Salazar Cincinnati — Restaurant in Cincinnati

Salazar, by Chef Jose Salazar, was the best experience and surprise we had on a 24h connection in Cincinnati. I would say it's a special diamond in the city and a must go, if you have the opportunity. A reservation is recommended. We didn't get a seat inside (our fault), so we had our dinner on the tables outside, which was also pretty good. The service is exceptional. They know a lot about the ingredients and food they are serving, they help you choosing drinks, make sure you don't run out of water, and always with a smile and great mood. We chose Salazar because it is presented as a farm-inspired, local and regional sourced restaurant, that reflects a truly Cincinnati experience. I believe the menu changes over time and season, as I didn't find everything that was on the photos. Anyway, we did the right coices. 🦪 oyster sandwich - the most surprising and tasty dish! Very well balanced with a fried oyster and spicy kimchi, and the flavours of the radish sprouts and garlic mayo. It was an appetizer, but this could easily turn into my main dish. 🐟 Grilled Hamachi Collar - so well cooked, soft, tasty, and with a perfect ginger-tumeric sauce. Sided with some crispy black rice crackers. 🍔 The double smashburguer - from local grass fed cows, which shows how Salazar cares about what he puts in his restaurant. Asked for the extra egg. Didn't regret my choice. Perfect pickle (i would love them to be home made, but I am no sure), with aged cheddar and a potato bun, was for sure one of the top burguers I had. 🍗 Amish chicken paillard - it was not my dish, but I could try it. Was surprisingly soft inside, and crispy outside. 🍨 There was still room for a sweet treat. We were enchanted by the honey ice cream and the coffee ice cream. We had both, and although I was mostly curious about the first, it was the coffee one that won. It was creamy, strongly flavoured and delicious.

Prices, for a non-american, portuguese visitor, are of course a bit high. We paid around $200 for 3 people (including tax and tip). But it is worth it and it is a fair price.

I am probably not returning to Cincinnati again, so if you have the opportunity, please do visit this amazing restaurant.

Congrats to all the...

Wow. Just wow. The atmosphere of this place was like a bustling cafe and the vibe was very European. I loved the space. First, the bad part: I got there and had to wait like maybe 15 min, literally not a big deal. However, 2 different hosts/waiters came over to see that I was set and even comped 2 small plates after I had ordered. Management like this is very rare and unexpected. Now for the great part: I got in total, 3 small plates and 1 entree. 1 - Fried Oyster Slider - great crispy oyster on a very soft brioche bun. 3 bites did it and everything from the Kim chi to the garlic mayo, just worked. I would devour this if it was a full sized sandwich, then ask for another one. 2 - Marinated olives and Manchego Cheese - I am not a huge fan of olives, but after trying one, I can tell this was truly a strong flavor that the table next to me enjoyed (because I gave it to them after trying it). The cheese was amazing, it was smoked in a way that brought another flavor and blended everything together superbly. 3 - Fried Pimento Cheese Fritters - little sunshine balls of spicy cheese joy. If bar food snacks had an older, more sophisticated brother, this is it. Perfect spice for a ping pong sized, fried ball of cheese and fun. Entree - Duck Breast with Chipotle marinade, smoked and grilled cabbage, veggie pupusa, and mole verde - something out of a food network show. The duck breast was extremely juicy and cooked to medium (slight pink). The cabbage was Smokey and deep and added a bass note to the duck. The pupusas were a welcome surprise and were filled with a slightly spicy, but warm mole verde and I was surprised by how everything melded together and just worked. The duck was well seasoned and all in all, just a great plate. Gorgeous playing and the edible flowers (I hope they were edible) made it look like a renaissance painting.

10/5 because of the food, staff, and general atmosphere. I would definitely come back and bring my friends, family, or random person on the street so they could experience it...

Update: Had to have it one last time at the original location before they temporarily close to reopen in a new larger location. Harvest Moon cocktail is an aesthetical and delectable delight

Restaurant Week is building momentum with a visit to Salazar - the eponymous OTR restaurant by Chef Jose Salazar

Supreme dining experience. Fine dining without being overly pretentious or breaking the bank.

Cocktail: Love Letter Refreshing spring evening drink while the sun was still out.

For food, went with the Spring restaurant week special dinner menu

First course: Parisian Gnocchi. Intricate and Exquisite! Subtle medley of savory flavors and textures (crisp, soft, smooth) with each ingredient shining on its own and coming together harmoniously! And something to be said about the color of the presentation. Felt it represented a bright spring evening perfectly. This was a grandslam home run gnocchi creation by Chef Salazar and his team. Probably the best gnocchi dish I have had, ever!

Second course: Blue corn Hurache Vegetables in this really pleasant artisanal presentation of Hurache included English peas, radishes and asparagus as part of the spring vegetables medley, along with refried beans, salsa and crema- all delicately elevating the star of the show - a perfectly prepared Hurache! Great follow up to the gnocchi first course. Jumping across the pond seamlessly between the two courses.

Third course Dessert: dark chocolate pot de creme with chopped strawberries and vanilla whip. Well , let's just say this unleashed a bit of a sweet tooth in me...and I ended up overshooting the restaurant week menu to order a 4th course add-on dessert 😆

Fourth Course: Warm fresh cookie, did I mention warm?... just the perfect way to finish a cool spring night

I leave Salazar a happy and full human....again !

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