The Cheat Sheet: Continental Midtown

Our dietician found plenty to nosh at this Stephen Starr eatery.

Photo courtesy Starr Restaurants

A popular lunch spot for shoppers, business people and locals, the menu at Continental Midtown promises quick, tasty and—yes—healthy options for diners. At the risk of sounding like a broken record: Opt for sharing. Choose an appetizer or soup, then share a salad. Or skip the starter altogether and sink your teeth into a sandwich. Hold the fries, of course.

Here are my picks for Continental Midtown.

Choose one of the below as a great starter and finish your meal with a shared Asian chicken salad for the table:
>> Thai chicken skewers with rice and peanut sauce
>> Udon noodle soup (chicken dumplings, dashi—a Japanese soup stock—and scallions)
>> Miso soup (tofu, soba, nori)

Here’s another meal choice: Add chicken to the Continental Salad—it’s already loaded with greens, cucumber, tomato, feta and red onion—and this dish (even shared) can be a meal in itself. Still hungry? Start with the hummus and pita for a Mediterranean-themed, family-style meal.

Okay, okay, if you’re not up for sharing, order a sandwich (sauce on the side!) and enjoy a flavorful lunch all to yourself. And remember: salad—not fries—equals small thighs.

>> Turkey burger (aioli on side): mushrooms, onions, cheese and red pepper aioli
>> Big Daddy Mack (special sauce on side): veggie patty, special sauce, lettuce, cheddar cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame bun
>> Green Submarine: avocado, lettuce, tomato, alfalfa sprouts, cucumber and Boursin on a toasted roll

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Have a restaurant you’d like to see featured in the Cheat Sheet? Let us know in the comments!

Restaurant menus are reviewed by Phillies dietitian and owner of Healthy Bites Katie Cavuto Boyle. In most cases, the individual restaurants were contacted for specific ingredient and recipe information. Note: Many restaurants have seasonal menus and some items may not be available.

>> See Cheat Sheets for other Philly restaurants here. And for Katie’s healthy dining-out tips, go here.