CheekyChicago

It’s no secret that I have a huge affinity for wine bars. In fact, there’s really no other kind of place I’d rather spend my evenings out on the town. They are the perfect go-to for girls nights, date nights, family dinners, even solo dining when you’re just in the mood to cozy up with a good glass of wine and a bartender. But the best part about Chicago wine bars is that there’s always a new one waiting to be discovered.

Salute, in the Gold Coast, is a welcome addition to this Cheeky girl’s list-o-fave’s – such as Webster’s Wine Bar, Juicy Wine Company and Swirl – to name a few. But dare I say Salute may be the best of all? And it’s not the food or the wine list that sets Salute apart. It’s the heart behind this operation, the sincerity of the staff and the attention to detail that transcends this Gold Coast little gem.

But let’s start with the food, shall we? The menu is expansive, but not overwhelming so. In other words, bring your appetite because Salute provides a lot of options. Start with Piatti Picolli, or small plates, and choose from Tuscan White Bean Bruschetta with Roasted Red Peppers, or the infamous Salute Meatballs. If you are looking for a traditional wine bar experience, start with their excellent selection of cured meats and cheeses to create your own cheese plate. (Wine + Cheese = my personal heaven on Earth, but I digress.)

The Piatti Grande offers similar options to the Picolli¸ but spices things up in a more sophisticated sense. Case in point: the Duck Pate with truffle devil egg, Black Cyprus sea salt on toast points and the Beetroot Hummus with balsamic reduction. The Pizze menu is short yet impressive, but it was the pie adorned with caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms crisped to perfection and gooey on the inside that stole the show. And when I said bring your appetite, I wasn’t kidding. You’ve got about seven different options of Panini to choose from, the best being the Grazie with smoked turkey, cranberry red wine reduction and pesto.

I could talk about the homemade cannolli and Italian cookies for dessert (both notable), but I best advise you to just skip it and go straight for the house-made Limoncello. The night I was there, the flavor du jour was mango and if it was socially appropriate, I would have downed a bottle – it was that good.

As far as the wine list goes, you don’t need to be an aficionado to score an amazing glass. Just tell your (cute) waiter your personal tastes and I guarantee you’ll get a glass of exactly what you’re looking for. Always a true sign of a good wine bar…