Joy Godfrey
(front) Roasted tomato and basil soup; (back) The Omega with leafy greens and kale chopped with sweet corn, diced bell pepper, tomato, avocado, red onion, cilantro and toasted pine nuts
Admit it: The first time you looked at the menu for this greens-slinging palace, you said to yourself, "There's no way I'm paying that much for a salad." But you did, didn't you? Maybe you opted out of an add-on like lemon-herb chicken breast ($6), grilled flank steak ($7.50) or roasted seasonal vegetables ($5.25), but you ordered—if only to see what the fuss was about. And then you knew. Owner Erin Wade gambled on the concept in 2008 and it has since paid off in a big way. Many greens and veggies come from her farm in Nambé. The salads, as you should expect, are huge and satisfying. They're innovative, too. The Cherry Tart ($10.95) combines the sweetness of dried cherries with the tang of crumbled feta and warmth of chilied pecans. It's chewy and crunchy and tossed with a Champagne vinaigrette. The Nutty Pear-fessor ($12.25) heaps balsamic-roasted pears onto fresh greens, adding bacon crumbles, pecans and bleu cheese to the mix. A port vinaigrette brings it all together and the diver scallops ($8) we chose to spruce it up were perfectly cooked. If you find yourself craving a salad, there's a good chance Vinaigrette is the reason why.
709 Don Cubero Alley, 820-9205
Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday
Twitter: @VinaigretteNM
Instagram: @vinaigrette_official
