a cocktail worth its salt

Four years later and The Salt House on Mission between First and Second continues to serve both excellent atmosphere and superbly crafted cocktails.  Thar bartenders appear to be younger and younger (but always handsome), which usually signifies an inexperienced mixologist—one who needs some seasoning for his seasonings.  But the managers of The Salt House have an eye for talent and the fare from the bar is consistently savory.

The menu prices reflect the craft of the cocktails and unlike many other pretentious arty-cocktail bars that spring up like rye weed, the drinks are worth their salt.  The dinner menu, however, seems a little ridiculous with all entrées hovering barely south of $30 and a mere bowl of nuts listed at $5.50.  The poutine, beef rip gravy over french fries, is so absurdly delicious it's not hard to imagine trading all of your secret sexy vices in the darkest reaches of your imagination for submerging yourself in a bowl of this stuff, or hooking it up to an IV.  Never has a bowl of fries and topping been so well worth the $12.  They might as well list it on the menu as:

Poutine..................Your Soul

The menu prices are above the usual price point, which is consistent with the above market space, service, and quality of dining companions.  If you just want a beer or a couple of vodka/sodas, head out to any old bar.  If you would like consciously crafted cocktail with more than three ingredients, consider stopping in the Salt House, even if you decide you should come with a fulls stomach.  As has become our practice, I recommend stopping by after the movies to cleanse yourself of the chaos and relative filth of the masses and concession detritus from the nearby Metreon or Century Theaters.  You will start to feel civilized again, and your tastebuds will thank you.

And if you are on a date, you could not ask for better lighting.