The restaurant at 410 E. Fifth St., the former site of Sidebar and Pacchia, will celebrate its official public grand opening Thursday.
Its soft opening occurred over the last few weeks.
Trubounis said last week that the menu continues to evolve, but the international flair is ever present.
“The pork belly for instance is three different recipes on one plate,” he said. “You have a lima bean puree, a sweet potato duo and the pork belly is topped with an onion relish which is just divine.”
Trubounis said a world class mixologist was used to create the bar’s exclusive drink menu.
With that ringing endorsement we tried the pork belly ($19) and The Salar from the drink menu ($9.75).
The belly was crispy and juicy and its accompaniments were as divine as Trubounis described.
The Salar — Peruvian Pisco Mosto Verde, lime and blue corn fresh juices, egg white, cane sugar and cane sugar syrup — was unlike any other cocktail I have ever drank. It was sweet with a little spice.
We also tried the beef sirloin topped with saffron and served with roasted vegetables and blue cheese pea risotto ($25). The meat was good, but I could have had a bucket of that creamy risotto and still want more.
There are hints of the old Sidebar at the new restaurant.
Several of Sidebar’s former workers — Trubounis and Blondet — work at Salar.
But Trubounis and Blondet have managed to transform the space into something unique, modern, sleek and relaxing.
There are two water art pieces - a waterfall in the front dining area and a piece that changes colors in the back dining area.
The chef-owned restaurant get its name from the Spanish word for ‘to salt. It employs about 50 people and seats 162 inside and 70 on its two patios.
Lily's Bistro opened earlier this month across from Salar in the former space of Boulevard Haus/Cafe Boulevard.
Details:
410 E. Fifth St., Dayton
(937) 203-3999
Monday to Thursday — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday — 11 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
Saturday — 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth
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