March 2, 2007
by Erin Middlewood of The Columbian

A three-salad platter consisting of fruit-and-nut chicken salad, a broccoli salad and a spinach salad . Photo by Dave Olson of The Columbian.

Backstory: Salut! Wine Co. Bistro is an offshoot of the Vancouver wine shop at 16020 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. Salut! had been using the Camas space for catering only. "We decided the town could use another nice place for lunch," co-owner Kelly Bruce said. She and her longtime friend and co-owner, David Gray, opened the bistro in June.

You'll love it if: You're a fan of salads. Salut! offers the option of a full salad or a trio sampler of the salads on the menu. When I visited, I tried the Thai pasta (noodle, red pepper, green onion, cucumber and carrots, with the barest hint of spice), the broccoli salad (bacon and almonds add to the cruciferous crunch) and the fruit-and-nut chicken salad (tender chunks of poultry blended with dried cranberries and apricots). My lunching companion also chose the trio but included a spinach salad on her platter. She remarked on the fresh, crisp leaves and the slightly sweet poppy seed dressing. I'm jaded by the availability of similar offerings at high-end grocery deli counters. (I will say the atmosphere at Salut! sure beats a grocery store.)

Next time, I might try the handmade soup or the daily special, which was a tempting-sounding pulled pork sandwich when I visited.

Don't go if: You really want something deep fried.

Bring: A girlfriend. Probably not your husband if you're going for lunch, unless he'll be satisfied by a tuna-and-avocado or ham-and-Emmenthaler sandwich.

You should know: The menu changes every other week, but a chicken salad and a spinach salad always are on the menu, with the other two salads varying. The choices are seasonal, Bruce said. On Friday nights, the bistro offers $10 wine tastings from 5 to 8 p.m. and a prix fixe dinner between $15 and $18.

Decor: Deep, wine-inspired hues dominate the bistro, appropriate given that it's also a place to buy vino. The rich touches extend even to the bathroom, where a chandelier hangs over the toilet.

Where: Salut! Wine Co. Bistro, 212 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas; 360-833-9429.

Cost: A trio of salads goes for $8.50. Sandwiches with side salads are $8.50.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.