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    Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails

    4.4 (209 reviews)

    Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails Photos

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    EPILOGUE KITCHEN AND COCKTAILS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails

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    Pork chop, fries, and burger
    Kevin S.

    Come here between 5-6pm every day for 40% off food! We had no idea but got lucky and got a great deal. We got the crabbie fries, burger, and pork chop. Fries were a great start. Burger was cooked well and very filling. The pork chop was nice, but I don't think I'd order again. I'm just not a huge pork chop fan but wanted to try theirs. This place is in downtown but not on the main strip so it's not so loud. Definitely come here if you're in town!

    Lacey T.

    Epilogue is my favorite Salem restaurant and quite possibly my favorite in Oregon. They recently changed the brunch (Saturday and Sunday) from a set menu to a few specials that change weekly (note, they are currently taking a break from serving brunch so just check before going). That's cool and the duck confit I had was great, but their old menu featured breakfast cereal French toast, an absolute delight in every way with thick slices of bread coated in Fruity Pebbles, super crisp on the outside but so tender inside with big dollops of whipped cream. It is truly a dish I dream about, so I'll just say if they happen to have it as an option, order it. I don't care what else there is, get it in addition to your other dishes as you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don't. Now, we've only had brunch and lunch at Epilogue, but everything is divine. The Philly cheesesteak is another favorite, as is anything with crab cakes. I like to order a container of pimiento cheese to take home. I am a pimiento fanatic and theirs is superlative. They are also just about the nicest people anywhere. They have soup on the menu for everyone, meaning a person can walk in and get a bowl even if they can't pay. And Epilogue is not just paying lip service, I have seen it in action. You can tell they really care about the community. Once I came in for a quick meal and had brought a book. I was in a bit of a rush, but as I finished my food the server came by to pick up my plate and said, "you don't need to rush out, feel free to stay and hang with us as long as you'd like." Ugh, makes me teary just thinking of how sweet that was. They have a club where you get four dinners a month and even your own special set up cutlery. What?! They did a cute little Christmas market too. Epilogue is a rare restaurant where the food is presented beautifully, tastes just as good as it looks, and the service is friendly and kind always. They absolutely care about the community, and I always leave a little happier for many reasons.

    Arancini $13 Soup For My Family $3-Vegan, GF, Spicy Curry Veggies today
    Nikky B.

    Holistically, I love everything Epilogue stands for regarding its connection and approach to the local communities and customers. Their unwavering support for social justice for all is off the chart, with concrete actions backing it up. They offer 20% of your total bill for specific professions weekly: Service Industry specials on Sunday night and Educator and Student discounts on Thursday. Monday Nights with Trivia at 6 pm. For this aspect alone, it respectably earned 5/5! Epilogue Is A Handmade Kitchen! I have been supporting Epilogue since the summer of 2021, even though I no longer live in the area. Since they started the Educator and Student discounts, I drive down from Portland to have dinner at Epilogue on Thursday at least once a month. I love Epilogue's friendly, chill staff and low-key atmosphere. Except for alcohol, sandwiches, and the rotating special menu, I ate everything on the menu. The only reason I gave a 4/5 is the accumulation of consistent food quality during my visits in the last three years. At times, dishes are more dried, lack flavor, and are more lukewarm than others. Here are a few of my favorite and regular orders. Soup For My Family (gf, vegan), $5 for a cup. This is a rotating item as they sell out of each batch depending on the season. If they have it, you have to get it. I have enjoyed this item and have not been disappointed once. Roots and Trees Salad (vegan) and P.N.W. Salad (vegetarian), both for $15. It is refreshing, well-balanced, packed in texture and flavor, and fulfilling. You can add the protein you choose if salad is all you want for an extra cost. I am not a cheese person, so I always opt out of the goat cheese on P.N.W. These come light on the dressing, so ask for a side if you have heavy hands on the dressing. Rabbit Confit, $30: It is delicious when everything is right! There were a few times when the rabbit was a bit dry and barely had any flavor, and the buttermilk biscuit was not moist or old; these were the reasons for a 4/5 overall rating. Pecan Dacquoise, $10: My favorite dessert item at Epilogue. It has everything to satisfy your sweet craving to wrap up your meal without being overwhelmed by sugar or making you feel stuffed. I enjoy all four of their Zero Proof Cocktails, $6. Next, I would love to check out the Cheap Date Night, $60.00 for two, and come on the weekend for their special brunch menu. For $60, you get your choice of any two (2) sandwiches, salads, or staff favorite plates plus one (1) bottle of their choice wine or equivalent zero-proof beverages. Tell them about any dietary restrictions, and they'll do the rest! If you ever visit Salem or drive through I-5, check out Epilogue! From Small to large, Salad and Soup, Sandwiches, Dessert, Cocktails, and Pantry menu selection, you will leave with a new appreciation of Epilogue's authentic love and vision approach to food. The Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails is active via FB and website; check them out for up-to-date menus and specials. Here is an excerpt from the last page of their menu on the website, "...We built this thing without loans, without shadow investors who pull strings from behind dark curtains... We are a fine dining restaurant doing what we can to disrupt the classist paradigm. Our craft is top notch, but we expect everyone to come as they are. No dress codes here, and that is intentional. Food is for the people, not a select few who managed to exploit their way to the top..." So what are you waiting for? Save a date on your calendar to check out this gem in the heart of Oregon's capital, Salem!

