The base of Mandolin Cafe’s Strawberry Chicken Salad ($6) begins with a spring green/romaine mixture that leans more toward the greens, less toward the romaine. This I love. Nothing is worse than the crunch of those tasteless white romaine ribs amongst a flavorful and tender array of spring greens, but I understand when restaurants feel the need to mix the texture up in order to please everyone.

On top of this green bed lies fresh, juicy, and perfectly ripe strawberry slices and extremely flavorful blueberries mixed with blue cheese crumbles and strips of roasted chicken. Homemade Italian dressing can be found on the side in a small cup — right where it belongs.

The fruit was ripe and generously flavored. The blue cheese crumbles did nothing but add to my love for the fruit, and contrasted the sweetness as if it were a long-lost cousin from Oklahoma that you weren’t allowed to talk to growing up because of your parents’ fear of inbreeding, but you always enjoyed their company so you called them on holidays anyway. And let’s not forget about that chicken. It had that roasted taste, and it was juicy. It was a win-win salad for all.

[Mandolin Café, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]