Located at the head of Trumbull Street just a stone’s throw from Bushnell Park, Salute has been the hottest addition to the Hartford dining scene during the past year. Credit owners Jimmy Cosgrove, Andy Rizzo and Dave Caudill for having their fingers on the pulse of the Capital City.
Once associated with Hot Tomato’s, Cosgrove is a key reason that Salute inspires tremendous customer loyalty. If, instead of looking for an honest man, Diogenes had been looking for a nicer fellow than Cosgrove, he might still be looking. As Mike Moreau of Burger Baby in Hartford, puts it: “No one is better than Jimmy at establishing an atmosphere of hospitality within four walls.”
We visited Salute on a cold blustery night that just about tore one’s clothes off.
Arriving after eight on that Tuesday night, we were surprised to find the restaurant still jamming. We were seated in this back corner, which I always find especially cozy.
The bar was hopping.
But I was eager to eat, so I waited until the restaurant had emptied out to take further photos.
Our waitress took our drink order and soon returned
with a bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay,
pouring half the bottle out and then placing it in a marble chiller.
She also took our food order. We were in business!
We began with an order of Salute’s addictive garlic cheese bread.
We tried four appetizers, the first of which was Salute’s sumptuous sweet potato ravioli in a sage cream sauce.
A magnificent jumbo lump crab cake was accompanied with mango salsa and citrus aïoli.
A crisp flatbread was decked with sweet Italian sausage, caramelized onion, sun-dried tomato and fresh Mozzarella.
Here it is in close-up.
Spicy tuna tempura maki was a delightful surprise that showed Salute is not easily pigeon-holed.
Before the entrées, we shared a refreshing spinach salad with applewood-smoked bacon, shaved Gruyère cheese and toasted almonds in a roasted garlic dressing. As you can see, it couldn’t have been fresher.
We also switched to a bottle of red wine,
a nice Parker Station Pinot Noir.
Our first entrée was the giobatto, a spicy chicken, veal and sausage stew served over egg fettuccine.
We accepted a little grated cheese on the side. (As you can see, Cosgrove is everywhere.)
Another very popular dish is this peppercorn-crusted ahi tuna in a ginger jus with crisp vegetable spring rolls and cucumber salad.
Here’s a close-up of that tuna.
The Salute surf-and-turf included a six-ounce petit filet mignon with a full lobster tail served scampi-style with garlic butter.
But the crowning glory may have been Salute’s sixteen-ounce rib-eye steak served with a wonderful housemade steak sauce and potato lasagna.
It was quite possibly the best steak I’ve had in Connecticut priced under $30.
A side of sautéed wild mushrooms was lovely accompaniment.
We were pretty full, but we wanted to showcase Salute’s housemade desserts, too. A cup of strong black coffee was the perfect complement.
We enjoyed a white chocolate mousse,
a pumpkin crème brûlée (a layer of pumpkin topped by a layer of crème brûlée),
warm apple crisp à la mode,
and finally, a square of tiramisù.
I took photographs of Salute’s attractive modern interior after most of the customers had left.
I can testify from personal experience that, in good weather when people are out, this little window table is the best in the house.
I also want to call attention to these fascinating historic photos of Hartford which line the hallway leading to the bathrooms.
But my favorite physical feature of the restaurant may be this special function room with a window to the kitchen. Salute this terrific restaurant, as these people would!
Salute, 100 Trumbull Street, Hartford, 860-899-1350, www.salutect.com