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Salts Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Canadian (New) French, Canadian (New) [Edit]
798 Main StCambridge, MA 02139
Neighbourhood: Kendall Square/MIT
(617) 876-8444
- Nearest Transit:
-
Massachusetts Ave @ Front St (1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Landsdowne St (1)
Massachusetts Ave @ Sidney St (1, CT1)
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 6 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
164 reviews for Salts Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"Then we got the duck for two, which was." In 27 reviews -
"...really stole the show for me was the lemon souffle tart." In 7 reviews -
"the tasting menu was delightful." In 17 reviews
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164 reviews in English
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Review from Tom K.
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not much to say that hasn't been said already, but I'll give you the quick and dirty rundown of my experience here:
I came here to celebrate my 30th birthday and had a fantastic time. I came here with pretty high expectations given the rating here on Yelp and luckily Salts delivered.
Atmosphere: This place excels. I was a bit torn trying to find a place to have my birthday dinner- I was looking for something fancy and really nice without being overly intimidating for my blue collar parents. And this place was perfect. It's so cozy and classy without being in your face about it. Perfect!
Service: Again, I couldn't be happier. The staff here was so nice and on top of things. From taking our coats when we walked in to wishing me a happy birthday on the way out, the staff here was on top of things and accommodating without being smothering.
Food: It was fantastic. The most important part of the dining experience, and it delivered. From the piping hot rolls, to the amuse-bouche, to the appitizers, entries, and desert, there were absolutely no complaints. Our table of 7 had about half the short menu between the lot of us and were left completely satisfied. For a place so nice, we were all pleasantly surprised by the portions, no one was left looking for more at the end of the meal. And the duck for two everyone raves about? Could have easily been duck for three.
The only thing I cannot comment on is the value since, being my birthday, the check didn't come anywhere near me. But given my experience during this visit, I would not hesitate to go back or recommend this place to anyone.
Easiest 5-stars yet!Listed in: The High Fidelity List (aka.…
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Review from Stacey D.
Boston, MA
4/8/2012
Arrived for a reservation at 7 at Salts this evening. We were seated pretty quickly, although no one offer to take our coats, which is fine, I get cold easily, I like to keep my coat. Although, when one spends this much money on food, one wants to offer to take your coat. Ok, sorry, it really doesn't matter, that's just the snobby b*tch in me coming out.
The restaurant is adorable, small, simple, but romantic, soft lighting but not too dim that you can't see your food. The service was polite, and prompt. There is a little quirk though. In the middle of a restaurant is a small high table, where they carve the duck that people order. The odd thing is there is a table for two right next to this carving table. People were seated at this table, and it seemed odd to me to sit there and have a ducked carved right next to you, when you didn't even order duck.
Now for the food, we were brought a small amuse-bouche a squash soup topped with foam, it was pretty yummy and hey it's free, I have low expectations when it's free.
For appetizers we had the Soft Cooked Farm Egg (with Burgundy Snails, Foraged Mushrooms, Steel Cut Oat "Risotto", Spring Garlic) and the tuna tartare (it actually has a fancier name). The farm egg was probably the most interesting part of the meal, it was served over steel cut oats cooked risotto styled so it was infused with flavor and parsley -which gave it a lovely green flavor. I did find it slightly salty.
There was, on top of this "risotto", a runny egg and a piece of prosciutto, while it looked pretty, I am not sure it added anything.
The tuna tartare came on a plate with a splash of spring edible flowers. I found the tuna itself to be bland, almost like a potato salad, and was disappointed.
For entrees we had the rib-eye and sturgeon. Both the boy and I had the same reaction. It's good, cooked right, lovely cut of meat, nice slice of fish, but it's nothing special, as in the flavors aren't surprising or unique, as in you might forget what you had a month later. We held this attitude even after dessert.
In sum, A-Ok. -
Review from Paul M.
Somerville, MA
4/7/2012
Coming here for my 29th birthday with a group of five friends, I was super-excited to try this place. I'd heard wonderful things about their duck. I, for one, love roasted duck. However, I ended up being disappointed by the experience.
First, I need to mention the service, which was utterly sub-par for a restaurant at this price range. After being seated (which, by the way, took some time despite our reservation), we waited for at least ten minutes before a server showed up. We ordered a bottle of wine, also long in coming, and then proceeded to wait even longer for the possibility of ordering. Our reservation being quite late, we were all very hungry for dinner. In the meantime, our waiter seemed more consumed with setting places at other tables than in dealing with the customers already present. We waited so long, in fact, that one of my friends mentioned something to the waiter when she eventually showed up. After this she was (slightly) more attentive.
Now to the food. We had pre-ordered the duck for two, which we split up as an appetizer. This was delicious, and the accompanying stuffing was lovely. No fault here. If you go here, and you're not vegetarian (this is not a restaurant for vegetarians), this is what you need to get for dinner.
After the duck though, things went downhill. The cuisine here feels a bit dated: foams, faux-caviars, and nouveau plating arrangements. Three of us had the steak, two the butternut squash agnolotti, and one the fish. My steak was overcooked, dry, and cut into small pieces. I ordered the steak medium-rare, and it was practically well-done. Quite chewy. Those who had the pasta complained that the flavors and textures didn't meld together very well, and that the squash was overcooked. No complaints on the fish, which was apparently well-cooked.
