While in Dayton for a night, we chose this restaurant largely based on its Yelp reviews. Thanks Dayton Yelpers! We loved this place. It had a sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. We were there on a Monday night over the holidays. With no reservation, we were quoted a 30 minute wait. The bar was not crowded and we enjoyed a hand crafted cocktail. My drink had a jalepeno jam, but the bartender used the same strainer with my partners whiskey drink. -- so that jalepeno taste was in his drink too. Once seated for dinner, we ordered the surf and turf and the quinoa crusted sea bass. The steak had to be returned because it was overcooked. They replaced it quickly. That steak was sort of a miss - just not a great cut of meat. The sea bass was cooked great. Some might find the sauce a little heavy handed but I enjoyed it. Service was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back next time we are there.
(4)
Melissa R.
Terrible service. Manager was rude and not very accommodating. Our reservation was for 8:00 am. Table was not ready until 8:50. I would not recommend this place. Try the Wheat Penny or Coco's if you want better service.
(1)
Kaz K.
Nice looking restaurant. The cocktails are good. I tried the steak and asked for it to be cooked at medium rare. It was served to me to something that wasn't even rare. The waiter took the food off my bill, but come on. Who serves a steak like that at a nice restaurant?
(1)
N K.
This place is quite amazing. Peruvian food. Flavors were great. My salad dressing was too sweet but other than that, it's the perfect place for a special dinner. Service and ambiance wee outstanding too.
(5)
Katie S.
Went back. Got the white bean scallops- they were ok... Dry, not super flavorful, had a tomato and onion relish that was alright. Overall, I wouldn't get them again as they weren't anything special. My cocktail, the "penicillin" was really good though.
(3)
Carol M.
This establishment discouraged our ladies nite out. Took a tremendous amount of effort to come to dinner due to a snow storm. We still arrived at 7:55 for a 8:00 reservation to only to be told that our table was not ready. The hostess said to enjoy at the bar while you wait for your table that's not ready in time. 6 ladies decided to have one drink while we are delayed for our 8:00 reservation. When we were seated 40 minutes late we were informed that would no longer be served any alcoholic drinks. So here is my review don't attempt having at dinner at this establishment. Blinds Bonds had no problem serving and feeding us. Thank you Tyler b
(1)
Alison B.
Amazing meal! We looked for the best in Dayton and found it! Exciting beverages and wonderful food. If you come to Dayton you must eat here. Owner /Chef is from Peru and her food is amazing! !! The Midwest is ripe for change and she is here to give it to you. I don't know where to start, we had the Duck ragu ravioli and the chilean seabass. I hardly know which I liked best! You must go!!!!
(5)
Big Baby Jesus C.
Honestly I hate to dog any place, but here I go. Another place trying to be fancy rather than simply trying to make tasty food. Scallops on half shell covered with cheese. What are you trying to cover up? Scallops are amazing seared with a lil salt. Sea bass? Likewise. What are you doing crusting it in quinoa and putting it on mushy leeks cooked in bacon fat? I'm starting to feel like this is one of those black hole spots that no business will succeed in.
(2)
PJ D.
The drinks here are amazing, plan and simple. The staff is knowledgeable about what drinks to recommend and everyone is very friendly, and nice atmosphere as well. I love to come here to get drinks and have a good time with friends or family. My only issue is the food is not great, it's not bad by any means, but not worth the price. You can have a decent meal here, but now I typically eat elsewhere and come here for the awesome drinks and service.
(4)
Tim B.
Upmarket decor (think San Francisco), enthusiastic and expert cocktail bar persons, very attentive and friendly staff, and a varied menu delivered to delicious perfection. Need I say more?
(5)
Amy N.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or late night cocktail. The burger really took me by surprise. Perfect brioche and zesty sauce make this an excellent burger to try in DYT! (See photo) I'll be back to check out the dinner options!
Overall, amazing dinner experience. Loved the atmosphere, our server was very attentive, food was great. We had scallops and shrimp skewers to start. All very good. I would've liked the shrimp to've been cooked a little less but the scallops were very nice and pretty to look at. The rare salmon was the most delightful.
(5)
Rachel K.
This is hands down the best meal I've had since I've moved to Ohio. I'm used to big city dining and haven't found a lot I've really loved, but this place is delicious! First, there's the complimentary hummus instead of your usual bread and butter. They even brought out carrot sticks for me since I couldn't eat the pita chips that went with it. I had wine which was very good and my date got the Whiskey Smash which I tried and loved. Then came the salads. We both got The Salar which comes with an amazing smokey onion vinaigrette. For dinner I had Beef Saltado Style. The waiter had warned me that it was a little spicy. It was barely spicy, the kind of spicy that just makes your mouth pleasantly warm. It was extremely flavorful! I loved it from the first bite. My date got the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. I didn't try it, but he said it was divine. We then shared the flourless mousse cake which was so good I was actually aroused. My date declared it the best dessert he had ever had. The ambiance was classy, but relaxed and the restaurant was beautiful. I will be back!
(5)
S G.
Tried this for a date night in town. Reservation at 6:30-- chose to sit outside to enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere even outside was relaxed but still classy. Service was fantastic as well. Friendly, personal, and took time to review the menu and make recommendations based on our questions. We started off with cocktails and an appetizer--- chicken croquettes. Very tasty- have a little kick to them. They are known for their cocktails -- for good reasons. Half of my drink later and I was liking this place even more. The meals blew us away. Husband had quinoa crusted Sea Bass which is probably their most talked about dish. I enjoyed it. I had the special which was a swordfish meal with potatoes and artichokes. Liked it better than the sea bass. The flavors of the sauces and their cooking technique are worth giving a try. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere of this place. Therefore didn't mind spending $30 ish per meal. If I had to make one negative comment it would be on the price of the cocktails. They are signature but still overpriced. Regardless , we will be back to Salar.
(5)
Gary W.
Free valet parking is a plus. The interior is wonderful. The food is very nice. The drinks are great. The wife's steak came out a solid medium when she ordered medium rare. I'll be back.
(4)
Lucas S.
Great food. Chef has skills. Your staff are smug idiots. No tables at 330? We get sat at the bar with an "ok" service. He was barely ok.
(1)
Juan R.
Love pisco sours. The lomo saltado and empanadas are great. They need to bring the choros a la chalaca back. One of my fav spots in the great city of Dayton
Ate here for the first time on NYE 2014, and had a fine time. Was VERY busy, so service was slow - took forever to get a straw or napkins, and our salad arrived the same time as dinner. That said, the food was very good. Found the food prices reasonable - but the drinks were a little pricey. Still - a fine experience for a special night out. We plan to return.
(4)
Adam J.
Amazing food, amazing server and great atmosphere. Mark was so informative and hospitable. One of the best servers I have had in years!!!
(5)
sideshow b.
I bright spot on the Dayton dining circuit. I too was a fan of Sidebar, and not sure what to expect, but my fears soon evaporated. The bar is still one of the best in town with great mixologists. The vibe and decor are big city familiar. Great lounge area, bar area, main eating room, and back patio. Service was excellent. The starter 'hummus' was flavorful and appreciated. Cocktails were cool, refreshing, and gone too quickly. My sole was excellent and perfectly prepared. I hate overcooked seafood and Salar did not disappoint. Only downside was the pizza. We had two orders for your table and both suffered from having too many toppings creating a less than perfect crust experience. Salar need to work on either the top or bottom of the pizza if they want to really this off. All in all, a great night out. Give it a go!
(4)
Ryan B.
My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. The service was great as was the food. The drinks were fantastic as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all of the food and drink on the menu and his recommendations were spot on! The dessert was one of the best parts of the meal, the strawberry cheesecake was out of this world. Salar was reasonably priced, fantastic food, drink and service. I will be telling friends and family about our wonderful experience. If you are from the Dayton area Salar is a place you MUST go to!
(5)
Cassie H.
Many delicious options, fabulous dessert menu. The inside of the restaurant is very sleek and romantic. Many different seating options. They offer lots of fun drinks to choose from as well. I have been here several times now and I'm always very happy with the food and dining experience!
(5)
M B.
I was not impressed. The food was very simple in taste and did not have the wow factor that I was expecting from the previous reviews. It seems that just because it has a fancy name, people are giving it high reviews. The customer service is also not that great. My wife found a long blond hair in her lamb and the only they offered was a bigger dessert.
(1)
Julie T.
Salar was a cool, modern yet chill experience! I think the owner seated us when I went, and he was delightful. he was always smiling and thoughtfully checked up on us once. our server was also great! she was very friendly yet professional when it came to a dinner recommendation. though these kinds of actions are familiar with any dining experience, the staff at Salar took their responsibilities to a higher caliber that made my other and I feel like regulars or good friends. I also agree with a review here that says it is hard not to drop $100 on 2 people here. yet, for a first time visit on a special occasion, the price was worth it. what makes me give Salar 5 stars is its atmosphere. it is very stylish and modern, right down to the water cups. I didn't catch the Peruvian flair until I looked closer at the decor, however.
(5)
Glenn W.
I could sit there and drink old fashions all night (if they weren't $9). The drinks are pricey though. It's not hard to drop $100 there on food and drinks for 2 people. I went there last night as part of restaurant week. I had the tenderloin medallions with a chimichurri sauce. They were excellent. The risotto that came with it was also very good. I gave it 5 stars because while it isn't perfect, it's one of Dayton's best. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and wait staff are all excellent.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Salar took the place of my much beloved Sidebar. At first I was definitely not a fan of this new place. Veggie me had the lasagna when we went there first and it was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. But they have a great bar and I'm a sucker for good creative cocktails so back we went. Second time was an improvement- The "fake" scallops were good but not something I would order again. Then finally, they added more veggie entree options. I have had very good spinach/sundried tomato ravioli on my last two trips. Salads are good here. Pizzas tend to have too much cheese and thusly be soggy in the middle. My hubby likes the duck ravioli, a couple chicken dishes, but still needs to try some other things on the menu. The ambience is not as good as it was before at Sidebar. It usually isn't as busy, either, but I hope they keep working on the menu and that it succeeds.
(3)
Abby S.
really enjoyed cocktails and chicken skewers. very rich full flavors. really enjoyed the explosion of flavor in every bite.
(5)
Nicolas S.
This is a great restaurant. Though I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the vegetarian scallops. Very very good. I didn't care for the lucuma dessert but they took it off the bill. I didn't even complain about it, just off it came. The waitress noticed that I had not eaten very much of it. Great restaurant and great customer service.
(5)
B B.
Service very slow. 50 minutes later we received our entree(didn't order appetizer) My husband got the wrong food,(we were starving at this point), server told us after he already dug in she brought the wrong item. He didn't have an issue with it and said it was alright until he cut into middle of pork chop and it was RAW!! Really, raw pork!!! We told our server(not attentive service either took 30 minutes to check on us) and asked if he wanted something else. He said no and she disappeared for another 30 minutes. I had pasta which was bland and over done. Finally she returned and we just wanted to leave. Well she was quick with the check!! We actually got charged for the raw pork chop!!! We will never return!!!
(1)
Steve M.
Excellent menu! Something sure to please any taste. The pork belly entree was outstanding! Close your eyes and pretend you are in New York or Montreal!
(5)
Patrick N.
Great restaurant. I've been here twice and I'm always impressed by their menu options. I tried their Seafood dish with Risotto and a bourbon cocktail (two, actually), which was heavenly. They even have a great amount of gluten free choices for those with Celiac Disease (almost 3/4ths of the menu!). This place is a gem in the Oregon District.
(5)
Ricky T.
Every time we come to Salar, we fall a little more in love. Very charming. Very delicious.
(5)
Scott C.
Overall dining experience was excellent. My girlfriend and I went at last minute before the kitchen was to close, however, the food quality and service was still top-notch. We believe our waiter was actually the owner. He treated as guests in his own home. Salar is our new restaurant hot-spot. We are looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
(5)
Matt O.
Went here with my teenage daughter on a Daddy-daughter date, so I may be overselling the restaurant. The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Food was pretty good, though not superb -- the sole filet was a tad salty. Our waiter and the other staff were wonderfully attentive.
(4)
Darwin L.
Had hair in my hummus. Seanad was extremely bland. Think I'll go to Chipotle to eat hair free and flavorful food.
(1)
Michael B.
Great place. Good atmosphere, bar, and the food has never disappointed. The service is generally good, but it definitely depends on your server. As for the hostess station...for whatever reason, there is almost never anyone there when I walk in. You'll usually stand around for a few minutes waiting. Considering this is the worst thing I can say about the restaurant, and I frequent the place, I would recommend it to anyone.
Haven't had food here, but the drinks make me feel like I'm in a big city again.
(4)
Mark W.
We have been there twice now. First time was good, the second was sort of a train wreck. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it but considering all of the other great restaurants in the area we probably won't be back unless its just for a cocktail. (The cocktails are fantastic by the way, classic post prohibition type) Ceviche was ok but had been marinated too long so the fish was fully cooked. Vegan "scallops" were good. The ravioli stuffed with duck ragu was delicious. And we had the butternut squash ravioli on the train wreck night that was a mess. The flavors were good but the ravioli was not made correctly. It almost had the consistency of gnocchi.
(3)
Derek D.
I had three drinks by the world famous barkeep Adela. Lima to Lima=daaayuuuum! Gem City Sling=party in my mouf! Front Porch Swing=just a swingin!
(5)
Carleen T.
We ate here on New Years Eve and had the BEST experience ever! The wait staff is incredible and we loved it all,
(5)
Darren D.
Loved the restaurant from the decor to my meal, friendly and efficient service to my cheesecake. It made my favorites list and it's a short list. I said "that's good" a lot while l was eating.
(5)
Jess L.
Bar service was horrible. The bartenders were rude and condescending. There was also what appeared to be a ten year old child running around the bar. The theme of the drinks seems to be, "load em up with jalapenos and bitters" to compensate for the lack of balance and inspiration. The food was definitely not worth the price.
(1)
Tisha V.
My husband and I have been to Salar several times and have always enjoyed the food and the ambiance, so we decided to invite 3 other couples to join us for the Chef's Table Dinner. There is a beautiful wooden table that seats 8 right outside the kitchen, with easy access to view the chefs at work. The Chef's Table Dinner is something a little different, and they allow you to assist in creating a custom menu for your guests, and sometimes the includes items not found on the regular menu. I suggested a different 4-course meal for the women and men, so sampling and sharing could occur. Each person got a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, and each course came with a wine pairing that complemented the food. IT WAS AMAZING! The women had a tangy raspberry/goat cheese salad, empanadas (OMG), seafood paella (so much flavor), and passionfruit napoleon with mango sauce. Delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite between the empanadas and paella. Both were fantastic. The men had a smoken mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, scallops with a saffron sauce (seared perfectly), beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse cake. Hands down, the scallops were the winner. We wanted to lick that saffron sauce off the plate. Thank goodness my husband let me taste some of his! The wine pairings were spot on, and it was just enouch wine without getting us crocked. The table was beautifully set, and our server Tess was so attentive, friendly, funny, and available when we needed her. I highly recommend contacting the catering manager Michael Hall if you'd like to create a unique experience like this with your peeps. It was so much fun, I want to do it again as a girls night!
(5)
Jackie M.
Went for dinner while in Dayton for work. Came recommended by a colleague in the Dayton office and it certainly did not disappoint. Great selection on the menu and a solid wine list and variety of cocktails. The meal started with complimentary pita and cilantro hummus which was a nice touch. I had the Salar salad which was simple and delicious - I really loved the smoky onion dressing. The other people at my table had the warm caprese salad on the recommendation of the waiter and they loved it. I ordered the lasagna on the recommendation of the waiter and was so glad that I did. A really interesting Peruvian twist on lasagna, very flavorful and delicious. Another favorite of the waiter and at the table was the seabass. Overall, I definitely recommend Salar and will be back next time I am in town. And I will be sure to try a cocktail!
(4)
Sunny R.
Drinks were awesome! Would have had more but bartender with bushy mustache made it clear we were unwanted and unwelcome at his bar. Got great food and our server pretty dark hair with a flower in it was awesome. Weird how mere footsteps away in the dinning room the atmosphere changed so much for the better!
(4)
Thom S.
me and my sister and niece went to salar awhile back and it was fantastic,the restraint was very posh and decorated great including inside water displays,the staff were so friendly and welcoming and our waiter was great and suggested things to try like cocktails and dishes and was very funny and gave us a tour of the restaurant since it was our first time which we really enjoyed.i loved this place and I will def be going back and I also told friends about it whom have since went and they loved it as well. amazing food,great and friendly staff 5 stars from me
(5)
Jack Z.
The water is superb with MASSIVE cubes. Totally would stop in while walking by if for nothing more than a glass of that clear goodness. One of the Miami valley's finest!!!
(5)
David B.
We loved the old Sidebar (sad story, sigh), but this place blows it away. The cocktails are even better, and they've replaced the small-plate concept with more conventional portion sizes. And Chef Margot knows her stuff! If you're a foodie, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. One of the few restaurants in Dayton I would put on the same level as Meadowlark.
(5)
Stephen R.
I was surprised and delighted during my second visit to Salar several months later that they had added vegetarian and vegan entrees to the menu. The Porch Swing cocktail I enjoyed before dinner was perfectly mixed, and the White Bean "Scallops" were FANTASTIC. I left full and satisfied, and look forward to my next visit. Thanks for adding the vegan options, Salar!
(4)
Jessica S.
pretty good. only complaint was that the pork belly was overcooked and tough.
(4)
Eleanor B.
Great atmostphere, awesome handcrafted drinks and their menu was superb! We made reservations and went with a party of 16 and they took care of us! Appetizer calamari was awesome and from what I could tell everyone's elses' was very yummy! For the main entree for dinner I'd recommend the pork belly and the mousse dessert was my favorite! Great for a date, romantic dinner or a great outing with a bunch of friends when you want to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. After, you can head down the rest on Oregon District and paint the town red! We'll defnitely be back!!! Oh also free valet and parking on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to use this wonderful option!
(5)
S L.
I've only been to Salar once, but since I want the place to thrive I'm writing this review. I loved Sidebar and was sad to see it close. I was happy to see it reopened. I'm going to give my complaint first: We were seated outside in a smoking area. We weren't really paying attention until the table next to us lit up, and then cigars were set out for sale. We dealt with it by moving indoors, but it probably would have been nice if we were told before being seated out there. Indoors we were seated next to a conversation pit. It was kind of loud (not necessarily a problem) but it made us feel like we were more in a dance bar environment as opposed to a decent restaurant. I can eat bar food in a pub, but it's never felt right to eat a nice meal in a dark bar, especially one where the tab for one meal is over $25 before tip. As we were leaving it appeared the restaurant was gearing up for more of a Saturday night bar environment than restaurant. I can't remember the exact price, but it was something like $17 for a square of "lasagna." It certainly wasn't traditional lasagna, and I can appreciate the effort. I like different. It was tasty. The desert was delicious as well. I liked Sidebar better, but Salar is good.
(3)
Ramone K.
This place is amazing! The bar layout was designed by Justin Simmons,who also makes some amazingly creative drinks! The atmosphere was really fantastic! I can't say enough great things about this place. The drink menu is creative and the ambiance is pleasant and attractive. When you come in ask for Justin directly. He knows his stuff!
(5)
Nikki K.
First off, I really wanted to like this one. I had heard (and read) great things about this new addition to the area. The greatest thing about both my experiences (always have to go twice at least before I review) are the cocktails. Although small for the price, they were different from every other restaurant around here and I could tell the bartenders took pride in their technique. And I appreciate that. Here's the rest... Both times I have gone, our group had reservations. Both times we waited in the hostess-less entry for awhile before making our way to the bar to attempt to check in. Both times we had to wait 10+ minutes for our reservation to be "ready". I say this in quotes because both times we were 1 of maybe 3 tables in the restaurant. We waited to be gloomily greater by our waitress. Sat with empty drinks & waters numerous times. When asking questions about the menu, we were given uninspired & emotionless responses. (Such as "it's good" and "well it's pre-made so I don't know if we can take stuff out") Were served 3 out of our 4 dinners without a word from our waitress on how long it would be before the last one came. Now. I will say on a busy night, I would have had more patience. But once again, we were 1 of 3 tables in the restaurant. There was no reason for lack luster service. We felt like we were a burden. And for a space this beautiful with drinks this beautiful, I was extremely disappointed. Clearly someone is trying, I just wish the service staff felt the same way. Especially since that's where most of the places I love gain my patronage.
(2)
T S.
Great restaurant and head chef. Nice blend of food and ambiance with fantastic culinary taste parings! Do not miss if you are in the Emerald City.
(5)
Konefkta K.
My bf and I were ecstatic to try this place out, given that we were thrown into a deep depression after Sidebar closed (see earlier Sidebar review). We were not disappointed. Salar is located in the same place as Sidebar, and retains the same chef. Honestly, Chef Margot Blondet could prepare me a plate of dog vomit and I would eat it, I trust her THAT much. I loved everything I had at Sidebar, and I was glad to find out that the standards didn't slip with the new restaurant. I had the warm caprese salad, which was a surprising take on the classic salad. For an entree, I had the Peruvian Seafood rice, which came out on this stunning plate. It had a healthy portion of seafood mixed in with perfectly seasoned rice. The bf had the sea bass, which was a pretty large portion, and was crusted with quinoa. It was gorgeous. We were seated next to the beautiful waterfall room divider, and didn't even notice that our salads took a little while to come out. Our waitress did however, and informed us that we would have a comped dessert (which we were going to order anyway). We chose the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, which was creamy and rich and tasted delicious with the strawberry garnish. Overall, our new favorite restaurant in Dayton. And Chef Blondet should win all the awards. She probably doesn't go on those reality cooking shows because she doesn't want to make the other chefs feel bad about themselves.
(5)
Amanda S.
Had a very nice salad and some excellent empanadas here. I appreciated the quick and friendly service that I got at the bar. Was a little surprised that the empanadas were fried -- I'm used to having baked empanadas. Found out later that the cooking style varies across different Latin American countries. A bit pricey, but that was probably because I was in from out of town and otherwise found Dayton prices amazingly affordable.
(4)
Jeff G.
Based on atmosphere alone this is one of the top restaurants in Dayton. The food will also get them that same ranking. I would love to hear more about where they source their food. They don't say anything about it on their website so its not likely something to brag about. They say they are "Green Certified" but it doesn't elaborate on what that means. I will "Google" it later but if its something to be proud of I would expand on it. I would be inclined to give them 5 stars if I knew more about where my dinner came from....I hope. :) Don't worry about parking because they have complimentary valet. (That doesnt mean it's free...TIP) We haven't been here in quite a while and decided we needed to reconnect with this place. It was a great feeling to pull up and see the place packed. Although it was too cold to enjoy the patio I thought it was a nice touch to have those tables set and decorated. They pay close attention to atmosphere here. I love it. We typically eat at the bar. The service is good there but if you want to be pampered you better get a table. That bar is busy. If you plan on dining at a table I would definitely make a reservation. The dining areas are very cool, they actually have two bars, comfortable lounge type seating, and two patios. The patio is where it's at when the weather is right. They have a nice wine selection with very good pricing, they have an amazing cocktail list, I have never really paid attention to their beer selection. We always go for the wine here. Tonight we chose the Migration Pinot. The food - I love their menu. They have so much variety but its not overwhelming. We didn't get them tonight, and we aren't vegan, but they have some vegan scallops as an appetizer that are incredible! I would suggest giving them a shot. We skipped the appetizers this time and jumped right in to entrees. My wife got the almond crusted chicken and I got the beef saltado. I'm sure that chicken dish is very good, my wife enjoyed it but we both loved the flavors of my saltado so much it was difficult to enjoy that chicken. Haha. Everything about that saltado was incredible. It was so full of flavor. Filet, red onion, tomato, with amazing seasoning on top of a bed of french fries. I saw another review where they thought they got some stray fries from another dish. Fries are traditional for saltado and a lot of other Peruvian dishes. I love it!! We try to always be supportive of good local restaurants. I don't think you can go wrong giving this place a try. I have never had a meal here I didn't like. Go, enjoy.
(4)
Yohanne S.
My dish was a bit blan but our cousins dish was better. Very nice atmosphere. Waiter are very slow at responding.
(2)
Caleb J.
First time here but will definitely not be the last! Cool urban feel with a great menu. They start out with bringing warm pita bread and freshly made cilantro hummus. For a starter we had the calamari which was very good and the ginger hummus and creamy cocktail sauce were very complimentary. I highly recommend the shrimp, scallop and pesto artisan pizza, the clincher for 5 stars in my opinion! To finish off the meal we had the deconstructed tart for dessert with a lemon zest custard - simply amazing.
(5)
Julie N.
