Salt of the Earth

With the atmosphere of a Spanish bodega, I was drawn to Salt of the Earth by their creative vegetarian dishes, especially those including eggplant. My favorite hard-​to-​find vegetable was the highlight of several mains, but I opted to go with the sandwich garnished with red pepper, goat cheese, and spinach. It was overwhelmed with goat cheese, leaving the eggplant unnoticeable. As much as I love goat cheese, it was too much for this sandwich. Eggplant has a delicate flavor, so just a smidge of cheese would do.
The side of pesto pasta was the highlight of the meal, just a simple noodle dish with a flavorful array of vegetables.
The food wasn’t anything to write home about, but with a rotating menu Salt of the Earth has the resources to improve.
Price per person: $ 10.00

I would like to revise and update my review. Since the manager responded and reached out to read my short and unhappy review, I thought I would check out this place one more time. A co-​worker and I wanted to go out to lunch close from work and somewhere healthy. I mentioned Salt of the Earth.
When we got there, I ordered the House salad and added Salmon ($ 10.95 total). It was delicious. The staff was accomodating and helpful. Since that wonderful and great service, I dropped by one or twice a week to get my usual, which is always fast, quick, fresh and great taste.
I am glad that I gave this place another chance.

I went here one day, looking to get in touch with a healthier side of eating, and I was pleased, but not ecstatic.
I walked in and loved the feel of it. It almost felt like an antique shop, but had very earthy elements and cute little tables and chairs with people talking. Very good first impression. Then I got to the ordering my food and this was not as good. It was very curt and distant. I felt no connection between staff and customer, and this was a turnoff.
However, I was just carrying-​out, so the food is mostly what I cared about. I got a warm salmon salad, which had goat cheese and spinach and that sort of thing. It was very good, but it was like $ 13 for a carry-​out salad that wasn’t overly filling. It was good, but steep in my opinion.
And it’s because of this reason that I don’t expect a return visit very soon. The food was quite good though,

This is one of those places that I drive by every single day (twice a day actually– it’s on my to/​from work) and had never been to until yesterday.
And what a cute little place! It helps that on a personal level, it reminds me of my first job out of college, when I worked at a little natural food place so similar to this, so it felt a bit like «home.»
I had a tilapia sandwich– they make their tartar sauce on-​site, and it was delicious!
I think it was like $ 9, but I was full for the rest of the day. And it was so fresh.
I love that they display all the food in a case in the front– so you can see what they will be serving up, and pick something out for next time :)
One note– they have a specials board, but it’s behind you when you’re standing at the counter to order. When I went the special was a pear/​brie sandwich, which I definitely would’ve ordered if I’d seen it before I ordered– but I didn’t see it until I was waiting for my food.
The décor is a mix of kind of quirky stuff like cacti, dried flowers, statue-​like trinkets, and a guest book all on older/​antique/​vintage furniture, and storage of huge containers of ketchup, pickles, peanut butter… It’s a little weird.
Everyone working there was really friendly and helpful about making choices, and suggesting we take our food on a picnic :)
I’ll definitely be back!

Not sure what else to say, it doesnt get any better. I have been here probably over 100 times but I always forget to check in and have been visiting since 2008. My coworker and a few of our clients are most likely the most frequent visitors, and that is saying a lot because this place is very busy all afternoon. The food is so fresh, and the concept is so good, and Jim does such a good job changing up the dishes/​offerings. A must check out when you are in the area. My work is only about 300 ft away so im very lucky!
Literally nothing on the menu is bad, literally.

Great place that has no real competition
Good food and wine

it is a shame to rate a spot with such great food three stars, but the owner is rude.

Forgettable food + rude service = not a snowballs chance in hell I’ll go back.

Salt of the Earth is in a state of flux right now, which may not be the best time to review it. Still, I like the concept so much that I want to let other people know.
This is the definition of hidden gem. Tucked away next to a strip mall in almost the middle of nowhere, this is a place you drive by but never stop at unless you already know it’s goodness. And that’s a shame, because there is indeed goodness to be found.
Salt of the Earth is just that. It’s part market, part restaurant, part place to hang out and get work done. There’s a southwestern feel to the place, with cactus and Native American art and wood everywhere. It has a warm, comfortable feel to it right from the start.
You get up to the counter and that’s when the trouble starts. Only in the last few months have they created a menu and even then it’s a basic, basic menu. Salt of the Earth creates new items from scratch everyday and there’s just so many, you don’t know what to choose for a meal. I even asked, «what should I get,» and they go, «anything.» Ummmmm, that doesn’t help.
Now, they’re working on it. They painted a blackboard onto the wall and are going to start writing specials on it. The owner has also hired some girls to help him make the whole place more friendly and easier to maneuver. These are good things, because no one likes walking up to a counter with no idea what to order and start panicking as a line forms behind them. You end up getting the raw squid tentacles after frantically pointing at an item and going, «That! Yes! That! Anything! That!.)
(ps. I don’t believe they have raw squid tentacles, but you never know.)
The food is good though and clearly homemade. I got the meatloaf with the award winning BBQ sauce and I really enjoyed it. It came with potatoes and a salad and was very filling.
So again, I love the feel and food of this place and they’re working on the service. Go in and check it out.

