"There's a moment during dinner at Sal’s Place when you completely forget you’re at a restaurant. Adjacent tables—people you didn’t know a half-hour ago—merge conversations with yours, while Siobhan, the linen-wearing host, drops off complimentary tiramisu and explains if you don’t have enough money (it’s cash-only), just pay her back next time. That's the disarming charm of this Provincetown-based bistro, which officially relocated to West Hollywood through June. The whole operation happens inside the old Il Piccolino, a cozy Italian spot on Robertson that Sal’s uses like a Florida timeshare. If you ever see Sal’s listed as “temporarily closed,” don’t worry. They’ll be back in a few months when the weather turns on the Cape. And when that happens, you’ll find us sliding back into the red and white-striped banquettes, eating big bowls of pasta and pepper-crusted steak, and giddily discussing the Weho Pride line-up with our server. Are there any dishes on Sal’s handwritten menu that couldn't be found at another Italian spot down the block? Probably not. But you’re at this cozy queer space to take in the room—eating a well-dressed caesar and spicy orecchiette is the icing on the cake. Food Rundown photo credit: Sal's Place Shrimp Scampi This dish might not end up on the Mount Rushmore of shrimp scampi, but it’s a good, simple version that delivers what you want: plump shrimp, buttery white wine broth, and crispy little crostinis that help you shovel it all into your mouth. photo credit: Sal's Place Sal's Caesar Maybe it’s just us, but the moment a martini touches our lips, our body craves a good caesar. And luckily, Sal’s excels at both. Chopped romaine leaves are perfectly dressed, while the panko breadcrumbs and shaved pecorino sprinkled on top add a crunchy-salty punch to each bite. photo credit: Brant Cox Orecchiette Sausage There are five pastas on Sal’s menu, and this is the best of the bunch. The orecchiette are soft and supple, but what stands out is the sausage. The tiny clumps of pork are just spicy enough and go well against the bitter greens. It’s a pricey bowl of pasta at $40, but portions are large. You could only order this and walk out full. photo credit: Brant Cox Pan-Seared White Fish This is a perfectly serviceable piece of fish, but also on the boring side—as is the case with most of the main dishes at Sal’s. Get the fish if you really need a protein, but our recommendation would be to focus on appetizers and pasta, and save room for dessert. photo credit: Sal's Place Tiramisu Ordering dessert at a cash-only restaurant can be stressful if you didn’t take out enough bills from the ATM beforehand. So double-check your math and make sure you have sufficient funds for this rich, chocolate-y tiramisu. Like a great Sabrina Carpenter single, it’s a little treat that’ll be stuck in your head all summer." - Brant Cox