    Hearing the branches shatter
    Alex N.

    After seeing this place get nominated for James Beard, we decided to give it a try. Like others said, service is nice but they are also difficult to flag down when you're ready to order. Even though the place was nearly empty when we arrived, they just talked amongst themselves. Not a bad thing but their conversations were pretty long and when they walked by, they don't really look in your direction. For food, we got multiple appetizers and entrees to get a good feel of the place. The food came out faster than we expected which was a plus. - Hearing the branches shatter: nice cocktail. A little bit of sweetness - Plum fizz: strong drink and pretty good - Spicy pickled egg: beet flavor was interesting - Duck leg: the duck was cooked nicely, but the other ingredients didn't really flow well. The apple butter and fig added an odd sweetness. And the shiso was a nice visual garnish but didn't go well with the sauce or the duck. - Burrata: the cheese and chicken were good. The honey made the app a little tangy - Mini debawkery: the coleslaw and the sauce for the chicken were both good. However, the chicken was very dry. - Rabbit confit: similar to the chicken, it was very dry and also gamey. The carrots were hard and the sauce didn't add that much flavor. The biscuit also didn't add anything to the dish other than more dryness. Overall, we can see what they're trying to do with the ingredients and presentation, but the food itself was lacking. The dry entrees were the deciding factor and we basically struggled to finish them with our water. You do get a good portion of food for your order though.

    Sazerac
    Steven B.

    Our cocktails were great, other than that the entire dinner was a complete debacle and the staff and kitchen know it was a mess. They ended comping a few things, but really didn't make up for our embarrassment of bringing guests w our high recommendation from our past experience here. We brought guests visiting from out of the country down here from PDX. Never again.

    Chasing Lightning bugs
    Terrence M.

    Order: Crab Cakes, Chocolate Espresso Cake, french frys Drinks: Old Fashion, Plum Fizz (reposado tequila, damson plum liqueur, lemon, soda); Chasing Lightning Bugs (pisco, blackstrap rum, peach, tonic, salt, chipotle- oregano bitters) Pros: The drinks were stiff and good! My favorite was probably the old fashion. They made sure you tasted your liquor lol. The chasing lightning bug had an after effect with the chipotle bitters. Wasnt crazy but it was a noticeable spice on your lip. Food presentation was amazing for the crab cakes. I absolutely love the new location of this establishment!!! The food is decent and the drinks are even better. There seems to be more seating and the music sets the atmosphere. I love everything Black!!!! Cons: the plum fizz was my least favorite drink. I tasted more soda than anything. Also the plum didnt come Through via the taste as I had hoped. The crab cakes were creamy on the inside and cooked perfectly on the outside though. The crab cakes lacked seasoning and were pretty small for the price. I like my crab cakes to be cooked through and though.

    Tricia M.

    We. Were. Starving. I didn't even get pictures of my food. It was pretty loud inside and they were doing a Monday night trivia that we came in the middle of. It was still pretty fun to try and guess the answers. I tried to order the muffuletta but was told they were out, but then told they had the meat I don't know, a pivot was made... I don't remember the name but it was a crab cake sandwich. I've been to Maryland, this was not like any Maryland crab cake I've ever had before. But it was still good and flavorful. The spicy pickled egg was great too. Overall it was a decent experience.

    Molasses Cake
    Thomas R.

    This place is fantastic. Tried a bunch of the small plates and a few large ones too. Service was on point and the drinks from the bar were done right too. Friendly and welcoming. Loved the breads and spreads to start all the way to the molasses cake to end. Amazing.

    Mixed greens salad, meatball hoagie with chips and two house cocktails

    Epilogue is absolutely a wonder. This was our first visit at the new location, and it was delightful. The ambiance is that of a favorite bookshop or library, relaxing and inviting. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and the bartenders even made a couple custom cocktails for us. The food was also excellent the and we really want to go back to try the special tasting menu.

    The Mampionona (special)
    Patricia B.

    I am obsessed with this place! The service was fantastic and the food was even better. Came for brunch on a Sunday around 11am and got seated right away. My husband loved their coffee and his West Philadelphia sandwich (a yummy cheese steak). I had one of their specials which sounded crazy but was absolutely delicious. It was called the Mampionona. It was ginger and garlic spiced pork belly, peanut butter, corn and sweet potato fritter, and curried tomatoes all on a toasted milk bun. I never would have thought to put something like this together but the flavors together were unbelievable in the absolute best way. I wish we had been in town longer to go back and try more dishes. I also love the Library of Black Excellence. I took photos of the book stacks to add titles to my own reading list. This place is fantsstic. Be sure to stop in here if you get the chance.

