Savory Salads

Best salad/​sandwich place ever! I love their vegetable panini with portabella which is amazing. Everything is fresh made and very tasty! The owners are absolutery the sweetest! It’s worth a trip wherever you live! they are opening another bigger location in Arlington Heights! It’s a must!

I work less than 5 minutes from Savory Salads and live just about 5 mins away. The things I like about this little place: healthier lunch options, friendly staff, and fresh ingredients.
Why I’m giving SS 3 stars: the very first time I ordered a salad here, it was absolutely swimming in dressing… kind of like, «Would you like some salad with your dressing?» But OK, that is an easy enough fix — now I am just always sure to ask for dressing on the side.
However, my main complaint is that every time I order a salad (and I’ve tried a few different kinds) the salad always comes as 98% lettuce and very few other ingredients that are listed in the description of that particular salad on the menu. I always feel a little disappointed and like I just paid $ 8 for a huge bowl of spinach or romaine leaves.
I just had lunch with my husband here the other day and thought I’d give the Southwestern salad a shot. I think I counted approximately 6 pieces of avocado in the full size salad, a few kernels of corn & pieces of cucumber — and I don’t even remember seeing any jicama or tortilla strips.
I have never tried the paninis, so maybe I will give them a shot.

SAVE YOUR MONEY! Went to this place for a salad. I ordered a cesaer salad with steak on top, my wife ordered the same except with chicken instead of steak. They come to me after paying to tell me they don’t have the steak I ordered but will replace it with a much cheaper piece of chicken. Fine. We get our salads and immediately notice no homemade croutons. Fine. 0 for 2. Start to eat the salads and were not impressed at all and notice the chicken is very bland and tasteless (AND WHO PUTS COLD CHICKEN ON SALADS THAT’S GROSS). After paying $ 34 with a tip (that they force you to give if you pay with a card) I was thoroughly disappointed. I am now in deep depression because of this experience at Savory salads and have not been able to look at salad since that fateful day. Won’t be back here though, honestly. Try the burrito place across the street or Baloneys.

I absolutely LOVE Savory Salads. I stop here every time I’m in town and have always been blown away by how delicious everything is! My favorite is the turkey spinach panini, but I also really enjoy the meat lovers and the chopped salad. In the winter I usually pair my sandwich or salad with their homemade soup– also excellent. The portions are very generous, so I never seem to have room for dessert, but I always get a cookie to take home for later. Wonderful food, excellent service… this place is a GEM! Highly recommend.

Savory is a wonderful local salad/​sandwich place in Barrington! Fast service, good food, and good portion sizes! I go often and have never had an issue with my special orders or quality of food. I love that I can eat gluten free at Savory as well. New online ordering makes pick-​up great if you’re in a time crunch too.

Anything and everything I have had at savory salads has been amazing. Everything is fresh, homemade and super tasty! The owner is a class act and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking to a fresh alternative to regular fast food. Flatbreads are to die for!

Walk through the door and you know you are walking into something special. A lot of pride and professionalism went into building this aura. Great attention to detail with a clean and friendly atmosphere. You feel warm and welcome from second one and we haven’t even got to the food yet. Started with a greek salad and chicken tortilla soup that were a perfect combo of fantasticness,. Had to come in the next day for the turkey provolone and it was a fabulous encore. Though the prices seem high the value matches the quality and flavor. I will be making this a regular lunch spot the days I’m in Barrington.

I’m giving three stars because the staff is friendly and the salads here are very fresh and tasty — always. However, I think they charge too much for what you get. I’ve been here several times and haven’t been for a while because I always felt that way. I went back today to give it another try, but it’s just not worth it. I ordered the Balsamic Blue salad and got the large portion because I was hungry and didn’t want to add chicken. It was almost $ 8 and there was almost no blue cheese in it at all! Just mixed greens and a few cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion.

I would normally rate this place a 2 but because I’m in a Chicago suburb, I’m cutting them a break. For the area, this may even be a 4. Had the spinach salad and the beef panini, both equally mediocre as is the whole restaurant IMO. It is however a lot better than Subway and other fast food.

Cute place that has potential. The menu items looked very good. I ordered the full-​size chopped salad and received a salad mainly full of lettuce. I barely received any other ingredients in the salad. The chicken was like rubber. My husband ordered ½ salad and panini. His salad was mostly all lettuce and he said it was the worst panini he has ever had.
*The owner was generally concerned about our dissatisfaction with our meals. Her concern and desire makes me want to give this place another try.

