★★★☆☆

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Everyone loves Georgetown in the spring, and one of the main reasons is the return of the Farmers Market. This spring, the market has moved into Red Square and comes with one very important addition: Hilltoss. Hilltoss is The Corp’s newest brainchild and is essentially a student-run version of Sweetgreen, serving salads and smoothies.

Hilltoss, which will have a storefront in the fall, has currently made its home at the Farmers Market, surrounded by products such as paella, crepes, barbeque and ice cream. The staff is friendly and willing to meet requests. The layout of the stand assures you that what you’re ordering is fresh; all the ingredients are well organized on the display, and everyone wears plastic gloves as they create your meal.

Currently, it only offers five salad combinations — although one was just added this week — and a “Make Your Own Salad” option to fit every individual need. By virtue of only having enough room as a stand will allow, there is not a lot of variety when it comes to mix-ins, and the breadth of options at other salad stores does make Sweetgreen or Salad Creations slightly more appealing.

That being said, there is an impressive amount of protein choices, including chicken, hummus, quinoa and tofu. The salads offered on the menu vary from more classic American flavors to more innovative, all while being dubbed with whimsical names.

The Jay Gatsby consists of strawberries, walnuts, goat cheese and avocado on top of a bed of spinach, whereas the Pig Latin, complete with Parmesan croutons, chicken and bacon, is a heartier option. The Parthenon and Far East Movement had more Mediterranean influences. For example, the former features hummus, mint and olives, and the Far East Movement mixes in chicken and tofu with sesame, bean sprouts and scallions.

Lastly, there is the Amalfi Coast, which I ordered. The Amalfi features quinoa as the protein, along with fresh mozzarella accompanied by tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt and pepper atop a mix of arugula and romaine and tossed with balsamic and olive oil. This salad is simple, which means that all the components need to be spot on. Overall, I enjoyed the salad but found it a little lacking since none of the flavors were that impressive, and it seemed like I could have made a more flavorful version in my own apartment. I also did not find it to be filling enough to stand as its own meal, and I would recommend paying for extra protein.

While on the topic of pricing, the salads ranged from $8-$10 for a reasonable portion, and you could pay extra for more toppings, cheese or protein. Competitors like Sweetgreen can easily put a dent in your wallet, and Hilltoss is definitely a more reasonable option, but do exercise caution when asking for extra because it will add up, and if you’re going to spend over $10 on a salad, it would probably be a better option to go to Sweetgreen.

Overall, I enjoyed my salad but cannot say it was filling enough to become my token lunch on Wednesdays. That being said, Hilltoss is a brand new addition to Georgetown’s campus and I applaud how seamlessly it has become a presence on campus — and a delicious and nutritious one at that.