Another Walnut Food "Fight": A New “Greens” Eatery Joins Our Growing Number of Salad Restaurants

Walnut Creek had its spate of Vietnamese restaurants opening up earlier this year, and then it was the frozen yogurt shops. What's the new fad? It appears to be casual, affordably priced restaurants that specialize in serving big, fresh and chef-artsy-prepared salads, sandwiches, soups and other dishes you might label comfort foods.

Another of these salad restaurants is coming to Walnut Creek. Tender Greens is to go into a space on Locust Street, across from Peet's Coffee and Tea, right next door to Lark Creek Walnut Creek, and in the space formerly occupied by Forward Motion sports shop.

The owners of Tender Greens, an "artisan, farm-to-table" salad and soup chain are being mum about their plans here in Walnut Creek, but their sign is up in the window of the former Forward Motion storefront. The restaurant's impending arrival in Walnut Creek is announced on the company's website.

Tender Greens joins Lettuce on Locust Street, across from the and the new Salad Shack (in Plaza Escuela) in pushing this specialty salad phenomenon. The chef/owners of these restaurant seem to think there is a market: Walnut Creek residents and visitor don't want to pay as much for a good meal and/or they want to eat more healthy.

Of course, Fresh Choice has been around in a while, and it might be the original salad shop. But, sorry, the food at the buffet-all-you-can-eat style Fresh Choice is not in the same category as Lettuce. 

At Lettuce, you watch as they toss. That is, the staff tosses up your salad, with all those bright, fresh greens, right in front of you. Likewise, the staff serves up your soup, or prepares your sandwich while you wait. Especially good:the Napa Salad--spring greens topped with grilled rosemary chicken, toasted sugar walnuts, fresh field berries, and feta cheese.

Anyone been to the Salad Shack yet? It sits in the Plaza Escuela spot formerly occupied by one of Walnut Creek's yogurt shops, Red Mango. Red Mango was part of what Walnut Creek Patch called the Suburban Yogurt Explosion, but it suddenly closed in late July, to be replaced by the Salad Shack. Now, we have the Suburban Salad Explosion. 

The Salad Shack's menu boasts of "handcrafted housemade dressings" that top "chef's inspired salad creations." These creations have such titles as: The Sonoran (chicken breast, black beans, roasted sweet corn); the Thailand Crunch (more chicken breast, red cabbage, wontons), the Italian Chopped (salami, romaine, garbanzo beans), and the Healthy Anti-Oxidant Surge (spring mix, lots of fresh and dried berries, candied walnuts and berry balsamic vinaigrette).

As for Tender Greens? The company is being mum, but Matt Huffaker, business manger for the city, says the restaurant is looking to be open by the end of January. 

Much has been written about Tender Greens in the Southern California press. The March 2010 issue of QRS magazine says that Tender Green's concept has clearly resonated with diners in Southern California, with four Tender Greens locations opening up in less than four years. "The first one opened in Culver City, California, in June 2006, followed by San Diego in June 2008, West Hollywood in March 2009, and Hollywood in February," the magazine says.

The company apparently has big plans for expanding up and down the coast of California. We're told that the Walnut Creek Tender Greens spot would be the company's first restaurant in the Bay Area.

According to the magazine and Tender Greens' own website, its restaurants' menus aredivided into four parts: Simple Salads, Big Salads, Hot Stuff, and Comfort Soups.

The 10 Big Salad choices are all priced at $10.50. For $5.50, customers can order one of the five "Simple Salad" choices. The "Hot Stuff" includes hot sandwiches with chipotle chicken or flatiron steak. Tender Greens also serves treats in the way of cupcakes, brownies and cookies, including comforting favorites like chocolate chip and thumbprint cookies.