Sip and Savor at Salt Creek Grille – Rumson

By
Danielle Zilg
-
 Note: Our writer was invited to this event and received a complimentary meal.
As Salt Creek Grille recently celebrated its 20th anniversary as a Jersey Shore staple, I had the pleasure visiting the Rumson location for a dinner with wine pairings from their refreshing new wine list. For decades, Salt Creek Grille has been a neighborhood fixture on the Navasink River. The ski lodge-like architecture combined with its “welcome home” ambiance makes guests feel at home night after night.

When my friend and I arrived, we were greeted by restaurant manager, Mark Shopene, and led to a table right by the window facing the banks of the river. Wine glasses were set on each side of the table, just waiting for the wine to be poured. We were then presented with menus while Mark explained that he would present custom wine pairings with each dish we chose. We looked at the menu, made some initial decisions, and then a night of sipping and savoring began!

The Pairings

Spinach artichoke dip at Salt Creek Grille – Rumson, Jersey Bites, Danielle Zilg
Spinach artichoke dip

Salt Creek Grille’s signature Scratch Cooking experience is brought to life through the unique mesquite-inspired menu. The restaurant prides itself in making all menu ingredients in house and each dish is hand crafted to ensure only the finest ingredients make it to to the table. My friend and I ordered the spinach artichoke dip that Mark paired with St. Pauls pinot grigio. This light, white wine was a perfect complement to the asiago in the creamy dip. As my friend and I chatted over our appetizer, Mark suggested we order the beet and goat cheese salad, PEI mussels, and a braised short rib special with cheesy polenta and butternut squash. We quickly agreed to all of Mark’s suggestions.

The beet and goat cheese salad was paired with a Double T Chardonnay and the PEI Mussles with a Campo del Palio Moscato. Both dishes were delicious and complimentary to the white varietals. For our main course, we were served the Braised Short Rib special. The short rib was tender and the polenta rich and creamy. The butternut squash was roasted to perfection. To compliment this course, Mark poured us glasses of Zingari Toscana, a pleasant, fresh Italian red which complemented the dish perfectly. We concluded our meal with their classic chocolate ganache soufflé paired with a superb red blend Cashmere.

Braised short rib with polenta and roasted butternut squash, Salt Creek Grille – Rumson, Jersey Bites, Danielle Zilg
Braised short rib with polenta and roasted butternut squash

 

PEI mussels at Salt Creek Grille – Rumson, Jersey Bites, Danielle Zilg
PEI mussels

 

The Wine List

At Salt Creek Grille, wine is taken very seriously. The wine list is crafted and updated by beverage manager Rob Habel. The goal in this most recent refresh was for the list to reflect his palate, while making it both approachable for novices and interesting for wine connoisseurs. He deepened the descriptions to include all grape varietals used in the wines and made the list layout easy on the eye.

The Atmosphere

Nestled on the banks of the Navesink River, Salt Creek Grill – Rumson boasts stunning waterfront views. When you arrive, you are welcomed by an outdoor seating area with fire pits blazing. Salt Creek Grille also features a bustling bar serving beer, wine, and artisan cocktails.

 

 

Salt Creek Grille – Rumson
4 Bingham Avenue
Rumson, NJ
732-933-9272

Exterior image courtesy of Salt Creek Grille.