Salt, one of Cleveland's most acclaimed restaurants, is closing on Aug. 31. The restaurant announced the news in a social media post that began: "Goodbyes are never easy and this one cuts us to the core, but here we are…."
In an early morning phone call, co-owner Jessica Parkison told Cleveland Magazine that the decision didn't come because things had slowed at the Detroit Avenue restaurant — "everybody is slow right now," she says — she felt it was "just time."
"Everybody does small plates now. It's time to serve another purpose," she says. "Salt did all these incredible things over the last eight years. Jill (Vedaa), I mean, come on, she's a banger of a chef. I'm so unbelievably proud of what Jill and I created in the dining scene eight years ago, because it wasn't there. "
Opened in 2016, the restaurant quickly made its mark on the city by offering a rotating seasonal menu of small plates. After all, owners Jessica Parkison and chef Jill Vedaa were veterans on the Cleveland dining scene. Vedaa had previously worked at Lola, Flying Fig, Black Pig and Rockefellers (all of which are now shuttered). Parkison is a certified sommelier who previously managed Humble Wine Bar.
"We have hopefully changed a little bit of the culture, dining experience, and brought you the best we could for the last eight years," the post read, "but as they say change is inevitable."
They certainly did. Together, the duo delivered 38 menus, each with a unique theme. Most recently, they explored Spanish tapas, a cuisine for which their small plate approach was often confused. They also earned a spot on numerous Best Restaurant lists, and Vedaa was named a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
"Jill and I had a very, very, very steadfast idea of what we both wanted when opening Salt," Parkison says. "In her mind, it was the food, and it was the best quality, highest quality, and constantly pushing herself forward to make innovative dishes. She wasn't about trends, neither am I. That was how her and I liked to eat when we would go out. So it was small, little bit of everything, right? And trying a little bit of everything, and getting out of your comfort zone when you're tasting different foods."
While the menu changed frequently, there were a few staples, such as the white bean puree and calamari with coriander coconut glaze and cilantro.
“I think it’s created a little subculture of small plates across a lot of menus,” Vedaa told Cleveland Magazine in 2016. “I love that, because the food scene isn’t gonna change unless people lean into it and start changing the way they do food, and I think that we’ve definitely had an impact on that.”
On the front of house and service side, Parkison's specialty, the staff was deeply educated about every dish, wine offering and cocktail option. Staff members who have worked at the restaurant since day one — such as general manager Allison Stavnicky and Cory Overbeck — are evidence of how well the owners treated their staff. They also offered favorable benefits for the industry, such as five days of paid sick leave and maternity and paternity leave. The restaurant also served its community by welcoming students from Lakewood High School's culinary program, the same one that Parkison completed during her time there.
"From the bottom of my heart, I feel we have the best staff in the city. I pushed my staff to learn every single ingredient that was on the menu," Parkison says. "Every single glass of wine, all the notes behind it; the winemakers; every cocktail that we would create, why it was created the way it was; why we would use certain ingredients. You know, really push yourselves to be better and the best service team that you can be in the city of Cleveland, and I'm overly proud of what they've accomplished."
When asked if a new project was in the works, Parkison says the duo is focused on Poppy, the Larchmere Boulevard restaurant it opened in March 2023.
"You know, the future looks bright," Parkison says. "Every good thing comes to an end, right? Isn't that what they say?"
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