4 hours ago - Food and Drink
Culinary Dropout's surprising salad ingredient
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One of the best parts of writing this regular feature is the push to try new places.
Driving the news: It's been just over a year since Fox Restaurants opened neighboring eateries in Nora Plaza with two different concepts.
- There's Flower Child, the health food spot, and Culinary Dropout is the cool one.
Where to go: Culinary Dropout, which, "breaks all the rules with its uniform-free staff and relaxed ambiance," according to the website.
- Right. I found the uniform-free staff thing a little confusing, TBH. Who works here that I can ask for help? Is that an employee or a rando dropping off drinks at our table?
- Not a deal breaker, but a little jarring if you're not accustomed to it.
Anyhow, onto the food.
What to order: If you start with the whipped feta and tahini dip (which you should — it's delicious), then one of their hearty salads is the perfect balance — feels healthy, still tastes great.
- The butternut squash and kale is my ideal salad.
- The squash and grains make it feel like a meal, rather than a side. The maple tahini vinaigrette ties all the flavors together but the best part are the dates — sweet, chewy — and the toasted mulberries.
- I've had countless restaurant salads, grain bowls, etc. and never have I ever had a toasted mulberry. What a mistake — they are addictively crunchy.
Cost: $15.50 for the salad, $14.50 for the dip.
If you go: 1320 E. 86th St.
- Open 11am-11pm Monday-Thursday, 11am-midnight Friday, 10am-midnight Saturday and 10am-10pm Sunday.