READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Souper Salad, 6121 E. Broadway; 4490 N. First Ave.

CLUE IN: The salads at The Dish, 3200 E. Speedway Blvd., may not be the first item on the menu to exemplify this tiny bistro's culinary glories; but here the humble greens achieve a stunning level of excellence deserving more than a passing mention. Master Chef Doug Levy works the same magic with greens as he does with everything else offered at this lesser-known hotspot in the south end of The Rumrunner. Dive into the singular pleasure of a "simple" salad--a copious bed of tender, mixed greens dressed in the barest of vinaigrettes and flavorfully enhanced by the addition of toasted, chile-spiced pumpkin seeds. Any other ingredients would be superfluous is this "less is more" starter. If, however, you're in the mood for putting on the ritz, you can do no better than to order the "fancy" greens, served with sliced red and yellow pear tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese, pancetta and a creamed sherry-and-nutmeg dressing. Eating your vegetables never tasted so divine!

1997 Winner: Sweet Tomatoes

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