Salt House

In a nutshell: this is a lovely restaurant that I wouldn't hesitate recommending to anyone. At the same time, it doesn't reach the heights necessary to be a place I'd return to again and again. That's just the nature of being a restaurant in SF--too much great competition!


I loved the space. The chalkboard specials and unpainted pine tables paired with exposed brick and iron railings gave it a rustic bakery meets urban loft feel. We sat at a table overlooking the first floor--probably the best seats in the house! The vibe is lively but not so noisy we couldn't chat; though I would strongly suggest everyone avoid the tables just across the bar and under the stairway. I apologize for the lack of photos. We were dining with a friend I don't know that well, and I didn't want to seem like a total freak. Besides, I forgot my camera and the Blackberry takes really hideous photos indoors.



The service was lovely. Both our drink orders and food arrived briskly (perhaps even a little too briskly--is Salt House responding to early reviews that the kitchen lags?); and when the server heard J's beer order incorrectly, she didn't even blink an eye before offering the first glass as a gift and rushing off to bring the correct beer.



Poutine: steak fries covered in white cheddar and a beef gravy. This dish was so comforting and so delicious. I loved it, yet could have been so much more. I want to see cheese a little more akin to milk curds, and a more flavorful gravy. Don't get me wrong, this was tasty. It just had the potential to knock my socks off but did not.



Baked oysters: very nicely done. The layer of bread crumbs on top of the oysters was lightly toasted, not at all greasy, and the oysters themselves were hot but not cooked all the way through.



Crispy egg: the server raved about this, but I regretted getting it and not the foie gras done two ways I saw at the table next to us. The crispy egg was very interesting and quite tasty, but at the end of the day it was $15 for a batter fried soft boiled egg on a bed of peas and carrots. Hm.



Petrale sole: they split this for us without our asking, but I forgot to check if they charged us a split plate fee. In any case, it was a perfectly done piece of very fresh fish. No complaints whatsoever.



Seared ahi tuna: I didn't get a bite of this, but it looked beautiful. Salt House does a lovely job of plating. It doesn't sound like much, but the food really is a little more beautiful than at a lot of places.



The damage: before drinks, tax, or tip, the three of us spent $100. Not bad for the experience, but we'll be moving on to something new next time.