Prismatic Coffee and Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails invite you to visit, relax, and stay awhile, offering a unique experience where food, drink, and unhurried enjoyment come together.
Prismatic Coffee and Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails want you to visit, settle in, and stay awhile. Their intentional, relaxed vision of food, drink, and unhurried enjoyment is fully realized in the partnership achieved by Ariel Ellis and Evan Delgado of Prismatic, and Jonathan Jones of Epilogue. Their shared space is a coffee shop by day and dining experience by night, and welcomes customers with open arms and a view from the window that’s unmatched anywhere in Salem. Nestled towards the back of the idyllic Pringle Creek Community development, Prismatic/Epilogue begs for taking a deep breath and unwinding from the world outside. It’s a “destination” as Ariel puts it, and a “little vacation” from the rest of Salem.
The Coffee Shop Experience
I visited the space twice in one day, benefiting from the two singular experiences. The morning coffee shop vibe was lively, but chill. I saw individuals reading, people gathering for a work meeting, and a mother-toddler duo on a sweet little outing of their own—all of whom looked immensely comfortable. Customers trickled in to buy bags of Prismatic’s coffee, enjoy a crafted drink, or indulge in a pastry. When I chatted with co-owner Ariel a couple weeks later, the crowd had already doubled. He says there’s a mix of regulars and new faces, which is ideal for the community they’re hoping to build.
Of course, you can take your coffee to go, but I stayed on my visit and enjoyed a black, drip coffee since that’s my go-to. Turns out it was a great decision, as I sipped and savored a Uganda roast along with a cinnamon twist plated on a sweet little board. I’m no coffee expert, but Ariel and Evan have plans to help on that front. Ariel says they hope to add “coffee education” to their line-up of events, where folks can learn about the difference between coffee regions and flavors, and what makes each unique. They also hope to host cupping events, roasting workshops, and latté throwdowns. This is especially appropriate given that Kyle Layton, a key member of the Prismatic team, is an award-winning latté artist.
A Shared Vision for the Salem Community
The Prismatic experience is worth the trip south, enhanced by the addition of Epilogue Kitchen and Cocktails, formerly housed downtown. Ariel and Evan hadn’t planned on welcoming a business partner, and Jonathan Jones hadn’t planned on leaving downtown Salem, but after Jonathan and his wife made a “fortuitous” stop for coffee on a late summer morning at the new Prismatic location, they knew they’d found their new home. A proposal from Jonathan came the next day, said Ariel, and it didn’t take long before he and Evan realized they’d found a kindred soul. Jonathan and Ariel echo each other when they speak, each focusing on the intentional craft of their work, their mutual respect, and their shared vision for the Salem community.
Jonathan said Evan and Ariel were “full steam ahead” on the space before he and his wife came on board. The choices they made create a laid-back, friendly aesthetic, from the soaring ceilings to the view of green space out every window. The comfy couches and scattered tables give the colorful space the feel of your coolest friend’s open-concept home more than a typical restaurant. Jonathan says it feels like a “match,” with a sense of calm and quiet that fits the energy and atmosphere they want for Epilogue’s dinner service as well.
The Art of Slower Cooking
When I sat down to talk with Epilogue head chef and owner Jonathan Jones, he and his team were prepping for their Thursday night dinner service. Nobody seemed stressed. We chatted about the partnership with Prismatic, and the vision for Epilogue now that they’ve moved to their new space. Said Jonathan, “It’s about getting people to be comfortable slowing down. Constructed coffee drinks take time. Our food takes time. In our society, we have this habit, by necessity, of things needing to happen now.”
Dinner at Epilogue is thus an event in its own right—something to be savored. When I arrive in the evening for our reservation, the lights are dimmed, the bar is bustling, and small lamps have been added to the tables. It is, as Jonathan told me, “leaning towards hip” when the sun goes down. Jonathan promised a fulfilling experience—yes, longer than your average dinner out, but also one that isn’t rushed, and is “more focused on craft and experimentation and trying things that are outside your individual comfort zone.” The meal delivered on all accounts.