This was our first visit here, and although it came highly recommended we could not have have imagined we would have as wonderful experience as we did. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. But most importantly the service was the best we've ever had. Our server, Mark Hall, went above and beyond to give us a perfect dining experience. Give it a try, and ask for Mark!
(5)
Jon K.
It is rare when you have expectations for something and those expectations are met. Even rarer is when those expectations are exceeded. But that was unicornian experience we had at Salar last Saturday night. Major kudos must be doled out to the general manager for assembing a great front-of-house team--our server, Tyler, was knowledgeable about the menu and not only made great recommendations, but he also knew the compostion of the dishes we tried. The restaurant describes itself as having an " exciting menu of World-Fusion cuisine with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences.' They go on to say they have, "an extensive selection of hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and herbs, and only the finest spirits." Truth in packaging. We are usually wine people, seriously we drink it 3-4 times a week for dinner, but we had to try one of the cocktails upon the recommendation of Tyler. He suggested a La Pasion for me which Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, cilantro and Chipotle chili powder. Really cool presentation in a low ball glass with a giant sphere ice cube. She had the special of the day which was a frothy Peruvian speciaty. We shared their Tuna Tiradito which was essentially tuna sashimi with a tangy lime, cilantro and aji pepper sauce. Great portion size. For dinner my girlfriend again went with the special of the day. It was sea scallops crusted in a red quinoa, served with asparagus on a fresh polenta with a tangy but light sauce. I went with a traditional Beef Saltado which is marinated grilled tenderloin, tomatoes, onions, yellow peppers and spices with potatoes. The chef's take on this subbed in thin french fries which went great with the dish. Served with jasmine rice, yes that is too starches, but it works. I ended taking half home. The portion size was huge. We finished with a strawberry cheesecake which was a nice sweetness to complement the south american spices and sauces. The restaurant itself is beautiful. There are two porches, large rooms in the back that could be used for business events, rehersal dinners, birthday parties or any large group party. The bar itself is striking being a large gentle arch shape, and it was full all night. Lighting is subtle and the place has great features like the cascading water wall we sat next to for dinner. I hope Dayton supports this place. We live in Mason about 35 minutes away --we can't wait to get back and bring friends!
(5)
Meg K.
This place is a class act. We visited with a large party for cocktails and had a wonderful time. After we left I realized I didn't have my wallet! I called the restaurant well after 2am and left a message, hoping to maybe hear something the next day. The General Manager texted me back after only a few minutes to let me know they didn't see it but would keep a look out for me. I eventually found it at a different place but wow, I was really impressed with the quick response I got. Great management. Stellar service. Thank you!!
(5)
Kourtney R.
there are few things restaurant absolutely must get right and hot food is one of them. we went out as a group of 11 for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and needless to say if many of us were disappointed because our food was lukewarm. I had the fried calamari as an appetizer which was to say the least Salar did not live up to its name . the seasoning on the batter was very bland but the sauces were okay . the vegetarian linguini is what I had it is also very bland and I'm not sure that I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for a birthday party .in my opinion the best part of the restaurant was the atmosphere in the booze . if you're looking for an amazing tongue tingling meal I would not recommend this place
(1)
Marc M.
I can't say I've ever eaten in Dayton before. Yelp directed to me to this street of restaurants. A quick down and back the block told me that this was the nicest restaurant. It is a rather interesting area... with several dive bars and XXX stores. Apparently, this is a reboot of a previous restaurant in the same location. I am not sure what happened to the previous one, but this version is awesome. We sat at the bar because the place was booked - ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! The bartenders are whipping up some unique Craft Cocktails. Try "La Pasion". It is like a spicy Bloody Mary but without the tomato. Most of the cocktails are served with a round ice cube - very interesting. My coworker ordered a martini, which the bartender hand-stirred it (not shaken-ed). The Cebiche was awesome. No, that is not a typo. By this point in the meal, we figured out that everything has a unique touch. Instead of the normal shrimp and white-fish, the Cebiche has Halibut with marinated red onions over a bed a lettuce with fried corn. Back to round-two of cocktails. I took zzz recommendation and tried a cilantro ginger caprihlana next. The cocktails are as tasty and unique as they are good! My coworker ordered the grapefruit mojito - it has champagne in it rather than club soda. Ouch! Did I mention that all of these laborious libations are only $9.50?!? In any "big city" they would be $15 and up. After more drinks, I ordered the pork belly sliders. I don't normally order pork belly. I can't say I am a big fan after this - it is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again when in town. It is a great place for a business dinner, a romantic evening or a special occasion. The food is unique and the cocktails are really, really good.
(4)
Not Your Average ..
brought an out-of-towner to impress them but the food was whack. the atmosphere is really lovely. I've always enjoyed their wine selection. A little pricey but worth it if you just want a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy a drink at, hold it on the food.
(3)
Sharon H.
This has been on my "restaurant" bucket list since they opened and we decided to celebrate my Son's birthday here last night. Beautiful and trendy decor! It is hardly recognizable as the old "Sidebar" space. We did have to wait a little on our table even though we had a reservation but the bar was comfy and the bartender was simply amazing! My husband always attempts to order an authentic Moscow Mule whenever we eat at an upscale establishment but in Dayton it is hard to find anyone that can make it. SCORE!!! My better half was a happy camper! They had many interesting drinks on the menu that I wanted to try but I went with my usual - mojito. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD - HANDS DOWN! My Son did want a Bloody Mary though and they did not have it - REALLY? This is a standard drink that every bar in the universe should be able to make so they lose points for this snafu. I hope it was just a fluke. When we finally got seated at the table, we were surprised to see we had restaurant week menus (I had no idea and I am usually on top of this event since I am a foodie!). My Son and his partner opted to order steaks from their regular menu and hubby and I tried options from the restaurant week menu. All of us were very satisfied with our meals. I will say the service here is painfully slow but that could have been due to Restaurant Week. There was also a mix-up on one of our meals so three came out and we were all nearly finished when the fourth showed up. The manager did send out a complementary tapas plate to the guest that did not get their plate so they are making an effort here. We are going to try the place again and it was very good eats but painfully slow service. The bar was the star on this visit (with the exception of the Bloody Mary issue) and we all decided that this might be worth a trip just to have a drink or two with friends after work.
(3)
Brenda N.
We were a party of 4, there early on a Saturday evening for a birthday celebration. We were very disappointed in the food. We ordered lasagna, pecan crusted salmon and beef skewers. All 4 dinners arrived cold. The guest with the lasagna took 2 bites and could not eat it. It was dry and cold. The waiter took it back to the kitchen, then returned saying "the chef said they are all served like that but you can order something else from the menu". The guest said he did not want to order anything else. We remarked that all 3 other dinners arrived to the table cold as well. The waiter made no comment about this or try to correct the situation. We heard guests at 2 other tables also saying that their food was cold. We paid our tab (over $90) and then stopped down the street to order another meal. Very disappointing and expensive evening. We usually give restaurants "a second chance" but won't in this case.
Based on atmosphere alone this is one of the top restaurants in Dayton. The food will also get them that same ranking. I would love to hear more about where they source their food. They don't say anything about it on their website so its not likely something to brag about. They say they are "Green Certified" but it doesn't elaborate on what that means. I will "Google" it later but if its something to be proud of I would expand on it. I would be inclined to give them 5 stars if I knew more about where my dinner came from....I hope. :) Don't worry about parking because they have complimentary valet. (That doesnt mean it's free...TIP) We haven't been here in quite a while and decided we needed to reconnect with this place. It was a great feeling to pull up and see the place packed. Although it was too cold to enjoy the patio I thought it was a nice touch to have those tables set and decorated. They pay close attention to atmosphere here. I love it. We typically eat at the bar. The service is good there but if you want to be pampered you better get a table. That bar is busy. If you plan on dining at a table I would definitely make a reservation. The dining areas are very cool, they actually have two bars, comfortable lounge type seating, and two patios. The patio is where it's at when the weather is right. They have a nice wine selection with very good pricing, they have an amazing cocktail list, I have never really paid attention to their beer selection. We always go for the wine here. Tonight we chose the Migration Pinot. The food - I love their menu. They have so much variety but its not overwhelming. We didn't get them tonight, and we aren't vegan, but they have some vegan scallops as an appetizer that are incredible! I would suggest giving them a shot. We skipped the appetizers this time and jumped right in to entrees. My wife got the almond crusted chicken and I got the beef saltado. I'm sure that chicken dish is very good, my wife enjoyed it but we both loved the flavors of my saltado so much it was difficult to enjoy that chicken. Haha. Everything about that saltado was incredible. It was so full of flavor. Filet, red onion, tomato, with amazing seasoning on top of a bed of french fries. I saw another review where they thought they got some stray fries from another dish. Fries are traditional for saltado and a lot of other Peruvian dishes. I love it!! We try to always be supportive of good local restaurants. I don't think you can go wrong giving this place a try. I have never had a meal here I didn't like. Go, enjoy.
(4)
Yohanne S.
My dish was a bit blan but our cousins dish was better. Very nice atmosphere. Waiter are very slow at responding.
(2)
Caleb J.
First time here but will definitely not be the last! Cool urban feel with a great menu. They start out with bringing warm pita bread and freshly made cilantro hummus. For a starter we had the calamari which was very good and the ginger hummus and creamy cocktail sauce were very complimentary. I highly recommend the shrimp, scallop and pesto artisan pizza, the clincher for 5 stars in my opinion! To finish off the meal we had the deconstructed tart for dessert with a lemon zest custard - simply amazing.
(5)
Julie N.
This was our first visit here, and although it came highly recommended we could not have have imagined we would have as wonderful experience as we did. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. But most importantly the service was the best we've ever had. Our server, Mark Hall, went above and beyond to give us a perfect dining experience. Give it a try, and ask for Mark!
(5)
Alison B.
Amazing meal! We looked for the best in Dayton and found it! Exciting beverages and wonderful food. If you come to Dayton you must eat here. Owner /Chef is from Peru and her food is amazing! !! The Midwest is ripe for change and she is here to give it to you. I don't know where to start, we had the Duck ragu ravioli and the chilean seabass. I hardly know which I liked best! You must go!!!!
(5)
Big Baby Jesus C.
Honestly I hate to dog any place, but here I go. Another place trying to be fancy rather than simply trying to make tasty food. Scallops on half shell covered with cheese. What are you trying to cover up? Scallops are amazing seared with a lil salt. Sea bass? Likewise. What are you doing crusting it in quinoa and putting it on mushy leeks cooked in bacon fat? I'm starting to feel like this is one of those black hole spots that no business will succeed in.
(2)
Kaz K.
Nice looking restaurant. The cocktails are good. I tried the steak and asked for it to be cooked at medium rare. It was served to me to something that wasn't even rare. The waiter took the food off my bill, but come on. Who serves a steak like that at a nice restaurant?
(1)
Gary W.
Free valet parking is a plus. The interior is wonderful. The food is very nice. The drinks are great. The wife's steak came out a solid medium when she ordered medium rare. I'll be back.
(4)
Lucas S.
Great food. Chef has skills. Your staff are smug idiots. No tables at 330? We get sat at the bar with an "ok" service. He was barely ok.
(1)
N K.
This place is quite amazing. Peruvian food. Flavors were great. My salad dressing was too sweet but other than that, it's the perfect place for a special dinner. Service and ambiance wee outstanding too.
(5)
Katie S.
Went back. Got the white bean scallops- they were ok... Dry, not super flavorful, had a tomato and onion relish that was alright. Overall, I wouldn't get them again as they weren't anything special. My cocktail, the "penicillin" was really good though.
(3)
Carol M.
This establishment discouraged our ladies nite out. Took a tremendous amount of effort to come to dinner due to a snow storm. We still arrived at 7:55 for a 8:00 reservation to only to be told that our table was not ready. The hostess said to enjoy at the bar while you wait for your table that's not ready in time. 6 ladies decided to have one drink while we are delayed for our 8:00 reservation. When we were seated 40 minutes late we were informed that would no longer be served any alcoholic drinks. So here is my review don't attempt having at dinner at this establishment. Blinds Bonds had no problem serving and feeding us. Thank you Tyler b
(1)
Amanda S.
Had a very nice salad and some excellent empanadas here. I appreciated the quick and friendly service that I got at the bar. Was a little surprised that the empanadas were fried -- I'm used to having baked empanadas. Found out later that the cooking style varies across different Latin American countries. A bit pricey, but that was probably because I was in from out of town and otherwise found Dayton prices amazingly affordable.
(4)
Jon K.
It is rare when you have expectations for something and those expectations are met. Even rarer is when those expectations are exceeded. But that was unicornian experience we had at Salar last Saturday night. Major kudos must be doled out to the general manager for assembing a great front-of-house team--our server, Tyler, was knowledgeable about the menu and not only made great recommendations, but he also knew the compostion of the dishes we tried. The restaurant describes itself as having an " exciting menu of World-Fusion cuisine with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences.' They go on to say they have, "an extensive selection of hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and herbs, and only the finest spirits." Truth in packaging. We are usually wine people, seriously we drink it 3-4 times a week for dinner, but we had to try one of the cocktails upon the recommendation of Tyler. He suggested a La Pasion for me which Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, cilantro and Chipotle chili powder. Really cool presentation in a low ball glass with a giant sphere ice cube. She had the special of the day which was a frothy Peruvian speciaty. We shared their Tuna Tiradito which was essentially tuna sashimi with a tangy lime, cilantro and aji pepper sauce. Great portion size. For dinner my girlfriend again went with the special of the day. It was sea scallops crusted in a red quinoa, served with asparagus on a fresh polenta with a tangy but light sauce. I went with a traditional Beef Saltado which is marinated grilled tenderloin, tomatoes, onions, yellow peppers and spices with potatoes. The chef's take on this subbed in thin french fries which went great with the dish. Served with jasmine rice, yes that is too starches, but it works. I ended taking half home. The portion size was huge. We finished with a strawberry cheesecake which was a nice sweetness to complement the south american spices and sauces. The restaurant itself is beautiful. There are two porches, large rooms in the back that could be used for business events, rehersal dinners, birthday parties or any large group party. The bar itself is striking being a large gentle arch shape, and it was full all night. Lighting is subtle and the place has great features like the cascading water wall we sat next to for dinner. I hope Dayton supports this place. We live in Mason about 35 minutes away --we can't wait to get back and bring friends!
(5)
Steve H.
While in Dayton for a night, we chose this restaurant largely based on its Yelp reviews. Thanks Dayton Yelpers! We loved this place. It had a sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. We were there on a Monday night over the holidays. With no reservation, we were quoted a 30 minute wait. The bar was not crowded and we enjoyed a hand crafted cocktail. My drink had a jalepeno jam, but the bartender used the same strainer with my partners whiskey drink. -- so that jalepeno taste was in his drink too. Once seated for dinner, we ordered the surf and turf and the quinoa crusted sea bass. The steak had to be returned because it was overcooked. They replaced it quickly. That steak was sort of a miss - just not a great cut of meat. The sea bass was cooked great. Some might find the sauce a little heavy handed but I enjoyed it. Service was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back next time we are there.
(4)
Melissa R.
Terrible service. Manager was rude and not very accommodating. Our reservation was for 8:00 am. Table was not ready until 8:50. I would not recommend this place. Try the Wheat Penny or Coco's if you want better service.
(1)
Juan R.
Love pisco sours. The lomo saltado and empanadas are great. They need to bring the choros a la chalaca back. One of my fav spots in the great city of Dayton
(4)
sideshow b.
I bright spot on the Dayton dining circuit. I too was a fan of Sidebar, and not sure what to expect, but my fears soon evaporated. The bar is still one of the best in town with great mixologists. The vibe and decor are big city familiar. Great lounge area, bar area, main eating room, and back patio. Service was excellent. The starter 'hummus' was flavorful and appreciated. Cocktails were cool, refreshing, and gone too quickly. My sole was excellent and perfectly prepared. I hate overcooked seafood and Salar did not disappoint. Only downside was the pizza. We had two orders for your table and both suffered from having too many toppings creating a less than perfect crust experience. Salar need to work on either the top or bottom of the pizza if they want to really this off. All in all, a great night out. Give it a go!
(4)
Amy N.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or late night cocktail. The burger really took me by surprise. Perfect brioche and zesty sauce make this an excellent burger to try in DYT! (See photo) I'll be back to check out the dinner options!
Overall, amazing dinner experience. Loved the atmosphere, our server was very attentive, food was great. We had scallops and shrimp skewers to start. All very good. I would've liked the shrimp to've been cooked a little less but the scallops were very nice and pretty to look at. The rare salmon was the most delightful.
(5)
Kourtney R.
there are few things restaurant absolutely must get right and hot food is one of them. we went out as a group of 11 for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and needless to say if many of us were disappointed because our food was lukewarm. I had the fried calamari as an appetizer which was to say the least Salar did not live up to its name . the seasoning on the batter was very bland but the sauces were okay . the vegetarian linguini is what I had it is also very bland and I'm not sure that I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for a birthday party .in my opinion the best part of the restaurant was the atmosphere in the booze . if you're looking for an amazing tongue tingling meal I would not recommend this place
(1)
Nicolas S.
This is a great restaurant. Though I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the vegetarian scallops. Very very good. I didn't care for the lucuma dessert but they took it off the bill. I didn't even complain about it, just off it came. The waitress noticed that I had not eaten very much of it. Great restaurant and great customer service.
(5)
Eleanor B.
Great atmostphere, awesome handcrafted drinks and their menu was superb! We made reservations and went with a party of 16 and they took care of us! Appetizer calamari was awesome and from what I could tell everyone's elses' was very yummy! For the main entree for dinner I'd recommend the pork belly and the mousse dessert was my favorite! Great for a date, romantic dinner or a great outing with a bunch of friends when you want to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. After, you can head down the rest on Oregon District and paint the town red! We'll defnitely be back!!! Oh also free valet and parking on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to use this wonderful option!
(5)
Scott C.
Overall dining experience was excellent. My girlfriend and I went at last minute before the kitchen was to close, however, the food quality and service was still top-notch. We believe our waiter was actually the owner. He treated as guests in his own home. Salar is our new restaurant hot-spot. We are looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
(5)
Darwin L.
Had hair in my hummus. Seanad was extremely bland. Think I'll go to Chipotle to eat hair free and flavorful food.
(1)
Matt O.
Went here with my teenage daughter on a Daddy-daughter date, so I may be overselling the restaurant. The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Food was pretty good, though not superb -- the sole filet was a tad salty. Our waiter and the other staff were wonderfully attentive.
(4)
Mark W.
We have been there twice now. First time was good, the second was sort of a train wreck. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it but considering all of the other great restaurants in the area we probably won't be back unless its just for a cocktail. (The cocktails are fantastic by the way, classic post prohibition type) Ceviche was ok but had been marinated too long so the fish was fully cooked. Vegan "scallops" were good. The ravioli stuffed with duck ragu was delicious. And we had the butternut squash ravioli on the train wreck night that was a mess. The flavors were good but the ravioli was not made correctly. It almost had the consistency of gnocchi.
(3)
Derek D.
I had three drinks by the world famous barkeep Adela. Lima to Lima=daaayuuuum! Gem City Sling=party in my mouf! Front Porch Swing=just a swingin!
(5)
Carleen T.
We ate here on New Years Eve and had the BEST experience ever! The wait staff is incredible and we loved it all,
(5)
Jess L.
Bar service was horrible. The bartenders were rude and condescending. There was also what appeared to be a ten year old child running around the bar. The theme of the drinks seems to be, "load em up with jalapenos and bitters" to compensate for the lack of balance and inspiration. The food was definitely not worth the price.
(1)
Sunny R.
Drinks were awesome! Would have had more but bartender with bushy mustache made it clear we were unwanted and unwelcome at his bar. Got great food and our server pretty dark hair with a flower in it was awesome. Weird how mere footsteps away in the dinning room the atmosphere changed so much for the better!
(4)
Thom S.
me and my sister and niece went to salar awhile back and it was fantastic,the restraint was very posh and decorated great including inside water displays,the staff were so friendly and welcoming and our waiter was great and suggested things to try like cocktails and dishes and was very funny and gave us a tour of the restaurant since it was our first time which we really enjoyed.i loved this place and I will def be going back and I also told friends about it whom have since went and they loved it as well. amazing food,great and friendly staff 5 stars from me
(5)
Jack Z.
The water is superb with MASSIVE cubes. Totally would stop in while walking by if for nothing more than a glass of that clear goodness. One of the Miami valley's finest!!!
(5)
David B.
We loved the old Sidebar (sad story, sigh), but this place blows it away. The cocktails are even better, and they've replaced the small-plate concept with more conventional portion sizes. And Chef Margot knows her stuff! If you're a foodie, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. One of the few restaurants in Dayton I would put on the same level as Meadowlark.
(5)
Stephen R.
I was surprised and delighted during my second visit to Salar several months later that they had added vegetarian and vegan entrees to the menu. The Porch Swing cocktail I enjoyed before dinner was perfectly mixed, and the White Bean "Scallops" were FANTASTIC. I left full and satisfied, and look forward to my next visit. Thanks for adding the vegan options, Salar!
(4)
Jessica S.
pretty good. only complaint was that the pork belly was overcooked and tough.
(4)
Michael B.
Great place. Good atmosphere, bar, and the food has never disappointed. The service is generally good, but it definitely depends on your server. As for the hostess station...for whatever reason, there is almost never anyone there when I walk in. You'll usually stand around for a few minutes waiting. Considering this is the worst thing I can say about the restaurant, and I frequent the place, I would recommend it to anyone.
(4)
Patrick N.
Great restaurant. I've been here twice and I'm always impressed by their menu options. I tried their Seafood dish with Risotto and a bourbon cocktail (two, actually), which was heavenly. They even have a great amount of gluten free choices for those with Celiac Disease (almost 3/4ths of the menu!). This place is a gem in the Oregon District.
(5)
Ricky T.
Every time we come to Salar, we fall a little more in love. Very charming. Very delicious.
Haven't had food here, but the drinks make me feel like I'm in a big city again.
(4)
S L.
I've only been to Salar once, but since I want the place to thrive I'm writing this review. I loved Sidebar and was sad to see it close. I was happy to see it reopened. I'm going to give my complaint first: We were seated outside in a smoking area. We weren't really paying attention until the table next to us lit up, and then cigars were set out for sale. We dealt with it by moving indoors, but it probably would have been nice if we were told before being seated out there. Indoors we were seated next to a conversation pit. It was kind of loud (not necessarily a problem) but it made us feel like we were more in a dance bar environment as opposed to a decent restaurant. I can eat bar food in a pub, but it's never felt right to eat a nice meal in a dark bar, especially one where the tab for one meal is over $25 before tip. As we were leaving it appeared the restaurant was gearing up for more of a Saturday night bar environment than restaurant. I can't remember the exact price, but it was something like $17 for a square of "lasagna." It certainly wasn't traditional lasagna, and I can appreciate the effort. I like different. It was tasty. The desert was delicious as well. I liked Sidebar better, but Salar is good.
(3)
Nikki K.
First off, I really wanted to like this one. I had heard (and read) great things about this new addition to the area. The greatest thing about both my experiences (always have to go twice at least before I review) are the cocktails. Although small for the price, they were different from every other restaurant around here and I could tell the bartenders took pride in their technique. And I appreciate that. Here's the rest... Both times I have gone, our group had reservations. Both times we waited in the hostess-less entry for awhile before making our way to the bar to attempt to check in. Both times we had to wait 10+ minutes for our reservation to be "ready". I say this in quotes because both times we were 1 of maybe 3 tables in the restaurant. We waited to be gloomily greater by our waitress. Sat with empty drinks & waters numerous times. When asking questions about the menu, we were given uninspired & emotionless responses. (Such as "it's good" and "well it's pre-made so I don't know if we can take stuff out") Were served 3 out of our 4 dinners without a word from our waitress on how long it would be before the last one came. Now. I will say on a busy night, I would have had more patience. But once again, we were 1 of 3 tables in the restaurant. There was no reason for lack luster service. We felt like we were a burden. And for a space this beautiful with drinks this beautiful, I was extremely disappointed. Clearly someone is trying, I just wish the service staff felt the same way. Especially since that's where most of the places I love gain my patronage.
(2)
T S.
Great restaurant and head chef. Nice blend of food and ambiance with fantastic culinary taste parings! Do not miss if you are in the Emerald City.
(5)
Darren D.
Loved the restaurant from the decor to my meal, friendly and efficient service to my cheesecake. It made my favorites list and it's a short list. I said "that's good" a lot while l was eating.
(5)
B B.
