Salone and Shibui opened more or less at the same time last year, and have since been joined by a third sibling, Greek-inspired fish restaurant Porto Ydra. All three restaurants are housed in the same building, creating a small cluster of modern, well-thought-out culinary offerings, albeit with the premium prices to match.
I had attempted to visit Salone a few months back but it always seemed to be fully booked. Leave it to the Limassol crowd to follow the buzz of the latest hip restaurant. But going back more recently we found the restaurant essentially divided into three areas.
There are tables upstairs, while the downstairs dining area is divided into two by the building’s shape and columns. For couples, I’d recommend asking for a table upstairs. There is also an outside area, but that was out of the question on the humid weekday evening we visited.
Inside, the restaurant is elegantly decorated. Chandeliers hang over the bar, tables are covered by freshly-steamed (I saw it happening) tablecloths, there are vases with faux flowers, stylish little lamps, and dessert cutlery arrives in a metallic vessel shaped like a swan. Well-thought-out indeed.
The service we received throughout the evening was top-notch. The host was polite, courteous and helpful. A simple request, changing tables, was quickly fulfilled, while a more complex request, an off-the-menu item, required consultation with the chef, but was also accepted. More later.
After placing our order – a glass of Primitivo di Manduria, a full-bodied red wine from Puglia, a lemonade mixed with mandarin and orange juices, and our food – we were served a basket of freshly baked focaccia and a couple of homemade breadsticks. The focaccia was divine, soft and flavourful, especially when dipped in the Italian olive oil they also brought to the table. The olive oil came in a bottle that would not look out of place in a fragrance collection from the 90s.
As a starter, we tried the beef tartare, requesting the cream to be served on the side. The dish came topped with shaved Parmigiano and small slices of truffle, which paired well with the beef. The cream itself had notes of truffle and garlic. We also shared a pizza with ham, olives and artichoke. The pizza was thin and very crusty, making it light and enough to share among two to three people. For our mains, we opted for a simple spaghetti pomodoro and the aforementioned off-menu item, a lemon risotto. Both dishes were cooked perfectly al dente.
In the spaghetti, the tomato flavour really stood out in the sauce, while in the risotto, the chef used butter and lemon to create a lovely dish on the spot. They also provide extra lemon on the side if you want to enhance the flavour. It should be noted that before they confirmed the order, they ensured we were okay with the price they were going to charge for this item.
We decided to not order any desserts, as we were too full, but the restaurant brought us some complimentary watermelon pieces, served over crushed ice to make it more refreshing and cool. The fruit was fresh and ended up being a perfect endpoint to the evening.
All in all, while Salone may be more of an occasional indulgence for the average person due to its pricing, the outstanding service, facilities, and food make it worthwhile.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALTY: Italian cuisine
WHERE: Arch. Makarios III Avenue 181, Limassol
WHEN: Monday-Friday 12pm-12am, Saturday 10am-1am, Sunday 10am-12am
CONTACT: 95 951602
HOW MUCH: €20 for pizza, €15-23 for antipasti, €17-45 for pasta, €28-45 for meat and fish