I’m an electrician. Because of this I get to eat out pretty frequently and actively search out the small privately owned greasy spoons instead of frequently visiting Mickey D’s, BK, or Taco Bell.
Last week one of my employee’s who I enjoy having lunch with the most because of our culinary enthusiasm, asked me how that salad place in Barrington was because I live near there. Uhhh, never went, was my reply.
Today was my chance to change all that. My wife and I were working at our rental in the village, when I complained that it was time to enjoy some lunch. «So where should we eat?» she asked. We should try that salad place next to Subway is what I offered. When I arrived there was a cluster of Barrington moms chatting in the tiny dining area, I stood patiently at the counter for what must have been 5 minutes waiting for someone to come to the counter to take my order. Only then did I notice in the clutter on the counter, the bell and sign suggesting to strike it for service. Really? There must be some intense salad science going on in the back area of the restaurant for no one to be manning the restaurant front counter during a late lunch period at 2pm!
One of the staff finally arrived and quickly took my order of two half salads and two panini’s. Two ladies began preparing my order. Before they began I was a little overwhelmed by the menu and especially the prices. $ 7. for a half salad and if you add some mediterranean chicken it’s a $ 2.50 addition? Like I said, this better be some crazy good salad science.
The meals took a little more than 10 minutes to prepare but once my wife and I were ready to enjoy it, we were not disappointed. The Caesar half salad for my wife was pretty good, but my Balsamic Blue was really tasty. I moved on to the Provolone Prosciutto panini. I’m a big boy and I can EAT. But I could not eat more than half of this sandwich after enjoying the salad. It kept calling to me for several
more bites, there was no more room.
My brain was saying MOOOOORE! But my stomach was reminding me that it was on the ropes and looking for break. My wife was got as far as three bites into her Caprese panini following her sald and she was done. Both of us were full and our found the meals to be tasty, filling, really enjoyable. Regardless of others who find the packaging that the meal is served in as less than savory, I like the fact that they are conscientious of the feed locally, operate globally mindset, of serving in packaging that is practical and effective.
Now if they could do something about their price points and still remain profitable, I would be thoroughly enthused about visiting a lot more frequently. For now, I’m really fond of this place and their meals. But I better do a lot more installations to be able to afford eating here as much as I would like. When my pocket has some extra green in it, I’ll be back to try the other items on that menu.

I stopped in here for the first time to pick up some dinner.
It was not a hopping place, and I’m not surprised because I almost missed it since it’s set back on the corner.
We ordered the parmesan chicken, the french dip and ½ blt salad. Everything was really tasty, fresh spinach on the chicken sandwich, nice jus for the french dip.
I will be back again.

I wish I could give Savory Salads like 50 stars! I go here every chance I get! The «crack brownies» really are spectacular and named for good reason — don’t forget to try one — if its your first visit. I love this restaurant because the staff starts your visit off with a warm glowing smile and offers to help you choose if you’re new. The menu is clearly posted above the «kitchen» area on chalkboards and the place has a tiny cozy feel. I have tried so many items off the menu, mostly vegetarian or vegan since they opened but my girlfriend tried lots of their other sandwiches and loved them. Whatever they put on their veggie panini is pure magic. They also have a good variety of coffees available. Like I said 50 stars! Every single time — Savory Salads wins my heart!

The team is friendly and the food is fresh with real ingredients. Not quite sure why you would go to subway next door instead of here if you want actual food. It’s certainly pricier but not out of the scope of other competitors like Panera. Supporting local business improves your neighborhood. Do it.
Recommendations to improve. The menu is unclear to newbies. Had no idea my sandwich came with chips. Then got charged extra when i askedfor another flavor. The baked goods look like displays not for sale. So I assumed I also had a drink. Nope. And turned down for an extra pickle. (I love them) Had no idea there were desserts until I got to the pickup station and sar them and the award for best baked goods. Totally would have tried one.

Extremely rude, only reason this place received two starts was because the food was good.

Love the southwest salad with spicy chicken. Lots of avodado, always fresh. This restaurant is always extremely clean and the staff are all very friendly and accommodating. There is a rewards card as well, make sure to get one.

I’m always in favor of giving the local individual restaurant my business, especially when it’s healthy, whole food.
Savory Salad’s quality has slipped. Last time I ordered 2 spinach salads to go. They were terrible. I called & told the young man they had no flavor & lacked ingredients. He was kind enough to credit my cc.
Today, I ordered the chopped salad. The avocado wasn’t chopped, it was chunked. Where was the bacon? Since I was eating my salad at Savory Salad, I asked the girl who made my salad if she added bacon. She said a little. There was none. She have me extra bacon on the side. When I showed her the chunk of avocado, she offered to cut it. I said I’d do it myself.
I’m doubting whether I’ll come back. It’s too bad, because they were really good — at one time.

