The Salt Exchange (Portland, Maine)

Before getting into one final blog post about my short trip to Portland last weekend, I'd like to ask for your vote as Boston's Best Local Blogger by voting for me here!  I am so honored to be nominated and would really appreciate your support!

After stopping by Dean's Sweets and LeRoux Kitchen this past Saturday, Bret and I decided to grab a bite to eat for lunch.  We headed down Commercial Street until we came upon the Salt Exchange.

After perusing the menu, we decided to stop in for a bite.

The Salt Exchange has a wonderful aesthetic to it with a lot of open space and gorgeous exposed brick walls. When you enter, you first pass by the bar.

Past the bar is an open kitchen.  During my meal, I had a chance to snap a few shots with Chef Jacob Jasinski's permission.

The dining room looked more like an art gallery and I love the natural light in this room.  In fact, the owners wanted the Salt Exchange to be a "gallery restaurant" to showcase art while patrons enjoy their meals and drinks.

We perused the menu and Bret decided to order the Club Sandwich with house-brined roasted turkey, smoked bacon and onion marmalade.  I stole a bite of his sandwich and couldn't get over the flavor of the onion marmalade.  Bret's sandwich also came with house potato chips.

I was a bit indecisive and decided to order the half sandwich (duck sliders) with the cioppino.  

This was a LOT of food!  I tried a duck slider and found it to be a tad dry.  Bret had the other slider and agreed.  But the cioppino, on the other hand, was perhaps the best cioppini I've had to date.

I adored the table-side pour of the broth and was happy to find a delicious Jonah crab claw with some of the perfectly crispy seared hake amidst this addictive spicy broth.  The grilled sourdough was a perfect addition to the cioppino and I wish I had ordered a full side of the soup alone instead of with the half sandwich.  

Our server was still in training but couldn't have been more sincere.  When we thanked him for the meal, he thanked us for being "good patrons", which made me giggle.  Still, he was incredibly helpful and informative...even sharing that everything on the menu is made in-house with the exception of the bread.  Although I haven't tried it, their dinner appears to be more of a small plates style, which would definitely provide a different experience.

The Salt Exchange is located at 245 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine.