Sea Salt
Berkeley, CA 94702
Phone: (510) 883-1720
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Dwight Way
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 11:30am-10pm
Editorial Review for Sea Salt – by Karen Solomon
The Scene
Cathedral ceilings, sharp lines of brick and tile, and shades of scrubbed seawater blue create a too-cool feel. But the unpretentious, scene-free crowd and an accessible wine list pairs with kind, informed service to offset the edge.
The Food
Comprised of sensible entrees, small plates, sandwiches and salads, the menu goes from cocktail nibbles to full-on splurge. Highlights include small plates such as meaty New England razor clams or grilled local squid atop a piquant paste of spicy tomato and pumpkin seeds. The well-priced oyster po' boy sandwich arrives stacked with slaw, sweet pickles, a tangy remoulade and golden nuggets of sweet, flash-fried shellfish. Main dishes also harvest the bounty of the sea, but accompaniments can dim the spotlight, such as the grilled Columbia River sturgeon, perfectly done but flavor-handicapped from an overblown caponata and overly bitter rapini. End with the frozen lime yogurt, a pucker-inducing, creamy treat.
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Insider Tips
When to GoThe restaurant doesn't accept reservations, but after 8:30pm, even on a weekend, grabbing a seat is smooth sailing.
Where to SitCatch live kitchen action by requesting a seat at the bar in the back. Parties of six or more will be happy as a clam at one of the large, picnic tables.
User Reviews for Sea Salt
03/02/2008 Posted by aquilandasja
I love Sea Salt.. I live on Alameda and head here whenever I am in the mood for fresh, well-prepared seafood. The ambiance is unique, and very fitting a high-end seafood restaurant. And if you ever want to test whether a restaurant truly has friendly service, go with a baby. We had four adults and an infant on our first visit. We didn't get any askance glances from wait staff (or other diners), and were able to enjoy a truly adult meal with great conversation. This place is not cheap, especially if you love oysters (which our group did) and keep ordering more. But the quality of the food and excellent service still makes it an overall excellent value.
Pros: Truly excellent seafood, oysters
Cons: Price, no reservations, so you can be waiting during busy times
08/27/2007 Posted by mcarden
My wife and I went to Sea Salt for dinner on a Saturday night, and were a bit disappointed by the experience. There is nothing wrong with the food, exactly - it is all nicely cooked and so forth, and the service is quite good, but I just didn't feel that it was very good value for the money. Our bill, including two glasses of their cheaper wine, was a tad under $100, without the tip, which I thought excessive. $18 in particular for fish and chips is a bit over the top. The ambience also leaves a lot to be desired - it is another of these ultra modern restaurants with hard surfaces everywhere, nothing to absorb the sound, and is quite loud. We found it difficult to have a conversation at a normal voice level, which I detest. Quite frankly, if I'm going to drop $100 on a meal, I would go somewhere more soothing, like JoJo's or Citron, rather than have my eardrums assaulted at Sea Salt.
Pros: Food is quite tasty and well presented.
Cons: Expensive, loud.
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