WHOA.
My husband and I stopped by here one rainy night after his chiropractor session nearby and were kind of blown away by how unexpectedly cute and cozy Savory Salads was. Nice small tables, basic décor, very friendly employees, a small outdoor dining area for warmer days, and a mouth-​watering menu. After staring at the menu forever and figuring out exactly what we wanted, we ordered a couple paninis with chips and salads. And I got a coffee; Intelligentsia, baby!
The paninis are HUGE.
So huge, in fact, that I could only eat half of my panini and had to save the other half PLUS my chips for lunch the next day. And it was still amazing! So satisfyingly scrumptous. Savory, indeed.
Also, their paninis are the reason that my husband and I decided we needed to get a panini-​maker and make some awesome food at home (and I may or may not have bought one earlier today instead of waiting for Christmas… oops?!).
The only thing this place has against them is the location. It’s very easy to miss when you’re driving by during rush hour traffic and all you see is a glimpse of the bright Subway sign next door (DO NOT go to Subway — pay the extra couple bucks for the much better fare at Savory Salads). If it were downtown, it might get more attention. Or maybe not. Maybe this is just where Savory Salads needs to be.
Nom nom nom.

First impressions. Influential?
Some may say yes. I tend to think so.
However, if judging solely on initial impact of Savory Salads, this review would be far more dismal.
First impression Bummer #1: the place is called Savory Salads. As in, we have a HELLUVA LOTTA SALADS. And they’re savory! But, yeah, salads, we’ve got those! Well, kids, they have seven. Just seven. And of those seven, one is a caprese (boring), another is a Caesar salad (really?), then there’s a garden salad (you’re officially killing me) and a the ‘ol standby southwestern salad (olé? um, no) among a few others that I can’t even remember now. Salad-​a-​palooza? More like Slimpickins-​a-​snooza. Let down city.
First impression Bummer #2: the restaurant was dirty. Every table and counter I turned to had either a previous guest’s trash or crumbs on it. There was literally not a clean spot to be found. We had to request a wipe down of a table, which was kindly obliged, but the funny thing I noticed was that after the gal wiped down our table she just went back behind the counter and left the rest of the muck on other surfaces to hang out. If cleanliness is next to Godliness, this place is going to hell in a salad bowl.
First impression Bummer #3: presentation. A lot can be said about a foods appeal simply in how it looks. Well, at SS they present their dining-​in guests meals the same way they do their take-​away customers: in cardboard take-​out boxes sealed with stickers. See photos. I’m sure a less picky person might be apt to dismiss this altogether, however, it bugged me. Dining in, yet having to ‘unseal’ my takeout box and eat from it while dining on premise, felt odd and really highlighted a lack of effort.
At this point I’m sure you’re wondering why this review has three stars and not one. Now that I’m writing it I sort of am, too. But alas! I’ve remembered why. The salads!
While I complained about the succinct menu, my selection of the ‘Black and Blue’ salad with grilled steak, blue cheese crumbles, fresh red onion, sliced cucumber and house made Balsamic Dressing was beautiful, bountiful, tasty and uberfresh. I commented repeatedly on just HOW MUCH salad I had in front of me while my mom chimed in at how tasty and flavorful the chicken in her Southwestern ditty was. We wanted to be displeased but we just couldn’t. It was delicous! Really generous, overlfowing portions, quality ingredients and yummy flavors. Things had officially turned around.
Would I come back for said super salad? Probably… but for take-​out only. Dining with cardboard and crumbs, not nearly as savory as the moniker implies.

Not your grandmother’s sissy-​ass salad shop, that’s for sure.
This joint is what you get when you mix Mike Tyson and powerful, packed-​to-​the-​point paninis. These babys will know you on your ass.
I don’t typically even think of salads and paninis, but when I do I usually think of delicate women or ladies who lunch. Most of you reading this probably don’t know me, but I’ve never been called delicate in my life– I came out of the womb a hardened, hungry hellion and I plan on staying that way. Before Savory Salads, you wouldn’t find me within 50 yards of a salad during dinner time, but I got a tip from a fellow Unilocaler that SS served hearty greens and paninis as big as your head, and decided to give it a shot.
The first time we went, we passed it right up. Easy to miss, situated next to a Subway, you’re doing yourself a great disservice partaking in a sad $ 5 foot long. For a only a very nominal bit more, you can get a larger, more filling and fulfilling meal at Savory Salads. Everything was hearty, the bread was delicious and even the half salad was jam packed into a container making it enough for 2 to share– same story with the half panini.
I’ve left buffets less full than Savory Salads. They mean business here, but their business ain’t mean. Definitely some of the friendliest service I’ve encountered. The dining area is very very small, so on a busy lunch time frame you may be better off just ordering to go. On our visit I think we’d just missed the lunch rush as the table certainly could have used a good wipe down, but once I dug into our tasty bites, it was easy to see how a seemingly tidy sandwich and salad combo could get a little sloppy. After all, these aren’t for the faint of heart.
Besides the ‘crumby’ tables, my only let down was checking their online menu before hand and seeing way more options there than in person at the establishment, but in a way I’m glad it happened that way because it forced me to order outside my comfort zone and helped me find new things that I wouldn’t normally have chosen for myself, that I actually really enjoyed.
I wish it were easier to get around downtown Barrington’s cockamamie traffic flow so it wouldn’t be so painful to get here, but even that wackadoo city planner of B-​town won’t keep me from suckin’ down salads and packing on the panini.