Caesar Salad Turns 100: Why Is It Still a Menu Staple?

Can you believe this iconic salad is ONLY 100 years old? Or maybe you're thinking, "Wow, it's ALREADY been around for a century?" Either way, in honor of Caesar's big birthday, we at Restaurantji decided to toss together some interesting data and facts about this timeless dish.

We found out Caesar is a big hit in North America (surprise!), with over 16,800 restaurants dishing it out across the US and Canada. This classic salad is especially popular in the US, where it's mentioned a whopping 41,542 times in reviews and listings.

In the States, Florida takes the Caesar crown with 1,611 mentions, followed by California (1,395), Texas (1,268), and New York (1,045). These four states make up about 13% of all Caesar salad shout-outs in the country.

Up north in Canada, Ontario leads the pack with 759 mentions, while British Columbia and Alberta trail behind with 258 and 238 mentions respectively.

Most places serving Caesar salad won't break the bank - they fall in the $$ price range in both countries. And people seem to love it - the majority of ratings are 5 stars, with 35,101 top ratings in the US and 4,407 in Canada.

So whether you're in Miami or Toronto, you are almost 100% not far from a delicious salad that won’t empty your wallet - not bad for a century-old dish!

Ever noticed how restaurant Caesar salads just taste better? The secret's in the sauce - or in this case, the dressing. Don't get me wrong, homemade Caesars can be great, but there's something special about the ones you get when dining out.

Restaurants want you to come back, so they put serious effort into their recipes. That Caesar dressing? It's not from a bottle. They're whipping up made-from-scratch flavor bombs in their kitchens.

Let's get a bit nerdy for a sec. Lettuce leaves have this weird waxy coating that repels water. Great for crispness, not so great for dressing adhesion. Lemon juice? Slides right off. Oil? Makes leaves soggy. Ick.

It's all about balance. A killer Caesar dressing mixes oil with acidic stuff like vinegar or lemon juice. This combo clings to leaves without the wilt. It's like a tasty science experiment.

But wait, there's more! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Many restaurants season each ingredient separately. They're layering flavors like pros. Some chefs even throw in curveballs - a touch of sweetness here, a hint of spice there.

Caesar is not just thrown together, it's a carefully crafted dish. And hey, now that you know the secrets, maybe your home Caesar salad will have a level up too.

Before we dive into the list, let's consider what makes a great Caesar salad (I know we just discussed the importance of dressing, but anyway). Michele Casadei Massari, an executive chef at Lucciola in New York City and U.S. brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, shared his insights with Eat This, Not That!. He emphasizes the importance of fresh, crisp lettuce, house-made croutons, and a dressing that includes anchovies for "salty depth." Massari also notes, "The balance between the tangy lemon, sharp garlic, and rich oil is crucial."

With these criteria in mind, here are some restaurant chains known for their standout Caesar salads:

1. Carrabba's Italian Grill

This Italian-American chain has gained a devoted following for its Caesar salad. One fan on Reddit claimed, "For my money you can't beat the one at Carrabba's," with another agreeing, "I came here to say the same thing." The side Caesar salad packs a flavorful punch at 390 calories.

2. North Italia

This Cheesecake Factory-owned chain offers a unique twist with its Little Gem Caesar. Topped with Grana Padano cheese, herb breadcrumbs, and cracked pepper, it's garnered rave reviews. One Twitter user exclaimed, "North Italia has the best Caesar salad I've ever had in my life."

3. The Capital Grille

This upscale steakhouse chain elevates the classic Caesar with croutons made from crumbly Grana Padano cheese. Restaurantji users praise it as "excellent" and "crisp and refreshing." For added luxury, you can top it with grilled shrimp, chicken, or a filet.

4. Hillstone

Despite having only 10 locations, Hillstone has made a name for itself with its unique Caesar salad. The dressing is egg-free, and the salad features baby gem romaine, croutons, and Parmigiano Reggiano. One comment on Restaurantji called it the "Best caesar salad dressing ever."

5. Ruth's Chris Steak House

This well-known steakhouse chain offers a classic Caesar made with romaine hearts, parmesan and romano cheeses, and creamy dressing. Some customers claim it's "the best Caesar salad," with one Twitter user expressing a desire to return to the restaurant solely for this dish.

These restaurant chains prove that a seemingly simple Caesar salad can be elevated to a memorable dining experience when prepared with care and quality ingredients.

Think you know Caesar salad? Think again. It's getting a serious upgrade in Los Angeles. Chefs are putting their own spin on this crowd-pleaser and the results are pretty exciting.

It's all about that umami punch (fifth basic taste alongside sweet, sour, salty, and bitter). As Klementine Song, chef de cuisine at Tsubaki, puts it, "I think the reason why everyone loves the Caesar salad is because it's like an umami bomb." This umami-packed combination has inspired chefs to experiment with new flavors and textures.

LA chefs are taking this tried-and-true recipe, swapping out ingredients and adding new flavors, but still keeping the essence of what makes a Caesar so darn good.

Take Cassia, for example. Chef-owner Bryant Ng crafted a Vietnamese-inspired Caesar that's a real flavor bomb. He uses fish sauce instead of anchovies (it's basically liquid anchovies, he says) and throws in some frisée for a bit of bitterness. Ng's unique twist includes white anchovies tossed in house chili oil and the addition of figs, balancing spicy and salty flavors.

Over at Tsubaki, they're going full-on Japanese. Chef Klementine Song replaced anchovies with fish sauce and lemon juice with ponzu. She incorporated white miso for creaminess and topped it all with bonito flakes and nori. It's become such a hit that they can't take it off the menu even if they wanted to!

Yangban, run by Katianna and John Hong, reflects their Korean-American identity through their Caesar salad. Their Caesar comes as lettuce cups topped with radish kimchi, glazed Korean anchovies, and a drizzle of gochujan.

At Poltergeist, Chef Diego Argoti's goes all out with a Thai-inspired Caesar. His version uses a lemongrass and lime leaf oil emulsion, incorporating pickled mustard seeds and fresh basil. Instead of croutons, Argoti creates rice puff "croutons" dusted with parsley and blue fenugreek powders.

The cool thing is, these chefs aren't just throwing random ingredients together. They're drawing from their own backgrounds and experiences to create something new and exciting.

So next time you're in LA and see Caesar salad on the menu, don't just roll your eyes thinking it's the same old thing. This might be THE thing you are looking for!

The Caesar salad has been around for 100 years, and it's still going strong. Who knew this simple salad, made from crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, tangy dressing, and parmesan cheese would become such a menu staple? Caesar prove it’s more than just leaves in a bowl, so may it keep satisfying our hunger for years to come!