Cured meats + local cheeses + cozy patio = amazing night, any night of the week! That's why
Saltwood is one of my new go-to restaurants in Atlanta. Take a peak:
Saltwood
The cheese selection is probably my favorite part: You can get four different kinds for $12! And all cheese plates come with Saltwood's signature tomato jam, which is to die for.
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| Cheese, noms! |
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| It's almost gone -- that's how good the tomato jam is! |
Of course, no cheese plate is complete without vino, and the wine selection at Saltwood is impressive. The prices tend to run on the higher side but aren't unwarranted; still, if you are looking for a lower price point, try one of the cocktails. Fair warning: They're pretty stiff, so you may find yourself ordering one, maybe two at most.
On the charcuterie menu, Benton's smoked mountain ham is my favorite. The name doesn't sound very fancy, but it rivals any prosciutto I've ever had. If you're feeling adventurous, look to the "Blood, guts & glory" section of the menu: We're talking carpaccio beef tongue, fried veal sweetbreads and blood sausage hash.
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| Clockwise, starting at left: Benton's smoked ham, duck prosciutto, Spotted Trotter pork |
For more tame eaters, check out the noodle and healthy menu sections. The house-made tagliatelle pasta is delectable, and don't be put off by the braised veal cheeks: Their texture is superb and makes them palatable even for the most squeamish of eaters.
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| Tagliatelle |
I haven't had it yet, but the farro bowl also looks divine -- it may be part of my next meal here.
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| Courtesy Sara Hannah Photography |
I did, however, have both the red snapper and the branzino (not in one sitting, don't worry) and would highly recommend both: The fish is cooked to perfection and the sides of both dishes are very tasty. The portions are fairly humble, but I actually appreciated that, especially after stuffing my face with meat & cheese before the main course.
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| Branzino with sunchoke puree, truffle emulsion and kale chips |
The restaurant is located inside the Loews hotel in Midtown, which just happens to be my very favorite hotel in the city. Cheers to many more meals here!