Service very slow. 50 minutes later we received our entree(didn't order appetizer) My husband got the wrong food,(we were starving at this point), server told us after he already dug in she brought the wrong item. He didn't have an issue with it and said it was alright until he cut into middle of pork chop and it was RAW!! Really, raw pork!!! We told our server(not attentive service either took 30 minutes to check on us) and asked if he wanted something else. He said no and she disappeared for another 30 minutes. I had pasta which was bland and over done. Finally she returned and we just wanted to leave. Well she was quick with the check!! We actually got charged for the raw pork chop!!! We will never return!!!
(1)
Steve M.
Excellent menu! Something sure to please any taste. The pork belly entree was outstanding! Close your eyes and pretend you are in New York or Montreal!
(5)
Tisha V.
My husband and I have been to Salar several times and have always enjoyed the food and the ambiance, so we decided to invite 3 other couples to join us for the Chef's Table Dinner. There is a beautiful wooden table that seats 8 right outside the kitchen, with easy access to view the chefs at work. The Chef's Table Dinner is something a little different, and they allow you to assist in creating a custom menu for your guests, and sometimes the includes items not found on the regular menu. I suggested a different 4-course meal for the women and men, so sampling and sharing could occur. Each person got a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, and each course came with a wine pairing that complemented the food. IT WAS AMAZING! The women had a tangy raspberry/goat cheese salad, empanadas (OMG), seafood paella (so much flavor), and passionfruit napoleon with mango sauce. Delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite between the empanadas and paella. Both were fantastic. The men had a smoken mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, scallops with a saffron sauce (seared perfectly), beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse cake. Hands down, the scallops were the winner. We wanted to lick that saffron sauce off the plate. Thank goodness my husband let me taste some of his! The wine pairings were spot on, and it was just enouch wine without getting us crocked. The table was beautifully set, and our server Tess was so attentive, friendly, funny, and available when we needed her. I highly recommend contacting the catering manager Michael Hall if you'd like to create a unique experience like this with your peeps. It was so much fun, I want to do it again as a girls night!
(5)
Jackie M.
Went for dinner while in Dayton for work. Came recommended by a colleague in the Dayton office and it certainly did not disappoint. Great selection on the menu and a solid wine list and variety of cocktails. The meal started with complimentary pita and cilantro hummus which was a nice touch. I had the Salar salad which was simple and delicious - I really loved the smoky onion dressing. The other people at my table had the warm caprese salad on the recommendation of the waiter and they loved it. I ordered the lasagna on the recommendation of the waiter and was so glad that I did. A really interesting Peruvian twist on lasagna, very flavorful and delicious. Another favorite of the waiter and at the table was the seabass. Overall, I definitely recommend Salar and will be back next time I am in town. And I will be sure to try a cocktail!
(4)
Ramone K.
This place is amazing! The bar layout was designed by Justin Simmons,who also makes some amazingly creative drinks! The atmosphere was really fantastic! I can't say enough great things about this place. The drink menu is creative and the ambiance is pleasant and attractive. When you come in ask for Justin directly. He knows his stuff!
(5)
Konefkta K.
My bf and I were ecstatic to try this place out, given that we were thrown into a deep depression after Sidebar closed (see earlier Sidebar review). We were not disappointed. Salar is located in the same place as Sidebar, and retains the same chef. Honestly, Chef Margot Blondet could prepare me a plate of dog vomit and I would eat it, I trust her THAT much. I loved everything I had at Sidebar, and I was glad to find out that the standards didn't slip with the new restaurant. I had the warm caprese salad, which was a surprising take on the classic salad. For an entree, I had the Peruvian Seafood rice, which came out on this stunning plate. It had a healthy portion of seafood mixed in with perfectly seasoned rice. The bf had the sea bass, which was a pretty large portion, and was crusted with quinoa. It was gorgeous. We were seated next to the beautiful waterfall room divider, and didn't even notice that our salads took a little while to come out. Our waitress did however, and informed us that we would have a comped dessert (which we were going to order anyway). We chose the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, which was creamy and rich and tasted delicious with the strawberry garnish. Overall, our new favorite restaurant in Dayton. And Chef Blondet should win all the awards. She probably doesn't go on those reality cooking shows because she doesn't want to make the other chefs feel bad about themselves.
(5)
Sharon H.
This has been on my "restaurant" bucket list since they opened and we decided to celebrate my Son's birthday here last night. Beautiful and trendy decor! It is hardly recognizable as the old "Sidebar" space. We did have to wait a little on our table even though we had a reservation but the bar was comfy and the bartender was simply amazing! My husband always attempts to order an authentic Moscow Mule whenever we eat at an upscale establishment but in Dayton it is hard to find anyone that can make it. SCORE!!! My better half was a happy camper! They had many interesting drinks on the menu that I wanted to try but I went with my usual - mojito. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD - HANDS DOWN! My Son did want a Bloody Mary though and they did not have it - REALLY? This is a standard drink that every bar in the universe should be able to make so they lose points for this snafu. I hope it was just a fluke. When we finally got seated at the table, we were surprised to see we had restaurant week menus (I had no idea and I am usually on top of this event since I am a foodie!). My Son and his partner opted to order steaks from their regular menu and hubby and I tried options from the restaurant week menu. All of us were very satisfied with our meals. I will say the service here is painfully slow but that could have been due to Restaurant Week. There was also a mix-up on one of our meals so three came out and we were all nearly finished when the fourth showed up. The manager did send out a complementary tapas plate to the guest that did not get their plate so they are making an effort here. We are going to try the place again and it was very good eats but painfully slow service. The bar was the star on this visit (with the exception of the Bloody Mary issue) and we all decided that this might be worth a trip just to have a drink or two with friends after work.
(3)
Brenda N.
We were a party of 4, there early on a Saturday evening for a birthday celebration. We were very disappointed in the food. We ordered lasagna, pecan crusted salmon and beef skewers. All 4 dinners arrived cold. The guest with the lasagna took 2 bites and could not eat it. It was dry and cold. The waiter took it back to the kitchen, then returned saying "the chef said they are all served like that but you can order something else from the menu". The guest said he did not want to order anything else. We remarked that all 3 other dinners arrived to the table cold as well. The waiter made no comment about this or try to correct the situation. We heard guests at 2 other tables also saying that their food was cold. We paid our tab (over $90) and then stopped down the street to order another meal. Very disappointing and expensive evening. We usually give restaurants "a second chance" but won't in this case.
(1)
Rachel K.
This is hands down the best meal I've had since I've moved to Ohio. I'm used to big city dining and haven't found a lot I've really loved, but this place is delicious! First, there's the complimentary hummus instead of your usual bread and butter. They even brought out carrot sticks for me since I couldn't eat the pita chips that went with it. I had wine which was very good and my date got the Whiskey Smash which I tried and loved. Then came the salads. We both got The Salar which comes with an amazing smokey onion vinaigrette. For dinner I had Beef Saltado Style. The waiter had warned me that it was a little spicy. It was barely spicy, the kind of spicy that just makes your mouth pleasantly warm. It was extremely flavorful! I loved it from the first bite. My date got the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. I didn't try it, but he said it was divine. We then shared the flourless mousse cake which was so good I was actually aroused. My date declared it the best dessert he had ever had. The ambiance was classy, but relaxed and the restaurant was beautiful. I will be back!
(5)
Meg K.
This place is a class act. We visited with a large party for cocktails and had a wonderful time. After we left I realized I didn't have my wallet! I called the restaurant well after 2am and left a message, hoping to maybe hear something the next day. The General Manager texted me back after only a few minutes to let me know they didn't see it but would keep a look out for me. I eventually found it at a different place but wow, I was really impressed with the quick response I got. Great management. Stellar service. Thank you!!
(5)
Ryan B.
My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. The service was great as was the food. The drinks were fantastic as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all of the food and drink on the menu and his recommendations were spot on! The dessert was one of the best parts of the meal, the strawberry cheesecake was out of this world. Salar was reasonably priced, fantastic food, drink and service. I will be telling friends and family about our wonderful experience. If you are from the Dayton area Salar is a place you MUST go to!
(5)
S G.
Tried this for a date night in town. Reservation at 6:30-- chose to sit outside to enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere even outside was relaxed but still classy. Service was fantastic as well. Friendly, personal, and took time to review the menu and make recommendations based on our questions. We started off with cocktails and an appetizer--- chicken croquettes. Very tasty- have a little kick to them. They are known for their cocktails -- for good reasons. Half of my drink later and I was liking this place even more. The meals blew us away. Husband had quinoa crusted Sea Bass which is probably their most talked about dish. I enjoyed it. I had the special which was a swordfish meal with potatoes and artichokes. Liked it better than the sea bass. The flavors of the sauces and their cooking technique are worth giving a try. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere of this place. Therefore didn't mind spending $30 ish per meal. If I had to make one negative comment it would be on the price of the cocktails. They are signature but still overpriced. Regardless , we will be back to Salar.
(5)
Cassie H.
Many delicious options, fabulous dessert menu. The inside of the restaurant is very sleek and romantic. Many different seating options. They offer lots of fun drinks to choose from as well. I have been here several times now and I'm always very happy with the food and dining experience!
(5)
Marc M.
I can't say I've ever eaten in Dayton before. Yelp directed to me to this street of restaurants. A quick down and back the block told me that this was the nicest restaurant. It is a rather interesting area... with several dive bars and XXX stores. Apparently, this is a reboot of a previous restaurant in the same location. I am not sure what happened to the previous one, but this version is awesome. We sat at the bar because the place was booked - ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! The bartenders are whipping up some unique Craft Cocktails. Try "La Pasion". It is like a spicy Bloody Mary but without the tomato. Most of the cocktails are served with a round ice cube - very interesting. My coworker ordered a martini, which the bartender hand-stirred it (not shaken-ed). The Cebiche was awesome. No, that is not a typo. By this point in the meal, we figured out that everything has a unique touch. Instead of the normal shrimp and white-fish, the Cebiche has Halibut with marinated red onions over a bed a lettuce with fried corn. Back to round-two of cocktails. I took zzz recommendation and tried a cilantro ginger caprihlana next. The cocktails are as tasty and unique as they are good! My coworker ordered the grapefruit mojito - it has champagne in it rather than club soda. Ouch! Did I mention that all of these laborious libations are only $9.50?!? In any "big city" they would be $15 and up. After more drinks, I ordered the pork belly sliders. I don't normally order pork belly. I can't say I am a big fan after this - it is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again when in town. It is a great place for a business dinner, a romantic evening or a special occasion. The food is unique and the cocktails are really, really good.
(4)
Not Your Average ..
brought an out-of-towner to impress them but the food was whack. the atmosphere is really lovely. I've always enjoyed their wine selection. A little pricey but worth it if you just want a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy a drink at, hold it on the food.
(3)
PJ D.
The drinks here are amazing, plan and simple. The staff is knowledgeable about what drinks to recommend and everyone is very friendly, and nice atmosphere as well. I love to come here to get drinks and have a good time with friends or family. My only issue is the food is not great, it's not bad by any means, but not worth the price. You can have a decent meal here, but now I typically eat elsewhere and come here for the awesome drinks and service.
(4)
Tim B.
Upmarket decor (think San Francisco), enthusiastic and expert cocktail bar persons, very attentive and friendly staff, and a varied menu delivered to delicious perfection. Need I say more?
(5)
Thomas N.
Ate here for the first time on NYE 2014, and had a fine time. Was VERY busy, so service was slow - took forever to get a straw or napkins, and our salad arrived the same time as dinner. That said, the food was very good. Found the food prices reasonable - but the drinks were a little pricey. Still - a fine experience for a special night out. We plan to return.
(4)
Adam J.
Amazing food, amazing server and great atmosphere. Mark was so informative and hospitable. One of the best servers I have had in years!!!
(5)
M B.
I was not impressed. The food was very simple in taste and did not have the wow factor that I was expecting from the previous reviews. It seems that just because it has a fancy name, people are giving it high reviews. The customer service is also not that great. My wife found a long blond hair in her lamb and the only they offered was a bigger dessert.
(1)
Julie T.
Salar was a cool, modern yet chill experience! I think the owner seated us when I went, and he was delightful. he was always smiling and thoughtfully checked up on us once. our server was also great! she was very friendly yet professional when it came to a dinner recommendation. though these kinds of actions are familiar with any dining experience, the staff at Salar took their responsibilities to a higher caliber that made my other and I feel like regulars or good friends. I also agree with a review here that says it is hard not to drop $100 on 2 people here. yet, for a first time visit on a special occasion, the price was worth it. what makes me give Salar 5 stars is its atmosphere. it is very stylish and modern, right down to the water cups. I didn't catch the Peruvian flair until I looked closer at the decor, however.
(5)
Glenn W.
I could sit there and drink old fashions all night (if they weren't $9). The drinks are pricey though. It's not hard to drop $100 there on food and drinks for 2 people. I went there last night as part of restaurant week. I had the tenderloin medallions with a chimichurri sauce. They were excellent. The risotto that came with it was also very good. I gave it 5 stars because while it isn't perfect, it's one of Dayton's best. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and wait staff are all excellent.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Salar took the place of my much beloved Sidebar. At first I was definitely not a fan of this new place. Veggie me had the lasagna when we went there first and it was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. But they have a great bar and I'm a sucker for good creative cocktails so back we went. Second time was an improvement- The "fake" scallops were good but not something I would order again. Then finally, they added more veggie entree options. I have had very good spinach/sundried tomato ravioli on my last two trips. Salads are good here. Pizzas tend to have too much cheese and thusly be soggy in the middle. My hubby likes the duck ravioli, a couple chicken dishes, but still needs to try some other things on the menu. The ambience is not as good as it was before at Sidebar. It usually isn't as busy, either, but I hope they keep working on the menu and that it succeeds.
(3)
Abby S.
really enjoyed cocktails and chicken skewers. very rich full flavors. really enjoyed the explosion of flavor in every bite.
(5)
Meg K.
This place is a class act. We visited with a large party for cocktails and had a wonderful time. After we left I realized I didn't have my wallet! I called the restaurant well after 2am and left a message, hoping to maybe hear something the next day. The General Manager texted me back after only a few minutes to let me know they didn't see it but would keep a look out for me. I eventually found it at a different place but wow, I was really impressed with the quick response I got. Great management. Stellar service. Thank you!!
(5)
Steve H.
While in Dayton for a night, we chose this restaurant largely based on its Yelp reviews. Thanks Dayton Yelpers! We loved this place. It had a sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. We were there on a Monday night over the holidays. With no reservation, we were quoted a 30 minute wait. The bar was not crowded and we enjoyed a hand crafted cocktail. My drink had a jalepeno jam, but the bartender used the same strainer with my partners whiskey drink. -- so that jalepeno taste was in his drink too. Once seated for dinner, we ordered the surf and turf and the quinoa crusted sea bass. The steak had to be returned because it was overcooked. They replaced it quickly. That steak was sort of a miss - just not a great cut of meat. The sea bass was cooked great. Some might find the sauce a little heavy handed but I enjoyed it. Service was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back next time we are there.
(4)
Melissa R.
Terrible service. Manager was rude and not very accommodating. Our reservation was for 8:00 am. Table was not ready until 8:50. I would not recommend this place. Try the Wheat Penny or Coco's if you want better service.
(1)
Kaz K.
Nice looking restaurant. The cocktails are good. I tried the steak and asked for it to be cooked at medium rare. It was served to me to something that wasn't even rare. The waiter took the food off my bill, but come on. Who serves a steak like that at a nice restaurant?
(1)
Gary W.
Free valet parking is a plus. The interior is wonderful. The food is very nice. The drinks are great. The wife's steak came out a solid medium when she ordered medium rare. I'll be back.
(4)
Lucas S.
Great food. Chef has skills. Your staff are smug idiots. No tables at 330? We get sat at the bar with an "ok" service. He was barely ok.
(1)
Juan R.
Love pisco sours. The lomo saltado and empanadas are great. They need to bring the choros a la chalaca back. One of my fav spots in the great city of Dayton
I can't say I've ever eaten in Dayton before. Yelp directed to me to this street of restaurants. A quick down and back the block told me that this was the nicest restaurant. It is a rather interesting area... with several dive bars and XXX stores. Apparently, this is a reboot of a previous restaurant in the same location. I am not sure what happened to the previous one, but this version is awesome. We sat at the bar because the place was booked - ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! The bartenders are whipping up some unique Craft Cocktails. Try "La Pasion". It is like a spicy Bloody Mary but without the tomato. Most of the cocktails are served with a round ice cube - very interesting. My coworker ordered a martini, which the bartender hand-stirred it (not shaken-ed). The Cebiche was awesome. No, that is not a typo. By this point in the meal, we figured out that everything has a unique touch. Instead of the normal shrimp and white-fish, the Cebiche has Halibut with marinated red onions over a bed a lettuce with fried corn. Back to round-two of cocktails. I took zzz recommendation and tried a cilantro ginger caprihlana next. The cocktails are as tasty and unique as they are good! My coworker ordered the grapefruit mojito - it has champagne in it rather than club soda. Ouch! Did I mention that all of these laborious libations are only $9.50?!? In any "big city" they would be $15 and up. After more drinks, I ordered the pork belly sliders. I don't normally order pork belly. I can't say I am a big fan after this - it is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again when in town. It is a great place for a business dinner, a romantic evening or a special occasion. The food is unique and the cocktails are really, really good.
(4)
Not Your Average ..
brought an out-of-towner to impress them but the food was whack. the atmosphere is really lovely. I've always enjoyed their wine selection. A little pricey but worth it if you just want a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy a drink at, hold it on the food.
(3)
PJ D.
The drinks here are amazing, plan and simple. The staff is knowledgeable about what drinks to recommend and everyone is very friendly, and nice atmosphere as well. I love to come here to get drinks and have a good time with friends or family. My only issue is the food is not great, it's not bad by any means, but not worth the price. You can have a decent meal here, but now I typically eat elsewhere and come here for the awesome drinks and service.
(4)
Tim B.
Upmarket decor (think San Francisco), enthusiastic and expert cocktail bar persons, very attentive and friendly staff, and a varied menu delivered to delicious perfection. Need I say more?
(5)
Thomas N.
Ate here for the first time on NYE 2014, and had a fine time. Was VERY busy, so service was slow - took forever to get a straw or napkins, and our salad arrived the same time as dinner. That said, the food was very good. Found the food prices reasonable - but the drinks were a little pricey. Still - a fine experience for a special night out. We plan to return.
(4)
Adam J.
Amazing food, amazing server and great atmosphere. Mark was so informative and hospitable. One of the best servers I have had in years!!!
(5)
sideshow b.
I bright spot on the Dayton dining circuit. I too was a fan of Sidebar, and not sure what to expect, but my fears soon evaporated. The bar is still one of the best in town with great mixologists. The vibe and decor are big city familiar. Great lounge area, bar area, main eating room, and back patio. Service was excellent. The starter 'hummus' was flavorful and appreciated. Cocktails were cool, refreshing, and gone too quickly. My sole was excellent and perfectly prepared. I hate overcooked seafood and Salar did not disappoint. Only downside was the pizza. We had two orders for your table and both suffered from having too many toppings creating a less than perfect crust experience. Salar need to work on either the top or bottom of the pizza if they want to really this off. All in all, a great night out. Give it a go!
(4)
Amy N.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or late night cocktail. The burger really took me by surprise. Perfect brioche and zesty sauce make this an excellent burger to try in DYT! (See photo) I'll be back to check out the dinner options!
Overall, amazing dinner experience. Loved the atmosphere, our server was very attentive, food was great. We had scallops and shrimp skewers to start. All very good. I would've liked the shrimp to've been cooked a little less but the scallops were very nice and pretty to look at. The rare salmon was the most delightful.
(5)
Rachel K.
This is hands down the best meal I've had since I've moved to Ohio. I'm used to big city dining and haven't found a lot I've really loved, but this place is delicious! First, there's the complimentary hummus instead of your usual bread and butter. They even brought out carrot sticks for me since I couldn't eat the pita chips that went with it. I had wine which was very good and my date got the Whiskey Smash which I tried and loved. Then came the salads. We both got The Salar which comes with an amazing smokey onion vinaigrette. For dinner I had Beef Saltado Style. The waiter had warned me that it was a little spicy. It was barely spicy, the kind of spicy that just makes your mouth pleasantly warm. It was extremely flavorful! I loved it from the first bite. My date got the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. I didn't try it, but he said it was divine. We then shared the flourless mousse cake which was so good I was actually aroused. My date declared it the best dessert he had ever had. The ambiance was classy, but relaxed and the restaurant was beautiful. I will be back!
(5)
Kourtney R.
there are few things restaurant absolutely must get right and hot food is one of them. we went out as a group of 11 for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and needless to say if many of us were disappointed because our food was lukewarm. I had the fried calamari as an appetizer which was to say the least Salar did not live up to its name . the seasoning on the batter was very bland but the sauces were okay . the vegetarian linguini is what I had it is also very bland and I'm not sure that I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for a birthday party .in my opinion the best part of the restaurant was the atmosphere in the booze . if you're looking for an amazing tongue tingling meal I would not recommend this place
(1)
S G.
Tried this for a date night in town. Reservation at 6:30-- chose to sit outside to enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere even outside was relaxed but still classy. Service was fantastic as well. Friendly, personal, and took time to review the menu and make recommendations based on our questions. We started off with cocktails and an appetizer--- chicken croquettes. Very tasty- have a little kick to them. They are known for their cocktails -- for good reasons. Half of my drink later and I was liking this place even more. The meals blew us away. Husband had quinoa crusted Sea Bass which is probably their most talked about dish. I enjoyed it. I had the special which was a swordfish meal with potatoes and artichokes. Liked it better than the sea bass. The flavors of the sauces and their cooking technique are worth giving a try. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere of this place. Therefore didn't mind spending $30 ish per meal. If I had to make one negative comment it would be on the price of the cocktails. They are signature but still overpriced. Regardless , we will be back to Salar.
(5)
Ryan B.
My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. The service was great as was the food. The drinks were fantastic as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all of the food and drink on the menu and his recommendations were spot on! The dessert was one of the best parts of the meal, the strawberry cheesecake was out of this world. Salar was reasonably priced, fantastic food, drink and service. I will be telling friends and family about our wonderful experience. If you are from the Dayton area Salar is a place you MUST go to!
(5)
Cassie H.
Many delicious options, fabulous dessert menu. The inside of the restaurant is very sleek and romantic. Many different seating options. They offer lots of fun drinks to choose from as well. I have been here several times now and I'm always very happy with the food and dining experience!
(5)
M B.
I was not impressed. The food was very simple in taste and did not have the wow factor that I was expecting from the previous reviews. It seems that just because it has a fancy name, people are giving it high reviews. The customer service is also not that great. My wife found a long blond hair in her lamb and the only they offered was a bigger dessert.
(1)
Julie T.
Salar was a cool, modern yet chill experience! I think the owner seated us when I went, and he was delightful. he was always smiling and thoughtfully checked up on us once. our server was also great! she was very friendly yet professional when it came to a dinner recommendation. though these kinds of actions are familiar with any dining experience, the staff at Salar took their responsibilities to a higher caliber that made my other and I feel like regulars or good friends. I also agree with a review here that says it is hard not to drop $100 on 2 people here. yet, for a first time visit on a special occasion, the price was worth it. what makes me give Salar 5 stars is its atmosphere. it is very stylish and modern, right down to the water cups. I didn't catch the Peruvian flair until I looked closer at the decor, however.
(5)
Glenn W.
I could sit there and drink old fashions all night (if they weren't $9). The drinks are pricey though. It's not hard to drop $100 there on food and drinks for 2 people. I went there last night as part of restaurant week. I had the tenderloin medallions with a chimichurri sauce. They were excellent. The risotto that came with it was also very good. I gave it 5 stars because while it isn't perfect, it's one of Dayton's best. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and wait staff are all excellent.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Salar took the place of my much beloved Sidebar. At first I was definitely not a fan of this new place. Veggie me had the lasagna when we went there first and it was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. But they have a great bar and I'm a sucker for good creative cocktails so back we went. Second time was an improvement- The "fake" scallops were good but not something I would order again. Then finally, they added more veggie entree options. I have had very good spinach/sundried tomato ravioli on my last two trips. Salads are good here. Pizzas tend to have too much cheese and thusly be soggy in the middle. My hubby likes the duck ravioli, a couple chicken dishes, but still needs to try some other things on the menu. The ambience is not as good as it was before at Sidebar. It usually isn't as busy, either, but I hope they keep working on the menu and that it succeeds.
(3)
Abby S.
really enjoyed cocktails and chicken skewers. very rich full flavors. really enjoyed the explosion of flavor in every bite.
(5)
Nicolas S.
This is a great restaurant. Though I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the vegetarian scallops. Very very good. I didn't care for the lucuma dessert but they took it off the bill. I didn't even complain about it, just off it came. The waitress noticed that I had not eaten very much of it. Great restaurant and great customer service.
