Salted Lime Bar & Kitchen, the Latin-inspired restaurant that has anchored downtown Somerville's Main Street for eight years, will close its doors on October 30. Owner Mark Farro announced the closure through the restaurant's Facebook page, telling customers he has made the difficult decision to sell the business after a run that began in 2018.
“Unfortunately, I have made the difficult decision to sell Salted Lime,” Farro said, according to Central New Jersey News, which reported the closure. Farro said the restaurant business had been a big part of his life for 23 years, and he thanked everyone who supported the Salted Lime team over the past eight years, per the same report.
A Casual Passion Project Born From a Love of Tacos
Salted Lime first opened at 46 East Main Street in December 2018 under Mark Daniel Hospitality, a partnership co-founded by Farro and general manager Danny McGill, pitched at the time as a lighthearted Latin-inspired taco and cocktail concept, according to Bridgewater Patch. The dining room featured a custom open-air kitchen built around a tortilladora for hand-pressed corn and flour tortillas, along with a center bar serving draft tequila cocktails and frozen margaritas, the outlet reported at the time.
Over the years, the restaurant offered Latin-inspired and traditional Latin food. Its dining room also included a 27-seat center bar and an open kitchen, the outlet noted. Salted Lime partnered directly with local New Jersey farmers to supply ingredients for its menu, underscoring a farm-to-table approach, according to Toast Local.
A Lease Renewal Just Before the Decision to Sell
The closure comes after Salted Lime had recommitted to its downtown home. The restaurant signed a lease renewal in June 2024 for its full 5,000-square-foot space at 46 East Main Street with landlord Somerville Urban Renewal LLC, according to Traded. That recent commitment stands in contrast to Farro's decision roughly two years later to sell the business entirely.
Farro built his culinary reputation well before Salted Lime existed. He led Uproot, a modern American restaurant in Warren, Bridgewater Patch reported. He also owned INC American Bar & Kitchen in New Brunswick, a craft whiskey and small-plates venue that closed abruptly in May 2021 amid COVID-19-era operating challenges, per CougEats.
What Comes Next for the Space
A new restaurant is set to open at Salted Lime's former location, according to Central New Jersey News. Farro wished the incoming owners luck, saying they had something exciting planned for the community, per the same report. He also said he looked forward to serving food and drinks through the restaurant's final day, and urged customers holding Salted Lime gift cards to use them before the closing.
New Jersey imposes population quotas on some liquor-license classes, according to Garden State Circle. The 5,000-square-foot space at 46 East Main Street is set to host a new restaurant.
Salted Lime on Main Street
Downtown Somerville's Main Street is a regional dining destination, according to Downtown NJ.
Salted Lime's location is set to host a new restaurant rather than remain vacant. Farro's exit follows the closure of INC in New Brunswick and comes after 23 years in the hospitality industry. Regulars are expected to miss Salted Lime's Latin-inspired menu and draft cocktails as downtown Somerville welcomes a new restaurant.