One of my most FAVORITE lunch spots. Casual counter service with inside and outside seating where they grown some of their own seasonal produce. This little bodega has some interesting wines and gourmet food items, kitchen wares, jams and spices. The food is imaginative and nutritive; exactly what I’m looking for in my everyday meals. Saver room for dessert because their version of a S’more is a MUST have.

Salt of the Earth is an odd little business that’s difficult to get a handle on. It serves as both a restaurant and caterer, and even a market, but it’s hard to tell which is the focus. Its fare leans toward the vegetarian and vegan, but the kitchen’s got some meat in its stash, too.
How do people even know about this place? I probably would never have noticed Salt of the Earth if I hadn’t heard about it from a coworker, and she went only because her dentist is in the same building. (The business apparently doesn’t have a website, and it otherwise has little presence on the Internet.)
Other oddities: Most days Salt of the Earth closes at 6 or 6:30 pm, maybe a hair too early for many folks from the surrounding neighborhoods to get there for a casual evening meal. (Contrary to the info on its Unilocal page, it is currently open on Saturdays from 10 to 3.) Although very much an independent operation with an independent vision, Salt of the Earth is located in a bland suburban office-​plex in a stretch of burgeoning Red Bank Road that is otherwise dotted with chain sandwich shops. They offer a very modest selection of upscale/​gourmet grocery items, but hardly enough to make this a regular market stop.
I’ve been a couple of times for lunch when passing through on Red Bank. As a restaurant, it has counter service, which is quite friendly if not exactly very informative for newcomers. There’s no menu board or paper menus to peruse, but only a single, short menu in a frame right by the cash register. The centerpieces of the menu usually seem to be a couple of sandwiches, a veggie stand-​by and a meat one, which you pair up with a veggie side from a large glass display case. The veggie sandwich – thin slices of sauteed egglplant, roasted red pepper, fresh spinach, and goat cheese on a bellagio roll – is fresh-​tasting and satisfying, but I don’t think it ever changes. The sides from the display case reflect more attention and devotion to veggies than is typical, especially around Cincinnati. It’s imaginative and flavorful stuff, but I wouldn’t say surpassingly good.
Décor consists of verdant potted plants, items like mini-​Zen gardens, and heavy wood tables and chairs. The music on the sound system is seriously mellow, which also pretty much describes the entire vibe of the place.
Salt of the Earth is a good, healthful alternative for an East Side dining scene that consists largely of chain restaurants, burger bars, and Asian «fusion» joints.

The food here is top-​notch… I really appreciate little extras like attention to color and fresh herbs. I love that they serve types of food you don’t normally find in a restaurant around here but I have at home, like quinoa, tempeh, mole sauce, or seitan. I also love that you’ll be eating and bits of ginger or garlic will surprise you– very fresh & so much attention to detail. Love it! I have to agree with the rest of the folks who say it’s in a funny location. I work right next door, so I have no room to complain, but if I didn’t I might never visit a place outside of downtown/​Clifton/​Northside/​Oakley.

This is a really great place, but for Cincinnati, it is top notch. This type of restaurant is hard to come by around these parts, and it is very welcome.
The atmosphere is fun and eclectic, while also being open, warm and rustic. The staff is always busy, but not too busy to provide excellent customer service. You can tell they believe in the product.
There is a good selection of meat and non-​meat items (including vegan) in the display case, as well as dessert, sides, and a menu that changes. They have a really good selection of beverages in their fridge.
They sell wine and various sundries in the middle of the dining area.
The only thing I was not happy about was the use of plastic plates, plastic utensils, and no recycling, even for the glass. This is something they should address.
It was a very enjoyable experience and I look forward to going back soon.

What a nice surprise. This «strip mall» looking spot used to be close to the DMV and the whole area was an industrial/​dull/​phfffft sort of a dumpy place. No longer. Salt of the Earth is a sort of icon for Red Bank Road anymore.
The interior is bright and jazzy with lots of pots of odd nifty plants, old butcher block tables, racks of wine bottles and unusual condiments.
You place your order at the cashier and the offerings are pretty vast (but there is a «menu» to help you make up your mind. The server joshes with you, and the other patrons are very friendly.
The food, it’s really good. I had a veggie sandwich which I had to take home with me because I could not finish it. Shadeau bun with raw spinach, then roasted red peppers, a thick piece of feta cheese 9comes with goat cheese but they would sub for that), some very thin and sauteed eggplant and the whole thing was beautifully finished off with balsamic vinaigrette. Yum! Add a side of blue cheese slaw and you are in love.
We will be back. It isn’t the cheapest place to eat lunch but it is very very good and worth it.