Solé: Still Shining with a New Interior, Bar, and Menu
Everything old is new again at Solé Restaurant, formerly called Café Solé on Baltimore Avenue.
After thirteen years in business at 44 Baltimore Ave., the popular lunch and dinner spot has had an extreme makeover in décor and menu. The result is a more contemporary look and more comfortable ambiance—a selection of bar-height tables, spacious four-tops, and really wonderful round tables in comfy booths for six or eight. There’s nothing like a round table for easy conversation while dining.
With a new open kitchen renovation and a large horseshoe shaped bar, Solé is ready for happy hour, evening bar-hopping, and patrons waiting for a dinner table. Which is sure to happen since the new menu is a winner, too.
With a distinct Key West influence, owner Lauren Cox-Ristenbatt is offering up entrees like Cuban Pork with crispy yucca and plantains ($20), Jerk Chicken with mango pineapple salsa ($19), and their famous crab cakes ($28), with the same winning recipe since the day the restaurant first opened its doors. These selections are not overpoweringly spiced, but savory and delicious. There is always a fresh fish selection and signature roasted carrot pablano soup. There were four of us dining and we were all happy as could be with our entrees—but I think the superstar of the evening was the Seafood Sauté, a fish stew that was flavorful without the curry burying the taste of the seafood.
Want a jolt? Try the Chili Garlic Shrimp appetizer ($9) and look out! Deliciously deadly. We sampled the evening’s appetizer specials—ripe Tomato Salad with blue cheese and Conch Fingers. Both were great, and we suggested putting the authentic conch on the regular menu. It’s a gift to be able to prepare conch so it has real island flavor minus the sometimes annoying chewy, chewy texture. The kitchen did a great job.
While the Solé wine list is not long, it’s adventurous, with original finds to please the palate but not break the bank. We sampled a Chateau Lamoth White Bordeaux from France and a Juan Benegas Malbec from Argentina, $7.50 per glass each. I’m off to find a case of each for home…great finds.
Solé portions are incredibly generous, so we were really too full to sample dessert, but you know how that goes. We sacrificed and ordered three selections for the four of us. From the beginning, Lauren has made the desserts herself and her signature chocolate silk cake still rocks…very, very dense, rich, and decadent. My favorite is the coconut custard pie, with the Key Lime pie coming in a close second. Save room!
Solé is right on the mark with its new name and tag line: Solé, signature dining. From the very first day it opened in 1998, Bonnie and I were there…when there was a deli case by the register, they concentrated on lunch, and dinner was just a slight expansion of the afternoon meal. It’s very telling that several staff members are long-timers—obviously it’s a great place to work.
And look how far they have come. Dinner is now the big deal at Solé—sophisticated but still casual. Now that the bar has been enlarged and made the center of attention at Solé, they also have a specific bar food menu: Jerk or Mango Wings, Baby Octopus Ceviche, Black Bean Hummus, Fried Plantains, and yay, the Conch Fingers are available at the bar!
And don’t worry. Solé is still open for lunch inside or on their outdoor patio, and their classic Cuban Mix sandwich (the best in town), fried oyster BLT, and crab cake sandwich are still available. They’ve added a Lobster Reuben (I gotta try this) and Baja Fish Tacos.
As the menu says, “Welcome to the new Sole—still the same but a little different.” Got that right. It’s grand to see the evolution of an old favorite, with the same dedication to good service, good food, and a good price point. Good job, neighbors!
Solé, 44 Baltimore Avenue, is open for lunch and dinner. Call 302-227-7107 for information.