Words by Johanna Harlow
Take it or leaf it—a fresh start for the New Year.
proper food
Menlo Park
Great news! The wildly popular San Francisco staple known as Proper Food just got a Menlo Park location. Marketed as “a fresh take on takeaway,” this breakfast/lunch spot offers standout soups, salads, sandwiches, bowls and wraps, all with seasonal ingredients. And it’s clear that the chef behind the concept had fun coming up with the menu. We’re talking seared lemon pepper tuna with saffron-infused basmati rice, beluga lentils, kale and roasted tomatoes. Coconut-crusted shrimp with shredded carrot and cabbage, sesame seeds, green onion and crispy wontons, all on a bed of spring mix salad. Red quinoa and wild baby arugula with beets, basil, goat cheese, pesto and a balsamic reduction… Do we really need to keep going? 1300 El Camino Real. Open Monday to Friday.
the toss
San Carlos
Salad can be so much more than ranch and lettuce. Shake things up with this veggie-forward San Carlos eatery. At The Toss, they keep things fresh (and green) with locally-sourced ingredients, proudly displaying a fridge loaded with verdant tubs of romaine, sweet gem, spring mix and spinach. The Toss makes an exceptional cobb salad, but we recommend traversing their internationally-themed options. Try Corfu: a mix of lettuce, sundried tomato, artichokes, pickled red onions, garbanzos, kalamata olives and feta cheese, all tossed in a champagne vinaigrette. Or go Tex-Mex with the Siesta: shredded kale, quinoa, black beans, jicama, tomato and avocado, spiced up with pepitas, chili-roasted hominy and citrus jalapeno dressing. One bite, and your ranch and romaine days are behind you. 673 Laurel Street. Open Monday to Friday.
west park farm and sea
Redwood City
Sup on surf and turf at West Park Farm and Sea—a Mediterranean medley of sustainably-sourced offerings made with organic non-GMO herbs, sauces and wild fish. Their bowls, a popular menu item, are served with pita, Greek pico, mixed greens and rice with your choice of grass-fed skirt steak, cage-free chicken, grilled Scottish salmon or falafel. Don’t overlook tasty sides like the curry cauliflower and red lentil soup. Located in downtown Redwood City, the restaurant is only a short walk from the San Mateo County History Museum—so consider feeding your brain as well as your stomach. 855 Middlefield Road. Open daily.