    Chocolate espresso cake
    Karin H.

    Absolutely love everything about this restaurant! The food is worthy of every award received. You can actually taste the love that went into preparing the meal. The service is excellent and dining at a restaurant where you know you are supporting local people who in turn support the local community just makes the meal even better. Every item we ordered was a well balanced flavor explosion. Looking forward to trying some more of the menu.

    Veganized turnip appetizer
    Julia D.

    Came in for the first time with our two local friends who had been before their COVID lobby closing. We dined shortly after Epilogue re-opened. Our server was great and managed our extended socializing very well and was super ultra helpful in making sure our experience was excellent. Our cocktails were all wonderful. The food took a loooooong time to come out for the appetizers and entrees, both. We thought maybe it was growing pains after their re-opening, but I'm glad I had eaten a bit before arriving. Our food was pretty good, but not amazing. I've had multiple goat cheese hazelnut salads like the one we got and this one was unremarkable. We also go the West Philadelphia and our friend got the Reading Terminal Market sandwiches and both were dry and nothing special, either. I did appreciate their willingness to make the turnip appetizer vegan when they were out of their only other vegan app. What IS, in fact, special, is Epilogue's overall vibe and the stance they're taking for BLM. I will be happy to return again for more food and cocktails next time I'm in Salem. TAKE MY MONEY.

    Jonathan W.

    Our extended family of 10 celebrated the college commencement of our son in the library room. The food was fantastic! I wish Epilogue had a branch in Los Angeles. Highly recommended if you are visiting Salem, passing through, or celebrating a special occasion.

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    Newish Epilogue Kitchen breakfast menu has always been a delight to my tastebuds! Delicious and good portion sizes. Thank you!

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    2 years ago

    Delicious food and kind staff! We tried multiple menu items and not one disappointed. Can't wait to go back

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    1 year ago

    Very nice people that work there, very relaxing. The food was good. It's a little pricey, but it's high-quality food.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails

    Do they take reservations?

    They do, yes

    Can someone please take pics of the menu and post them as pics in their review? :)

    Done, check my review for pictures of menu

    View All 3 Questions

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    I had read good things about this place online; one afternoon, I remembered and decided to try it…read more The ambiance is classy and minimalist/modern. It wasn't crowded when I arrived, around 3 or 4pm. Service was very friendly and relaxed. It had a comfortable, friendly vibe. It seems this place has a lot of regulars, because a couple groups came in after me and were greeted by name. It was Tuesday, which meant the Happy Hour menu was available all day. The prices were quite reasonable, and we got plenty of food. We ordered the Korean Street Tacos, and Curried chicken lettuce wraps and the cheeseburger with hand cut fries. Everything was delicious. The Korean tacos were a nice mixture of fresh veggies and rich meat flavors as well as some heat. The wraps were generously filled with a great classic chicken salad with curry, and had a great crunch. The burger was juicy and rich, was a good size and had a yummy brioche bun. The fries were cooked well and the ranch was creamy with a dilly kick. This was some solid food at a great price. Apparently Tuesday is trivia night, but we left before that started. This is a great place for some great food. I can see why this place has regulars!

    Upon hearing of a new eatery in town, I suggested that my family check it out…read more We arrived during Happy Hour and were promptly greeted and seated The decor is sleek and clean, minimalist. Cozy and not too loud. Their specials menu of select food and drinks was nice, but I was a but disappointed to learn that the only non-alcoholic offering was a canned golden beer (and soft drinks, water - haha, per our server). They did have a decent selection of draft beer. I shared that many restaurants are offering mocktails and that they're missing an opportunity there. The table ordered a sampling of the menu; Korean tacos, Caesar salad, Mac & Cheese, Burger and fries, and Lettuce wraps. Drinks included strawberry lemonade, draft beer, wine, and ice tea. The Korean tacos were good, but not excellent. I think the shell could be improved upon, maybe a fried won ton? Maybe some chili sauce on the side? The Caesar salad was very good, but the mac and cheese was bland and disappointing. Overall it seems like they're working through some kinks. The server could've used some help, as he seemed to have the only one working all of the tables. No ketchup on the table for fries or offer of any. A condiment station might help, but the place is relatively small. I'm glad we stopped in and will certainly give it another shot. It's nice to have an affordable family friendly spot in Salem and I wish them the best of luck!

    Photos
    Banh Mi and fries
    Banh Mi and fries
    Hawaiian Plate with Pork
    Hawaiian Plate with Pork
    Inside

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    Inside

    Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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