My work schedule often puts me in LoDo looking for lunch. Not exactly a tough situation given the dozens of amazing options in the neighborhood, but if I want to eat healthy my options start narrowing quickly. Enter Mangiamo Pronto! and their amazing Spinach Salad.
Made with fresh baby spinach, sliced strawberries, sliced almonds, a bit of crumbled gorgonzola and topped with a light poppy seed dressing, I find myself literally craving this salad if I haven’t had it in a while. This isn’t one of those salads that hide the spinach under candied walnuts and the like. There is just enough Gorgonzola to add a dash of balanced flavor without tipping it too far away from healthy, and the strawberry slices add a light natural sweetness that compliments the lightly applied dressing. The amount of spinach underneath these toppers is generous and very filling.
Mangiamo Pronto! has an Italian street café feel. Located on the corner of Wazee and 17th, the windows are filled with light, and there’s some outdoor seating with a prime view of the highly photographed Union Station façade. Pronto offers far more than just salad; their broad Italian themed menu features cocktails and decadent items such as pastries and gelato.
If I need to combine some focused work with a light lunch, I’ve been known to grab a cozy and sunny window table, and pair their Chai Latte (sometimes ‘dirty’, sometimes not) with my salad.
The management is really friendly. They’ve recognized me and commented on hair changes even when I haven’t been able to stop by for weeks. I recommend you check out Mangiamo Pronto! even if you don’t love spinach salads as much as me. Instead grab a coffee, gelato, or some beer/wine as you head to a Rockie’s game or stroll around the Union Station area.
Read more about their broader menu here: Mangiamo Pronto!