La Capitale – Bringing Chic to Salem
When I first heard that a new, sophisticated French restaurant was coming to Salem, I was ecstatic. Living in this town for a large portion of my life, I had been longing for an original restaurant that would bring new “flavor” to the downtown area. Salem does have many hidden gems, but La Capitale is truly refreshing. La Capitale is located in the heart of the downtown area near the Elsinore Theatre, on the corner of High and State Street. A great location for a pre-show or movie meal.
The inside of the restaurant is clean and simple, with elegant lighting and bright red seating. We had a table in the bar, which is located near the back of the restaurant. It’s a great place to sit if you have a party of two, but I’d recommend making reservations if you have a large group as the restaurant fills up quickly! La Capitale offers a number of local and European wines, micro brews and cocktails. I had the Ninkasi Red Ale, which was quite tasty – and made locally- in Eugene! The menu at La Capitale offers something for every palette. From halibut to gnocchi to steak and hamburgers, there are definitely several options that will make your mouth water.
I had the hamburger, which was cooked exactly as I requested, with delicious homemade bread and melted blue cheese that oozed over the sides. It was served with crispy french fries which I loved because they weren’t overly greasy or salty like you would expect. The dessert menu also offers a wide variety of options, ranging from profiteroles (pastries topped with ice cream) to brandy cherry cake and beet ice cream (which was recommended by our server, but I wasn’t brave enough to try it). We settled on the flourless chocolate torte, which was served with an orange cream fraiche and sprinkled with crispy chocolate pieces. It was warm and rich and so good! I would definitely give La Capitale a 10. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. I think this is the restaurant Salem has been waiting for!
For more information on La Capitale’s menu and hours, visit their website.



















