Urban Plates

Fast Casual restaurants have many variations that can either surprise me with pleasure or disappoint me with mediocrity. I'm happy to say that Urban Plates has pleasantly surprised me more than a few times both in visits to a location and with delivery.

It has been chilly for Southern California this past week with temperatures dipping into the 50's and 40's, and yes I know I am spoiled by the temperate climate here:) Soup was the number one thing I wanted, and I was hopeful when I saw their tomato soup had a drizzle of pesto. It was more of a tomato sauce than soup, with the overpowering flavor of fresh basil. I would either add some heat to this from their condiment bar, or get it as a side cup accompaniment next next.

Their grass fed steak salad was excellent, from the medium rare steak, to the crunchy roasted cashews, contrasting with the fresh flavors of jicama and mint with mango pineapple salsa in a jalapeno lime dressing for $14.50 this was a hearty salad, but for an even heartier meal, you can add another side of protein.

Because it had been awhile since I had eaten mashed potatoes and it was a chilly day, the comfort of a side of mashed organic potatoes with gravy was a welcome side dish.

Having had a good experience dining in, I was happy to find their salads also traveled well ordering from one of the delivery services. The wild line caught ahi salad niçoise had fantastic tuna, green beans, organic egg, organic tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, marinated olives, and a mustard champagne vinaigrette. All the ingredients were fresh, and the dressing was ok, but I found the individual components bland and lacking any seasoning or flavor on their own. The dressing helped perk it up a bit, but I ended up eating this with salt and pepper instead of the dressing.

The delivery BBQ chicken salad for $13.50 included grilled cage-free chicken, corn, black beans, grilled onions, avocado, organic cheese blend, crispy wonton strips, red bell pepper, with a chipotle lime dressing. The BBQ sauce was a bit too sweet, and like the tune niçoise, the individual ingredient were fresh but boring on their own.

The Moroccan chicken braise for $10.50 was a warm comforting hearty bowl of free range chicken, slow cooked with squash, onions, preserved lemons, olives, turmeric, paprika, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, parsley and cilantro. This is also offered as a side, and one of my favorite meals at Urban Plates.

The Asian chicken salad for $13.50 was a wonderful medley of grilled cage free chicken, organic carrots, green onions, oranges, spicy roasted peanuts, red bell peppers, wonton strips, in a spicy peanut dressing. I found the dressing much too thick, sweet and cloying, but used sparsely it was fine. Overall, the ingredients were wonderful, but if you are looking for a fresh light salad, have the dressing on the side or choose another dressing.

I prefer to eat at the location, especially with their very professional personable staff, but getting a delivery on a chilly or rainy day from a solid option for fresh ingredients can be priceless.