(5)
Darwin L.
Had hair in my hummus. Seanad was extremely bland. Think I'll go to Chipotle to eat hair free and flavorful food.
(1)
Michael B.
Great place. Good atmosphere, bar, and the food has never disappointed. The service is generally good, but it definitely depends on your server. As for the hostess station...for whatever reason, there is almost never anyone there when I walk in. You'll usually stand around for a few minutes waiting. Considering this is the worst thing I can say about the restaurant, and I frequent the place, I would recommend it to anyone.
(4)
Patrick N.
Great restaurant. I've been here twice and I'm always impressed by their menu options. I tried their Seafood dish with Risotto and a bourbon cocktail (two, actually), which was heavenly. They even have a great amount of gluten free choices for those with Celiac Disease (almost 3/4ths of the menu!). This place is a gem in the Oregon District.
(5)
Ricky T.
Every time we come to Salar, we fall a little more in love. Very charming. Very delicious.
(5)
Scott C.
Overall dining experience was excellent. My girlfriend and I went at last minute before the kitchen was to close, however, the food quality and service was still top-notch. We believe our waiter was actually the owner. He treated as guests in his own home. Salar is our new restaurant hot-spot. We are looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
(5)
Matt O.
Went here with my teenage daughter on a Daddy-daughter date, so I may be overselling the restaurant. The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Food was pretty good, though not superb -- the sole filet was a tad salty. Our waiter and the other staff were wonderfully attentive.
Haven't had food here, but the drinks make me feel like I'm in a big city again.
(4)
Mark W.
We have been there twice now. First time was good, the second was sort of a train wreck. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it but considering all of the other great restaurants in the area we probably won't be back unless its just for a cocktail. (The cocktails are fantastic by the way, classic post prohibition type) Ceviche was ok but had been marinated too long so the fish was fully cooked. Vegan "scallops" were good. The ravioli stuffed with duck ragu was delicious. And we had the butternut squash ravioli on the train wreck night that was a mess. The flavors were good but the ravioli was not made correctly. It almost had the consistency of gnocchi.
(3)
Derek D.
I had three drinks by the world famous barkeep Adela. Lima to Lima=daaayuuuum! Gem City Sling=party in my mouf! Front Porch Swing=just a swingin!
(5)
Carleen T.
We ate here on New Years Eve and had the BEST experience ever! The wait staff is incredible and we loved it all,
(5)
Darren D.
Loved the restaurant from the decor to my meal, friendly and efficient service to my cheesecake. It made my favorites list and it's a short list. I said "that's good" a lot while l was eating.
(5)
B B.
Service very slow. 50 minutes later we received our entree(didn't order appetizer) My husband got the wrong food,(we were starving at this point), server told us after he already dug in she brought the wrong item. He didn't have an issue with it and said it was alright until he cut into middle of pork chop and it was RAW!! Really, raw pork!!! We told our server(not attentive service either took 30 minutes to check on us) and asked if he wanted something else. He said no and she disappeared for another 30 minutes. I had pasta which was bland and over done. Finally she returned and we just wanted to leave. Well she was quick with the check!! We actually got charged for the raw pork chop!!! We will never return!!!
(1)
Steve M.
Excellent menu! Something sure to please any taste. The pork belly entree was outstanding! Close your eyes and pretend you are in New York or Montreal!
(5)
Jess L.
Bar service was horrible. The bartenders were rude and condescending. There was also what appeared to be a ten year old child running around the bar. The theme of the drinks seems to be, "load em up with jalapenos and bitters" to compensate for the lack of balance and inspiration. The food was definitely not worth the price.
(1)
Jack Z.
The water is superb with MASSIVE cubes. Totally would stop in while walking by if for nothing more than a glass of that clear goodness. One of the Miami valley's finest!!!
(5)
David B.
We loved the old Sidebar (sad story, sigh), but this place blows it away. The cocktails are even better, and they've replaced the small-plate concept with more conventional portion sizes. And Chef Margot knows her stuff! If you're a foodie, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. One of the few restaurants in Dayton I would put on the same level as Meadowlark.
(5)
Tisha V.
My husband and I have been to Salar several times and have always enjoyed the food and the ambiance, so we decided to invite 3 other couples to join us for the Chef's Table Dinner. There is a beautiful wooden table that seats 8 right outside the kitchen, with easy access to view the chefs at work. The Chef's Table Dinner is something a little different, and they allow you to assist in creating a custom menu for your guests, and sometimes the includes items not found on the regular menu. I suggested a different 4-course meal for the women and men, so sampling and sharing could occur. Each person got a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, and each course came with a wine pairing that complemented the food. IT WAS AMAZING! The women had a tangy raspberry/goat cheese salad, empanadas (OMG), seafood paella (so much flavor), and passionfruit napoleon with mango sauce. Delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite between the empanadas and paella. Both were fantastic. The men had a smoken mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, scallops with a saffron sauce (seared perfectly), beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse cake. Hands down, the scallops were the winner. We wanted to lick that saffron sauce off the plate. Thank goodness my husband let me taste some of his! The wine pairings were spot on, and it was just enouch wine without getting us crocked. The table was beautifully set, and our server Tess was so attentive, friendly, funny, and available when we needed her. I highly recommend contacting the catering manager Michael Hall if you'd like to create a unique experience like this with your peeps. It was so much fun, I want to do it again as a girls night!
(5)
Jackie M.
Went for dinner while in Dayton for work. Came recommended by a colleague in the Dayton office and it certainly did not disappoint. Great selection on the menu and a solid wine list and variety of cocktails. The meal started with complimentary pita and cilantro hummus which was a nice touch. I had the Salar salad which was simple and delicious - I really loved the smoky onion dressing. The other people at my table had the warm caprese salad on the recommendation of the waiter and they loved it. I ordered the lasagna on the recommendation of the waiter and was so glad that I did. A really interesting Peruvian twist on lasagna, very flavorful and delicious. Another favorite of the waiter and at the table was the seabass. Overall, I definitely recommend Salar and will be back next time I am in town. And I will be sure to try a cocktail!
(4)
Sunny R.
Drinks were awesome! Would have had more but bartender with bushy mustache made it clear we were unwanted and unwelcome at his bar. Got great food and our server pretty dark hair with a flower in it was awesome. Weird how mere footsteps away in the dinning room the atmosphere changed so much for the better!
(4)
Thom S.
me and my sister and niece went to salar awhile back and it was fantastic,the restraint was very posh and decorated great including inside water displays,the staff were so friendly and welcoming and our waiter was great and suggested things to try like cocktails and dishes and was very funny and gave us a tour of the restaurant since it was our first time which we really enjoyed.i loved this place and I will def be going back and I also told friends about it whom have since went and they loved it as well. amazing food,great and friendly staff 5 stars from me
(5)
Stephen R.
I was surprised and delighted during my second visit to Salar several months later that they had added vegetarian and vegan entrees to the menu. The Porch Swing cocktail I enjoyed before dinner was perfectly mixed, and the White Bean "Scallops" were FANTASTIC. I left full and satisfied, and look forward to my next visit. Thanks for adding the vegan options, Salar!
(4)
Jessica S.
pretty good. only complaint was that the pork belly was overcooked and tough.
(4)
Eleanor B.
Great atmostphere, awesome handcrafted drinks and their menu was superb! We made reservations and went with a party of 16 and they took care of us! Appetizer calamari was awesome and from what I could tell everyone's elses' was very yummy! For the main entree for dinner I'd recommend the pork belly and the mousse dessert was my favorite! Great for a date, romantic dinner or a great outing with a bunch of friends when you want to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. After, you can head down the rest on Oregon District and paint the town red! We'll defnitely be back!!! Oh also free valet and parking on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to use this wonderful option!
(5)
S L.
I've only been to Salar once, but since I want the place to thrive I'm writing this review. I loved Sidebar and was sad to see it close. I was happy to see it reopened. I'm going to give my complaint first: We were seated outside in a smoking area. We weren't really paying attention until the table next to us lit up, and then cigars were set out for sale. We dealt with it by moving indoors, but it probably would have been nice if we were told before being seated out there. Indoors we were seated next to a conversation pit. It was kind of loud (not necessarily a problem) but it made us feel like we were more in a dance bar environment as opposed to a decent restaurant. I can eat bar food in a pub, but it's never felt right to eat a nice meal in a dark bar, especially one where the tab for one meal is over $25 before tip. As we were leaving it appeared the restaurant was gearing up for more of a Saturday night bar environment than restaurant. I can't remember the exact price, but it was something like $17 for a square of "lasagna." It certainly wasn't traditional lasagna, and I can appreciate the effort. I like different. It was tasty. The desert was delicious as well. I liked Sidebar better, but Salar is good.
(3)
Ramone K.
This place is amazing! The bar layout was designed by Justin Simmons,who also makes some amazingly creative drinks! The atmosphere was really fantastic! I can't say enough great things about this place. The drink menu is creative and the ambiance is pleasant and attractive. When you come in ask for Justin directly. He knows his stuff!
(5)
Brenda N.
We were a party of 4, there early on a Saturday evening for a birthday celebration. We were very disappointed in the food. We ordered lasagna, pecan crusted salmon and beef skewers. All 4 dinners arrived cold. The guest with the lasagna took 2 bites and could not eat it. It was dry and cold. The waiter took it back to the kitchen, then returned saying "the chef said they are all served like that but you can order something else from the menu". The guest said he did not want to order anything else. We remarked that all 3 other dinners arrived to the table cold as well. The waiter made no comment about this or try to correct the situation. We heard guests at 2 other tables also saying that their food was cold. We paid our tab (over $90) and then stopped down the street to order another meal. Very disappointing and expensive evening. We usually give restaurants "a second chance" but won't in this case.
(1)
Konefkta K.
My bf and I were ecstatic to try this place out, given that we were thrown into a deep depression after Sidebar closed (see earlier Sidebar review). We were not disappointed. Salar is located in the same place as Sidebar, and retains the same chef. Honestly, Chef Margot Blondet could prepare me a plate of dog vomit and I would eat it, I trust her THAT much. I loved everything I had at Sidebar, and I was glad to find out that the standards didn't slip with the new restaurant. I had the warm caprese salad, which was a surprising take on the classic salad. For an entree, I had the Peruvian Seafood rice, which came out on this stunning plate. It had a healthy portion of seafood mixed in with perfectly seasoned rice. The bf had the sea bass, which was a pretty large portion, and was crusted with quinoa. It was gorgeous. We were seated next to the beautiful waterfall room divider, and didn't even notice that our salads took a little while to come out. Our waitress did however, and informed us that we would have a comped dessert (which we were going to order anyway). We chose the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, which was creamy and rich and tasted delicious with the strawberry garnish. Overall, our new favorite restaurant in Dayton. And Chef Blondet should win all the awards. She probably doesn't go on those reality cooking shows because she doesn't want to make the other chefs feel bad about themselves.
(5)
Sharon H.
This has been on my "restaurant" bucket list since they opened and we decided to celebrate my Son's birthday here last night. Beautiful and trendy decor! It is hardly recognizable as the old "Sidebar" space. We did have to wait a little on our table even though we had a reservation but the bar was comfy and the bartender was simply amazing! My husband always attempts to order an authentic Moscow Mule whenever we eat at an upscale establishment but in Dayton it is hard to find anyone that can make it. SCORE!!! My better half was a happy camper! They had many interesting drinks on the menu that I wanted to try but I went with my usual - mojito. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD - HANDS DOWN! My Son did want a Bloody Mary though and they did not have it - REALLY? This is a standard drink that every bar in the universe should be able to make so they lose points for this snafu. I hope it was just a fluke. When we finally got seated at the table, we were surprised to see we had restaurant week menus (I had no idea and I am usually on top of this event since I am a foodie!). My Son and his partner opted to order steaks from their regular menu and hubby and I tried options from the restaurant week menu. All of us were very satisfied with our meals. I will say the service here is painfully slow but that could have been due to Restaurant Week. There was also a mix-up on one of our meals so three came out and we were all nearly finished when the fourth showed up. The manager did send out a complementary tapas plate to the guest that did not get their plate so they are making an effort here. We are going to try the place again and it was very good eats but painfully slow service. The bar was the star on this visit (with the exception of the Bloody Mary issue) and we all decided that this might be worth a trip just to have a drink or two with friends after work.
(3)
Nikki K.
First off, I really wanted to like this one. I had heard (and read) great things about this new addition to the area. The greatest thing about both my experiences (always have to go twice at least before I review) are the cocktails. Although small for the price, they were different from every other restaurant around here and I could tell the bartenders took pride in their technique. And I appreciate that. Here's the rest... Both times I have gone, our group had reservations. Both times we waited in the hostess-less entry for awhile before making our way to the bar to attempt to check in. Both times we had to wait 10+ minutes for our reservation to be "ready". I say this in quotes because both times we were 1 of maybe 3 tables in the restaurant. We waited to be gloomily greater by our waitress. Sat with empty drinks & waters numerous times. When asking questions about the menu, we were given uninspired & emotionless responses. (Such as "it's good" and "well it's pre-made so I don't know if we can take stuff out") Were served 3 out of our 4 dinners without a word from our waitress on how long it would be before the last one came. Now. I will say on a busy night, I would have had more patience. But once again, we were 1 of 3 tables in the restaurant. There was no reason for lack luster service. We felt like we were a burden. And for a space this beautiful with drinks this beautiful, I was extremely disappointed. Clearly someone is trying, I just wish the service staff felt the same way. Especially since that's where most of the places I love gain my patronage.
(2)
T S.
Great restaurant and head chef. Nice blend of food and ambiance with fantastic culinary taste parings! Do not miss if you are in the Emerald City.
(5)
N K.
This place is quite amazing. Peruvian food. Flavors were great. My salad dressing was too sweet but other than that, it's the perfect place for a special dinner. Service and ambiance wee outstanding too.
(5)
Katie S.
Went back. Got the white bean scallops- they were ok... Dry, not super flavorful, had a tomato and onion relish that was alright. Overall, I wouldn't get them again as they weren't anything special. My cocktail, the "penicillin" was really good though.
(3)
Carol M.
This establishment discouraged our ladies nite out. Took a tremendous amount of effort to come to dinner due to a snow storm. We still arrived at 7:55 for a 8:00 reservation to only to be told that our table was not ready. The hostess said to enjoy at the bar while you wait for your table that's not ready in time. 6 ladies decided to have one drink while we are delayed for our 8:00 reservation. When we were seated 40 minutes late we were informed that would no longer be served any alcoholic drinks. So here is my review don't attempt having at dinner at this establishment. Blinds Bonds had no problem serving and feeding us. Thank you Tyler b
(1)
Amanda S.
Had a very nice salad and some excellent empanadas here. I appreciated the quick and friendly service that I got at the bar. Was a little surprised that the empanadas were fried -- I'm used to having baked empanadas. Found out later that the cooking style varies across different Latin American countries. A bit pricey, but that was probably because I was in from out of town and otherwise found Dayton prices amazingly affordable.
(4)
Alison B.
Amazing meal! We looked for the best in Dayton and found it! Exciting beverages and wonderful food. If you come to Dayton you must eat here. Owner /Chef is from Peru and her food is amazing! !! The Midwest is ripe for change and she is here to give it to you. I don't know where to start, we had the Duck ragu ravioli and the chilean seabass. I hardly know which I liked best! You must go!!!!
(5)
Big Baby Jesus C.
Honestly I hate to dog any place, but here I go. Another place trying to be fancy rather than simply trying to make tasty food. Scallops on half shell covered with cheese. What are you trying to cover up? Scallops are amazing seared with a lil salt. Sea bass? Likewise. What are you doing crusting it in quinoa and putting it on mushy leeks cooked in bacon fat? I'm starting to feel like this is one of those black hole spots that no business will succeed in.
(2)
Jeff G.
Based on atmosphere alone this is one of the top restaurants in Dayton. The food will also get them that same ranking. I would love to hear more about where they source their food. They don't say anything about it on their website so its not likely something to brag about. They say they are "Green Certified" but it doesn't elaborate on what that means. I will "Google" it later but if its something to be proud of I would expand on it. I would be inclined to give them 5 stars if I knew more about where my dinner came from....I hope. :) Don't worry about parking because they have complimentary valet. (That doesnt mean it's free...TIP) We haven't been here in quite a while and decided we needed to reconnect with this place. It was a great feeling to pull up and see the place packed. Although it was too cold to enjoy the patio I thought it was a nice touch to have those tables set and decorated. They pay close attention to atmosphere here. I love it. We typically eat at the bar. The service is good there but if you want to be pampered you better get a table. That bar is busy. If you plan on dining at a table I would definitely make a reservation. The dining areas are very cool, they actually have two bars, comfortable lounge type seating, and two patios. The patio is where it's at when the weather is right. They have a nice wine selection with very good pricing, they have an amazing cocktail list, I have never really paid attention to their beer selection. We always go for the wine here. Tonight we chose the Migration Pinot. The food - I love their menu. They have so much variety but its not overwhelming. We didn't get them tonight, and we aren't vegan, but they have some vegan scallops as an appetizer that are incredible! I would suggest giving them a shot. We skipped the appetizers this time and jumped right in to entrees. My wife got the almond crusted chicken and I got the beef saltado. I'm sure that chicken dish is very good, my wife enjoyed it but we both loved the flavors of my saltado so much it was difficult to enjoy that chicken. Haha. Everything about that saltado was incredible. It was so full of flavor. Filet, red onion, tomato, with amazing seasoning on top of a bed of french fries. I saw another review where they thought they got some stray fries from another dish. Fries are traditional for saltado and a lot of other Peruvian dishes. I love it!! We try to always be supportive of good local restaurants. I don't think you can go wrong giving this place a try. I have never had a meal here I didn't like. Go, enjoy.
(4)
Yohanne S.
My dish was a bit blan but our cousins dish was better. Very nice atmosphere. Waiter are very slow at responding.
(2)
Caleb J.
First time here but will definitely not be the last! Cool urban feel with a great menu. They start out with bringing warm pita bread and freshly made cilantro hummus. For a starter we had the calamari which was very good and the ginger hummus and creamy cocktail sauce were very complimentary. I highly recommend the shrimp, scallop and pesto artisan pizza, the clincher for 5 stars in my opinion! To finish off the meal we had the deconstructed tart for dessert with a lemon zest custard - simply amazing.
(5)
Julie N.
This was our first visit here, and although it came highly recommended we could not have have imagined we would have as wonderful experience as we did. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. But most importantly the service was the best we've ever had. Our server, Mark Hall, went above and beyond to give us a perfect dining experience. Give it a try, and ask for Mark!
(5)
Jon K.
It is rare when you have expectations for something and those expectations are met. Even rarer is when those expectations are exceeded. But that was unicornian experience we had at Salar last Saturday night. Major kudos must be doled out to the general manager for assembing a great front-of-house team--our server, Tyler, was knowledgeable about the menu and not only made great recommendations, but he also knew the compostion of the dishes we tried. The restaurant describes itself as having an " exciting menu of World-Fusion cuisine with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences.' They go on to say they have, "an extensive selection of hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and herbs, and only the finest spirits." Truth in packaging. We are usually wine people, seriously we drink it 3-4 times a week for dinner, but we had to try one of the cocktails upon the recommendation of Tyler. He suggested a La Pasion for me which Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, cilantro and Chipotle chili powder. Really cool presentation in a low ball glass with a giant sphere ice cube. She had the special of the day which was a frothy Peruvian speciaty. We shared their Tuna Tiradito which was essentially tuna sashimi with a tangy lime, cilantro and aji pepper sauce. Great portion size. For dinner my girlfriend again went with the special of the day. It was sea scallops crusted in a red quinoa, served with asparagus on a fresh polenta with a tangy but light sauce. I went with a traditional Beef Saltado which is marinated grilled tenderloin, tomatoes, onions, yellow peppers and spices with potatoes. The chef's take on this subbed in thin french fries which went great with the dish. Served with jasmine rice, yes that is too starches, but it works. I ended taking half home. The portion size was huge. We finished with a strawberry cheesecake which was a nice sweetness to complement the south american spices and sauces. The restaurant itself is beautiful. There are two porches, large rooms in the back that could be used for business events, rehersal dinners, birthday parties or any large group party. The bar itself is striking being a large gentle arch shape, and it was full all night. Lighting is subtle and the place has great features like the cascading water wall we sat next to for dinner. I hope Dayton supports this place. We live in Mason about 35 minutes away --we can't wait to get back and bring friends!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Steve H.
While in Dayton for a night, we chose this restaurant largely based on its Yelp reviews. Thanks Dayton Yelpers! We loved this place. It had a sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. We were there on a Monday night over the holidays. With no reservation, we were quoted a 30 minute wait. The bar was not crowded and we enjoyed a hand crafted cocktail. My drink had a jalepeno jam, but the bartender used the same strainer with my partners whiskey drink. -- so that jalepeno taste was in his drink too. Once seated for dinner, we ordered the surf and turf and the quinoa crusted sea bass. The steak had to be returned because it was overcooked. They replaced it quickly. That steak was sort of a miss - just not a great cut of meat. The sea bass was cooked great. Some might find the sauce a little heavy handed but I enjoyed it. Service was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back next time we are there.
(4)Melissa R.
Terrible service. Manager was rude and not very accommodating. Our reservation was for 8:00 am. Table was not ready until 8:50. I would not recommend this place. Try the Wheat Penny or Coco's if you want better service.
(1)Kaz K.
Nice looking restaurant. The cocktails are good. I tried the steak and asked for it to be cooked at medium rare. It was served to me to something that wasn't even rare. The waiter took the food off my bill, but come on. Who serves a steak like that at a nice restaurant?
(1)N K.
This place is quite amazing. Peruvian food. Flavors were great. My salad dressing was too sweet but other than that, it's the perfect place for a special dinner. Service and ambiance wee outstanding too.
(5)Katie S.
Went back. Got the white bean scallops- they were ok... Dry, not super flavorful, had a tomato and onion relish that was alright. Overall, I wouldn't get them again as they weren't anything special. My cocktail, the "penicillin" was really good though.
(3)Carol M.
This establishment discouraged our ladies nite out. Took a tremendous amount of effort to come to dinner due to a snow storm. We still arrived at 7:55 for a 8:00 reservation to only to be told that our table was not ready. The hostess said to enjoy at the bar while you wait for your table that's not ready in time. 6 ladies decided to have one drink while we are delayed for our 8:00 reservation. When we were seated 40 minutes late we were informed that would no longer be served any alcoholic drinks. So here is my review don't attempt having at dinner at this establishment. Blinds Bonds had no problem serving and feeding us. Thank you Tyler b
(1)Alison B.
Amazing meal! We looked for the best in Dayton and found it! Exciting beverages and wonderful food. If you come to Dayton you must eat here. Owner /Chef is from Peru and her food is amazing! !! The Midwest is ripe for change and she is here to give it to you. I don't know where to start, we had the Duck ragu ravioli and the chilean seabass. I hardly know which I liked best! You must go!!!!
(5)Big Baby Jesus C.
Honestly I hate to dog any place, but here I go. Another place trying to be fancy rather than simply trying to make tasty food. Scallops on half shell covered with cheese. What are you trying to cover up? Scallops are amazing seared with a lil salt. Sea bass? Likewise. What are you doing crusting it in quinoa and putting it on mushy leeks cooked in bacon fat? I'm starting to feel like this is one of those black hole spots that no business will succeed in.
(2)PJ D.
The drinks here are amazing, plan and simple. The staff is knowledgeable about what drinks to recommend and everyone is very friendly, and nice atmosphere as well. I love to come here to get drinks and have a good time with friends or family. My only issue is the food is not great, it's not bad by any means, but not worth the price. You can have a decent meal here, but now I typically eat elsewhere and come here for the awesome drinks and service.
(4)Tim B.
Upmarket decor (think San Francisco), enthusiastic and expert cocktail bar persons, very attentive and friendly staff, and a varied menu delivered to delicious perfection. Need I say more?
(5)Amy N.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or late night cocktail. The burger really took me by surprise. Perfect brioche and zesty sauce make this an excellent burger to try in DYT! (See photo) I'll be back to check out the dinner options!
(4)Well Travelled G.
My dinner: BEEF SALTADO STYLE 21.00 Pan seared strips of filet mignon with sautéed onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian pepp ers and spices over jasmine rice, served with fried potatoes. Horrible meal. Please take this off the menu ,, in the same manner that you took the cost of it off my bill. See below for another diners' comments on this meal which I need not repeat. This is my second bad meal - the first was the Surf and Turf about a month ago. Poor in every respect and costly too. Nice place, great service, great bar and cocktails.... maybe I need to quit trying their beef dishes. Or better yet, try other wanna be restaurants in Dayton instead..
