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Great salads

Linda Perney

August 22, 2006

A salad at Devin Tavern, in Tribeca. (Tribune Media Services / Betty Rosbottom)

On a warm summer evening it's hard to beat a salad for a refreshing dinner. Here are some of our favorites.

MANHATTAN.

Nam. Everything is good here, but there are two standout salads: Beef with lemongrass and basil is spicy enough to satisfy just about anyone. The other winner is the shrimp with green papaya and peanuts. (110 Reade Street, 212-267-1777. The salads are $8 apiece)

Trattoria dell'arte. You can put together one great meal from the antipasti bar: Go for the grilled asparagus, the lentil salad, and the endive wrapped with pancetta. Or how about the glazed beets or the grilled portabello? Shrimp and scallop salad, anyone? It's all terific. (900 Seventh Avenue; 212 245-9800. Expect to pay about $16 if you're making choices from the seafood bar --$25 if you want a bigger choice.Three seafood choices go for $21.50)

Barbuto. The crudi salad is a popular choice -- frisee, yelloow squash, pine nuts and zucchini. Pair it up with a pasta, and you've got one great dinner, especially if you snag a seat ner the huge windows. Washington Street; 212 924-9700. Salad is $12 as an appetizer)

Spotted Pig. OK, by now everybody knows about those burgers. But the salads are just as good. (314 West 11th Street; 212-620-0393; salads, $14-$18)

Devin Tavern.This spin-off of Dylan Prime puts together a salad of grilled artichoke, asparagus and fennel in a tasty vinaigrette. Or go for the crab salad. (363 Greenwich Street, 212-334-7337; the salad goes for $12)

BROOKLYN.

Thomas Beisl. Right opposite BAM, Thomas Beisl serves up a great appetizer salad of endive with grapes, pears, walnuts, and stilton. Follow it with a generous serving of garlicky moules mariniere sparked with smoked jalapenos. (25 Lafayette Avenue; 718-222-5800; $8 for the salad; $15 for the mussels)

Blue Ribbon Brooklyn. Go for the smoked trout salad. Trust us, it's very fine. If, on the other hand, you don't like trout, the warm goat cheese salad is pretty good, too. What's best is they're open late -- till2 in the morning on weekends. (280 Fifth Avenue; 718-840-0404. The trout salad is $15.50)