45 Blood Alley,  Vancouver

Tel: 604-633 – 1912
Web: www.salttastingroom.com

Twitter: @SaltTastingRoom

Advice: Look up Google maps to find the location.

Living in Vancouver all my life, I thought that I knew where everything was until I tried to locate Salt Tasting Room, after stopping to ask a couple of people in the Gastown area, I finally found the destination that I was searching. Enter Salt, a cool, out of the way, charcuterie, wine bar, and chill space in Blood Alley. I was by for lunch and had the Grilled Cheese ($12) which came with a fennel salad and black bean soup. This grilled cheese was like none other that I have ever had, a selection of artisan cheeses, Guinness grainy mustard and some other secret sauce and grilled to perfection, my tastebuds went wild.

The space is exposed brick and concrete floors, and adorned with steel designer stools, an 18-foot-long communal table, simple hanging lighting, and heavy wood tables. Being located in historic Gastown, the feel of this room fits in well in the neighborhood.

It is charcuterie and wine bar that is a destination in the city, Salt Tasting Room has a great artisanal cheese selection, thin sheets of cured meats and an array of condiments. You simply create your own tasting plate by choosing three items from the daily blackboard. For $15, your little meal – chosen from a rotating roundup of specialty meats and artisan cheeses – is full of condiments. There is an extensive wine list with wines by the glass or bottle.

Review by: Richard Wolak