Savoring the Iconic Spinning Salad Bowl at Lawry’s

There are salads, and then there’s Lawry’s Spinning Bowl Salad. It is a theatrical, chilled, tossed masterpiece that’s as much a ritual as it is a recipe. If you’ve never experienced it being spun tableside in a bowl nestled into a shimmering bed of crushed ice, prepare to have your idea of “starter salad” completely redefined.

Born from the legacy of Lawry’s The Prime Rib, home of the majestic roast and impeccable service, this salad is served with such elegance and showmanship that it’s earned legendary status across generations of fine diners. And for those of us lucky enough to be in the capital, the iconic Lawry’s The Prime Rib Jakarta brings this tradition straight to the heart of the city.

So What Exactly Is the Spinning Bowl Salad?

In short? It’s a refreshing, crisp mix of romaine, iceberg, and baby spinach, elevated with classic garnishes like cherry tomatoes, shoestring beets, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and those delightfully crunchy sourdough croutons. But the real magic lies in the spin, a gentle, rhythmic toss over crushed ice that coats every leaf in the signature Lawry’s Classic Vintage Dressing.

This isn’t your average vinaigrette. The dressing is a delicate balance of cider vinegar, applesauce, Worcestershire sauce, dry sherry, seasoning salt, a touch of sugar, paprika, garlic-parsley powder, a dash of hot pepper sauce, and smooth vegetable oil. It’s sweet, tangy, and savoury all at once, and light enough to whet the appetite, but bold enough to stand up to the mighty prime rib that follows.

If you’re a salad purist, the standard recipe goes as follows:

• 12 oz. salad greens (8 oz. romaine, 2 oz. iceberg, 2 oz. spinach)
• 4 oz. julienne-cut beets, drained
• 4 oz. chopped hard-boiled eggs
• 4 oz. sourdough croutons
• 8 cherry tomatoes
• Lawry’s Classic Vintage Dressing (about 4 oz. per salad)
• Optional: a sprinkle of Lawry’s Seasoned Pepper for that signature finish

For the full Lawry’s experience, serve it tableside over a bowl of ice, and spin. Yes, actually spin it. The tossing motion chills the greens just enough and ensures that every bite is evenly dressed. The result? A salad that feels alive: cold, crisp, tangy, and undeniably elegant.

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This dish is a testament to what Lawry’s does best, which is ritual and refinement without pretension. The Spinning Bowl Salad is a celebration of precision, presentation, and palate. It sets the tone. It cools you down. It sharpens your senses before the arrival of your prime rib. And let’s face it: it’s the only salad most people will post to Instagram with genuine excitement.

While recreating this masterpiece at home is possible, nothing compares to watching it prepared live and tableside at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Jakarta. As one of the top destinations for fine dining in Jakarta, Lawry’s offers a full experience– from the crisp spinning salad to the velvety mashed potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and, of course, the prime rib carved before your eyes.

Explore the rest of Lawry’s menu for everything from Mac & Cheese to creamed corn and signature desserts. Whether you’re booking a romantic dinner or organising a corporate gathering, Lawry’s can accommodate up to 200 guests and you can book your seat online, making it all wonderfully convenient.