It seems fitting that CHOP 5 would decide to set up in Columbus, in particular, the Polaris area. The stretch of Polaris just east of I 71 has been flooded with food concepts both old and new over the last few years. CHOP 5 adds a healthy addition to the mix. The menu focuses on custom made salads, bowls and wraps. If you miss the demise of salad bars throughout America, CHOP 5 will give you hope and healthier ingredients to choose from. It is also fitting that a salad based franchise would call Columbus home. Many sources cite Columbus as the home of the salad bar as we know it (Jack Bowman’s Steak House) and definitely the rapid expansion of the concept via Columbus based Wendy’s, Rax and others in the 1980’s.
There are five core ingredients in each offering with the option to add more as you progress down the assembly line to complete your dish. When CHOP 5 opened in 2016, there were five owners who choose Columbus as their test market for this fast casual concept. I was unable to locate more locations on the website so the concept may still be in the test phase. So far, it seems the concept is passing the test. In spite of the newly opened Sweet Carrot as a neighbor, the place had a steady pace of customers coming in the door. In addition to the core offerings, there is a kids menu, soups, snacks and cookies to complete the menu. Ordering is easy with plenty of support from the staff who guide you through the creation process.
I tried the featured item of the month, the Curry Chicken Bowl. After a long, meat-filled winter, the crunch of heaps of vegetables made me feel just a tad more wholesome. The serving size and quality of ingredients in the Chicken Curry Bowl seems like a fair value for 8.99.
There are those that say there is no free lunch. Well, when you are a blogger, you occasionally get offers for tastings and other free stuff. I typically decline most offers but over the last eighteen months, the persistence of the marketing company that works with CHOP 5 wore me down and the photo of the bowl looked very appealing, so I am glad I accepted the offer. If you are looking for Chipotle style experience, with a lot more vegetables, CHOP 5 is a good choice.
CMH Gourmand - Eating in Columbus & Ohio 