Salvador cocina y café is a large 2 story place with crowded tables and a lively vibe. Downstairs is a high ceiling and  a modern feel whereas upstairs the ceiling is low and the walls are decorated with kitchen utensils and meat charts.  It is a place of simple, home-style food with quick and friendly service.  They do specials at lunch which include first, main, dessert, iced tea and coffee and these appeared very popular based on the number of people there.  According to the waiter these specials change daily.  

It seemed like a crowd going back to work, no drinking and quick service.  Spanish music plays in the background and only one young server was conversant in English.  We sat upstairs where the kitchen is located and the yelling of commands from there was oddly fun and all the food I saw coming out looked delicious.  This is a place that proves that simple, un-frilly food can be very satisfying and is often better than the tweezer intensive alternatives.

 

The iced tea is flavored with apple, ginger and lemon.

 

We started with beef bone marrow, roast Brussel sprouts and toast with garlic paste.  The marrow was quite tasty and the toast was nicely not greasy and a good accompaniment for the rich marrow.  The Brussel sprouts were an odd addition but somehow it all worked.

 

Next was a sandwich of beef with a cucumber and egg tartar sauce, roast tomato, chicory and other greens.  I wasn’t sure if all the greens were to be added to the sandwich as they were not really dressed, and they seemed to work with it.  Some bits of shredded beef topped the slices and the sauce was very generous.  The bread was tender with just enough crust but it had a hard time holding up to the tasty but messy interior.  It was full of flavor and textures and felt like something you might have in your own kitchen.

 

Dessert was a delicious poached pear in a wine sauce.  The pear was tender and full of sweet deliciousness with the sauce a perfect contrast and then the whole thing was topped with a crispy granola that added a wonderful bit of texture.

 

For my coffee I got cappuccino that was a lovely finish.