Do You Order Your Dressing Tossed or On The Side?

August 1, 2007

by POPSUGAR Food 40

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40 Comments

kins 5 years 41 weeks

on the side. i hate soggy dressing. dip my fork in the dressing, eat the salad...perfect amount of dressing!

tdamji 5 years 42 weeks

salads are usually my only option if i go out with someone who isn't my family (who always let me take them to a veg. restauraunt!) but i ask for oil and vinegar (balsamic if they have it) and some lemon wedges to go with a green salad - always on the side.

danakscully64 5 years 42 weeks

The worst is when people would ask for more when they've already used 2 full sides. They don't realize that a burger would have been the better choice (less calories, less fat, and more filling). I've even seen people DRINK ranch. Ew. The restaurant I worked at, all of the salads were more than 900 calories WITHOUT dressing. Sometimes I believe people think the salad is healthier, but the toppings and dressing really add up. 6 tablespoons of ranch dressing alone is about 500 calories. Advice from a waitress and health nut: If you're going to order a salad and you're watching your calorie intake, avoid ones with toppings such as bacon, fried chicken, fried tortilla chips, cheese, and croutons. Order salads with fresh veggies and fruit. If you can limit yourself when you put on dressing, get it on the side. If not, I recommend having them toss it light in a fat-free or light dressing. I'm not a fan of salads personally because that's usually my only option at a restaurant (I'm a vegetarian) and they get old quick.

danakscully64 5 years 42 weeks

clarkware 5 years 42 weeks

For me it depends on the restaurant. I get it tossed at places I know that don't drown it otherwise it's on the side. I completely agree with you Danakscully64. During my years waitressing, I would laugh at all the women who would ask for "dressing on the side please" and then proceed to use more than if we had tossed it for them. Meanwhile they thought they were "behaving". LOL

clarkware 5 years 42 weeks

danakscully64 5 years 42 weeks

After working as a waitress for a few years, I've found that people actually eat less dressing if it's tossed in, for the most part. If you can control how much you use, get it on the side. Most people would use 2 large ramekins (about 6 tablespoons) for half of their salad while the cooks would toss an entire salad with 1 ramekin.I honestly don't usually order salads, but when I do, I usually get it on the side. :)

danakscully64 5 years 42 weeks

After working as a waitress for a few years, I've found that people actually eat less dressing if it's tossed in, for the most part. If you can control how much you use, get it on the side. Most people would use 2 large ramekins (about 6 tablespoons) for half of their salad while the cooks would toss an entire salad with 1 ramekin. I honestly don't usually order salads, but when I do, I usually get it on the side. :)

rothchild 5 years 42 weeks

usually on the side but it depends...creamy ones-definitely but i like vinaigrettes tossed to coat the ingredients

Linda McP 5 years 42 weeks

Always on the side; I hate to have the greens drenched in dressing.

saffy1227 5 years 42 weeks

tossed on

AtatakaiSunshine 5 years 42 weeks

If I know I like the dressing, I let them do what they will. I suppose if I were ever to order a salad where I didn't like the dressing, I would ask for it without. And if I'm in major calorie-count mode I might ask for it on the side. Maybe. I don't usually have an issue with how much they put on though.. except the nasty burrito bowl at California Tortilla. That was a salad-like thing drenched in dressing. Ewww.

studio524 5 years 42 weeks

Always on the side. That way I am in control of how much I consume. Too: I LOVE leafy greens and the last thing that I want is to have them drowned in dressing.

Curious Alice 5 years 42 weeks

I always try for on the side, since it helps me watch my calories.

Green 5 years 42 weeks

On top- and I am so bad. I prefer salad with my dressing instead of the other way around if you know what I mean. I should just indulge in the desserts I like and skip the salads- but that's bad!

Rachiepop 5 years 42 weeks

On the side, I'm a fan of the fork method. Plus restaurants always add either to much or way to little when they put it on themselves. Getting it on the side gives just enough.

kiwitwist 5 years 42 weeks

on the side except Caesar salads, they are tossed... which is funny because they are the worst for you LOL!

sugarbecky 5 years 42 weeks

On the side so as not to have it accumulate too much in one area.

earthylovingirl 5 years 42 weeks

on the side, i don't like my salad drenched..

rubialala 5 years 42 weeks

On the side.

DearSugar 5 years 42 weeks

On the side or I ask for light dressing!

KerryG 5 years 42 weeks

Usually on the side, so I can control how much I put on, though I'm less picky about salad dressing than gravy. I hate things to be drenched in gravy, and so many restaurants do that.