Lien Cuisine: Encore Restaurant Review

There is another new restaurant in town, and I couldn’t resist a visit. Encore opened on November 14 at 195 High Street NE, adjacent to the Grand Theatre. It has been a space with many uses over the years, including hosting a wine bar, Paradiso, and other restaurants that came and went too quickly to remember. 

Encore fits nicely into its location adjacent to the Grand Theatre, and includes a glass door between the theatre and the restaurant, making it convenient to dine and then see a show: they make terrific companions. 

The decor remains mostly unchanged from prior incarnations. If you haven’t been, it is an Art Deco theme with gorgeous wood accents. The place is small, featuring a line of booths along Court Street, a line of two-person tables between the booths and the bar, and a couple of other tables sandwiched in on the High Street end. 

Continuing the theatre theme, each table is given a bowl of popcorn when guests are seated. While the popcorn is neither buttered or warm, it is a nice touch to start your dining experience. Encore touts that “each dish is crafted with care, blending fresh ingredients, bold creativity, and timeless technique to deliver a culinary experience worth repeating.” 

The location is important, as it is off the main shopping area, providing good parking availability. In addition to being almost a part of the Grand Theatre, the Elsinore Theatre is just a short distance away, making it very easy to have a nice dinner and walk to see a show – which is what I did on one of my visits. 

Encore is owned by Aaron Franco and Victor Fuentes, two friends who united to bring Salem a wonderful alternative to the other fine dining options available. Chef Aaron loves Italian cuisine, and brings elements of it to the menu. He periodically appears from the kitchen to chat with the guests. Chef Victor has a history with, and love of, Latin dishes, and adds that element to the offerings. This combination of cuisines makes for a menu with many surprises. On my visits, Chef Victor has been doing his cooking before opening, then serving as front of house during service. He is a wonderful cook, and even better as the ambassador of the restaurant. He spends a few minutes with each table, interested in the diners – and how they like the space and the food. A wonderful touch for me was him remembering my name on my second visit, a little thing that means so much. 

Encore is open Thursday through Monday. On Friday and Saturday they open at 4:00 p.m., and close around 10:00 p.m. On the other days they open at 4:00 and close at 9:00. They are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Reservations are available and recommended, through Open Table. 

Rumor has it that Encore may begin serving lunch sometime soon, but if you are looking for a nice midday meal, better call first to see if the rumors are true. The phone number is (503) 991-5792, or you can check their website at www.encoresalem.com. The restaurant has a full service bar, and I can tell you the Old Fashioned is made perfectly, something I find to be a rarity. There is a nice wine list as well as seasonal cocktails.  

The appetizer menu is rich and varied. The Italian and Latin influences show up here with a great Caesar salad, on the menu with ceviche, carnitas tacos and Poblano Spinach Dip. Also on the starter menu are stuffed burger sliders, balsamic steak bites, and a soup of the day. These dishes are smartly priced, between $8 for the Caesar to $18 for the steak bites. 

The entree menu is of equal note, and also very reasonably priced. You can go light with a Cubano sandwich for $17, or the Grand Smash Burger for $18. Both are nice options, but the burger, with its rich flavor, was a favorite of one of my dining companions. Hitting the Italian side, on offer is the house Gnocchi at $22, and the Carbonara at $24. The star of the Gnocchi is the Parmesan and Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce. The Carbonara features thick cut bacon and a cured egg yolk with Pecorino cream sauce. 

The Latin influences appear in the Stuffed Chicken dish, offered at $26. This is a chicken breast stuffed with Poblano Spinach Dip, served with whipped Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The Wicked Shrimp Pasta is a Cajun delight, with shrimp on linguine with a Guiness Stout reduction, with garlic butter and parmesan cheese. 

If you love salmon as I do, you need to forget the rest of the menu and order the Bronze Salmon Risotto. It is nicely priced at $28, and is a large, wonderfully prepared hunk of salmon with a spoonful of Lemon Beurre Blanc sauce drizzled over the top. The fish sits on a large bed of risotto chock full of flavor from seasonal veggies and sun-dried tomatoes, with that wonderful Parmesan flavor a good risotto is known for. 

Encore also has seasonal specials, and a “cut of the day,” featuring a rotating steak offering. 

Dessert, like all of Encore, is a rich blend of Italian and Latin offerings. On the Latin side is a Horchata Panna Cotta, which is a vanilla cinnamon custard topped with seasonal berries and bourbon caramel. For the Italian-lovers, there is a Nitro Stout Brownie, a chocolate fudge brownie made with a stout and toffee, served with a bourbon caramel topping and vanilla ice cream. The desserts are priced at $8 each and are a perfect ending to a wonderful evening of dining. 

Encore is a very welcome addition to the dining scene in Salem. Join Chef Aaron and Chef Victor for a great meal at a reasonable price.