Boston's Best Fall Salads

When fall is upon us, apples, pumpkin, beets, nuts and other seasonal ingredients fill the menus in Boston restaurants. Whether you crave a salad as an appetizer to a big meal out, a light lunch or an entree-sized dinner salad with protein and veggies, the following locations have salads that are filling, fresh and delicious. They put a focus on the fall season throughout the menu at these local spots.

Located in Beacon Hill, 75 Chestnut offers up nightly dinner service as well as weekend brunch. It specializes in a menu filled with American comfort food, provided in a cozy setting. From a warm bowl of clam chowder to steamed mussels, the menu features New England classics. For a tasty fall salad, the Boston Bibb Salad is just $10.95 for an entree-sized salad. Featuring Bibb lettuce with Westfield farm's goat cheese, dried cranberries, apples and roasted pecans, it's topped with a lemon vinaigrette.

Bailey & Sage is a perfect place to head when hunger strikes during the work week. With its convenient location near Quincy Market, the Waterfront and the Financial District, salads are its specialty. Nothing says fall more than apples (besides pumpkins, of course). The Waldorf Salad for $8.50 is a great mix of Granny Smith apples with Romaine lettuce, dried cranberries, grapes, chopped walnuts, and crumbled bleu cheese with the signature Waldorf dressing.

For people watching aplenty, Stephanie's is the go-to restaurant right on Newbury Street. Featuring patio dining for when the weather warms up or a comfortable, modern dining room, it is a place everyone from couples on a date to families flock. Standouts on the starter menu include the spinach artichoke dip, crab cakes and ricotta gnocchi carbonara. But it also has signature salads like the Thai chicken or the crunchy vegetables that make a great meal. For some fall flair, the pecan-crusted warm goat cheese salad has nuts, pears and greens with a light vinaigrette.

Related:  Boston's Best Pumpkin Dishes

Another intimate dining destination in Beacon Hill is Grotto. Italian dishes are the specialty here like the grilled calamari, chicken parmesan and spaghetti with meatballs. The salads are expertly yet simply prepared and include the insalata with baby arugula, prosciutto di Parma, Reggiano parmesan cheese and lemon. The spinaci salad offers a mix of baby spinach, beets, spiced walnuts, goat cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette, for a satisfying way to start off a meal here.

The Gallows prides itself on being a neighborhood hangout in the South End that is lively and welcoming to locals and visitors. There is always a focus on seasonal ingredients and the menu even changes weekly. Look out for fall salads and dishes like the arugula, apple, Asian pear and pumpkin seed salad featuring Berkshire blue cheese and lightly dressed with balsamic.

Related: Boston's Best Spring Salads