Salvador Molly’s – A Hot Review

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Like many cable viewers, Salvador Molly’s (1523 SW Sunset Blvd, Portland, OR 97239) has been on my radar ever since Adam Richman took Molly's fire ball challenge.  The challenge is centered around their Great Balls of Fire (habanero cheese fritters served with habanero salsa) priced at 5 balls for $7.95, 3 balls $4.95, or 1 ball $2.95.  On the Scoville scale a habanero has 395,000 units of heat, where a jalapeno weighs in at a mere 8,000 unit.  Diners who eat five balls, with ALL the sauce, get their picture on Molly's HALL of FLAME!

When two friends took me to Molly's last weekend, we decided to split, what looked like, a charred black ball.  Dani had an eighth, I had a forth, and Mike had the rest.  Mike barely noticed the heat.  Dani and I had quite a different reaction; our noses ran, our eyes watered, and we each had to down a glass of milk to stop the pain.

Subject: Salvador Molly's Food | Date: 04/30/2016 |
Photographers: James Kiester & Dani Cogswell  | This picture was taken by the author of this blog. |

Once we could feel our faces again, we decided to stay for lunch beginning with complimentary peanuts and a cocktail.  I had Molly's Angry Pineapple (Svedka Vodka infused in house with Thai chilies and kaffir lime leaf, shaken with pineapple juice and garnished with a slice of  jalapeño) for $6.00.  The drink was sweet with a pleasantly spicy finish on the back of the throat.

Next we shared the Memphis Blues Smothered Potatoes (Crisp garlic potato wedges, or curly fries, topped with slow cooked Tamarindo BBQ pork, cheese & sour cream) for $4.95 as an appetizer.  We chose the curly fries.  These were, hands down, the best part of meal.  The fries were well seasoned and crispy, the pork was; tender, sweet, and tangy; and the sour cream and cheese provided a nice balance.  In fact, as I ate them I began to sing a little diddy (see below).

For my entrée, I had the Drum Pan Jerk Chicken & Mango Sandwich (Juicy jerk chicken breast on our own freshly baked roll with garlic-lime aioli, grilled mango relish, garlic spinach & pickled onions. Served with roasted sweet potatoes) for $10.50.  The mango relish and pickled onions delivered a tasty acidic sweetness, which was the dominant flavor of the sandwich.  The chicken had a nice grilled flavor, but it was tough and I didn't taste the jerk spice.  Additionally, the mashed sweet potatoes were mashed sweet potatoes; they were good, but not unique.

Even considering the deficits of the sandwich, when I factor in the delicious cocktail and appetizer, and friendly service, I give Salvador Molly's 8 out of 10 stars.

Baby Got Pork:
I like pulled pork and I can not lie,
You other eaters can't deny,
That when a waitress walks in with a plate o' saucy meat,
Says, it's time to eat,
Ya get hungry, for pig that ain't tough,
'Cause you wanna down that pig 'til you're stuffed,
Baby got pork.