(2)Min K.
Overall, amazing dinner experience. Loved the atmosphere, our server was very attentive, food was great. We had scallops and shrimp skewers to start. All very good. I would've liked the shrimp to've been cooked a little less but the scallops were very nice and pretty to look at. The rare salmon was the most delightful.
(5)Rachel K.
This is hands down the best meal I've had since I've moved to Ohio. I'm used to big city dining and haven't found a lot I've really loved, but this place is delicious! First, there's the complimentary hummus instead of your usual bread and butter. They even brought out carrot sticks for me since I couldn't eat the pita chips that went with it. I had wine which was very good and my date got the Whiskey Smash which I tried and loved. Then came the salads. We both got The Salar which comes with an amazing smokey onion vinaigrette. For dinner I had Beef Saltado Style. The waiter had warned me that it was a little spicy. It was barely spicy, the kind of spicy that just makes your mouth pleasantly warm. It was extremely flavorful! I loved it from the first bite. My date got the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. I didn't try it, but he said it was divine. We then shared the flourless mousse cake which was so good I was actually aroused. My date declared it the best dessert he had ever had. The ambiance was classy, but relaxed and the restaurant was beautiful. I will be back!
(5)S G.
Tried this for a date night in town. Reservation at 6:30-- chose to sit outside to enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere even outside was relaxed but still classy. Service was fantastic as well. Friendly, personal, and took time to review the menu and make recommendations based on our questions. We started off with cocktails and an appetizer--- chicken croquettes. Very tasty- have a little kick to them. They are known for their cocktails -- for good reasons. Half of my drink later and I was liking this place even more. The meals blew us away. Husband had quinoa crusted Sea Bass which is probably their most talked about dish. I enjoyed it. I had the special which was a swordfish meal with potatoes and artichokes. Liked it better than the sea bass. The flavors of the sauces and their cooking technique are worth giving a try. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere of this place. Therefore didn't mind spending $30 ish per meal. If I had to make one negative comment it would be on the price of the cocktails. They are signature but still overpriced. Regardless , we will be back to Salar.
(5)Gary W.
Free valet parking is a plus. The interior is wonderful. The food is very nice. The drinks are great. The wife's steak came out a solid medium when she ordered medium rare. I'll be back.
(4)Lucas S.
Great food. Chef has skills. Your staff are smug idiots. No tables at 330? We get sat at the bar with an "ok" service. He was barely ok.
(1)Juan R.
Love pisco sours. The lomo saltado and empanadas are great. They need to bring the choros a la chalaca back. One of my fav spots in the great city of Dayton
(4)Darla B.
I went with a group and about half had really good food. I was not in the right half. My dinner: BEEF SALTADO STYLE 21.00 Pan seared strips of filet mignon with sautéed onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian pepp ers and spices over jasmine rice, served with fried potatoes Salt is the key word. It's supposed to be a beef stir fry, not a salt fest. The filet mignon strips were way overcooked and chewy. Who does that? Surely not a place trying to replicate "big city dining". The rice was just average and I thought I'd accidentally gotten a couple of french fries, which must have been the fried potatoes. All this for just $21.00. My partner's fish was very good, as was the pork chop a friend had. I guess I'm not foo-foo enough to rant and rave because Dayton has an expensive restaurant. I will say some of it was very good. But the hardest part of ordering shouldn't be what will be fit to eat. It should be choosing from a variety of very good food.
(2)Thomas N.
Ate here for the first time on NYE 2014, and had a fine time. Was VERY busy, so service was slow - took forever to get a straw or napkins, and our salad arrived the same time as dinner. That said, the food was very good. Found the food prices reasonable - but the drinks were a little pricey. Still - a fine experience for a special night out. We plan to return.
(4)Adam J.
Amazing food, amazing server and great atmosphere. Mark was so informative and hospitable. One of the best servers I have had in years!!!
(5)sideshow b.
I bright spot on the Dayton dining circuit. I too was a fan of Sidebar, and not sure what to expect, but my fears soon evaporated. The bar is still one of the best in town with great mixologists. The vibe and decor are big city familiar. Great lounge area, bar area, main eating room, and back patio. Service was excellent. The starter 'hummus' was flavorful and appreciated. Cocktails were cool, refreshing, and gone too quickly. My sole was excellent and perfectly prepared. I hate overcooked seafood and Salar did not disappoint. Only downside was the pizza. We had two orders for your table and both suffered from having too many toppings creating a less than perfect crust experience. Salar need to work on either the top or bottom of the pizza if they want to really this off. All in all, a great night out. Give it a go!
(4)Ryan B.
My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. The service was great as was the food. The drinks were fantastic as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all of the food and drink on the menu and his recommendations were spot on! The dessert was one of the best parts of the meal, the strawberry cheesecake was out of this world. Salar was reasonably priced, fantastic food, drink and service. I will be telling friends and family about our wonderful experience. If you are from the Dayton area Salar is a place you MUST go to!
(5)Cassie H.
Many delicious options, fabulous dessert menu. The inside of the restaurant is very sleek and romantic. Many different seating options. They offer lots of fun drinks to choose from as well. I have been here several times now and I'm always very happy with the food and dining experience!
(5)M B.
I was not impressed. The food was very simple in taste and did not have the wow factor that I was expecting from the previous reviews. It seems that just because it has a fancy name, people are giving it high reviews. The customer service is also not that great. My wife found a long blond hair in her lamb and the only they offered was a bigger dessert.
(1)Julie T.
Salar was a cool, modern yet chill experience! I think the owner seated us when I went, and he was delightful. he was always smiling and thoughtfully checked up on us once. our server was also great! she was very friendly yet professional when it came to a dinner recommendation. though these kinds of actions are familiar with any dining experience, the staff at Salar took their responsibilities to a higher caliber that made my other and I feel like regulars or good friends. I also agree with a review here that says it is hard not to drop $100 on 2 people here. yet, for a first time visit on a special occasion, the price was worth it. what makes me give Salar 5 stars is its atmosphere. it is very stylish and modern, right down to the water cups. I didn't catch the Peruvian flair until I looked closer at the decor, however.
(5)Glenn W.
I could sit there and drink old fashions all night (if they weren't $9). The drinks are pricey though. It's not hard to drop $100 there on food and drinks for 2 people. I went there last night as part of restaurant week. I had the tenderloin medallions with a chimichurri sauce. They were excellent. The risotto that came with it was also very good. I gave it 5 stars because while it isn't perfect, it's one of Dayton's best. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and wait staff are all excellent.
(5)Jennifer H.
Salar took the place of my much beloved Sidebar. At first I was definitely not a fan of this new place. Veggie me had the lasagna when we went there first and it was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. But they have a great bar and I'm a sucker for good creative cocktails so back we went. Second time was an improvement- The "fake" scallops were good but not something I would order again. Then finally, they added more veggie entree options. I have had very good spinach/sundried tomato ravioli on my last two trips. Salads are good here. Pizzas tend to have too much cheese and thusly be soggy in the middle. My hubby likes the duck ravioli, a couple chicken dishes, but still needs to try some other things on the menu. The ambience is not as good as it was before at Sidebar. It usually isn't as busy, either, but I hope they keep working on the menu and that it succeeds.
(3)Abby S.
really enjoyed cocktails and chicken skewers. very rich full flavors. really enjoyed the explosion of flavor in every bite.
(5)Nicolas S.
This is a great restaurant. Though I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the vegetarian scallops. Very very good. I didn't care for the lucuma dessert but they took it off the bill. I didn't even complain about it, just off it came. The waitress noticed that I had not eaten very much of it. Great restaurant and great customer service.
(5)B B.
Service very slow. 50 minutes later we received our entree(didn't order appetizer) My husband got the wrong food,(we were starving at this point), server told us after he already dug in she brought the wrong item. He didn't have an issue with it and said it was alright until he cut into middle of pork chop and it was RAW!! Really, raw pork!!! We told our server(not attentive service either took 30 minutes to check on us) and asked if he wanted something else. He said no and she disappeared for another 30 minutes. I had pasta which was bland and over done. Finally she returned and we just wanted to leave. Well she was quick with the check!! We actually got charged for the raw pork chop!!! We will never return!!!
(1)Steve M.
Excellent menu! Something sure to please any taste. The pork belly entree was outstanding! Close your eyes and pretend you are in New York or Montreal!
(5)Patrick N.
Great restaurant. I've been here twice and I'm always impressed by their menu options. I tried their Seafood dish with Risotto and a bourbon cocktail (two, actually), which was heavenly. They even have a great amount of gluten free choices for those with Celiac Disease (almost 3/4ths of the menu!). This place is a gem in the Oregon District.
(5)Ricky T.
Every time we come to Salar, we fall a little more in love. Very charming. Very delicious.
(5)Scott C.
Overall dining experience was excellent. My girlfriend and I went at last minute before the kitchen was to close, however, the food quality and service was still top-notch. We believe our waiter was actually the owner. He treated as guests in his own home. Salar is our new restaurant hot-spot. We are looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
(5)Matt O.
Went here with my teenage daughter on a Daddy-daughter date, so I may be overselling the restaurant. The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Food was pretty good, though not superb -- the sole filet was a tad salty. Our waiter and the other staff were wonderfully attentive.
(4)Darwin L.
Had hair in my hummus. Seanad was extremely bland. Think I'll go to Chipotle to eat hair free and flavorful food.
(1)Michael B.
Great place. Good atmosphere, bar, and the food has never disappointed. The service is generally good, but it definitely depends on your server. As for the hostess station...for whatever reason, there is almost never anyone there when I walk in. You'll usually stand around for a few minutes waiting. Considering this is the worst thing I can say about the restaurant, and I frequent the place, I would recommend it to anyone.
(4)Crystal D.
We went for our anniversary. I made reservations easily online. We were sat immediately and greeted by our server. I ordered a Moscow mule and my husband had a beer. My drink was superb. Our server asked us if we had questions about the menu. It was a little disappointing since we just heard another server going over many of the menu options with another table. My husband ordered the ribeye and I asked the server about the lamb shanks. She told me it was a large serving and the reduction was very tasty. I decided on that. We were asked if we wanted an appetizer. We usually don't get them, but love empanadas so we decided to try them. SO GLAD we did. The empanadas were fabulous. They came out without a dipping sauce but with powdered sugar dusting. The filling was savory and meat so tender. The sweetly dusted pastry was a delicious contrast to the savory filling. Our entrées came out with a nice presentation. My husband ordered his steak medium. His first cut looked well, next medium, next medium rate. I had never seen a steak so oddly cooked. My lamb shanks were very tender. Unfortunately there was very little taste to it. I shook salt on in 3 times before I got it to have flavor. The creamy barley reminded me of oatmeal. It didn't have any flavor either. The side of roasted carrots were tasty. Our entrees were such a disappointment after such a fabulous appetizer. The night was pretty expensive for not liking our food.
(3)Katie C.
Haven't had food here, but the drinks make me feel like I'm in a big city again.
(4)Mark W.
We have been there twice now. First time was good, the second was sort of a train wreck. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it but considering all of the other great restaurants in the area we probably won't be back unless its just for a cocktail. (The cocktails are fantastic by the way, classic post prohibition type) Ceviche was ok but had been marinated too long so the fish was fully cooked. Vegan "scallops" were good. The ravioli stuffed with duck ragu was delicious. And we had the butternut squash ravioli on the train wreck night that was a mess. The flavors were good but the ravioli was not made correctly. It almost had the consistency of gnocchi.
(3)Derek D.
I had three drinks by the world famous barkeep Adela. Lima to Lima=daaayuuuum! Gem City Sling=party in my mouf! Front Porch Swing=just a swingin!
(5)Carleen T.
We ate here on New Years Eve and had the BEST experience ever! The wait staff is incredible and we loved it all,
(5)Darren D.
Loved the restaurant from the decor to my meal, friendly and efficient service to my cheesecake. It made my favorites list and it's a short list. I said "that's good" a lot while l was eating.
(5)Jess L.
Bar service was horrible. The bartenders were rude and condescending. There was also what appeared to be a ten year old child running around the bar. The theme of the drinks seems to be, "load em up with jalapenos and bitters" to compensate for the lack of balance and inspiration. The food was definitely not worth the price.
(1)Tisha V.
My husband and I have been to Salar several times and have always enjoyed the food and the ambiance, so we decided to invite 3 other couples to join us for the Chef's Table Dinner. There is a beautiful wooden table that seats 8 right outside the kitchen, with easy access to view the chefs at work. The Chef's Table Dinner is something a little different, and they allow you to assist in creating a custom menu for your guests, and sometimes the includes items not found on the regular menu. I suggested a different 4-course meal for the women and men, so sampling and sharing could occur. Each person got a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, and each course came with a wine pairing that complemented the food. IT WAS AMAZING! The women had a tangy raspberry/goat cheese salad, empanadas (OMG), seafood paella (so much flavor), and passionfruit napoleon with mango sauce. Delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite between the empanadas and paella. Both were fantastic. The men had a smoken mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, scallops with a saffron sauce (seared perfectly), beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse cake. Hands down, the scallops were the winner. We wanted to lick that saffron sauce off the plate. Thank goodness my husband let me taste some of his! The wine pairings were spot on, and it was just enouch wine without getting us crocked. The table was beautifully set, and our server Tess was so attentive, friendly, funny, and available when we needed her. I highly recommend contacting the catering manager Michael Hall if you'd like to create a unique experience like this with your peeps. It was so much fun, I want to do it again as a girls night!
(5)Jackie M.
Went for dinner while in Dayton for work. Came recommended by a colleague in the Dayton office and it certainly did not disappoint. Great selection on the menu and a solid wine list and variety of cocktails. The meal started with complimentary pita and cilantro hummus which was a nice touch. I had the Salar salad which was simple and delicious - I really loved the smoky onion dressing. The other people at my table had the warm caprese salad on the recommendation of the waiter and they loved it. I ordered the lasagna on the recommendation of the waiter and was so glad that I did. A really interesting Peruvian twist on lasagna, very flavorful and delicious. Another favorite of the waiter and at the table was the seabass. Overall, I definitely recommend Salar and will be back next time I am in town. And I will be sure to try a cocktail!
(4)Sunny R.
Drinks were awesome! Would have had more but bartender with bushy mustache made it clear we were unwanted and unwelcome at his bar. Got great food and our server pretty dark hair with a flower in it was awesome. Weird how mere footsteps away in the dinning room the atmosphere changed so much for the better!
(4)Thom S.
me and my sister and niece went to salar awhile back and it was fantastic,the restraint was very posh and decorated great including inside water displays,the staff were so friendly and welcoming and our waiter was great and suggested things to try like cocktails and dishes and was very funny and gave us a tour of the restaurant since it was our first time which we really enjoyed.i loved this place and I will def be going back and I also told friends about it whom have since went and they loved it as well. amazing food,great and friendly staff 5 stars from me
(5)Jack Z.
The water is superb with MASSIVE cubes. Totally would stop in while walking by if for nothing more than a glass of that clear goodness. One of the Miami valley's finest!!!
(5)David B.
We loved the old Sidebar (sad story, sigh), but this place blows it away. The cocktails are even better, and they've replaced the small-plate concept with more conventional portion sizes. And Chef Margot knows her stuff! If you're a foodie, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. One of the few restaurants in Dayton I would put on the same level as Meadowlark.
(5)Stephen R.
I was surprised and delighted during my second visit to Salar several months later that they had added vegetarian and vegan entrees to the menu. The Porch Swing cocktail I enjoyed before dinner was perfectly mixed, and the White Bean "Scallops" were FANTASTIC. I left full and satisfied, and look forward to my next visit. Thanks for adding the vegan options, Salar!
(4)Jessica S.
pretty good. only complaint was that the pork belly was overcooked and tough.
(4)Eleanor B.
Great atmostphere, awesome handcrafted drinks and their menu was superb! We made reservations and went with a party of 16 and they took care of us! Appetizer calamari was awesome and from what I could tell everyone's elses' was very yummy! For the main entree for dinner I'd recommend the pork belly and the mousse dessert was my favorite! Great for a date, romantic dinner or a great outing with a bunch of friends when you want to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. After, you can head down the rest on Oregon District and paint the town red! We'll defnitely be back!!! Oh also free valet and parking on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to use this wonderful option!
(5)S L.
I've only been to Salar once, but since I want the place to thrive I'm writing this review. I loved Sidebar and was sad to see it close. I was happy to see it reopened. I'm going to give my complaint first: We were seated outside in a smoking area. We weren't really paying attention until the table next to us lit up, and then cigars were set out for sale. We dealt with it by moving indoors, but it probably would have been nice if we were told before being seated out there. Indoors we were seated next to a conversation pit. It was kind of loud (not necessarily a problem) but it made us feel like we were more in a dance bar environment as opposed to a decent restaurant. I can eat bar food in a pub, but it's never felt right to eat a nice meal in a dark bar, especially one where the tab for one meal is over $25 before tip. As we were leaving it appeared the restaurant was gearing up for more of a Saturday night bar environment than restaurant. I can't remember the exact price, but it was something like $17 for a square of "lasagna." It certainly wasn't traditional lasagna, and I can appreciate the effort. I like different. It was tasty. The desert was delicious as well. I liked Sidebar better, but Salar is good.
(3)Ramone K.
This place is amazing! The bar layout was designed by Justin Simmons,who also makes some amazingly creative drinks! The atmosphere was really fantastic! I can't say enough great things about this place. The drink menu is creative and the ambiance is pleasant and attractive. When you come in ask for Justin directly. He knows his stuff!
(5)Nikki K.
First off, I really wanted to like this one. I had heard (and read) great things about this new addition to the area. The greatest thing about both my experiences (always have to go twice at least before I review) are the cocktails. Although small for the price, they were different from every other restaurant around here and I could tell the bartenders took pride in their technique. And I appreciate that. Here's the rest... Both times I have gone, our group had reservations. Both times we waited in the hostess-less entry for awhile before making our way to the bar to attempt to check in. Both times we had to wait 10+ minutes for our reservation to be "ready". I say this in quotes because both times we were 1 of maybe 3 tables in the restaurant. We waited to be gloomily greater by our waitress. Sat with empty drinks & waters numerous times. When asking questions about the menu, we were given uninspired & emotionless responses. (Such as "it's good" and "well it's pre-made so I don't know if we can take stuff out") Were served 3 out of our 4 dinners without a word from our waitress on how long it would be before the last one came. Now. I will say on a busy night, I would have had more patience. But once again, we were 1 of 3 tables in the restaurant. There was no reason for lack luster service. We felt like we were a burden. And for a space this beautiful with drinks this beautiful, I was extremely disappointed. Clearly someone is trying, I just wish the service staff felt the same way. Especially since that's where most of the places I love gain my patronage.
(2)T S.
Great restaurant and head chef. Nice blend of food and ambiance with fantastic culinary taste parings! Do not miss if you are in the Emerald City.
(5)Konefkta K.
My bf and I were ecstatic to try this place out, given that we were thrown into a deep depression after Sidebar closed (see earlier Sidebar review). We were not disappointed. Salar is located in the same place as Sidebar, and retains the same chef. Honestly, Chef Margot Blondet could prepare me a plate of dog vomit and I would eat it, I trust her THAT much. I loved everything I had at Sidebar, and I was glad to find out that the standards didn't slip with the new restaurant. I had the warm caprese salad, which was a surprising take on the classic salad. For an entree, I had the Peruvian Seafood rice, which came out on this stunning plate. It had a healthy portion of seafood mixed in with perfectly seasoned rice. The bf had the sea bass, which was a pretty large portion, and was crusted with quinoa. It was gorgeous. We were seated next to the beautiful waterfall room divider, and didn't even notice that our salads took a little while to come out. Our waitress did however, and informed us that we would have a comped dessert (which we were going to order anyway). We chose the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, which was creamy and rich and tasted delicious with the strawberry garnish. Overall, our new favorite restaurant in Dayton. And Chef Blondet should win all the awards. She probably doesn't go on those reality cooking shows because she doesn't want to make the other chefs feel bad about themselves.
(5)Amanda S.
Had a very nice salad and some excellent empanadas here. I appreciated the quick and friendly service that I got at the bar. Was a little surprised that the empanadas were fried -- I'm used to having baked empanadas. Found out later that the cooking style varies across different Latin American countries. A bit pricey, but that was probably because I was in from out of town and otherwise found Dayton prices amazingly affordable.
(4)Jeff G.
Based on atmosphere alone this is one of the top restaurants in Dayton. The food will also get them that same ranking. I would love to hear more about where they source their food. They don't say anything about it on their website so its not likely something to brag about. They say they are "Green Certified" but it doesn't elaborate on what that means. I will "Google" it later but if its something to be proud of I would expand on it. I would be inclined to give them 5 stars if I knew more about where my dinner came from....I hope. :) Don't worry about parking because they have complimentary valet. (That doesnt mean it's free...TIP) We haven't been here in quite a while and decided we needed to reconnect with this place. It was a great feeling to pull up and see the place packed. Although it was too cold to enjoy the patio I thought it was a nice touch to have those tables set and decorated. They pay close attention to atmosphere here. I love it. We typically eat at the bar. The service is good there but if you want to be pampered you better get a table. That bar is busy. If you plan on dining at a table I would definitely make a reservation. The dining areas are very cool, they actually have two bars, comfortable lounge type seating, and two patios. The patio is where it's at when the weather is right. They have a nice wine selection with very good pricing, they have an amazing cocktail list, I have never really paid attention to their beer selection. We always go for the wine here. Tonight we chose the Migration Pinot. The food - I love their menu. They have so much variety but its not overwhelming. We didn't get them tonight, and we aren't vegan, but they have some vegan scallops as an appetizer that are incredible! I would suggest giving them a shot. We skipped the appetizers this time and jumped right in to entrees. My wife got the almond crusted chicken and I got the beef saltado. I'm sure that chicken dish is very good, my wife enjoyed it but we both loved the flavors of my saltado so much it was difficult to enjoy that chicken. Haha. Everything about that saltado was incredible. It was so full of flavor. Filet, red onion, tomato, with amazing seasoning on top of a bed of french fries. I saw another review where they thought they got some stray fries from another dish. Fries are traditional for saltado and a lot of other Peruvian dishes. I love it!! We try to always be supportive of good local restaurants. I don't think you can go wrong giving this place a try. I have never had a meal here I didn't like. Go, enjoy.
(4)Yohanne S.
My dish was a bit blan but our cousins dish was better. Very nice atmosphere. Waiter are very slow at responding.
(2)Caleb J.
First time here but will definitely not be the last! Cool urban feel with a great menu. They start out with bringing warm pita bread and freshly made cilantro hummus. For a starter we had the calamari which was very good and the ginger hummus and creamy cocktail sauce were very complimentary. I highly recommend the shrimp, scallop and pesto artisan pizza, the clincher for 5 stars in my opinion! To finish off the meal we had the deconstructed tart for dessert with a lemon zest custard - simply amazing.
(5)Julie N.
This was our first visit here, and although it came highly recommended we could not have have imagined we would have as wonderful experience as we did. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. But most importantly the service was the best we've ever had. Our server, Mark Hall, went above and beyond to give us a perfect dining experience. Give it a try, and ask for Mark!
(5)Jon K.
It is rare when you have expectations for something and those expectations are met. Even rarer is when those expectations are exceeded. But that was unicornian experience we had at Salar last Saturday night. Major kudos must be doled out to the general manager for assembing a great front-of-house team--our server, Tyler, was knowledgeable about the menu and not only made great recommendations, but he also knew the compostion of the dishes we tried. The restaurant describes itself as having an " exciting menu of World-Fusion cuisine with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences.' They go on to say they have, "an extensive selection of hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and herbs, and only the finest spirits." Truth in packaging. We are usually wine people, seriously we drink it 3-4 times a week for dinner, but we had to try one of the cocktails upon the recommendation of Tyler. He suggested a La Pasion for me which Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, cilantro and Chipotle chili powder. Really cool presentation in a low ball glass with a giant sphere ice cube. She had the special of the day which was a frothy Peruvian speciaty. We shared their Tuna Tiradito which was essentially tuna sashimi with a tangy lime, cilantro and aji pepper sauce. Great portion size. For dinner my girlfriend again went with the special of the day. It was sea scallops crusted in a red quinoa, served with asparagus on a fresh polenta with a tangy but light sauce. I went with a traditional Beef Saltado which is marinated grilled tenderloin, tomatoes, onions, yellow peppers and spices with potatoes. The chef's take on this subbed in thin french fries which went great with the dish. Served with jasmine rice, yes that is too starches, but it works. I ended taking half home. The portion size was huge. We finished with a strawberry cheesecake which was a nice sweetness to complement the south american spices and sauces. The restaurant itself is beautiful. There are two porches, large rooms in the back that could be used for business events, rehersal dinners, birthday parties or any large group party. The bar itself is striking being a large gentle arch shape, and it was full all night. Lighting is subtle and the place has great features like the cascading water wall we sat next to for dinner. I hope Dayton supports this place. We live in Mason about 35 minutes away --we can't wait to get back and bring friends!
