The salads of summer: 14 items from 13 chains

Seasonal options from Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Dig, Gott’s Roadside, Hooters, Jason’s Deli, Logan’s Roadhouse, Newk’s Eatery, Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub, Rachel’s Kitchen, Salata Salad Kitchen, Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, and Tender Greens

You would expect restaurants to make use of seasonal produce in the summer, especially with their salads, and indeed they have. Tomatoes are sprucing up menu items at Carrabba’s, Gott’s Roadside, Jason’s Deli, Logan’s Roadhouse, and even Hooters, as well as at some Texas locations of Cracker Barrel, where it’s testing a wedge salad topped with fried chicken tenders.

Watermelon is the star of seasonal items at Taziki’s and Salata, and Strawberries are being showcased at Ninety Nine and Newk’s Eatery.

Rachel’s Kitchen is highlighting peaches, and Tender Greens might be: Its Summer Harvest Salad has blackberries and “stone fruit,” of which peaches are one, but maybe there are apricots or plums in there. It’s hard to say.

Dig, a chain based in New York City that enjoys highlighting local and seasonal items, isn’t doing that with its summertime Picnic Slaw, which is made with cabbage and carrots which you can get all year long.