With a restaurant named Salty Sow, your mouth probably waters as you imagine bacon served a thousand different ways, but there’s a lot more to this farmhouse inspired restaurant than just pork. You can definitely feel the southern influence in Chef Harold Marmulstein’s signature dishes, like the candied pork belly with collard greens & soy balsamic syrup; braised pork shoulder with white beans, escarole & pecorino; and crisp chicken thighs with fried smashed potato and neck bone gravy.
Salty Sow’s menu changes daily based on what fresh ingredients are available, but there are some items that are always available. We started our evening with the appetizers, including charcuterie and cheese board, which has fan favorites like country style pate, chicken liver mousse and smoked salmon. For my entree’, I had the Spicy Hawaiian Hijiki Tuna Tartare, but I had my eye on some of the chicken and steak dishes too. It was a tough choice!
If you’re feeling adventurous, try the green eggs and ham served in a jar with grits! They’ve even included the vegetarians with their crispy fried Brussel sprouts side dish with raisins, or appetizers like the roasted organic beets.
“Salty Sow is different from anything in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. We use southern-based influences (collard greens, grits, and New Orleans beignets) and even have our own smoker. It’s a good mix of indulgent dishes and light & healthy vegetables.” “I’m excited to keep Arizona products in Arizona as we work with local farmers,” he continues. “There are no imports—even our beers are all from Arizona. Harold Marmulstein Executive Chef/Partner of Salty Sow Restaurants
As my girlfriend Tara from Trippin with Tara said,” when I agreed to come to Phoenix, I didn’t realize my taste buds would be getting their own vacation. Wow!” Yep, she nailed it! My tummy was so full and happy that I have no idea how I made room for dessert, but the butterscotch boudino was calling my name. Salty caramel, need I say more?
Oh and even though the menu says “Swine+Wine+Beer” , you should definitely try one of their handcrafted cocktails. Their “Signature Sips” include original cocktails like the Rosemary’s Piglet, Miss Piggy, the Salty Sow’r, Flying Pig, Blue Sow, Harvest Hogwash, and Key Lime Pie. Cocktails contain ice cubes infused with serrano chilies and rosemary, fresh from the restaurant’s garden! You know a restaurant is fun, when they have a cocktail named “Miss Piggy”, I wonder if she and Kermit the Frog are regulars?!
Salty Sow describes their restaurant atmosphere as a ‘“modern farmhouse” dining room, designed to emulate a traditional rambling colonial farmhouse’, with an eclectic vibe. Its really beautiful, with the mixed timber, glass garage windows, red brick walls, an open exhibition style kitchen in the middle of the restaurant, and fun, custom artwork inspired by pigs from Texas artist Anne Ducote. It felt like the perfect marriage of vintage and modern decor.
By the way, for anyone dying to try the Salty Sow, they have two locations, the one we visited in Phoenix and one in Austin, TX. You can see daily specials from Salty Sow on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @SaltySow.