Good Taste helps you eat well in the Bay Area. This week, we note one year of business at Saluhall, the two-level food hall next door to IKEA created by Ingka Centres and KERB.
Last Friday, I was invited to have lunch at Saluhall (945 Market Street, SF), which turns one in May. A calming and beautiful dining space with a cooking school called Cookery Skola attached, it’s not too fortunately located on a quiet stretch of Market Street that has only gotten more desolate over the past year, thanks to the further emptying out of the mall formerly known as the Westfield Center. It was admittedly more than six months since I had been there myself. There have been some comings and goings in that time.
It’s a bummer to see the departure of Kayma Algerian Eatery, especially since they didn’t have that much time there or previously at the La Cocina Municipal Marketplace before closing. I hope they’ll be able to find a space that has good foot traffic so more people can discover how wonderful they are.
Saluhall’s plant-based Burgare Bar has been replaced by popular smashburger pop-up Smish Smash, which I’ve enjoyed on the Polo Field at Outside Lands and think is a smart new addition. It’s still possible to get great vegan food upstairs from Momo Noodle and Casa Borinqueña, and those are what I gravitate to, but having more omnivorous options in the building may help keep the lights on here.
I enjoyed trying slices from newcomer Cheezy’s Artisan Pizza. However, I was comped, and it’s hard to feel comfortable with paying $8 for a pizza slice, even if it’s understandable why it costs so much there. The slices are good and the toppings are luscious: Cheezy’s lamb merguez sausage (which also has mozzarella, walnut muhammara, Fresno peppers, and halloumi cheese) is a go-to for sure. But I can’t stop thinking about how Cheezy’s big and satisfying spicy Caesar salad with fat anchovies is a good split for $16 (as is a whole margherita pizza for $23).
The Danish pastry program that Saluhall opened with was gorgeous, but also quite expensive, and has now been swapped for the more affordable and still quite solid local Compagnon Bakery. I devoured their flat almond croissant, espresso brownie, financier, and Canadian-inspired Nanaimo bar, which has a coconut and chocolate crust, buttercream in the middle, and chocolate ganache on top.
I got to briefly meet Cookery Skola’s culinary director and instructor Kristen Goldberg, who joined Saluhall after running the amazing but now-defunct San Francisco Cooking School. Her courses vary widely and are the most popular element of Saluhall, and it’s also available for private team-building classes.
Friday lunchtime was quiet, but there were still some people who were there eating, working, reading, and chilling, just enjoying the space. It shouldn’t be a best-kept secret after a year, because it’s a very comfortable environment and the food is good. It’s less than a block from BART and Muni and a lovely central place to meet.
Saluhall is celebrating the one-year anniversary with events, classes and deals throughout the month of May, including Monday trivia nights, happy hour seven days a week from 4pm-6pm, the return of the free drag bingo brunch on May 4, with no ticket price and pay as you go food and drinks; and a “Wick & Sip” candle crafting event on Mother’s Day. May cooking class participants will get to learn with a glass of bubbles in hand.
The increased emphasis on community-building via fun events and mixers over the last few months is helping get people to Saluhall to see what a beautiful space it is, and what delicious dishes are available.
Tamara publishes the California Eating website, newsletter, and zine, and has just launched the Food Book Club.