(5)Meg K.
This place is a class act. We visited with a large party for cocktails and had a wonderful time. After we left I realized I didn't have my wallet! I called the restaurant well after 2am and left a message, hoping to maybe hear something the next day. The General Manager texted me back after only a few minutes to let me know they didn't see it but would keep a look out for me. I eventually found it at a different place but wow, I was really impressed with the quick response I got. Great management. Stellar service. Thank you!!
(5)Kourtney R.
there are few things restaurant absolutely must get right and hot food is one of them. we went out as a group of 11 for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and needless to say if many of us were disappointed because our food was lukewarm. I had the fried calamari as an appetizer which was to say the least Salar did not live up to its name . the seasoning on the batter was very bland but the sauces were okay . the vegetarian linguini is what I had it is also very bland and I'm not sure that I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for a birthday party .in my opinion the best part of the restaurant was the atmosphere in the booze . if you're looking for an amazing tongue tingling meal I would not recommend this place
(1)Marc M.
I can't say I've ever eaten in Dayton before. Yelp directed to me to this street of restaurants. A quick down and back the block told me that this was the nicest restaurant. It is a rather interesting area... with several dive bars and XXX stores. Apparently, this is a reboot of a previous restaurant in the same location. I am not sure what happened to the previous one, but this version is awesome. We sat at the bar because the place was booked - ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! The bartenders are whipping up some unique Craft Cocktails. Try "La Pasion". It is like a spicy Bloody Mary but without the tomato. Most of the cocktails are served with a round ice cube - very interesting. My coworker ordered a martini, which the bartender hand-stirred it (not shaken-ed). The Cebiche was awesome. No, that is not a typo. By this point in the meal, we figured out that everything has a unique touch. Instead of the normal shrimp and white-fish, the Cebiche has Halibut with marinated red onions over a bed a lettuce with fried corn. Back to round-two of cocktails. I took zzz recommendation and tried a cilantro ginger caprihlana next. The cocktails are as tasty and unique as they are good! My coworker ordered the grapefruit mojito - it has champagne in it rather than club soda. Ouch! Did I mention that all of these laborious libations are only $9.50?!? In any "big city" they would be $15 and up. After more drinks, I ordered the pork belly sliders. I don't normally order pork belly. I can't say I am a big fan after this - it is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again when in town. It is a great place for a business dinner, a romantic evening or a special occasion. The food is unique and the cocktails are really, really good.
(4)Not Your Average ..
brought an out-of-towner to impress them but the food was whack. the atmosphere is really lovely. I've always enjoyed their wine selection. A little pricey but worth it if you just want a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy a drink at, hold it on the food.
(3)Sharon H.
This has been on my "restaurant" bucket list since they opened and we decided to celebrate my Son's birthday here last night. Beautiful and trendy decor! It is hardly recognizable as the old "Sidebar" space. We did have to wait a little on our table even though we had a reservation but the bar was comfy and the bartender was simply amazing! My husband always attempts to order an authentic Moscow Mule whenever we eat at an upscale establishment but in Dayton it is hard to find anyone that can make it. SCORE!!! My better half was a happy camper! They had many interesting drinks on the menu that I wanted to try but I went with my usual - mojito. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD - HANDS DOWN! My Son did want a Bloody Mary though and they did not have it - REALLY? This is a standard drink that every bar in the universe should be able to make so they lose points for this snafu. I hope it was just a fluke. When we finally got seated at the table, we were surprised to see we had restaurant week menus (I had no idea and I am usually on top of this event since I am a foodie!). My Son and his partner opted to order steaks from their regular menu and hubby and I tried options from the restaurant week menu. All of us were very satisfied with our meals. I will say the service here is painfully slow but that could have been due to Restaurant Week. There was also a mix-up on one of our meals so three came out and we were all nearly finished when the fourth showed up. The manager did send out a complementary tapas plate to the guest that did not get their plate so they are making an effort here. We are going to try the place again and it was very good eats but painfully slow service. The bar was the star on this visit (with the exception of the Bloody Mary issue) and we all decided that this might be worth a trip just to have a drink or two with friends after work.
(3)Brenda N.
We were a party of 4, there early on a Saturday evening for a birthday celebration. We were very disappointed in the food. We ordered lasagna, pecan crusted salmon and beef skewers. All 4 dinners arrived cold. The guest with the lasagna took 2 bites and could not eat it. It was dry and cold. The waiter took it back to the kitchen, then returned saying "the chef said they are all served like that but you can order something else from the menu". The guest said he did not want to order anything else. We remarked that all 3 other dinners arrived to the table cold as well. The waiter made no comment about this or try to correct the situation. We heard guests at 2 other tables also saying that their food was cold. We paid our tab (over $90) and then stopped down the street to order another meal. Very disappointing and expensive evening. We usually give restaurants "a second chance" but won't in this case.
(1)Darla B.
I went with a group and about half had really good food. I was not in the right half. My dinner: BEEF SALTADO STYLE 21.00 Pan seared strips of filet mignon with sautéed onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian pepp ers and spices over jasmine rice, served with fried potatoes Salt is the key word. It's supposed to be a beef stir fry, not a salt fest. The filet mignon strips were way overcooked and chewy. Who does that? Surely not a place trying to replicate "big city dining". The rice was just average and I thought I'd accidentally gotten a couple of french fries, which must have been the fried potatoes. All this for just $21.00. My partner's fish was very good, as was the pork chop a friend had. I guess I'm not foo-foo enough to rant and rave because Dayton has an expensive restaurant. I will say some of it was very good. But the hardest part of ordering shouldn't be what will be fit to eat. It should be choosing from a variety of very good food.
(2)Jeff G.
Based on atmosphere alone this is one of the top restaurants in Dayton. The food will also get them that same ranking. I would love to hear more about where they source their food. They don't say anything about it on their website so its not likely something to brag about. They say they are "Green Certified" but it doesn't elaborate on what that means. I will "Google" it later but if its something to be proud of I would expand on it. I would be inclined to give them 5 stars if I knew more about where my dinner came from....I hope. :) Don't worry about parking because they have complimentary valet. (That doesnt mean it's free...TIP) We haven't been here in quite a while and decided we needed to reconnect with this place. It was a great feeling to pull up and see the place packed. Although it was too cold to enjoy the patio I thought it was a nice touch to have those tables set and decorated. They pay close attention to atmosphere here. I love it. We typically eat at the bar. The service is good there but if you want to be pampered you better get a table. That bar is busy. If you plan on dining at a table I would definitely make a reservation. The dining areas are very cool, they actually have two bars, comfortable lounge type seating, and two patios. The patio is where it's at when the weather is right. They have a nice wine selection with very good pricing, they have an amazing cocktail list, I have never really paid attention to their beer selection. We always go for the wine here. Tonight we chose the Migration Pinot. The food - I love their menu. They have so much variety but its not overwhelming. We didn't get them tonight, and we aren't vegan, but they have some vegan scallops as an appetizer that are incredible! I would suggest giving them a shot. We skipped the appetizers this time and jumped right in to entrees. My wife got the almond crusted chicken and I got the beef saltado. I'm sure that chicken dish is very good, my wife enjoyed it but we both loved the flavors of my saltado so much it was difficult to enjoy that chicken. Haha. Everything about that saltado was incredible. It was so full of flavor. Filet, red onion, tomato, with amazing seasoning on top of a bed of french fries. I saw another review where they thought they got some stray fries from another dish. Fries are traditional for saltado and a lot of other Peruvian dishes. I love it!! We try to always be supportive of good local restaurants. I don't think you can go wrong giving this place a try. I have never had a meal here I didn't like. Go, enjoy.
(4)Yohanne S.
My dish was a bit blan but our cousins dish was better. Very nice atmosphere. Waiter are very slow at responding.
(2)Caleb J.
First time here but will definitely not be the last! Cool urban feel with a great menu. They start out with bringing warm pita bread and freshly made cilantro hummus. For a starter we had the calamari which was very good and the ginger hummus and creamy cocktail sauce were very complimentary. I highly recommend the shrimp, scallop and pesto artisan pizza, the clincher for 5 stars in my opinion! To finish off the meal we had the deconstructed tart for dessert with a lemon zest custard - simply amazing.
(5)Julie N.
This was our first visit here, and although it came highly recommended we could not have have imagined we would have as wonderful experience as we did. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. But most importantly the service was the best we've ever had. Our server, Mark Hall, went above and beyond to give us a perfect dining experience. Give it a try, and ask for Mark!
(5)Alison B.
Amazing meal! We looked for the best in Dayton and found it! Exciting beverages and wonderful food. If you come to Dayton you must eat here. Owner /Chef is from Peru and her food is amazing! !! The Midwest is ripe for change and she is here to give it to you. I don't know where to start, we had the Duck ragu ravioli and the chilean seabass. I hardly know which I liked best! You must go!!!!
(5)Big Baby Jesus C.
Honestly I hate to dog any place, but here I go. Another place trying to be fancy rather than simply trying to make tasty food. Scallops on half shell covered with cheese. What are you trying to cover up? Scallops are amazing seared with a lil salt. Sea bass? Likewise. What are you doing crusting it in quinoa and putting it on mushy leeks cooked in bacon fat? I'm starting to feel like this is one of those black hole spots that no business will succeed in.
(2)Kaz K.
Nice looking restaurant. The cocktails are good. I tried the steak and asked for it to be cooked at medium rare. It was served to me to something that wasn't even rare. The waiter took the food off my bill, but come on. Who serves a steak like that at a nice restaurant?
(1)Gary W.
Free valet parking is a plus. The interior is wonderful. The food is very nice. The drinks are great. The wife's steak came out a solid medium when she ordered medium rare. I'll be back.
(4)Lucas S.
Great food. Chef has skills. Your staff are smug idiots. No tables at 330? We get sat at the bar with an "ok" service. He was barely ok.
(1)N K.
This place is quite amazing. Peruvian food. Flavors were great. My salad dressing was too sweet but other than that, it's the perfect place for a special dinner. Service and ambiance wee outstanding too.
(5)Katie S.
Went back. Got the white bean scallops- they were ok... Dry, not super flavorful, had a tomato and onion relish that was alright. Overall, I wouldn't get them again as they weren't anything special. My cocktail, the "penicillin" was really good though.
(3)Carol M.
This establishment discouraged our ladies nite out. Took a tremendous amount of effort to come to dinner due to a snow storm. We still arrived at 7:55 for a 8:00 reservation to only to be told that our table was not ready. The hostess said to enjoy at the bar while you wait for your table that's not ready in time. 6 ladies decided to have one drink while we are delayed for our 8:00 reservation. When we were seated 40 minutes late we were informed that would no longer be served any alcoholic drinks. So here is my review don't attempt having at dinner at this establishment. Blinds Bonds had no problem serving and feeding us. Thank you Tyler b
(1)Amanda S.
Had a very nice salad and some excellent empanadas here. I appreciated the quick and friendly service that I got at the bar. Was a little surprised that the empanadas were fried -- I'm used to having baked empanadas. Found out later that the cooking style varies across different Latin American countries. A bit pricey, but that was probably because I was in from out of town and otherwise found Dayton prices amazingly affordable.
(4)Jon K.
It is rare when you have expectations for something and those expectations are met. Even rarer is when those expectations are exceeded. But that was unicornian experience we had at Salar last Saturday night. Major kudos must be doled out to the general manager for assembing a great front-of-house team--our server, Tyler, was knowledgeable about the menu and not only made great recommendations, but he also knew the compostion of the dishes we tried. The restaurant describes itself as having an " exciting menu of World-Fusion cuisine with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences.' They go on to say they have, "an extensive selection of hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and herbs, and only the finest spirits." Truth in packaging. We are usually wine people, seriously we drink it 3-4 times a week for dinner, but we had to try one of the cocktails upon the recommendation of Tyler. He suggested a La Pasion for me which Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, cilantro and Chipotle chili powder. Really cool presentation in a low ball glass with a giant sphere ice cube. She had the special of the day which was a frothy Peruvian speciaty. We shared their Tuna Tiradito which was essentially tuna sashimi with a tangy lime, cilantro and aji pepper sauce. Great portion size. For dinner my girlfriend again went with the special of the day. It was sea scallops crusted in a red quinoa, served with asparagus on a fresh polenta with a tangy but light sauce. I went with a traditional Beef Saltado which is marinated grilled tenderloin, tomatoes, onions, yellow peppers and spices with potatoes. The chef's take on this subbed in thin french fries which went great with the dish. Served with jasmine rice, yes that is too starches, but it works. I ended taking half home. The portion size was huge. We finished with a strawberry cheesecake which was a nice sweetness to complement the south american spices and sauces. The restaurant itself is beautiful. There are two porches, large rooms in the back that could be used for business events, rehersal dinners, birthday parties or any large group party. The bar itself is striking being a large gentle arch shape, and it was full all night. Lighting is subtle and the place has great features like the cascading water wall we sat next to for dinner. I hope Dayton supports this place. We live in Mason about 35 minutes away --we can't wait to get back and bring friends!
(5)Steve H.
While in Dayton for a night, we chose this restaurant largely based on its Yelp reviews. Thanks Dayton Yelpers! We loved this place. It had a sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. We were there on a Monday night over the holidays. With no reservation, we were quoted a 30 minute wait. The bar was not crowded and we enjoyed a hand crafted cocktail. My drink had a jalepeno jam, but the bartender used the same strainer with my partners whiskey drink. -- so that jalepeno taste was in his drink too. Once seated for dinner, we ordered the surf and turf and the quinoa crusted sea bass. The steak had to be returned because it was overcooked. They replaced it quickly. That steak was sort of a miss - just not a great cut of meat. The sea bass was cooked great. Some might find the sauce a little heavy handed but I enjoyed it. Service was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back next time we are there.
(4)Melissa R.
Terrible service. Manager was rude and not very accommodating. Our reservation was for 8:00 am. Table was not ready until 8:50. I would not recommend this place. Try the Wheat Penny or Coco's if you want better service.
(1)Juan R.
Love pisco sours. The lomo saltado and empanadas are great. They need to bring the choros a la chalaca back. One of my fav spots in the great city of Dayton
(4)sideshow b.
I bright spot on the Dayton dining circuit. I too was a fan of Sidebar, and not sure what to expect, but my fears soon evaporated. The bar is still one of the best in town with great mixologists. The vibe and decor are big city familiar. Great lounge area, bar area, main eating room, and back patio. Service was excellent. The starter 'hummus' was flavorful and appreciated. Cocktails were cool, refreshing, and gone too quickly. My sole was excellent and perfectly prepared. I hate overcooked seafood and Salar did not disappoint. Only downside was the pizza. We had two orders for your table and both suffered from having too many toppings creating a less than perfect crust experience. Salar need to work on either the top or bottom of the pizza if they want to really this off. All in all, a great night out. Give it a go!
(4)Amy N.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or late night cocktail. The burger really took me by surprise. Perfect brioche and zesty sauce make this an excellent burger to try in DYT! (See photo) I'll be back to check out the dinner options!
(4)Well Travelled G.
My dinner: BEEF SALTADO STYLE 21.00 Pan seared strips of filet mignon with sautéed onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian pepp ers and spices over jasmine rice, served with fried potatoes. Horrible meal. Please take this off the menu ,, in the same manner that you took the cost of it off my bill. See below for another diners' comments on this meal which I need not repeat. This is my second bad meal - the first was the Surf and Turf about a month ago. Poor in every respect and costly too. Nice place, great service, great bar and cocktails.... maybe I need to quit trying their beef dishes. Or better yet, try other wanna be restaurants in Dayton instead..
(2)Min K.
Overall, amazing dinner experience. Loved the atmosphere, our server was very attentive, food was great. We had scallops and shrimp skewers to start. All very good. I would've liked the shrimp to've been cooked a little less but the scallops were very nice and pretty to look at. The rare salmon was the most delightful.
(5)Kourtney R.
there are few things restaurant absolutely must get right and hot food is one of them. we went out as a group of 11 for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and needless to say if many of us were disappointed because our food was lukewarm. I had the fried calamari as an appetizer which was to say the least Salar did not live up to its name . the seasoning on the batter was very bland but the sauces were okay . the vegetarian linguini is what I had it is also very bland and I'm not sure that I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for a birthday party .in my opinion the best part of the restaurant was the atmosphere in the booze . if you're looking for an amazing tongue tingling meal I would not recommend this place
(1)Nicolas S.
This is a great restaurant. Though I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the vegetarian scallops. Very very good. I didn't care for the lucuma dessert but they took it off the bill. I didn't even complain about it, just off it came. The waitress noticed that I had not eaten very much of it. Great restaurant and great customer service.
(5)Eleanor B.
Great atmostphere, awesome handcrafted drinks and their menu was superb! We made reservations and went with a party of 16 and they took care of us! Appetizer calamari was awesome and from what I could tell everyone's elses' was very yummy! For the main entree for dinner I'd recommend the pork belly and the mousse dessert was my favorite! Great for a date, romantic dinner or a great outing with a bunch of friends when you want to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. After, you can head down the rest on Oregon District and paint the town red! We'll defnitely be back!!! Oh also free valet and parking on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to use this wonderful option!
(5)Scott C.
Overall dining experience was excellent. My girlfriend and I went at last minute before the kitchen was to close, however, the food quality and service was still top-notch. We believe our waiter was actually the owner. He treated as guests in his own home. Salar is our new restaurant hot-spot. We are looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
(5)Darwin L.
Had hair in my hummus. Seanad was extremely bland. Think I'll go to Chipotle to eat hair free and flavorful food.
(1)Matt O.
Went here with my teenage daughter on a Daddy-daughter date, so I may be overselling the restaurant. The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Food was pretty good, though not superb -- the sole filet was a tad salty. Our waiter and the other staff were wonderfully attentive.
(4)Mark W.
We have been there twice now. First time was good, the second was sort of a train wreck. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it but considering all of the other great restaurants in the area we probably won't be back unless its just for a cocktail. (The cocktails are fantastic by the way, classic post prohibition type) Ceviche was ok but had been marinated too long so the fish was fully cooked. Vegan "scallops" were good. The ravioli stuffed with duck ragu was delicious. And we had the butternut squash ravioli on the train wreck night that was a mess. The flavors were good but the ravioli was not made correctly. It almost had the consistency of gnocchi.
(3)Derek D.
I had three drinks by the world famous barkeep Adela. Lima to Lima=daaayuuuum! Gem City Sling=party in my mouf! Front Porch Swing=just a swingin!
(5)Carleen T.
We ate here on New Years Eve and had the BEST experience ever! The wait staff is incredible and we loved it all,
(5)Jess L.
Bar service was horrible. The bartenders were rude and condescending. There was also what appeared to be a ten year old child running around the bar. The theme of the drinks seems to be, "load em up with jalapenos and bitters" to compensate for the lack of balance and inspiration. The food was definitely not worth the price.
(1)Sunny R.
Drinks were awesome! Would have had more but bartender with bushy mustache made it clear we were unwanted and unwelcome at his bar. Got great food and our server pretty dark hair with a flower in it was awesome. Weird how mere footsteps away in the dinning room the atmosphere changed so much for the better!
(4)Thom S.
me and my sister and niece went to salar awhile back and it was fantastic,the restraint was very posh and decorated great including inside water displays,the staff were so friendly and welcoming and our waiter was great and suggested things to try like cocktails and dishes and was very funny and gave us a tour of the restaurant since it was our first time which we really enjoyed.i loved this place and I will def be going back and I also told friends about it whom have since went and they loved it as well. amazing food,great and friendly staff 5 stars from me
(5)Jack Z.
The water is superb with MASSIVE cubes. Totally would stop in while walking by if for nothing more than a glass of that clear goodness. One of the Miami valley's finest!!!
(5)David B.
We loved the old Sidebar (sad story, sigh), but this place blows it away. The cocktails are even better, and they've replaced the small-plate concept with more conventional portion sizes. And Chef Margot knows her stuff! If you're a foodie, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. One of the few restaurants in Dayton I would put on the same level as Meadowlark.
(5)Stephen R.
I was surprised and delighted during my second visit to Salar several months later that they had added vegetarian and vegan entrees to the menu. The Porch Swing cocktail I enjoyed before dinner was perfectly mixed, and the White Bean "Scallops" were FANTASTIC. I left full and satisfied, and look forward to my next visit. Thanks for adding the vegan options, Salar!
(4)Jessica S.
pretty good. only complaint was that the pork belly was overcooked and tough.
(4)Michael B.
Great place. Good atmosphere, bar, and the food has never disappointed. The service is generally good, but it definitely depends on your server. As for the hostess station...for whatever reason, there is almost never anyone there when I walk in. You'll usually stand around for a few minutes waiting. Considering this is the worst thing I can say about the restaurant, and I frequent the place, I would recommend it to anyone.
(4)Patrick N.
Great restaurant. I've been here twice and I'm always impressed by their menu options. I tried their Seafood dish with Risotto and a bourbon cocktail (two, actually), which was heavenly. They even have a great amount of gluten free choices for those with Celiac Disease (almost 3/4ths of the menu!). This place is a gem in the Oregon District.
(5)Ricky T.
Every time we come to Salar, we fall a little more in love. Very charming. Very delicious.
(5)Crystal D.
We went for our anniversary. I made reservations easily online. We were sat immediately and greeted by our server. I ordered a Moscow mule and my husband had a beer. My drink was superb. Our server asked us if we had questions about the menu. It was a little disappointing since we just heard another server going over many of the menu options with another table. My husband ordered the ribeye and I asked the server about the lamb shanks. She told me it was a large serving and the reduction was very tasty. I decided on that. We were asked if we wanted an appetizer. We usually don't get them, but love empanadas so we decided to try them. SO GLAD we did. The empanadas were fabulous. They came out without a dipping sauce but with powdered sugar dusting. The filling was savory and meat so tender. The sweetly dusted pastry was a delicious contrast to the savory filling. Our entrées came out with a nice presentation. My husband ordered his steak medium. His first cut looked well, next medium, next medium rate. I had never seen a steak so oddly cooked. My lamb shanks were very tender. Unfortunately there was very little taste to it. I shook salt on in 3 times before I got it to have flavor. The creamy barley reminded me of oatmeal. It didn't have any flavor either. The side of roasted carrots were tasty. Our entrees were such a disappointment after such a fabulous appetizer. The night was pretty expensive for not liking our food.
(3)Katie C.
Haven't had food here, but the drinks make me feel like I'm in a big city again.
(4)S L.
I've only been to Salar once, but since I want the place to thrive I'm writing this review. I loved Sidebar and was sad to see it close. I was happy to see it reopened. I'm going to give my complaint first: We were seated outside in a smoking area. We weren't really paying attention until the table next to us lit up, and then cigars were set out for sale. We dealt with it by moving indoors, but it probably would have been nice if we were told before being seated out there. Indoors we were seated next to a conversation pit. It was kind of loud (not necessarily a problem) but it made us feel like we were more in a dance bar environment as opposed to a decent restaurant. I can eat bar food in a pub, but it's never felt right to eat a nice meal in a dark bar, especially one where the tab for one meal is over $25 before tip. As we were leaving it appeared the restaurant was gearing up for more of a Saturday night bar environment than restaurant. I can't remember the exact price, but it was something like $17 for a square of "lasagna." It certainly wasn't traditional lasagna, and I can appreciate the effort. I like different. It was tasty. The desert was delicious as well. I liked Sidebar better, but Salar is good.
(3)Nikki K.
First off, I really wanted to like this one. I had heard (and read) great things about this new addition to the area. The greatest thing about both my experiences (always have to go twice at least before I review) are the cocktails. Although small for the price, they were different from every other restaurant around here and I could tell the bartenders took pride in their technique. And I appreciate that. Here's the rest... Both times I have gone, our group had reservations. Both times we waited in the hostess-less entry for awhile before making our way to the bar to attempt to check in. Both times we had to wait 10+ minutes for our reservation to be "ready". I say this in quotes because both times we were 1 of maybe 3 tables in the restaurant. We waited to be gloomily greater by our waitress. Sat with empty drinks & waters numerous times. When asking questions about the menu, we were given uninspired & emotionless responses. (Such as "it's good" and "well it's pre-made so I don't know if we can take stuff out") Were served 3 out of our 4 dinners without a word from our waitress on how long it would be before the last one came. Now. I will say on a busy night, I would have had more patience. But once again, we were 1 of 3 tables in the restaurant. There was no reason for lack luster service. We felt like we were a burden. And for a space this beautiful with drinks this beautiful, I was extremely disappointed. Clearly someone is trying, I just wish the service staff felt the same way. Especially since that's where most of the places I love gain my patronage.
