Chef Luis Guillén is certain about one thing. The Killer Salad will always be on the menu at New City Café, 4005 S.W. Gage Center Drive.

The passionate, Venezuelan-born chef and owner of New City struggles to find the right words when he tries to describe the salad. "It's ... it's ... it's an explosion of everything," he finally gushes during a break at the trendy eclectic Latin Caribbean cafe.

"Everything" in this case starts with a plate of delicately chopped romaine lettuce speckled with sliced cucumber, orange and grapefruit chunks, gorgonzola cheese crumbles and caramelized nuts (pecans, peanuts and walnuts). Drizzled on top is a spectacular, tangy raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

And while a unique balance of textures and flavors make up the salad, it is the brilliantly colored dressing that takes center stage. "We make it fresh," Luis says. "You simply can't duplicate this flavor in any store-bought dressing I've ever tasted."

Over the years, the salad has become so popular at New City that it is ordered as part of "about 98 percent of the meals we cater," says Luis, who has owned the cafe for the past 6 1/2 years.

THE BUZZ: Looking over the lunch selections at New City Café quickly becomes an assualt on the culinary senses. Even alongside the elegantly plated salmon, pork and chicken dishes fighting for attention, the Killer Salad holds its own. "I've driven all the way from Lawrence more than once just to get this salad," a customer says while waiting to order.

THE SECRET: Whether it is the sugary nuts, the tangy vinaigrette or the zesty citrus, trying to figure out what makes the Killer Salad so delicious depends on who you ask. "Every bite is a little bit different," Luis says, "It is such an amazing salad."

SALES: How much Killer Salad is sold at New City Café is a bit of a mystery, but according to Luis, the cafe goes through at least 40 heads of Romaine lettuce every week just to keep up with the demand.

COST: Small Killer Salad: $4.50 Medium Killer Salad: $7.25; Large Killer Salad: $9