“Trying to think of somewhere that’s not loud so we can actually chat and not yell:),” texted my friend Erin to our group.
Salty Tomatoes was at the top of my list.
I hadn’t tried it, but I’d heard of it. The intimate café is located just off the beaten path — over a railroad track, close to MCG’s campus. It has a beautifully curated menu of coffees and other hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads and entrees, plus, and this was the cherry on top, an array of luscious-sounding homemade desserts.
Naturally — owner Kelsey Burack was named executive pastry chef at Daniel Boulud’s DBGB in Washington D.C. at just age 23 — or more people may know her as the champion of Chopped Sweet’s Million Dollar Desserts episode in March 2020. Salty Tomatoes is her second establishment; she also runs Bottom Line Bakery & Café on Washington Road and recently launched a third eatery in Aiken.
Salty Tomatoes is a small restaurant, located on the first floor of the Beacon Station apartment complex, with a grassy parking lot across the street. But inside, it’s cozy and bright, with modern sculpted chairs and tables, a gorgeous statement wall in light wood with a huge swag of ivory, gold and sage balloons, another wall dotted with delicate plants, and of course a big bakery case with the day’s wares.
You place your order at the counter from a printed menu, with specials, coffees and not-coffees featured on a display board above the register. Salty Tomatoes is open Tuesday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (plus Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.), so it features breakfast items like a breakfast Sammy with egg, cheese and bacon or sausage, a customizable avocado toast, yogurt parfait and crème brulee French toast, alongside the day’s pastries.
For lunch or dinner, there are sammys such as a BLT or BELT (add eggs), lox, a club, a reuben or a “grown” grilled cheese with bacon jam; “rabbit food,” generous entrée portion salads, pastas and flatbreads, soups in a regular bowl or a bread bowl, plus small plates, including (of course) fried green tomatoes, charcuterie or salty tomato toast.
I ordered the sandwich combo with the café club and a cup of butternut squash soup, but was already eyeing the millionaire’s shortbread and the cookie butter cake (not to mention the chocolate croissants, kitchen sink brownies, the macarons, lemon bars, cheesecake bites and so much more!).
Our little group talked and laughed so much that it was hard to get bites in. But in between belly laughs that were so hard I was almost in tears, I managed to sneak a few in. The soup was incredibly rich and creamy, with a sweet roasted butternut squash flavor and a lovely, light and slightly crunchy garnish of herby greens on top. And my sandwich was loaded with fresh veg too, with generous layers of crisp lettuce, tomato and creamy avocado slices. Of course, there was also a good amount of turkey, ham, bacon and cheese, with the tangy kick of Dijon and mayo all binding it together, on toasted white house bread. It was all so fresh and light and flavorful.
Which was great, because we all decided to get dessert. We ordered the millionaire’s shortbread, a slice of cookie butter cake, lemon bar and a cheesecake bar, all to share.
The millionaire’s shortbread was my pick, and it was like a candy bar, with a shortbread crust, a thick layer of caramel and smooth creamy rich chocolate on top. It was so rich that I could only eat a few bites — and my husband happily devoured the rest at home! The cheesecake was simple, just cheesecake, but it was a perfect creamy cheesecake. The highlight though had to be the cookie butter cake. I just recently discovered the joys of cookie butter slathered on white bread or as a dip for pretzels (and even tried it on a baked sweet potato thanks to my friend Lorna’s suggestion, which is incredible!), and I fell in love with this cake. It was so light, with delicate layers of spice cake and that fluffy and flavorful cookie butter buttercream.
I resisted ordering another slice for myself but found out you could order the entire cake for $58. “That would be great for party,” exclaimed Lorna. “Wait,” I said, after grabbing a card off the rack by the register. “You can try all 13 of their cake flavors for $42!”
Next girls night out, done.
Make Your Reservation
Salty Tomatoes
1493 Wrightsboro Road
saltytom.com
Entrée cost: About $8 to $15
