The 100-Year-Old Salad That Keeps on Reinventing Itself

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The 100-Year-Old Salad That Keeps on Reinventing Itself

For a 100-year-old dish, the Caesar salad has never felt fresher.

Perhaps it’s because an old dog can still learn new tricks, and nowhere is this truer than in the kitchen (Caesar pizza, anyone?). Perhaps it’s because third-culture cooking has blossomed in the past decade, with chefs across the country infusing this time-honed classic with the flavors of their heritage (you’ll see no less than a Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Japanese Caesar in this story).

One thing’s for sure: no one, whether they be chefs or diners, ever seems to tire of the grand dame of salads.

L'Ardente Cesare

For starters, let’s appreciate the classic version of a Caesar, like this one at L’Ardente in Washington, D.C.

Photo by Mike Fuentes Photography, courtesy of L’Ardente

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Leo Caesar

A paragon of the form (minus the little gems, replaced here by radicchio) can also be found at Leo in New York.

Photo courtesy of Leo

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

All Purpose Pizza Caesar

But this is where things get interesting ... A Caesar in pizza form, found at D.C.’s All Purpose Capitol Riverfront location: the Cape May pizza with mozzarella, parmesan fonduta, little gem lettuce, and anchovy dressing.

Photo courtesy of All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Tabachoy Caesar

At Tabachoy in Philadelphia, chef-owner Chance Anies rebuilt the Caesar with Filipino and Southeast Asian flavors in mind. Think mustard greens, bagoóng, cured duck yolk, chile, fried shallot, scallion, and sesame — see what inspired the dish here.

Photo by Paolo Jay Agbay, courtesy of Tabachoy

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Poltergeist Caesar

At Poltergeist in Los Angeles, the Thai Caesar salad boasts frisée, lemongrass, puffed rice croutons, smoked anchovies, and parmesan.

Photo by Antonio Diaz, courtesy of Poltergeist

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Bavette's Caesar

At Bavette’s in Chicago, a smoked salmon Caesar also brings crispy potatoes into the mix.

Photo courtesy of Bavette’s

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Oxomoco Caesar

And over at Oxomoco in New York, the punta verde Caesar reveals itself to be a plate of wood-fired romaine topped with cotija masa crunch, blistered poblano peppers, and garnished with crunchy toasted corn masa and lime zest (Dijon-and anchovy-based dressing included).

Photo by Andrea Grujic, courtesy of Oxomoco

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Unconventional Diner Caesar

In D.C. at Unconventional Diner, a “dirty” Caesar involves squid-ink crumble, soft egg, tomato, and aged gouda.

Photo by ShotbyEM, courtesy of Unconventional Diner

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Cassia Caesar

While at Cassia in L.A., the Vietnamese Caesar is studded with anchovy croutons, dried Black Mission figs, herbs, radicchio, red onion, white anchovies, and a healthy shaving of parmesan cheese.

Photo courtesy of Cassia

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Tsubaki Caesar

At Tsubaki (also in L.A.), the Japanese Caesar uses market lettuce as a base for panko, creamy miso parmesan dressing, shredded bonito threads, and nori.

Photo courtesy of Tsubaki

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Melfi's Caesar

And in Charleston, Mefli’s “sort-of spicy Caesar salad” arrives dressed in a Calabrian chile and anchovy dressing.

Photo courtesy of Melfi’s

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Pizzana Caesar

At L.A.-born pizza empire Pizzana (which boasts locations across the country), all restaurants offer a Cesare in which next-level pizza dough croutons top little gems and fried capers in a Calabrian Caesar dressing.

Photo by Dane Deaner, courtesy of Pizzana

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Kodō Caesar

And still in L.A., kodō offers a bonito Caesar salad with gem lettuce, bonito dressing, and parmesan.

Photo by Yuji Tyler, courtesy of kodō

L'Ardente

East End

Book Now

Leo

Williamsburg

Book Now

All Purpose Capitol Riverfront

Capitol Riverfront

Book Now

Tabachoy

Bella Vista

Book Now

Poltergeist at Button Mash

Echo Park

Book Now

Bavette's Bar & Boeuf - Chicago

River North

Book Now

Oxomoco

Greenpoint

Book Now

Unconventional Diner

Shaw

Book Now

Cassia

Santa Monica

Book Now

Tsubaki

Echo Park

Book Now

Melfi’s

North Central

Book Now

Pizzana Houston

Houston River Oaks

Book Now

kodō

Arts District

Book Now

Trending on Resy

The 100-Year-Old Salad That Keeps on Reinventing Itself

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