I hate salad. It’s a pantomime meal. Leafy greens can’t really be chewed nor do they exhibit any strong flavour. Salads are boring.
But on the way home from the gym last week, starving and drained, I craved some sustenance. Unfortunately, I was not willing to regain the calories I’d just burned and the only really healthy, low-carb option lay at the salad bar nearby.
Mero Mero has set menu items but better than that, you can design your own salad and (amazingly) BUILD A SALAD WITH NO LEAFY BASE!! Instead, you get more fillings! Choose up to 7 out of 37 filling choices ($9) and add hot or warm meats ($3 extra).
The mushrooms, chickpeas, beetroot, pumpkin, cashews, tomatoes and snow peas I’d initially ordered were great but having been back to try everything else, I can recommend with certainty: no matter what salad base you choose, your selection of protein must be the 12 hour lamb. Generous servings of soft and juicy nuggets of lamb made this the best salad I’ve ever had.
Last step: choose a dressing. The flavour of the salad is enough and dressing is hardly needed. The light basil vinaigrette, however, complements the lamb well.
Then..it was as though Mero Mero understood me. Knew my soul even. I’d been attempting to keep the calories to a minimum but I really was just craving some carbs. And by magic, a soft slice of sourdough bread appeared with the salad. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
UPDATE: I know some of my regular readers are located in the US so if anyone is in California, a similar restaurant to check out is Pluto’s.
Mero Mero
Level 5, Westfield Sydney
86-100 Market Street, NSW
Australia, 2000
