I’ve been a fan of Tender Greens since I first visited its Culver City restaurant in 2006. Since then, the fresh, eco-friendly eatery’s expanded to four locations — the latest in Hollywood!
Tender Greens Hollywood’s been open for a few weeks now, but it celebrated with a grand opening party just a week ago. Conveniently located on the corner of Sunset and Vine, this new spacious spot’s got a draw SoCal locavores won’t be able to resist: A 1200-square-foot patio perfect for a sunny lunch or weekend brunch, decorated with greenery and quietly situated at the back of the restaurant away from the noisy streets.
Best known for its fresh salads, Tender Greens makes veggies tasty with local produce from Scarborough Farms in Oxnard and other small-scale local farmers. For a simple healthy lunch, go for one of the big salads — My favorite is the Tuna Nicoise, with line caught tuna from Pacific, of course.
Or pick from the grill — whether a hormone-free marinated flat iron steak, free range chipotle barbecue chicken from Petaluma Poultry, or Oxnard vegetables — and get it one of three ways: on a sandwich with side salad, as a hot plate with mashed potatoes and side salad, or atop a full salad with garlic herb crostini.
Any way you get your dish, you can pair it with an organic wine or beer — or one of Tender Green’s bottle-free house sodas. Then enjoy your meal sitting in booths covered with recycled fabric — or at the outdoor tables, bought second hand for reuse at Tender Greens.
At the opening party, I got to try smaller, bite-sized versions of the menu items — like the marinated flank steak with mashed potatoes and peas served skewered (above) and the deliciously creamy green hummus usually served on the Happy Vegan salad.
All of that was fresh and delicious — but what really made my day were the ho hos — or perhaps no hos, since these are desserts made without the weird ingredients and preservatives in real Ho hos. I also got to try Tender Greens’ strawberry cupcakes — morsels of moist fruity sweetness.
Desserts change up all the time, so follow @TenderGreens on Twitter to find out what’s on the menu. Following those tweets will also keep you in the know with Tender Greens Hollywood’s one-day-only farmers’ market specials every Sunday, created from the fresh founds purchased the Hollywood Farmers Market that morning!
Tender Greens Hollywood. 6290 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles. 323.382.0380. Other L.A. area locations are in Culver City, 9523 Culver Blvd., and West Hollywood, 8759 Santa Monica Blvd.
i love tender greens but haven’t been to the hollywood location yet – i will have to try those sweets!!!
Comment by Lynn @ The Actors Diet — May 10, 2010 @ 4:02 pm
I also love Tender Greens, and this new one is the only location I’ve been to yet.
The salads are fresh and tasty of course, but I was really surprised by how good the local albacore sandwich was, it just melted in my mouth– it has to be the tastiest and freshest fish sandwich in Hollywood, in my opinion of course!
As a veggie-pescetarian, I do wish there were a few more options for me, but after that sandwich I don’t know if there’s any point in trying anything else!
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Comment by Tiffany — May 11, 2010 @ 4:03 pm
I’ve been v. into salads lately, and wish there was a Tender Greens in SaMo –
Comment by Siel — June 19, 2010 @ 3:46 pm