Table for Tara is a column by Tara Gilts, sharing her dining experiences and takeaways from Athens County eateries.
On a frigid, snowy, evening I stepped into an Athens oasis, Restaurant Salaam, which felt a world away from Ohio in January. At Salaam you’ll find weekly specials from around the globe, and an eclectic and flavorful menu of Mediterranean (and more!) dishes.
Salaam is both a common greeting in Arabic-speaking countries and a word that means peace. The ambiance at Restaurant Salaam aligns — welcoming and peaceful. It is one of the finest fine dining options in Athens, with entrees ranging in price from $20 to $30. But it is still a true Athens come-as-you-are establishment, so you’ll feel comfortable there whether you’re in business attire or a ball cap.
In 2006, Salaam began in a modest space tucked in an alleyway between Court Street and North Congress Street. They quickly outgrew this initial spot and moved Salaam to its current location at 21 W. Washington Street. In the 1940s the space was an automobile dealership, and the open floor plan and expansive windows provided a tabula rasa where the Salaam team could create the eclectic dining space enjoyed today. Even the former garage entrance has been transformed into the Garden Room, a semi-private (and seasonally, with the green door lifted, open-air) dining space, which can accommodate private parties of 12 to 15.
Owner and Executive Chef Hilarie Lee Burhans’ rich personal experiences flavor both the space and the dishes on the menu. She grew up in Ethiopia, where her father was the dean of the College of Business in Addis Ababa, so you’ll occasionally find an Ethiopian dish on the weekly specials menu, like Ethiopian-spiced lentil soup with tangy yogurt or a platter of Ethiopian dishes with injera (an Ethiopian flatbread). However, should the Ethiopian Platter be featured, plan a date night or treat yourself to take-out early in the week as the platters sold-out well before our dining experience on a Saturday. The wildly popular Ethiopian Platter will be back again soon.
Salaam has many vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and you’ll always find fresh fish on the menu, like the salmon taratour. If you have a child in your life with a sophisticated palate, the kid’s menu will knock their socks off, including offerings such as a coconut curry or the Mediterranean plate, featuring cubes of feta, olives, sliced cucumber, pita bread and a scoop of hummus.
My 5 year old, who gauges the quality of a restaurant based upon whether there is something on the table to eat the moment we arrive, was very pleased with the complementary bread, which he paired with half a cup of olive oil and roasted red pepper (provided for dipping, or for drowning, your pita or ciabatta bread). I was very happy to take home most of his feta, olives, and hummus for second dinner.
Carryout is nearly as popular as dine-in, and delightfully simple: Call for Keri-Out (as the person fulfilling the order is named Keri) after 3 p.m. then pick up your meal at the time you select in the alleyway accessed from North Congress, directly behind the restaurant.
I encourage you to dine in to enjoy the joyful, comfortable, curated experience — and the best lighting in town! Red beads are strung in the window, muting any bright outdoor light with a warm hue. An ensemble of plants along the windowsill and atop shelves throughout adds greenery. Each table has a different Indian print tablecloth, and on the walls and floors are colorful quilts, rugs, and tapestries from around the world. On one column are portraits, all taken on the same day, of people that Burhans and her husband met in India. Some items are even gifts from patrons.
Weekly specials include a soup, a few entrees (always with a vegan or vegetarian option) and a featured vegetable. The most popular regular menu items include coconut chicken curry, lamb rib chops grilled with a signature Turkish pepper rub, and budget-friendly wrap sandwiches ($10–$12). The pesto tortellini with grilled chicken was the hearty pasta dish I needed on a cold night, and it included a side of roasted sweet potatoes. Be sure to order the satisfying golden beet borscht soup when it returns as a special: slightly sweet, filled with beets, leeks, carrots, and fresh ginger and topped with a dollop of sour cream.
The menu and décor are thoughtfully crafted, and Burhans extends this same level of care to her team. The service is reliably outstanding, a likely result of the focus that Burhans puts on providing employees with stability, the tools and training needed to excel in their roles, and fair compensation.
In the heart of Athens, Salaam provides a consistently exceptional dining experience, and is an inviting haven where the dishes and details reflect the owner’s passion for community, cuisine, and culture.
Salaam is open Wednesday through Saturday for dine-in from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and take-out from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
5/5 Stars.
