Chain gang: Saladworks Chicken Manchego

Chain: Saladworks.

Company Description: A mix of crisp romaine and iceberg lettuce, wheat pasta, craisins and chicken, plus Manchego cheese, jicama and almonds. Topped with strawberry capri dressing.

Calories: 382 calories without the dressing, 13.6 grams of fat, 46.2 grams of carbs, 253 mgs of salt and 20.5 grams of protein. It's almost too healthy for chain food.

Location: Food Court at the Bellevue.

Order time: They make it while you watch.

Price: $6.99.

Review: This seasonal spring salad from the Conshohocken-based chain is a light lunch with a nice crunch thanks to the slivered almonds and jicama.

The craisins add the sweet and the cheese adds a little tang. The whole-wheat pasta provides an earthier taste than the normal semolina rotinis, and the strawberry dressing adds a wee bit of sweetness without overpowering the other ingredients.

Since Saladworks makes their salads as they're ordered, this is not an exact science — our version needed more of the Manchego for which the salad is named.

Summary: A nice changeup if you're sick of Caesars and Cobbs. n

Every other week the Chain Gang reviews the latest chain-restaurant dishes.