If you like your salad full of flavor and heat, this is the way to go!

Trader Joe’s makes this incredible Goddess dressing that is available on Amazon:

The Beef and Cheddar Panini was next. Truly a treat for the taste buds, this sandwich perfectly combined hot Beef, Melted Cheddar Cheese and Caramelized Onions, topped off with a Horseradish Mayo. The bread was sliced to just the right thickness and grilled to perfection. You have to experience the freshness of this sandwich to realize it took Beef and Cheddar to the next level. The sweetness of the caramelized onions combined with horseradish mayo gave it just the right kick to make it stand out in the sandwich crowd.

We finished off our meal with the BBQ Chicken pizza. Let me say first that this pizza was huge! Definitely a meal you could share, but it is so delicious, no one would blame you for keeping it all to yourself! I’m a huge fan of BBQ Chicken Pizza, so I had certain expectations.  Well, my expectations were shattered. Amongst the Diced Chicken, Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce and Red Onions, we enjoyed the unexpected addition of sweet, Grilled Corn. A little extra Parmesan Cheese and Crushed Red Pepper upped the flavor-game. We would absolutely recommend this dish.

There are two fabulous locations; one in The Loop and one in River North. Before our experience at Mixed Greens Chicago, I would not have considered a salad joint amongst my favorite places to eat in Chicago. Let’s be honest: there are thousands of restaurant options in the city, so in order to warrant a return visit, a restaurant really has to stand out in my mind. With the “something for everyone” mentality, good vibes, energetic staff, and fresh food prepared before your eyes, Mixed Greens was just a “feel good” place that honestly, I can’t wait to return to.

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