It’s no secret that a lot of Buffalo, east of Main Street is a food desert. While city leaders debate how to change that, some businesses are out here doing the Buffalo thing, and taking matters into their own hands.
Soulfresh Salad Bar is one of the newest. Located at 11 E. Utica St., across Main Street from a Burger King and a McDonalds, the fast-casual restaurant features create-your-own salads, pasta bowls and wraps using all of the classic salad bar options. Soulfresh Salads is inside the Utica Business Center, which is a small commercial center that includes the Doing3much…CUTS! Barber shop and the Posh Pleasures Boutique.
On my afternoon visit, the business center was buzzing with activity, literally. I could hear the buzz of clippers as I walked past the barber shop and into Soulfresh Salads, which is primarily a takeout operation. In addition to offering a healthy option to the neighborhood, Soulfresh Salads is also just across Utica Street from the Metro Station. With online ordering and dinner-time hours, it’s a great option for people coming home from work who want something quick and healthy.
First, you should know that there are no pre-designed bowls or wraps. You must be prepared to make decisions about what will go into your dish. But actually, it isn’t that hard because pretty much all of the options go well together. First, you can pick a protein, such as Buffalo chicken, shrimp, or turkey. Then, you can choose from a long list of toppings that includes: tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, banana peppers, jalapenos, chopped hardboiled egg, feta cheese, (real) bacon bits, and different kinds of nuts. Dressing options include Italian, Greek, blue cheese, and raspberry vinaigrette…