Counter Culture.

Crisp Salad Co. Continues Lowest Greenville's Health-Food Kick Just Fine.

Crisp Salad Co.
2020 Greenville Avenue.
Lower Greenville.

Ambiance: 3 out of 5 epicureans.
Food: 3 out of 5 epicureans.
Service: 4 out of 5 epicureans.

A new spot on Lowest Greenville? You don't say.

News like that has been constant throughout all of 2013. In that regard, Crisp Salad Co.'s opening on the Lowest Greenville strip about a week ago isn't really unique. Not at all.

But perhaps its model is: Marketing itself “to the every day epicurean,” Crisp Salad Co. aims to entice diners by offering an alternative to typical fast food options.

In this regard, the “fast-casual” Crisp Salad Co. caters to vegan, gluten-free and paleo diets as well as the usual “Hey, listen, I just really need a salad right now” diets.

It's not all health-food, though. To somewhat balance that fare, a small variety of miniature cupcakes (priced at $1.39 each) teases diners at the end of the salad line; wine is even offered as a drink option; and the fountain tap features Texas' own Dublin Bottling Works.

Alas, the salads are the headliners here, and the Crisp Salad Co. menu offers a number of signature salads that can also be served up in a wrap or on flatbread, if diners prefer. Customers are also allowed to completely customize their dishes — just as they would while ordering meals at, say, a Chipotle or a Subway.

Those signature offerings aren't to be ignored, though. And the employees won't necessarily let you do that, anyway. Upon entering Crisp, an employee and an already-regular customer each immediately recommended the “Street Taco” salad, which features spicy chicken, romaine, tomato, grilled sweet corn, bacon, cotija, tortilla strips and jalapeno ranch. The salad was hefty in serving size — that helped rationalize paying almost $10 for it — and the flavors were on point. But it was just a little underwhelming, somehow.

The Buffalo Chicken flatbread, on the other hand, hit the spot that the salad had missed. Whatever Crisp uses for its flatbread is legit: The bread is a perfectly soft and toasty. Hate salad but find yourself coerced into checking this place out alongside some salad-adoring friends? This is the way to go.

So too is Crisp, overall. It's a good-looking, functional and conscious space — the “crisp” interior design, the easily navigated menu, the compostable plasticware, and the almost-overwhelming positive customer service all work wonders in this spot's favor. Even the music is pretty decent.

The only thing that seemed off was a given. The sheer newness of the place means that the speed behind the counter isn't quite up to par with some of the company's competition. but the foot still comes out right, and the meal offerings are more than filling.

That, really, may be the best thing about Crisp: You go in for one meal, but you leave with enough salad to last for two.

Actually, on second thought, maybe this place isn't all that expensive after all.