(2)T S.
Great restaurant and head chef. Nice blend of food and ambiance with fantastic culinary taste parings! Do not miss if you are in the Emerald City.
(5)Darren D.
Loved the restaurant from the decor to my meal, friendly and efficient service to my cheesecake. It made my favorites list and it's a short list. I said "that's good" a lot while l was eating.
(5)B B.
Service very slow. 50 minutes later we received our entree(didn't order appetizer) My husband got the wrong food,(we were starving at this point), server told us after he already dug in she brought the wrong item. He didn't have an issue with it and said it was alright until he cut into middle of pork chop and it was RAW!! Really, raw pork!!! We told our server(not attentive service either took 30 minutes to check on us) and asked if he wanted something else. He said no and she disappeared for another 30 minutes. I had pasta which was bland and over done. Finally she returned and we just wanted to leave. Well she was quick with the check!! We actually got charged for the raw pork chop!!! We will never return!!!
(1)Steve M.
Excellent menu! Something sure to please any taste. The pork belly entree was outstanding! Close your eyes and pretend you are in New York or Montreal!
(5)Tisha V.
My husband and I have been to Salar several times and have always enjoyed the food and the ambiance, so we decided to invite 3 other couples to join us for the Chef's Table Dinner. There is a beautiful wooden table that seats 8 right outside the kitchen, with easy access to view the chefs at work. The Chef's Table Dinner is something a little different, and they allow you to assist in creating a custom menu for your guests, and sometimes the includes items not found on the regular menu. I suggested a different 4-course meal for the women and men, so sampling and sharing could occur. Each person got a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, and each course came with a wine pairing that complemented the food. IT WAS AMAZING! The women had a tangy raspberry/goat cheese salad, empanadas (OMG), seafood paella (so much flavor), and passionfruit napoleon with mango sauce. Delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite between the empanadas and paella. Both were fantastic. The men had a smoken mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, scallops with a saffron sauce (seared perfectly), beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse cake. Hands down, the scallops were the winner. We wanted to lick that saffron sauce off the plate. Thank goodness my husband let me taste some of his! The wine pairings were spot on, and it was just enouch wine without getting us crocked. The table was beautifully set, and our server Tess was so attentive, friendly, funny, and available when we needed her. I highly recommend contacting the catering manager Michael Hall if you'd like to create a unique experience like this with your peeps. It was so much fun, I want to do it again as a girls night!
(5)Jackie M.
Went for dinner while in Dayton for work. Came recommended by a colleague in the Dayton office and it certainly did not disappoint. Great selection on the menu and a solid wine list and variety of cocktails. The meal started with complimentary pita and cilantro hummus which was a nice touch. I had the Salar salad which was simple and delicious - I really loved the smoky onion dressing. The other people at my table had the warm caprese salad on the recommendation of the waiter and they loved it. I ordered the lasagna on the recommendation of the waiter and was so glad that I did. A really interesting Peruvian twist on lasagna, very flavorful and delicious. Another favorite of the waiter and at the table was the seabass. Overall, I definitely recommend Salar and will be back next time I am in town. And I will be sure to try a cocktail!
(4)Ramone K.
This place is amazing! The bar layout was designed by Justin Simmons,who also makes some amazingly creative drinks! The atmosphere was really fantastic! I can't say enough great things about this place. The drink menu is creative and the ambiance is pleasant and attractive. When you come in ask for Justin directly. He knows his stuff!
(5)Konefkta K.
My bf and I were ecstatic to try this place out, given that we were thrown into a deep depression after Sidebar closed (see earlier Sidebar review). We were not disappointed. Salar is located in the same place as Sidebar, and retains the same chef. Honestly, Chef Margot Blondet could prepare me a plate of dog vomit and I would eat it, I trust her THAT much. I loved everything I had at Sidebar, and I was glad to find out that the standards didn't slip with the new restaurant. I had the warm caprese salad, which was a surprising take on the classic salad. For an entree, I had the Peruvian Seafood rice, which came out on this stunning plate. It had a healthy portion of seafood mixed in with perfectly seasoned rice. The bf had the sea bass, which was a pretty large portion, and was crusted with quinoa. It was gorgeous. We were seated next to the beautiful waterfall room divider, and didn't even notice that our salads took a little while to come out. Our waitress did however, and informed us that we would have a comped dessert (which we were going to order anyway). We chose the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, which was creamy and rich and tasted delicious with the strawberry garnish. Overall, our new favorite restaurant in Dayton. And Chef Blondet should win all the awards. She probably doesn't go on those reality cooking shows because she doesn't want to make the other chefs feel bad about themselves.
(5)Sharon H.
This has been on my "restaurant" bucket list since they opened and we decided to celebrate my Son's birthday here last night. Beautiful and trendy decor! It is hardly recognizable as the old "Sidebar" space. We did have to wait a little on our table even though we had a reservation but the bar was comfy and the bartender was simply amazing! My husband always attempts to order an authentic Moscow Mule whenever we eat at an upscale establishment but in Dayton it is hard to find anyone that can make it. SCORE!!! My better half was a happy camper! They had many interesting drinks on the menu that I wanted to try but I went with my usual - mojito. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD - HANDS DOWN! My Son did want a Bloody Mary though and they did not have it - REALLY? This is a standard drink that every bar in the universe should be able to make so they lose points for this snafu. I hope it was just a fluke. When we finally got seated at the table, we were surprised to see we had restaurant week menus (I had no idea and I am usually on top of this event since I am a foodie!). My Son and his partner opted to order steaks from their regular menu and hubby and I tried options from the restaurant week menu. All of us were very satisfied with our meals. I will say the service here is painfully slow but that could have been due to Restaurant Week. There was also a mix-up on one of our meals so three came out and we were all nearly finished when the fourth showed up. The manager did send out a complementary tapas plate to the guest that did not get their plate so they are making an effort here. We are going to try the place again and it was very good eats but painfully slow service. The bar was the star on this visit (with the exception of the Bloody Mary issue) and we all decided that this might be worth a trip just to have a drink or two with friends after work.
(3)Brenda N.
We were a party of 4, there early on a Saturday evening for a birthday celebration. We were very disappointed in the food. We ordered lasagna, pecan crusted salmon and beef skewers. All 4 dinners arrived cold. The guest with the lasagna took 2 bites and could not eat it. It was dry and cold. The waiter took it back to the kitchen, then returned saying "the chef said they are all served like that but you can order something else from the menu". The guest said he did not want to order anything else. We remarked that all 3 other dinners arrived to the table cold as well. The waiter made no comment about this or try to correct the situation. We heard guests at 2 other tables also saying that their food was cold. We paid our tab (over $90) and then stopped down the street to order another meal. Very disappointing and expensive evening. We usually give restaurants "a second chance" but won't in this case.
(1)Rachel K.
This is hands down the best meal I've had since I've moved to Ohio. I'm used to big city dining and haven't found a lot I've really loved, but this place is delicious! First, there's the complimentary hummus instead of your usual bread and butter. They even brought out carrot sticks for me since I couldn't eat the pita chips that went with it. I had wine which was very good and my date got the Whiskey Smash which I tried and loved. Then came the salads. We both got The Salar which comes with an amazing smokey onion vinaigrette. For dinner I had Beef Saltado Style. The waiter had warned me that it was a little spicy. It was barely spicy, the kind of spicy that just makes your mouth pleasantly warm. It was extremely flavorful! I loved it from the first bite. My date got the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. I didn't try it, but he said it was divine. We then shared the flourless mousse cake which was so good I was actually aroused. My date declared it the best dessert he had ever had. The ambiance was classy, but relaxed and the restaurant was beautiful. I will be back!
(5)Meg K.
This place is a class act. We visited with a large party for cocktails and had a wonderful time. After we left I realized I didn't have my wallet! I called the restaurant well after 2am and left a message, hoping to maybe hear something the next day. The General Manager texted me back after only a few minutes to let me know they didn't see it but would keep a look out for me. I eventually found it at a different place but wow, I was really impressed with the quick response I got. Great management. Stellar service. Thank you!!
(5)Ryan B.
My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. The service was great as was the food. The drinks were fantastic as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all of the food and drink on the menu and his recommendations were spot on! The dessert was one of the best parts of the meal, the strawberry cheesecake was out of this world. Salar was reasonably priced, fantastic food, drink and service. I will be telling friends and family about our wonderful experience. If you are from the Dayton area Salar is a place you MUST go to!
(5)S G.
Tried this for a date night in town. Reservation at 6:30-- chose to sit outside to enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere even outside was relaxed but still classy. Service was fantastic as well. Friendly, personal, and took time to review the menu and make recommendations based on our questions. We started off with cocktails and an appetizer--- chicken croquettes. Very tasty- have a little kick to them. They are known for their cocktails -- for good reasons. Half of my drink later and I was liking this place even more. The meals blew us away. Husband had quinoa crusted Sea Bass which is probably their most talked about dish. I enjoyed it. I had the special which was a swordfish meal with potatoes and artichokes. Liked it better than the sea bass. The flavors of the sauces and their cooking technique are worth giving a try. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere of this place. Therefore didn't mind spending $30 ish per meal. If I had to make one negative comment it would be on the price of the cocktails. They are signature but still overpriced. Regardless , we will be back to Salar.
(5)Cassie H.
Many delicious options, fabulous dessert menu. The inside of the restaurant is very sleek and romantic. Many different seating options. They offer lots of fun drinks to choose from as well. I have been here several times now and I'm always very happy with the food and dining experience!
(5)Marc M.
I can't say I've ever eaten in Dayton before. Yelp directed to me to this street of restaurants. A quick down and back the block told me that this was the nicest restaurant. It is a rather interesting area... with several dive bars and XXX stores. Apparently, this is a reboot of a previous restaurant in the same location. I am not sure what happened to the previous one, but this version is awesome. We sat at the bar because the place was booked - ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! The bartenders are whipping up some unique Craft Cocktails. Try "La Pasion". It is like a spicy Bloody Mary but without the tomato. Most of the cocktails are served with a round ice cube - very interesting. My coworker ordered a martini, which the bartender hand-stirred it (not shaken-ed). The Cebiche was awesome. No, that is not a typo. By this point in the meal, we figured out that everything has a unique touch. Instead of the normal shrimp and white-fish, the Cebiche has Halibut with marinated red onions over a bed a lettuce with fried corn. Back to round-two of cocktails. I took zzz recommendation and tried a cilantro ginger caprihlana next. The cocktails are as tasty and unique as they are good! My coworker ordered the grapefruit mojito - it has champagne in it rather than club soda. Ouch! Did I mention that all of these laborious libations are only $9.50?!? In any "big city" they would be $15 and up. After more drinks, I ordered the pork belly sliders. I don't normally order pork belly. I can't say I am a big fan after this - it is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again when in town. It is a great place for a business dinner, a romantic evening or a special occasion. The food is unique and the cocktails are really, really good.
(4)Not Your Average ..
brought an out-of-towner to impress them but the food was whack. the atmosphere is really lovely. I've always enjoyed their wine selection. A little pricey but worth it if you just want a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy a drink at, hold it on the food.
(3)PJ D.
The drinks here are amazing, plan and simple. The staff is knowledgeable about what drinks to recommend and everyone is very friendly, and nice atmosphere as well. I love to come here to get drinks and have a good time with friends or family. My only issue is the food is not great, it's not bad by any means, but not worth the price. You can have a decent meal here, but now I typically eat elsewhere and come here for the awesome drinks and service.
(4)Tim B.
Upmarket decor (think San Francisco), enthusiastic and expert cocktail bar persons, very attentive and friendly staff, and a varied menu delivered to delicious perfection. Need I say more?
(5)Thomas N.
Ate here for the first time on NYE 2014, and had a fine time. Was VERY busy, so service was slow - took forever to get a straw or napkins, and our salad arrived the same time as dinner. That said, the food was very good. Found the food prices reasonable - but the drinks were a little pricey. Still - a fine experience for a special night out. We plan to return.
(4)Adam J.
Amazing food, amazing server and great atmosphere. Mark was so informative and hospitable. One of the best servers I have had in years!!!
(5)M B.
I was not impressed. The food was very simple in taste and did not have the wow factor that I was expecting from the previous reviews. It seems that just because it has a fancy name, people are giving it high reviews. The customer service is also not that great. My wife found a long blond hair in her lamb and the only they offered was a bigger dessert.
(1)Julie T.
Salar was a cool, modern yet chill experience! I think the owner seated us when I went, and he was delightful. he was always smiling and thoughtfully checked up on us once. our server was also great! she was very friendly yet professional when it came to a dinner recommendation. though these kinds of actions are familiar with any dining experience, the staff at Salar took their responsibilities to a higher caliber that made my other and I feel like regulars or good friends. I also agree with a review here that says it is hard not to drop $100 on 2 people here. yet, for a first time visit on a special occasion, the price was worth it. what makes me give Salar 5 stars is its atmosphere. it is very stylish and modern, right down to the water cups. I didn't catch the Peruvian flair until I looked closer at the decor, however.
(5)Glenn W.
I could sit there and drink old fashions all night (if they weren't $9). The drinks are pricey though. It's not hard to drop $100 there on food and drinks for 2 people. I went there last night as part of restaurant week. I had the tenderloin medallions with a chimichurri sauce. They were excellent. The risotto that came with it was also very good. I gave it 5 stars because while it isn't perfect, it's one of Dayton's best. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and wait staff are all excellent.
(5)Jennifer H.
Salar took the place of my much beloved Sidebar. At first I was definitely not a fan of this new place. Veggie me had the lasagna when we went there first and it was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. But they have a great bar and I'm a sucker for good creative cocktails so back we went. Second time was an improvement- The "fake" scallops were good but not something I would order again. Then finally, they added more veggie entree options. I have had very good spinach/sundried tomato ravioli on my last two trips. Salads are good here. Pizzas tend to have too much cheese and thusly be soggy in the middle. My hubby likes the duck ravioli, a couple chicken dishes, but still needs to try some other things on the menu. The ambience is not as good as it was before at Sidebar. It usually isn't as busy, either, but I hope they keep working on the menu and that it succeeds.
(3)Abby S.
really enjoyed cocktails and chicken skewers. very rich full flavors. really enjoyed the explosion of flavor in every bite.
(5)Meg K.
This place is a class act. We visited with a large party for cocktails and had a wonderful time. After we left I realized I didn't have my wallet! I called the restaurant well after 2am and left a message, hoping to maybe hear something the next day. The General Manager texted me back after only a few minutes to let me know they didn't see it but would keep a look out for me. I eventually found it at a different place but wow, I was really impressed with the quick response I got. Great management. Stellar service. Thank you!!
(5)Steve H.
While in Dayton for a night, we chose this restaurant largely based on its Yelp reviews. Thanks Dayton Yelpers! We loved this place. It had a sophisticated but still comfortable atmosphere. We were there on a Monday night over the holidays. With no reservation, we were quoted a 30 minute wait. The bar was not crowded and we enjoyed a hand crafted cocktail. My drink had a jalepeno jam, but the bartender used the same strainer with my partners whiskey drink. -- so that jalepeno taste was in his drink too. Once seated for dinner, we ordered the surf and turf and the quinoa crusted sea bass. The steak had to be returned because it was overcooked. They replaced it quickly. That steak was sort of a miss - just not a great cut of meat. The sea bass was cooked great. Some might find the sauce a little heavy handed but I enjoyed it. Service was friendly and personable. We will definitely be back next time we are there.
(4)Melissa R.
Terrible service. Manager was rude and not very accommodating. Our reservation was for 8:00 am. Table was not ready until 8:50. I would not recommend this place. Try the Wheat Penny or Coco's if you want better service.
(1)Kaz K.
Nice looking restaurant. The cocktails are good. I tried the steak and asked for it to be cooked at medium rare. It was served to me to something that wasn't even rare. The waiter took the food off my bill, but come on. Who serves a steak like that at a nice restaurant?
(1)Gary W.
Free valet parking is a plus. The interior is wonderful. The food is very nice. The drinks are great. The wife's steak came out a solid medium when she ordered medium rare. I'll be back.
(4)Lucas S.
Great food. Chef has skills. Your staff are smug idiots. No tables at 330? We get sat at the bar with an "ok" service. He was barely ok.
(1)Juan R.
Love pisco sours. The lomo saltado and empanadas are great. They need to bring the choros a la chalaca back. One of my fav spots in the great city of Dayton
(4)Darla B.
I went with a group and about half had really good food. I was not in the right half. My dinner: BEEF SALTADO STYLE 21.00 Pan seared strips of filet mignon with sautéed onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian pepp ers and spices over jasmine rice, served with fried potatoes Salt is the key word. It's supposed to be a beef stir fry, not a salt fest. The filet mignon strips were way overcooked and chewy. Who does that? Surely not a place trying to replicate "big city dining". The rice was just average and I thought I'd accidentally gotten a couple of french fries, which must have been the fried potatoes. All this for just $21.00. My partner's fish was very good, as was the pork chop a friend had. I guess I'm not foo-foo enough to rant and rave because Dayton has an expensive restaurant. I will say some of it was very good. But the hardest part of ordering shouldn't be what will be fit to eat. It should be choosing from a variety of very good food.
(2)Marc M.
I can't say I've ever eaten in Dayton before. Yelp directed to me to this street of restaurants. A quick down and back the block told me that this was the nicest restaurant. It is a rather interesting area... with several dive bars and XXX stores. Apparently, this is a reboot of a previous restaurant in the same location. I am not sure what happened to the previous one, but this version is awesome. We sat at the bar because the place was booked - ON A TUESDAY NIGHT! The bartenders are whipping up some unique Craft Cocktails. Try "La Pasion". It is like a spicy Bloody Mary but without the tomato. Most of the cocktails are served with a round ice cube - very interesting. My coworker ordered a martini, which the bartender hand-stirred it (not shaken-ed). The Cebiche was awesome. No, that is not a typo. By this point in the meal, we figured out that everything has a unique touch. Instead of the normal shrimp and white-fish, the Cebiche has Halibut with marinated red onions over a bed a lettuce with fried corn. Back to round-two of cocktails. I took zzz recommendation and tried a cilantro ginger caprihlana next. The cocktails are as tasty and unique as they are good! My coworker ordered the grapefruit mojito - it has champagne in it rather than club soda. Ouch! Did I mention that all of these laborious libations are only $9.50?!? In any "big city" they would be $15 and up. After more drinks, I ordered the pork belly sliders. I don't normally order pork belly. I can't say I am a big fan after this - it is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to eat here again when in town. It is a great place for a business dinner, a romantic evening or a special occasion. The food is unique and the cocktails are really, really good.
(4)Not Your Average ..
brought an out-of-towner to impress them but the food was whack. the atmosphere is really lovely. I've always enjoyed their wine selection. A little pricey but worth it if you just want a pleasant atmosphere to enjoy a drink at, hold it on the food.
(3)PJ D.
The drinks here are amazing, plan and simple. The staff is knowledgeable about what drinks to recommend and everyone is very friendly, and nice atmosphere as well. I love to come here to get drinks and have a good time with friends or family. My only issue is the food is not great, it's not bad by any means, but not worth the price. You can have a decent meal here, but now I typically eat elsewhere and come here for the awesome drinks and service.
(4)Tim B.
Upmarket decor (think San Francisco), enthusiastic and expert cocktail bar persons, very attentive and friendly staff, and a varied menu delivered to delicious perfection. Need I say more?
(5)Thomas N.
Ate here for the first time on NYE 2014, and had a fine time. Was VERY busy, so service was slow - took forever to get a straw or napkins, and our salad arrived the same time as dinner. That said, the food was very good. Found the food prices reasonable - but the drinks were a little pricey. Still - a fine experience for a special night out. We plan to return.
(4)Adam J.
Amazing food, amazing server and great atmosphere. Mark was so informative and hospitable. One of the best servers I have had in years!!!
(5)sideshow b.
I bright spot on the Dayton dining circuit. I too was a fan of Sidebar, and not sure what to expect, but my fears soon evaporated. The bar is still one of the best in town with great mixologists. The vibe and decor are big city familiar. Great lounge area, bar area, main eating room, and back patio. Service was excellent. The starter 'hummus' was flavorful and appreciated. Cocktails were cool, refreshing, and gone too quickly. My sole was excellent and perfectly prepared. I hate overcooked seafood and Salar did not disappoint. Only downside was the pizza. We had two orders for your table and both suffered from having too many toppings creating a less than perfect crust experience. Salar need to work on either the top or bottom of the pizza if they want to really this off. All in all, a great night out. Give it a go!
(4)Amy N.
Great atmosphere for a quick lunch or late night cocktail. The burger really took me by surprise. Perfect brioche and zesty sauce make this an excellent burger to try in DYT! (See photo) I'll be back to check out the dinner options!
(4)Well Travelled G.
My dinner: BEEF SALTADO STYLE 21.00 Pan seared strips of filet mignon with sautéed onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian pepp ers and spices over jasmine rice, served with fried potatoes. Horrible meal. Please take this off the menu ,, in the same manner that you took the cost of it off my bill. See below for another diners' comments on this meal which I need not repeat. This is my second bad meal - the first was the Surf and Turf about a month ago. Poor in every respect and costly too. Nice place, great service, great bar and cocktails.... maybe I need to quit trying their beef dishes. Or better yet, try other wanna be restaurants in Dayton instead..
(2)Min K.
Overall, amazing dinner experience. Loved the atmosphere, our server was very attentive, food was great. We had scallops and shrimp skewers to start. All very good. I would've liked the shrimp to've been cooked a little less but the scallops were very nice and pretty to look at. The rare salmon was the most delightful.
(5)Rachel K.
This is hands down the best meal I've had since I've moved to Ohio. I'm used to big city dining and haven't found a lot I've really loved, but this place is delicious! First, there's the complimentary hummus instead of your usual bread and butter. They even brought out carrot sticks for me since I couldn't eat the pita chips that went with it. I had wine which was very good and my date got the Whiskey Smash which I tried and loved. Then came the salads. We both got The Salar which comes with an amazing smokey onion vinaigrette. For dinner I had Beef Saltado Style. The waiter had warned me that it was a little spicy. It was barely spicy, the kind of spicy that just makes your mouth pleasantly warm. It was extremely flavorful! I loved it from the first bite. My date got the Red Quinoa Encrusted Chilean Sea Bass. I didn't try it, but he said it was divine. We then shared the flourless mousse cake which was so good I was actually aroused. My date declared it the best dessert he had ever had. The ambiance was classy, but relaxed and the restaurant was beautiful. I will be back!
(5)Kourtney R.
there are few things restaurant absolutely must get right and hot food is one of them. we went out as a group of 11 for my sister-in-law's 30th birthday and needless to say if many of us were disappointed because our food was lukewarm. I had the fried calamari as an appetizer which was to say the least Salar did not live up to its name . the seasoning on the batter was very bland but the sauces were okay . the vegetarian linguini is what I had it is also very bland and I'm not sure that I would recommend this restaurant to anyone for a birthday party .in my opinion the best part of the restaurant was the atmosphere in the booze . if you're looking for an amazing tongue tingling meal I would not recommend this place
(1)S G.
Tried this for a date night in town. Reservation at 6:30-- chose to sit outside to enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere even outside was relaxed but still classy. Service was fantastic as well. Friendly, personal, and took time to review the menu and make recommendations based on our questions. We started off with cocktails and an appetizer--- chicken croquettes. Very tasty- have a little kick to them. They are known for their cocktails -- for good reasons. Half of my drink later and I was liking this place even more. The meals blew us away. Husband had quinoa crusted Sea Bass which is probably their most talked about dish. I enjoyed it. I had the special which was a swordfish meal with potatoes and artichokes. Liked it better than the sea bass. The flavors of the sauces and their cooking technique are worth giving a try. I cannot say enough about the quality of the food, service, and atmosphere of this place. Therefore didn't mind spending $30 ish per meal. If I had to make one negative comment it would be on the price of the cocktails. They are signature but still overpriced. Regardless , we will be back to Salar.
(5)Ryan B.
My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. The service was great as was the food. The drinks were fantastic as well. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about all of the food and drink on the menu and his recommendations were spot on! The dessert was one of the best parts of the meal, the strawberry cheesecake was out of this world. Salar was reasonably priced, fantastic food, drink and service. I will be telling friends and family about our wonderful experience. If you are from the Dayton area Salar is a place you MUST go to!
(5)Cassie H.
