A Salem ghost kitchen that built its following through takeout and delivery now has a dining room, a full bar, and about 20 new jobs downtown.

Sarina's Italian Kitchen opened its first full-service restaurant at 401 Center St. NE in the Salem Center mall on Thursday, July 23, according to Salem Business Journal. The restaurant sits near the intersection of Center and Liberty streets in a prominent mall space with both an interior mall entrance and a separate exterior door, meaning diners can get in even after the enclosed shopping areas close.

Owner Ryan Sarina launched the business in 2021 as a delivery-focused ghost kitchen operating inside McGrath's Fish House at 3805 Center St. NE. The concept took off. Sarina partnered with Salem Center mall's owners to build out a permanent location.

The new dining room features an Italian-inspired atmosphere with original murals by a local artist, indoor seating, and an outdoor patio.

The menu draws on Sarina family recipes and Italian-American staples: lasagna made with imported Italian noodles, fresh mozzarella, cream cheese, and house-made meat sauce; chicken Parmigiana; seafood linguine; pasta carbonara; and meatballs combining beef, pork sausage, fennel, and Italian seasonings. A full bar rounds out the offerings alongside desserts like tiramisu and cheesecake.

Sarina told Salem Business Journal the downtown location would employ approximately 20 full- and part-time workers.

Sarina's also operates ghost kitchen pickup locations in Vancouver, Washington, and Lincoln City, according to the company's website. The Salem ghost kitchen at McGrath's Fish House still appears as an active ordering option online, though it's unclear whether that location will continue alongside the new restaurant.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the south entrance of Salem Center mall, near Chemeketa and Liberty streets, at 4 p.m. July 30, according to Patch.

The restaurant is open and serving customers at 401 Center St. NE.