Dining
w it h Draz
It was a spectacular weather day, so we decided to take the back roads to downtown
Matawan to visit A Salute. Maybe it’s my many years in Catholic school because I’m
always a little cautious about going into a space that used to be a church, but I will
say the restaurant owners have beautifully preserved this 170-year-old building and its
architecture, which lends to a unique and attractive dining experience. There is a large
square bar when you enter, complete with big TVs; diners move to the left and eat in
the area that was clearly the worship space from its previous life as Trinity Church. For
years, this space was occupied by a restaurant
called Bart’s, and the new owners of A
Salute are keeping the traditional tastes of
home-cooked Italian going. The food is rooted
in rustic favorites, prepared with the feel
of “Grandma’s recipes” authenticity.
We selected three appetizers and
somewhere between the thick Chicago
style and the thin New York version. The pizza
was delicious with that comforting taste
of something your mom would make when
you came home from school. Our appetizers
included a really nice plate of lightly
battered and fried calamari. These are quite
good and well worth your try. We also had the crispy Mozarella en Carrozza which
comes in four triangles, perfect for our group of four. Our third was the Selezion di
Mozzarella, where you choose one of three mozzarellas and one side to accompany
it. We choose a super creamy Burrata di Tartufo, paired with roasted yellow peppers –
yum! This was my favorite of the three, but that calamari was a close second.
Now for the entrées. Diner one selected the Short Ribs Ragu with rigatoni, Pomodoro,
chianti, peas, carrots and ricotta. This is one of the restaurant’s recommended
dishes, and our diner agreed. It is a rich, beefy dish, and the short ribs were tender and
tasty. It’s a substantial dish as well, and it's almost sure you will bring some home for
lunch the next day.
– Moderate
tableware and plating, the big bar, and the hopping outdoor dining and party
section.
– It gets very loud. There is no kids' menu, and the
coffee could be a little better.
54 JULY 2021 | TheJournalNJ.com
BY LORI DRAZ
A Salute
A Salute is located at 74 Main St. in downtown Matawan. 732-566-0267. ASalute.
com. Open Monday through Saturday serving the same menu from 11:30 am to
10 pm, Sundays from 1 to 8 pm.
We give A Salute four Js
cream which is a more petite-sized offering. He was im-
Diner three selected the Pork Chop Giambotta, a thick
center cut chop topped with sweet and hot peppers and a
tangy vinegar over mashed potatoes, all topped with crispy
onions. It’s a beautifully plated dish with a bright, sunny taste,
thanks to the tangy vinegar and peppers, which were not really
hot at all. Diner three said the pork chop was juicy and
well-cooked, and overall, the zingy dish rated a thumbs up.
I picked the Lamb Osso Bucco, which comes served over
farro with peas and carrots. If the pork dish was the sun, this
a brown gravy and a woodsy feel, thanks to the barley-like
farro. Farro is tricky to cook, and for my liking, the farro and
the diced vegetables were a little too al dente, so if you like
them soft, be sure to ask.
We wrapped up our meal with a chocolate lava cake,
which comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. We also had
the Affogato, an amaretto gelato with a cookie. The dessert
menu sticks to standard choices and the desserts are somewhat
small, really meant for one, so plan ahead when ordering.
The coffee comes in a smaller cup too, so you may need a
There is a small
parking lot and another
parking lot
across the street.
Valet parking is available.
There is a courtyard
for dining and
partying, and I heard
a band cranking up
as I left, meaning this
could be a good late
night stop too.
/TheJournalNJ.com