Longtime Alexandria restaurant Union Street Public House announced Tuesday the appointment of Peter Saletta as executive chef.
Located at 121 S. Union St., near Old Town's waterfront, Union Street Public House has been an Old Town favorite going on 33 years.
Saletta has designed a menu that plays on the history of the location, a renovated 1790 warehouse.
Saletta brings a contemporary twist on comfort food with Union Street classics such as house-smoked ribs and the “My Bar, My Rules” sandwich—a restaurant favorite that includes pan-seared aged filet mignon, Swiss cheese, garlic butter, rosemary, roasted red pepper and Tabasco aioli piled on an English muffin. Menu items including the fish of the day are locally sourced from area waters and farms.
“Union Street Public House is a wonderful neighborhood gathering place where our guests can enjoy everything from a beer and a sandwich at the bar, to a gorgeous glass of wine and a full meal," he noted. “Partnering with Union Street Public House was an easy decision. We have great ideas to kick the menus into overdrive and really wow our regulars and first-time diners.”
A native of Sarasota, Fla., Saletta grew up eating tacos and barbecue. He began his career at the age of 14, peeling potatoes and scrubbing pots at his mother’s restaurants, where he eventually made it to the line, mastering each position. From there, he studied hospitality and business management at the University of Florida.
Saletta has worked across the country as chef for Fleming’s Steak House, where he was named as one of Food and Wine Magazine’s "Best Chefs Under 30," and was named among the "Top 10 Suburban Chefs," by Bon Appetit. He is also an alum of Sullivan’s Steak House, McCormick & Schmick's, and DC’s Black Finn, where he was among the winners of a local BBQ cook-off.
Union Street Public House is a blend of history and contemporary. The Taproom and Grill Room, renovated in 1985, make up the main part of the restaurant. The Regatta Room and Whiskey Bar fill a more intimate section, housed in a building that dates to the late 1700s, and was reportedly used as a meeting space by colonial merchants, including George Washington.
The restaurant is open Monday through Friday, with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday features a lunch/brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. A late-night menu is available daily. Happy hour in the Taproom is Monday through Friday, from 3-7 p.m. The Whiskey Bar opens at 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.For reservations and further information, visit unionstreetpublichouse.com or call (703) 548-1785.
