Tatyana B.
Yelp
This was our first stop in Salamanca and we were smitten! Everything we tried was beyond delicious. We had the three course menu, and I had to coax my husband into sharing because I wanted to try EVERYTHING! I was also super sad because they would be closed for the New Years Holiday for the rest of our stay, so I knew this was it.
(In the end, we stayed a bit longer than planned, and my first thought was Yea, we get to have another meal at Salam!)
Service is professional and courteous,
and once we got chatting, friendly as well. The downstairs seating area seemed very popular, though we dined in the aesthetically pleasing upstairs area.
So here is what we had. Before I even get to the first course, you are given some pita and what looks like fancy butter. Turns out it is an amazing spread with beans, anchovies, and capers.
Now, First courses:, mutabal-like baba ganoush, but with so many more intense flavors. I loved the mint, this was a fun surprise for the palate. This we got for both lunches because it is just so incredibly good. We tried the cabbage, very pleasing with nuts and honey. Then the spinach and leek soup, smooth and delightful-especially on a blustery day. I started to feel sad that I wouldn't be able to try the hummus, so I ordered an additional portion. There was no way I was going to let my curiosity keep me guessing after leaving town. So glad to have tried it, smooth and creamy with warm chickpeas. The hint of raisin really made it stand out from the countless types hummus I've had.
For our main courses over two lunches we had: vegetable moussaka-creamy and delicious. I would have liked a little more tomato, but it was still very good. Fried chicken with gently pickled vegetables. The chicken pieces were boneless thighs and this was some of the best fried chicken I have ever had. Just the right amount of crispy, juicy chicken, and pickled vegetables the perfect accompaniment for the full-salt, fat, acid, and heat combo. Lamb and couscous. Lovely marinated lamb in coconut milk? Not sure, but that was the flavor profile I got. The pumpkin was very mild and the couscous went well with the meal. The lamb was on the bone and a little difficult to negotiate with a butter knife, so I shamelessly picked it up and ate with my hands. Luckily no one else was in the upstairs dining area so I got away with it. There wasn't much meat, which was fine with me, though it may seem skimpy to someone used to a big meat portion. I had a bite of my husbands entree, which I honestly have no idea what it was called, but it tasted like warm grape leaves-all veggies, good, but I'm not a fan of grape leaves, so not for me.
Best for last, dessert!!! Full disclosure after our lunch we stopped in again in the evening just for an extra dessert.
Our stand out favorite was the curry cake. Initially I thought it was a weird flavor combination, but Salam makes it work. The baked apple with coconut cream, another big hit. Light and you almost feel healthy having something so delicate. I had the first dessert which I do not know how to spell, but it must be a Syrian specialty. It was a milky gelatin flavored with rose water and spice. Topped with nuts and chopped dried fruits, a very light ending to a meal. Tried the mango cream with pineapple. This was fine, good mango flavor, but not as fun as the other desserts.
Honestly I would give everything a 10/10, the real standouts were the mutabal, fried chicken, and curry biscocho. Get that exact meal, I know I will be craving it when I am far away from Salamanca.
