Things move fast Downtown these days. Here’s a rundown of some of the things happening right now in the downtown dining scene.
The Salted Pig is Closed
The Salted Pig is a veteran of the Downtown food scene. They brought an innovative but accessible dining experience downtown when few were willing to take the risk. The Salted Pig was a big part of creating the downtown dining scene that we have today, and it is truly unfortunate to announce that they have closed. Owner Ronald Fierro opened the Restaurant on 12th Street in 2011 and had been at the Main Street Walking Mall location since 2020. He expressed his commitment to The Salted Pig and to Riverside in a press release.
“We’ve always believed in the power of reinvention; this break is a necessary step for us to recharge, reevaluate, and come back stronger. Riverside has supported us through thick and thin, and we owe it to this amazing community and our talented employees to return with the energy and creativity that made us a cornerstone of this city in the first place.”
Dapper Dine and Lounge has opened in the building last occupied by Sam’s Bann Thai. The fancy but fun restaurant offers Modern American cuisine as well as an upscale bar with creative cocktails. Dapper Dining has only been open a short time but it has become a popular gathering spot with lines out the door during peak hours. The new restaurant is in a great spot with ample indoor and outdoor seating and benefits from its own parking lot. It offers a downtown location without all of the parking issues. Hopefully, this is part of an enduring new wave of downtown businesses benefiting from people being ready to eschew the “order in” trend and move into the post-post-pandemic era.
The State
The Redlands-based Gastropub is well on its way to opening its fourth location at the corner of Main and University. The signage is up, and the build-out crew is working hard to get customers in the door as soon as possible. The State sticks to the gastropub model of familiar format food served with high-end ingredients and possibly a little twist on the standards. The State also offers an excellent cocktail menu and comprehensive beer and wine lists. Prices range from affordable lunches and specials to fine dining prices on the high end of their menu. Hopefully, the Main Street location will mirror the long-term success of the brand's other destinations.
