Urban Plates is a fast casual eatery featuring plates and salads using fresh and local ingredients.
Last week, we had dinner there with some friends. The set-up is very similar to Tender Greens, but with a much wider selection of salads, sides and vegetables. They also had a tempting dessert section which I wanted to spend more time at, but Mr. K was rushing me since he was already at the register ready to pay.
You can choose from plates, salads, and sandwiches, all priced at $10.
Grilled steak, sesame broccolini, roasted brussel sprouts, grilled focaccia bread
I ordered the grilled steak plate, which comes with two sides and bread. I was excited to see so many hot and cold side options, including some of my favorite vegetables. I found though, that the food looked better than it tasted. The steak was a little too soft and the sides were bland and could have benefited from more seasoning.
Grilled Wild Ono, pesto pasta, beets
The grilled ono is served still slightly raw in the middle and flavored with cilantro ginger marinade. Even though I don’t particularly like eating beets, they do have a gorgeous color.
Grilled free range chicken, sauteed mushrooms, macaroni and cheese
I didn’t have any of the chicken, but I did have a taste of the mushroom and macaroni and cheese. The mushroom also were a little bland. The macaroni and cheese sauce was a little grainy.
Grilled Wild Ono Nicoise
I preferred the ono over the steak. It was more flavorful because of the marinade.
Urban Grove Antioxidant
I didn’t have any of this, but it is so vibrant and colorful.
Overall, this is an option if you’re looking for some healthy and quick. I like the large selection, but found that a lot of the dishes were bland. While I don’t advocate ruining healthy food with an overdose of sodium, I do think there are other healthy ways to make the foods more flavorful. I left my meal feeling very much the way I did about its sister restaurant Urban Pi, where I also loved the variety but didn’t enjoy the flavors as much. The prices are pretty reasonable though and there is a dog-friendly patio area too.
Urban Plates
12857 El Camino Real
Del Mar, CA 92130
https://www.urbanplates.com/
Lemonade is 10x better!!!!! Try it!!!!!
but it’s not in SD =(
I’ve heard so much about this place – good concept and nice choices. i wish there was one of these closer to down south.
maybe you can visit on your next trip to north county!
Sis and I used to come here all the time. It got kinda boring to us after a while and their dishes were often very inconsistent. Too bad you didn’t try any of their desserts. This is where I bought their mango pie for my family’s dinner party earlier this year. They also have a yummy hummingbird cake I believe.
i had been set on trying the mango pie and then forgot about it!
It kind of reminds me of the Whole Foods salad/prepared foods bar. Something that would be ok to get for lunch but not something that makes you excited for lunch. I personally like Tender Greens but find it overpriced for the portion size/what you are getting so at least this place is reasonably priced.
I like Tender Greens too. While I loved the variety here, taste-wise I prefer Tender Greens.
I was just about to ask you if these were in CA and then I read the end of the post. So stoked and can’t wait to get there soon!
most of the places i blog about are in SD! if they aren’t I usually say something at the beginning