At noon on Monday, the salad line at a Lexington Avenue deli moved steadily. Behind the counter, a new offering caught the eye: chicken Caesar pasta salad, a combination of three familiar dishes. The bowl contained penne, strips of grilled chicken, romaine, and a creamy Caesar dressing.
This hybrid approach has appeared on several Midtown menus in June. A manager at a Sixth Avenue café said office workers ask for 'something filling, but still cold.' With temperatures reaching the upper 80s, the trend reflects both the heat and the lunchtime rush.
Prices for the salad hover around $14 to $16. Most portions include enough to serve as a main dish, according to customers interviewed outside Grand Central Terminal. Some said the pasta adds substance, while the Caesar dressing keeps the dish recognizable.
The combination has also shown up in prepared foods cases at grocery stores in Chelsea and the Upper West Side. Prepared food sections report the item sells out by late afternoon, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For now, the dish appears to be a seasonal adaptation, meeting the needs of city workers during peak summer.