Our table of four chose the 7-course tasting menu, starting with a cocktail, naturally. The drinks at Epilogue are thoughtful, seasonal, and complex, and also really tasty. You can order the basics, but why would you? Not when you could have something like my drink, “The Orchardist’s Reward,” a refreshing and not-too-sweet combination of flavored brandy, fruit, and a bit of fizz.
We were well cared-for throughout our dinner, with each dish arriving in a steady, deliberate succession. And Jonathan is right; this isn’t food to be rushed. The first three courses are fully vegan, the flavors and textures equal parts interesting and satisfying. Each dish leads to a great deal of inspection and conversation at my table of food obsessives. Veg favorites included a hickory smoked tofu sitting on a bed of wild rice with blueberry agrodolce, sweet corn-tobacco espuma, and thyme. (And no, I didn’t know what to expect when it arrived, but I could happily eat it every day.) The seasonal, wintry flavors were prominent as well, evident in a wild mushroom tamale as well as a beautifully cooked pork belly alongside yam gnocchi and the best black-eyed-peas I’ve ever had.
Due to the lack of a fryer or flattop in the kitchen, Jonathan has to be creative with the menu. He says he’s excited about the “self-imposed limitations,” and is enjoying the challenge of “slower and less intrusive cooking methods.” He’s looking forward to spring and summer when Oregon produce is perhaps at its best. The partnership with Prismatic also offers the potential for some coffee-based collaboration, and Jonathan plans to use their blends for his dinner menus as well, experimenting with coffee as an ingredient in ferments and rubs. Ariel said Prismatic has benefited from working with Jonathan and his team as well. “We make each other better,” he said, as they’ve collaborated on menu items for the coffee shop and even shared staff with one another.
Aside from the culinary opportunities, the partnership between Epilogue and Prismatic has a number of advantages, starting with the practicality of shared ownership. There’s less necessity to pack people in or turn tables over quickly, so customers can comfortably linger without feeling pushed out the door. And then there’s the sustainability aspect as well. Shared resources, shared utilities, shared equipment. All of this leaves a smaller footprint on our landscape, and is very much in conversation with the overarching mission of the surrounding neighborhood.
Prices at Epilogue are lower than I’m accustomed to seeing for a 7-course tasting, at $80 per person. Jonathan says this is intentional as well, adding “I’d rather people come in twice in one month, rather than just once.” And if your schedule or budget doesn’t allow for the full tasting experience, there’s an a la carte menu with some established Epilogue favorites, as well as a 3-course fully vegan option. Jonathan wants you to keep coming back, and experimenting with flavors along with his whole team.
A Sustainable and Community-Centered Approach
The emphasis on repeat customers and a sense of community is core to the business values of all three owners. Said Jonathan, “I want to live a fulfilling and holistic life, and I want everyone who works here to be able to do the same.” The experience that Ariel and Evan have created at Pringle Creek reinforces that mission. Even Jonathan’s Library of Black Excellence has found a new home alongside Prismatic. That was an important condition of Epilogue’s move south, and one that Ariel and Evan embraced without hesitation. Jonathan says he’s seen people use the library more here than when it lived downtown. “It feels like this is where it was always supposed to be. It feels really right. I’ve seen people just grab a book while they have their coffee and read.”
As the weather turns and the days lengthen, Prismatic and Epilogue offerings will change, too. There are ideas and plans to use the outdoor green space surrounding the restaurant, such as events and curated picnic baskets to take outside and enjoy the coming sunshine amidst the fir trees. It’s exciting listening to Ariel imagine what could be—anything from outdoor coffee or wine tastings, cold brew, and use of the neighboring lawn games. Jonathan, too, envisions a place that not only fosters slowing down, but creates community as well.
So find some time and visit with an open mind. Enjoy the leafy views, the stellar coffee, the adventurous cuisine. Treat yourself and come by day or come by night…just don’t rush it.
This story originally ran in Press Play Salem issue 23 ( Spring 2025)