So last night I was sitting in my car (waiting for the mister to finish work), jamming out to a new iPod playlist the Mister put together when it hit me. I was starving. must. eat. now. The hunger came out of nowhere! Granted it was after 6:00 and the Mister and I are a pair of seniors who normally like eat by 6:30. It made sense that I was hungry, but this wasn’t just any hunger. no-siree. This was a void in my stomach that could only be filled by The Stone Oven. Suddenly the dish I was planning to make for dinner became more and more unappealing. Does this ever happen to you? I knew then and there that I would have my favorite salad from The Stone Oven. no. matter. what. As the minutes ticked by I became more and more impatient with the Mister.
I sat there thinking, no, scratch that, FUMING, “He said a few minutes, it’s been 5! – that’s way more than a few, right?” (by the way, when exactly is the cut off between a few and a lot?)
About 20 more minutes went by and finally he emerged! Yay! I ran to him with glee (little did he know I was actually excited about the scrumptiousness that was slowly becomming a reality)
30 minutes later (with the goods in hand) I was finally at peace.
So what so special about this salad at The Stone Oven, you ask?
Let me be perfectly clear – they have the best salad ever. Oh yea, that’s right, it’s $7. SCORE! Yes, there are other amazing salads out there, but this is at least in my top 5 and it’s most definitely the quickest and cheapest option.
The Stone Oven was started in 1993. “The Owner had a craving for the luscious, crusty breads of her European homeland and could not find them in her new home in Cleveland, Ohio. She began making her own bread and before long found herself working at all hours of the night to shape loaves for friends and family. What started as a passionate hobby later turned into a business, providing many Clevelanders their first experience of hearth-baked European bread.” (http://www.stone-oven.com/)
Today, the stores continue to serve European breads and pastries, along with a full menu of soups, salads, and sandwiches.
There are three locations in the Cleveland area and I am lucky enough to have one of them 5 minutes away from my house.
My salad contains:
Homemade croutons (so good!)
sun dried tomatoes (my favorite part!)
roasted red peppers
romaine lettuce
feta cheese
chicken
House-made dressing (Extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper) — I wish I knew the exact proportions, because it’s one of the best I’ve tasted!
Roasted Chicken Romaine Salad from The Stone Oven
YUM
Salad, close up and personal
I’m not kidding when I say that I get CRAVINGS for this salad. It is that good. I’m sure it’s super easy to create at home, but where’s the fun in that?! Plus, The Stone Oven gives a complimentary side of bread (your choice) with any salad.
All Stone Oven breads are baked fresh daily in a stone-lined oven and are made with only natural ingredients – no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Today I chose: whole wheat walnut raisin. So chewey and delicious. I dipped it in my dressing to sop up olive-oil goodness 
Whole Wheat Raisin Walnut Bread (chewy goodness)
The Stone Oven has a great ambiance, very laid back and modern, with a touch of at-home country-style comfort.
The Stone Oven - I guess it was too cold for outdoor seating
Adorable coffee bar with appropriate condiments
Check out those goodies!
The Stone Oven’s other offerings always look delicious, as well! I’m always tempted to get one of the homemade soups and the Mister loved the turkey sandwich with a side of couscous. But I’m sorry, as long as my salad is on the menu, I just cannot pass it up!
What craving must you always give in to? What’s your favorite HEALTHY fast food joint (think Panera, Cosi, etc.)?
Tags: cleveland, daily delish, food, restaurant review
This looks very delish! I wish I was in Cleveland to enjoy that! I do like Panera or Corner Bakery Cafe, so I would love The Stone Oven. I get cravings for salad often too, although I must admit that pizza usually makes it into my cravings before anything else
But I try very hard to fight that away! I love all your posts, by the way!
Wow that looks good… great salad + great bread… Mmmm… how far is Cleveland from Pittsburgh??
That salad looks so good! I may have to make my own!
That coffee bar is so cute! That bread looks absolutely amazing, I could eat a whole basket of it.
hey girl! thanks for the comment on my blog.. I am officially addicted to yours! so much wonderful stuff and you are absolutely gorgeous, love!
that restaurant sounds awesome – never heard of it, but glad it saved the day =) and that coffee bar is adorable!
Haha I know what you mean when you’re sitting in the car hungy. Car rage. I’ve been there haha
Hm, healthy fast food. I guess Panera’s fuji apple salad with dressing on the side. Their bread makes me sweat it’s so good.
samsquintz Thank you! Pizza….ahhhhh… SO GOOD! I try and make do with flatout pizzas, but sometimes ya gotta go for the good stuff
Betsy – Pittsburgh, huh? ick, steelers! It’s OK, we can get past it
Run Sarah – yea, It’s a good thing they only give me one piece! That would be one dangerous bread basket!
Jenny — thanks for the sweet comment and I hope you keep visiting
Julie — oooo i hear ya, you do NOT want to mees with me when I’m hungry. Honestly. war path. The Mister and I joke about it, but he takes my hunger very seriously
Erin – I LOVE that salad — the spple chips are so delish!
That salad looks to die for! Yum, I love a good salad!
Oh wow that place looks AMAZING!! I get so annoyed when I have to wait for food – it’s bad news bears!
Craving: Cottage cheese…is that weird?! Haha. Healthy fast food: PANERA for sure! A close 2nd is Cosi but I haven’t had that in months. Also, sometimes Subway will hit the spot too
I crave yogurt, a lot!
I’d say that Panera is actually not healthy at all, but a health joint imposer. Sure there are a few healthier items on the menu, but most sandwiches have hidden mayo filled sauces. The nutritional info for their food makes me want to cry… because it takes healthy but is worse than mcdonalds! Sorry, that was a bit of ranting on my part
My favorite fast food joints are UFood and b.good
Elina — I hear ya! The stats are terrifying! I always order salads dressing-free and always remove any sauces on sandwiches (mayo makes me GAG, anyways). Its crazy how some people think having a caesar salad is a healthy choice — the dressing send the fat and calories over the roof! I think if you are educated on nutrition and calories there are plenty of healthy options (even if you have to use a ton of omissions and substitutions!)
K- i LOVE cottage cheese. not weird at all — soooooo good. creamy goodness
LOL that’s hilarious! Don’t ya love when those cravings hit you? I do, when I can make them a reality like you did! Yay, that salad looks so yummy!
My favorite “healthy” fast food joint is either Panera or Subway (no Cosis by me…I wanna try one so bad!)
Have a great night!
Mouth is watering over that bread.
That salad looks amazing and right up my alley! My favorite “healthy” fast food joints would have to be Pei Wei (chicken lettuce wraps and Ginger Tofu Broccoli is SOOO good!, Panera, and this amazing pizza place down the street from me. They make all their pizzas on WW Thin crust and have pizzas like Eggplant Pizza w/ Goat Cheese, Potato pizza, Mango Chicken, etc. It’s amazing! Talking about it is making me think i’ll have to do a post on it sometime soon.
Whole Wheat Raisin Walnut Bread? Oh my gosh, I want some!
That salad looks delicious!! I would love to have something like that close to where I am! And yes, dried mango is MY FAVORITE. It is SO good!
Mmm that does sound tasty! I get that way about the cheese scone and soup combo at a nearby local cafe/bakery that I adore.
And I LOVE the steak salad at Moxie’s. It comes with banana bread on the side!
WOW – that salad really looks amazing!
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