Many delicious options, fabulous dessert menu. The inside of the restaurant is very sleek and romantic. Many different seating options. They offer lots of fun drinks to choose from as well. I have been here several times now and I'm always very happy with the food and dining experience!
(5)M B.
I was not impressed. The food was very simple in taste and did not have the wow factor that I was expecting from the previous reviews. It seems that just because it has a fancy name, people are giving it high reviews. The customer service is also not that great. My wife found a long blond hair in her lamb and the only they offered was a bigger dessert.
(1)Julie T.
Salar was a cool, modern yet chill experience! I think the owner seated us when I went, and he was delightful. he was always smiling and thoughtfully checked up on us once. our server was also great! she was very friendly yet professional when it came to a dinner recommendation. though these kinds of actions are familiar with any dining experience, the staff at Salar took their responsibilities to a higher caliber that made my other and I feel like regulars or good friends. I also agree with a review here that says it is hard not to drop $100 on 2 people here. yet, for a first time visit on a special occasion, the price was worth it. what makes me give Salar 5 stars is its atmosphere. it is very stylish and modern, right down to the water cups. I didn't catch the Peruvian flair until I looked closer at the decor, however.
(5)Glenn W.
I could sit there and drink old fashions all night (if they weren't $9). The drinks are pricey though. It's not hard to drop $100 there on food and drinks for 2 people. I went there last night as part of restaurant week. I had the tenderloin medallions with a chimichurri sauce. They were excellent. The risotto that came with it was also very good. I gave it 5 stars because while it isn't perfect, it's one of Dayton's best. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and wait staff are all excellent.
(5)Jennifer H.
Salar took the place of my much beloved Sidebar. At first I was definitely not a fan of this new place. Veggie me had the lasagna when we went there first and it was one of the worst things I've ever eaten. But they have a great bar and I'm a sucker for good creative cocktails so back we went. Second time was an improvement- The "fake" scallops were good but not something I would order again. Then finally, they added more veggie entree options. I have had very good spinach/sundried tomato ravioli on my last two trips. Salads are good here. Pizzas tend to have too much cheese and thusly be soggy in the middle. My hubby likes the duck ravioli, a couple chicken dishes, but still needs to try some other things on the menu. The ambience is not as good as it was before at Sidebar. It usually isn't as busy, either, but I hope they keep working on the menu and that it succeeds.
(3)Abby S.
really enjoyed cocktails and chicken skewers. very rich full flavors. really enjoyed the explosion of flavor in every bite.
(5)Nicolas S.
This is a great restaurant. Though I am not a vegetarian, I really enjoyed the vegetarian scallops. Very very good. I didn't care for the lucuma dessert but they took it off the bill. I didn't even complain about it, just off it came. The waitress noticed that I had not eaten very much of it. Great restaurant and great customer service.
(5)Darwin L.
Had hair in my hummus. Seanad was extremely bland. Think I'll go to Chipotle to eat hair free and flavorful food.
(1)Michael B.
Great place. Good atmosphere, bar, and the food has never disappointed. The service is generally good, but it definitely depends on your server. As for the hostess station...for whatever reason, there is almost never anyone there when I walk in. You'll usually stand around for a few minutes waiting. Considering this is the worst thing I can say about the restaurant, and I frequent the place, I would recommend it to anyone.
(4)Patrick N.
Great restaurant. I've been here twice and I'm always impressed by their menu options. I tried their Seafood dish with Risotto and a bourbon cocktail (two, actually), which was heavenly. They even have a great amount of gluten free choices for those with Celiac Disease (almost 3/4ths of the menu!). This place is a gem in the Oregon District.
(5)Ricky T.
Every time we come to Salar, we fall a little more in love. Very charming. Very delicious.
(5)Scott C.
Overall dining experience was excellent. My girlfriend and I went at last minute before the kitchen was to close, however, the food quality and service was still top-notch. We believe our waiter was actually the owner. He treated as guests in his own home. Salar is our new restaurant hot-spot. We are looking forward to trying everything on the menu.
(5)Matt O.
Went here with my teenage daughter on a Daddy-daughter date, so I may be overselling the restaurant. The atmosphere was fun and exciting. Food was pretty good, though not superb -- the sole filet was a tad salty. Our waiter and the other staff were wonderfully attentive.
(4)Crystal D.
We went for our anniversary. I made reservations easily online. We were sat immediately and greeted by our server. I ordered a Moscow mule and my husband had a beer. My drink was superb. Our server asked us if we had questions about the menu. It was a little disappointing since we just heard another server going over many of the menu options with another table. My husband ordered the ribeye and I asked the server about the lamb shanks. She told me it was a large serving and the reduction was very tasty. I decided on that. We were asked if we wanted an appetizer. We usually don't get them, but love empanadas so we decided to try them. SO GLAD we did. The empanadas were fabulous. They came out without a dipping sauce but with powdered sugar dusting. The filling was savory and meat so tender. The sweetly dusted pastry was a delicious contrast to the savory filling. Our entrées came out with a nice presentation. My husband ordered his steak medium. His first cut looked well, next medium, next medium rate. I had never seen a steak so oddly cooked. My lamb shanks were very tender. Unfortunately there was very little taste to it. I shook salt on in 3 times before I got it to have flavor. The creamy barley reminded me of oatmeal. It didn't have any flavor either. The side of roasted carrots were tasty. Our entrees were such a disappointment after such a fabulous appetizer. The night was pretty expensive for not liking our food.
(3)Katie C.
Haven't had food here, but the drinks make me feel like I'm in a big city again.
(4)Mark W.
We have been there twice now. First time was good, the second was sort of a train wreck. I wouldn't discourage anyone from trying it but considering all of the other great restaurants in the area we probably won't be back unless its just for a cocktail. (The cocktails are fantastic by the way, classic post prohibition type) Ceviche was ok but had been marinated too long so the fish was fully cooked. Vegan "scallops" were good. The ravioli stuffed with duck ragu was delicious. And we had the butternut squash ravioli on the train wreck night that was a mess. The flavors were good but the ravioli was not made correctly. It almost had the consistency of gnocchi.
(3)Derek D.
I had three drinks by the world famous barkeep Adela. Lima to Lima=daaayuuuum! Gem City Sling=party in my mouf! Front Porch Swing=just a swingin!
(5)Carleen T.
We ate here on New Years Eve and had the BEST experience ever! The wait staff is incredible and we loved it all,
(5)Darren D.
Loved the restaurant from the decor to my meal, friendly and efficient service to my cheesecake. It made my favorites list and it's a short list. I said "that's good" a lot while l was eating.
(5)B B.
Service very slow. 50 minutes later we received our entree(didn't order appetizer) My husband got the wrong food,(we were starving at this point), server told us after he already dug in she brought the wrong item. He didn't have an issue with it and said it was alright until he cut into middle of pork chop and it was RAW!! Really, raw pork!!! We told our server(not attentive service either took 30 minutes to check on us) and asked if he wanted something else. He said no and she disappeared for another 30 minutes. I had pasta which was bland and over done. Finally she returned and we just wanted to leave. Well she was quick with the check!! We actually got charged for the raw pork chop!!! We will never return!!!
(1)Steve M.
Excellent menu! Something sure to please any taste. The pork belly entree was outstanding! Close your eyes and pretend you are in New York or Montreal!
(5)Jess L.
Bar service was horrible. The bartenders were rude and condescending. There was also what appeared to be a ten year old child running around the bar. The theme of the drinks seems to be, "load em up with jalapenos and bitters" to compensate for the lack of balance and inspiration. The food was definitely not worth the price.
(1)Jack Z.
The water is superb with MASSIVE cubes. Totally would stop in while walking by if for nothing more than a glass of that clear goodness. One of the Miami valley's finest!!!
(5)David B.
We loved the old Sidebar (sad story, sigh), but this place blows it away. The cocktails are even better, and they've replaced the small-plate concept with more conventional portion sizes. And Chef Margot knows her stuff! If you're a foodie, you owe it to yourself to check this place out. One of the few restaurants in Dayton I would put on the same level as Meadowlark.
(5)Tisha V.
My husband and I have been to Salar several times and have always enjoyed the food and the ambiance, so we decided to invite 3 other couples to join us for the Chef's Table Dinner. There is a beautiful wooden table that seats 8 right outside the kitchen, with easy access to view the chefs at work. The Chef's Table Dinner is something a little different, and they allow you to assist in creating a custom menu for your guests, and sometimes the includes items not found on the regular menu. I suggested a different 4-course meal for the women and men, so sampling and sharing could occur. Each person got a salad, appetizer, entree, and dessert, and each course came with a wine pairing that complemented the food. IT WAS AMAZING! The women had a tangy raspberry/goat cheese salad, empanadas (OMG), seafood paella (so much flavor), and passionfruit napoleon with mango sauce. Delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite between the empanadas and paella. Both were fantastic. The men had a smoken mozzarella and roasted tomato salad, scallops with a saffron sauce (seared perfectly), beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce, and chocolate mousse cake. Hands down, the scallops were the winner. We wanted to lick that saffron sauce off the plate. Thank goodness my husband let me taste some of his! The wine pairings were spot on, and it was just enouch wine without getting us crocked. The table was beautifully set, and our server Tess was so attentive, friendly, funny, and available when we needed her. I highly recommend contacting the catering manager Michael Hall if you'd like to create a unique experience like this with your peeps. It was so much fun, I want to do it again as a girls night!
(5)Jackie M.
Went for dinner while in Dayton for work. Came recommended by a colleague in the Dayton office and it certainly did not disappoint. Great selection on the menu and a solid wine list and variety of cocktails. The meal started with complimentary pita and cilantro hummus which was a nice touch. I had the Salar salad which was simple and delicious - I really loved the smoky onion dressing. The other people at my table had the warm caprese salad on the recommendation of the waiter and they loved it. I ordered the lasagna on the recommendation of the waiter and was so glad that I did. A really interesting Peruvian twist on lasagna, very flavorful and delicious. Another favorite of the waiter and at the table was the seabass. Overall, I definitely recommend Salar and will be back next time I am in town. And I will be sure to try a cocktail!
(4)Sunny R.
Drinks were awesome! Would have had more but bartender with bushy mustache made it clear we were unwanted and unwelcome at his bar. Got great food and our server pretty dark hair with a flower in it was awesome. Weird how mere footsteps away in the dinning room the atmosphere changed so much for the better!
(4)Thom S.
me and my sister and niece went to salar awhile back and it was fantastic,the restraint was very posh and decorated great including inside water displays,the staff were so friendly and welcoming and our waiter was great and suggested things to try like cocktails and dishes and was very funny and gave us a tour of the restaurant since it was our first time which we really enjoyed.i loved this place and I will def be going back and I also told friends about it whom have since went and they loved it as well. amazing food,great and friendly staff 5 stars from me
(5)Stephen R.
I was surprised and delighted during my second visit to Salar several months later that they had added vegetarian and vegan entrees to the menu. The Porch Swing cocktail I enjoyed before dinner was perfectly mixed, and the White Bean "Scallops" were FANTASTIC. I left full and satisfied, and look forward to my next visit. Thanks for adding the vegan options, Salar!
(4)Jessica S.
pretty good. only complaint was that the pork belly was overcooked and tough.
(4)Eleanor B.
Great atmostphere, awesome handcrafted drinks and their menu was superb! We made reservations and went with a party of 16 and they took care of us! Appetizer calamari was awesome and from what I could tell everyone's elses' was very yummy! For the main entree for dinner I'd recommend the pork belly and the mousse dessert was my favorite! Great for a date, romantic dinner or a great outing with a bunch of friends when you want to get dressed up and have a night out on the town. After, you can head down the rest on Oregon District and paint the town red! We'll defnitely be back!!! Oh also free valet and parking on a Friday or Saturday, you'll want to use this wonderful option!
(5)S L.
I've only been to Salar once, but since I want the place to thrive I'm writing this review. I loved Sidebar and was sad to see it close. I was happy to see it reopened. I'm going to give my complaint first: We were seated outside in a smoking area. We weren't really paying attention until the table next to us lit up, and then cigars were set out for sale. We dealt with it by moving indoors, but it probably would have been nice if we were told before being seated out there. Indoors we were seated next to a conversation pit. It was kind of loud (not necessarily a problem) but it made us feel like we were more in a dance bar environment as opposed to a decent restaurant. I can eat bar food in a pub, but it's never felt right to eat a nice meal in a dark bar, especially one where the tab for one meal is over $25 before tip. As we were leaving it appeared the restaurant was gearing up for more of a Saturday night bar environment than restaurant. I can't remember the exact price, but it was something like $17 for a square of "lasagna." It certainly wasn't traditional lasagna, and I can appreciate the effort. I like different. It was tasty. The desert was delicious as well. I liked Sidebar better, but Salar is good.
(3)Ramone K.
This place is amazing! The bar layout was designed by Justin Simmons,who also makes some amazingly creative drinks! The atmosphere was really fantastic! I can't say enough great things about this place. The drink menu is creative and the ambiance is pleasant and attractive. When you come in ask for Justin directly. He knows his stuff!
(5)Brenda N.
We were a party of 4, there early on a Saturday evening for a birthday celebration. We were very disappointed in the food. We ordered lasagna, pecan crusted salmon and beef skewers. All 4 dinners arrived cold. The guest with the lasagna took 2 bites and could not eat it. It was dry and cold. The waiter took it back to the kitchen, then returned saying "the chef said they are all served like that but you can order something else from the menu". The guest said he did not want to order anything else. We remarked that all 3 other dinners arrived to the table cold as well. The waiter made no comment about this or try to correct the situation. We heard guests at 2 other tables also saying that their food was cold. We paid our tab (over $90) and then stopped down the street to order another meal. Very disappointing and expensive evening. We usually give restaurants "a second chance" but won't in this case.
(1)Konefkta K.
My bf and I were ecstatic to try this place out, given that we were thrown into a deep depression after Sidebar closed (see earlier Sidebar review). We were not disappointed. Salar is located in the same place as Sidebar, and retains the same chef. Honestly, Chef Margot Blondet could prepare me a plate of dog vomit and I would eat it, I trust her THAT much. I loved everything I had at Sidebar, and I was glad to find out that the standards didn't slip with the new restaurant. I had the warm caprese salad, which was a surprising take on the classic salad. For an entree, I had the Peruvian Seafood rice, which came out on this stunning plate. It had a healthy portion of seafood mixed in with perfectly seasoned rice. The bf had the sea bass, which was a pretty large portion, and was crusted with quinoa. It was gorgeous. We were seated next to the beautiful waterfall room divider, and didn't even notice that our salads took a little while to come out. Our waitress did however, and informed us that we would have a comped dessert (which we were going to order anyway). We chose the white and dark chocolate mousse cake, which was creamy and rich and tasted delicious with the strawberry garnish. Overall, our new favorite restaurant in Dayton. And Chef Blondet should win all the awards. She probably doesn't go on those reality cooking shows because she doesn't want to make the other chefs feel bad about themselves.
(5)Sharon H.
This has been on my "restaurant" bucket list since they opened and we decided to celebrate my Son's birthday here last night. Beautiful and trendy decor! It is hardly recognizable as the old "Sidebar" space. We did have to wait a little on our table even though we had a reservation but the bar was comfy and the bartender was simply amazing! My husband always attempts to order an authentic Moscow Mule whenever we eat at an upscale establishment but in Dayton it is hard to find anyone that can make it. SCORE!!! My better half was a happy camper! They had many interesting drinks on the menu that I wanted to try but I went with my usual - mojito. BEST I HAVE EVER HAD - HANDS DOWN! My Son did want a Bloody Mary though and they did not have it - REALLY? This is a standard drink that every bar in the universe should be able to make so they lose points for this snafu. I hope it was just a fluke. When we finally got seated at the table, we were surprised to see we had restaurant week menus (I had no idea and I am usually on top of this event since I am a foodie!). My Son and his partner opted to order steaks from their regular menu and hubby and I tried options from the restaurant week menu. All of us were very satisfied with our meals. I will say the service here is painfully slow but that could have been due to Restaurant Week. There was also a mix-up on one of our meals so three came out and we were all nearly finished when the fourth showed up. The manager did send out a complementary tapas plate to the guest that did not get their plate so they are making an effort here. We are going to try the place again and it was very good eats but painfully slow service. The bar was the star on this visit (with the exception of the Bloody Mary issue) and we all decided that this might be worth a trip just to have a drink or two with friends after work.
(3)Nikki K.
First off, I really wanted to like this one. I had heard (and read) great things about this new addition to the area. The greatest thing about both my experiences (always have to go twice at least before I review) are the cocktails. Although small for the price, they were different from every other restaurant around here and I could tell the bartenders took pride in their technique. And I appreciate that. Here's the rest... Both times I have gone, our group had reservations. Both times we waited in the hostess-less entry for awhile before making our way to the bar to attempt to check in. Both times we had to wait 10+ minutes for our reservation to be "ready". I say this in quotes because both times we were 1 of maybe 3 tables in the restaurant. We waited to be gloomily greater by our waitress. Sat with empty drinks & waters numerous times. When asking questions about the menu, we were given uninspired & emotionless responses. (Such as "it's good" and "well it's pre-made so I don't know if we can take stuff out") Were served 3 out of our 4 dinners without a word from our waitress on how long it would be before the last one came. Now. I will say on a busy night, I would have had more patience. But once again, we were 1 of 3 tables in the restaurant. There was no reason for lack luster service. We felt like we were a burden. And for a space this beautiful with drinks this beautiful, I was extremely disappointed. Clearly someone is trying, I just wish the service staff felt the same way. Especially since that's where most of the places I love gain my patronage.
(2)T S.
Great restaurant and head chef. Nice blend of food and ambiance with fantastic culinary taste parings! Do not miss if you are in the Emerald City.
(5)N K.
This place is quite amazing. Peruvian food. Flavors were great. My salad dressing was too sweet but other than that, it's the perfect place for a special dinner. Service and ambiance wee outstanding too.
(5)Katie S.
Went back. Got the white bean scallops- they were ok... Dry, not super flavorful, had a tomato and onion relish that was alright. Overall, I wouldn't get them again as they weren't anything special. My cocktail, the "penicillin" was really good though.
(3)Carol M.
This establishment discouraged our ladies nite out. Took a tremendous amount of effort to come to dinner due to a snow storm. We still arrived at 7:55 for a 8:00 reservation to only to be told that our table was not ready. The hostess said to enjoy at the bar while you wait for your table that's not ready in time. 6 ladies decided to have one drink while we are delayed for our 8:00 reservation. When we were seated 40 minutes late we were informed that would no longer be served any alcoholic drinks. So here is my review don't attempt having at dinner at this establishment. Blinds Bonds had no problem serving and feeding us. Thank you Tyler b
(1)Amanda S.
Had a very nice salad and some excellent empanadas here. I appreciated the quick and friendly service that I got at the bar. Was a little surprised that the empanadas were fried -- I'm used to having baked empanadas. Found out later that the cooking style varies across different Latin American countries. A bit pricey, but that was probably because I was in from out of town and otherwise found Dayton prices amazingly affordable.
(4)Alison B.
Amazing meal! We looked for the best in Dayton and found it! Exciting beverages and wonderful food. If you come to Dayton you must eat here. Owner /Chef is from Peru and her food is amazing! !! The Midwest is ripe for change and she is here to give it to you. I don't know where to start, we had the Duck ragu ravioli and the chilean seabass. I hardly know which I liked best! You must go!!!!
(5)Big Baby Jesus C.
Honestly I hate to dog any place, but here I go. Another place trying to be fancy rather than simply trying to make tasty food. Scallops on half shell covered with cheese. What are you trying to cover up? Scallops are amazing seared with a lil salt. Sea bass? Likewise. What are you doing crusting it in quinoa and putting it on mushy leeks cooked in bacon fat? I'm starting to feel like this is one of those black hole spots that no business will succeed in.
(2)Jeff G.
Based on atmosphere alone this is one of the top restaurants in Dayton. The food will also get them that same ranking. I would love to hear more about where they source their food. They don't say anything about it on their website so its not likely something to brag about. They say they are "Green Certified" but it doesn't elaborate on what that means. I will "Google" it later but if its something to be proud of I would expand on it. I would be inclined to give them 5 stars if I knew more about where my dinner came from....I hope. :) Don't worry about parking because they have complimentary valet. (That doesnt mean it's free...TIP) We haven't been here in quite a while and decided we needed to reconnect with this place. It was a great feeling to pull up and see the place packed. Although it was too cold to enjoy the patio I thought it was a nice touch to have those tables set and decorated. They pay close attention to atmosphere here. I love it. We typically eat at the bar. The service is good there but if you want to be pampered you better get a table. That bar is busy. If you plan on dining at a table I would definitely make a reservation. The dining areas are very cool, they actually have two bars, comfortable lounge type seating, and two patios. The patio is where it's at when the weather is right. They have a nice wine selection with very good pricing, they have an amazing cocktail list, I have never really paid attention to their beer selection. We always go for the wine here. Tonight we chose the Migration Pinot. The food - I love their menu. They have so much variety but its not overwhelming. We didn't get them tonight, and we aren't vegan, but they have some vegan scallops as an appetizer that are incredible! I would suggest giving them a shot. We skipped the appetizers this time and jumped right in to entrees. My wife got the almond crusted chicken and I got the beef saltado. I'm sure that chicken dish is very good, my wife enjoyed it but we both loved the flavors of my saltado so much it was difficult to enjoy that chicken. Haha. Everything about that saltado was incredible. It was so full of flavor. Filet, red onion, tomato, with amazing seasoning on top of a bed of french fries. I saw another review where they thought they got some stray fries from another dish. Fries are traditional for saltado and a lot of other Peruvian dishes. I love it!! We try to always be supportive of good local restaurants. I don't think you can go wrong giving this place a try. I have never had a meal here I didn't like. Go, enjoy.
(4)Yohanne S.
My dish was a bit blan but our cousins dish was better. Very nice atmosphere. Waiter are very slow at responding.
(2)Caleb J.
First time here but will definitely not be the last! Cool urban feel with a great menu. They start out with bringing warm pita bread and freshly made cilantro hummus. For a starter we had the calamari which was very good and the ginger hummus and creamy cocktail sauce were very complimentary. I highly recommend the shrimp, scallop and pesto artisan pizza, the clincher for 5 stars in my opinion! To finish off the meal we had the deconstructed tart for dessert with a lemon zest custard - simply amazing.
(5)Julie N.
This was our first visit here, and although it came highly recommended we could not have have imagined we would have as wonderful experience as we did. The food was perfectly prepared and delicious. But most importantly the service was the best we've ever had. Our server, Mark Hall, went above and beyond to give us a perfect dining experience. Give it a try, and ask for Mark!
(5)Jon K.
It is rare when you have expectations for something and those expectations are met. Even rarer is when those expectations are exceeded. But that was unicornian experience we had at Salar last Saturday night. Major kudos must be doled out to the general manager for assembing a great front-of-house team--our server, Tyler, was knowledgeable about the menu and not only made great recommendations, but he also knew the compostion of the dishes we tried. The restaurant describes itself as having an " exciting menu of World-Fusion cuisine with strong French, Peruvian, and Mediterranean influences.' They go on to say they have, "an extensive selection of hand-crafted cocktails featuring fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruit and herbs, and only the finest spirits." Truth in packaging. We are usually wine people, seriously we drink it 3-4 times a week for dinner, but we had to try one of the cocktails upon the recommendation of Tyler. He suggested a La Pasion for me which Bulleit Bourbon, Sandeman's Tawny Port, fresh lime, Demerara, passion fruit, cilantro and Chipotle chili powder. Really cool presentation in a low ball glass with a giant sphere ice cube. She had the special of the day which was a frothy Peruvian speciaty. We shared their Tuna Tiradito which was essentially tuna sashimi with a tangy lime, cilantro and aji pepper sauce. Great portion size. For dinner my girlfriend again went with the special of the day. It was sea scallops crusted in a red quinoa, served with asparagus on a fresh polenta with a tangy but light sauce. I went with a traditional Beef Saltado which is marinated grilled tenderloin, tomatoes, onions, yellow peppers and spices with potatoes. The chef's take on this subbed in thin french fries which went great with the dish. Served with jasmine rice, yes that is too starches, but it works. I ended taking half home. The portion size was huge. We finished with a strawberry cheesecake which was a nice sweetness to complement the south american spices and sauces. The restaurant itself is beautiful. There are two porches, large rooms in the back that could be used for business events, rehersal dinners, birthday parties or any large group party. The bar itself is striking being a large gentle arch shape, and it was full all night. Lighting is subtle and the place has great features like the cascading water wall we sat next to for dinner. I hope Dayton supports this place. We live in Mason about 35 minutes away --we can't wait to get back and bring friends!
(5)