Salt +

Whether you live in or near Cleveland or are visiting, RUN do not walk to SALT+. It is my new favorite find in Cleveland. Located in Lakewood (west of Cleveland). It is one of the most unique and original restaurants in the area. After receiving many recommendations, Dave (my boyfriend) and I decided it was time to experience Salt+for ourselves.

When we walked into the restaurant, it had such a cool vibe. A cool bar right when you walk in you see a modern bar. But it has a wall to the side of it, so it's separate from the dining area. Which gives the dining room more privacy. There is a mix of tables and booths. Funky vibe with blues, golds, and wood. The decor lets you know you are going to get a unique and great experience. Now, let's see how it tastes.

I don't know about you, but it is a habit of mine to check out the menu online before going anywhere new. So before I even arrive I always have a couple of ideas of things I want to try. Especially when the menu changes as often as Salt+s does.

Salt restaurant

That being said, I also always ask the server what the most popular or must try on the menu and why. I often find the staff suggests something that wasn't already on my radar and I have enjoyed it.

When I take my kids out to eat, they are all about the main event, 'the 'entree'. Typically it is a great cut of meat. But when Dave and I go out to eat, we love to order a bunch of things so we can sample what the restaurant has to offer. I love a balance of 'comfort' and 'newness' so when I try a variety of items I find something I absolutely LOVE and will come back to that same spot for that exact same dish. But it is also fun to shake things up and pair that with something new.

Dave and I differ when it comes to our meals in one key area. When I go out to eat, I want to find that perfect memory. Dining for me, is an experience. From the environment, the service, the taste of the food and the pairing of the wine. For Dave, however. His philosophy is that 'It is a meal, let's try a few things and if we don't love everything, we will for sure find at least one thing we enjoyed.'

At Salt+ everything is small plate, so we were able to try a lot of dishes and not be overstuffed. The menu is broken into categories; vegetables, fish, and meat break the menu down. We decided to try a few things from each section and got adventurous based on the waitress's recommendations.

The Veggie Selection

Our first items were mushroom fritters with charred poblano mojo and white bean puree w: mashed olives and garlic bread. The waitress recommended the puree. Hot Tip! Order extra garlic bread, they only bring you a few slices and the puree is exquisite and the bread taste delicious with the dip. I think we finished every last bit that was on the plate.

The mushroom dish was just alright for us. It was cooked well, I just tasted more of the breading and just a little of the mushrooms. Again, when you order multiple things, you aren't going to LOVE everything. Everyone has unique tastes, but I would be extremely surprised if you did not find multiple dishes here that you LOVE>

bean puree at salt

mushroom with green sauce salt

Asparagus with fava beans,+ crisp prosciutto. (order it, even if makes you think of Silence of the Lambs, as I do every time i hear the word 'fava'. You will thank me later) This was delicious and incredibly flavorful, and the asparagus was cooked perfectly. The flavor of the sauce, the salt and flavor of the prosciutto mixed with the nuts...wow. The flavor combination was delicious. We could not stop eating this one.

asparagus, buttered leeks, hazelnuts, fava beans

From the Sea

Ok, we had a hard time narrowing our choices down in this category. As we both tend to order fish. We ended up ordering three items.

Calamari is such a popular item on a restaurants menu. But I find sometimes the calamari is chewy or the breading is so deep fried my stomach regrets it later. But this was cooked very well and although the picture makes it look simple and lacking in taste, it was the exact opposite. Sometimes, simple is best. The seasoning and sauce were a delicious pairing. I wish I could describe to you how it tasted, but I am learning as I go about how I want to communicate this to you all and next time I will take notes.

Calamari, coriander coconut glaze, + cilantro.

Next, Scallops in uni butter, eel sauce, and fava bean puree. I consider myself a connoisseur of scallops. Most places cook scallops well; it’s hard not to. But they do not always get the accompaniment right. But Salt+ did. The sauce was deliciously paired with the scallops and cooked perfectly.

Our third fish selection was bronzini, with carrot butter + sugar snap agrodolce. I love bronzini, especially when it has been deboned. I do not want to pick bones out at my dinner. It was absolutely delicious.

Bronzini, with carrot butter + sugar snap agrodolce

Being Adventurous

Ok, now for the adventurous part. The meat option. Our server recommended the ‘rabbit.’ Now, I have eaten rabbit once before, and it was not cooked well, so it was very chewy and hard. So I considered it a one and done for me. But she recommended this so highly, and the way she described it, we decided to give it a try. Can’t go too wrong when it’s a small plate?

Well, I am very glad we did. The pastry was very flaky, and the rabbit was cooked well. It was not at all chewy. I would describe rabbit similar to chicken but not as soft. There is not an after taste, but it is a bit chewier naturally than chicken. Now, I could not eat this for a whole meal. But I would do this again for a small bite. It was delicious.

rabbit loin strudel, duxelles + caramelized leek demi

Please go and try Salt. And if you have already but it has been awhile,go back. They change their menu every few months. So you may not find these items on the list when you arrive. But you will be happy to eat it, the chef is amazing!

Cheers,

Lisa