Salumi

309 Third Ave South Seattle, WA 98104
http://www.salumicuredmeats.com/

Meat. The word instantly gets the salivary glands rumbling. And with so many different meat types and methods of preparation, just saying the word conjures up limitless images of yummy morsels to pig-out on. One of the predominate meat images that always seem to come to mind are the dried and cured versions, hanging from the rafters of many Italian eateries.

As meat comes to mind quite a few times a day, it was inevitable that we would visit a place known for their meat during our trip to Seattle. We'd known about Salumi for quite a while prior to our visit. The place was co-founded by Armandino Batali, father of the celebrity chef, Mario Batali. Having enjoyed Mario's eateries, we figured the apple wouldn't fall far from the tree.

The place was somewhat hidden away when we visited, having been obscured by some large scaffolding supporting construction above. However, the twenty-deep line outside indicated we were at the right place.

A chalkboard hangs just inside the door with the day's specials. A line forms up to the long prep station where your order is given to one of the many ladies who puts together your order.


1. Porchetta - a roasted pork sandwich with onions and peppers. Similar in consistency to the Philly cheesesteak. The meat was juicy and tender with the veggies adding a bit of cooked sweetness.


2. Fig, goat cheese, prosciutto - dried cured ham is naturally salty and balanced nicely with the fig. The goat cheese was also a nice touch adding depth with it's subtle creaminess and tang. This was our least favorite sandwich - too much fig, not enough meat or cheese. The bread to filling ratio was way off.


3. Salumi Salami - the signature cured meat with hints of tart ginger. This sandwich was also mediocre - the meat was yummy but the sandwich itself fell short.


4. Meatball - the marinara sauce was tart and delicious. Quite unwieldy to handle as things started to fall apart when you picked it up. The meatballs were moist and full of Italian spice. Inclusion of the onions and bell peppers were a nice touch, but could have used a bit more. This was our favorite and most flavorful sandwich.

With a twenty minute wait prior to getting our food, it seems like we're not the only ones that dream about hanging meats. Having elevated our expectations going it, I can't say that they were completely met. The food was tasty but probably not worth a twenty minute wait. Perhaps it's our own impatience, but if we have to stand in line to pay money for something to eat, it better blow away our taste buds. However, it's nice to visit a place that feels like it takes what it does very seriously. There's no frills - just meat, cheese and bread. And that's to be commended.