Now, to go with the meal you are given salts (hence the name) from all over the world. While this is an interesting tasting experience by itself, our table agreed that it felt gimmicky. I prefer for my chef to salt my food, or at least that my food will be cooked with enough boldness that it will stand up to trying four or five different varieties of salt. I cannot say that this is the case. The result, after the lackluster food and service, was more annoyance than anything else.
I really, really, wanted to like this place. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I'm not sure I can recommend it. Three stars is for the duck and the stuffing. -
Review from Roscoe R.
Cambridge, MA
4/2/2012
I wish I could give fractional stars. I'd give Salts 3.8 stars based solely upon the price of the 1 thing we tried, which was indeed delicious, but not quite $34/person delicious.
I've walked by Salts for about 2 decades and never got around to trying it until now. I went with a friend and we pre-ordered only 1 item: the Whole Roasted Boneless Duck for Two (with Lavender Honey Glaze, Roasted Pears, Heirloom Carrots, and Petite Farm Turnips). Price for this was $68. To ensure availability, the duck needs to be ordered a day in advance.
When I called a day ahead of time for a reservation, I made it clear that we'd be in a rush. The restaurant opens at 6pm, and we needed to leave by 7:15pm. When we arrived, we were seated immediately, and the wait staff knew that we needed prompt service and acted accordingly. They were extremely prompt, polite, and efficient throughout the meal. Our water glasses were refilled frequently (without prompting), napkin was folded when I returned to the table after using the restroom, little bread balls were promptly replaced (again without prompting) when we'd finish the ones on our plates. In short, the service at Salts was impeccable. It could not have been better in any way.
As I mentioned before, the duck was the only item we got. However, before the duck arrived, our server delivered a nice amuse bouche of what I think was butternut squash soup with a nice sweet mousse on top. The flavors were spectacular, and it left us wanting more.
The duck was really nicely done. As others have said, the portions are huge -- 1.5 very full plates per person (I eat a lot, and I was pretty full after just the duck). The skin was perfectly crispy and flavorful. The meat was juicy, the veggies were tender, and the bread crumb stuffing was heavenly. I would've liked more of the lavender honey glaze and/or another roasted pear (the most flavorful item on the plate), because many mouthfuls of duck could've used a bit more flavor. This was true comfort food -- the sort of entree you'd order on a cold winter day, when you want to go upscale from something like the S&S in Inman Square.
Bottom line: Salts is very much worth trying, though it's a bit too pricey. In my opinion, the duck entree that we got should have been priced at $28/person (i.e., just under $60 for two). Now that I've had the duck, I'd like to sample some of their other items. The food was great, and the service (at least when we went, at 6pm on a Friday night) was superlative. -
Review from Marco P.
Boston, MA
5/25/2012
That Duck
With A Rosë Bottle. -
Review from Layla L.
Cambridge, MA
5/21/2012
This incredible restaurant will cater to the pickiest (or most pregnant!) eaters on earth. The chef grows the veggies they serve and it's a very individualized and memorable experience that is worth their very reasonable prices!! I have been here on several occasions and plan on returning again and again!!
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Review from Steve M.
Richmond, MA
5/20/2012
Have been here many times and it's become one of my top 5 restaurants in Boston. The creativity is usually just- right on most of the things I've tasted, few things have been "over-done". Some plates have left a shoulder shrug but not many.
The service can be a tad spotty for the price point but never a "bad" experience. Usually very friendly and on top of things. -
Review from Jeff J.
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a friend expecting great things and left wondering what if.
We got an amuse bouche... carrot/ginger soup with saffron. Complex flavors. But too salty.
I ordered the soft cooked farm egg, but not what's listed on the website. This one didn't have the burgundy snails, and had walnuts instead of garlic. I had to ask them to take the walnuts out because I'm allergic... but I think that was a bad mistake on my part. The walnuts probably would've provided a much needed crunch to offset the amazing gooey-ness of everything else. And edible flowers were a nice touch (I'd recently seen them on Chopped and wanted to try for real). The biggest problem though? Too much SALT.
For entree, we both got the sturgeon with *drumroll* ... edible flowers. The sturgeon is a densely packed fish, but the chef managed to make it delicate tasting. It was great texture, and the flavor was developed well. The biggest problem though? Too much SALT. (this isn't a typo... saltiness was a theme)
For dessert we shared the lemon souffle tart with rose pudding. Gorgeous dessert (almost as pretty as my companion!). I don't know if the chef used rose petals for the pudding, but by now we were sensing an obsession with edible flowers. Thankfully, it wasn't overly salty or overly anything. The dessert was impeccable, and I thought... great note to end the night on. It garnered that 4th star.
Then they had to go and ruin everything with some mignardises. Vanilla cookie with a raspberry jelly. The raspberry jelly was egregiously sweet. Almost killed my memory of the souffle tart.
Gosh... should've been 5 stars, but lose the obsession with edible flowers and go easy on the salt and sugar!! -
Review from Marty M.
Boston, MA
5/15/2012
Love it.... one of my favorites.
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Review from Jeff M.
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
For many who are not among the Boston foodie nerds Salts is the best restaurant they have never heard of. Salts does not have the accolades or national press that some of its neighbors have, but, for me this is a good thing. This is a good thing because you do not need to book a table four weeks out and deal with a mass of people who only want to say that they have been to a dining establishment and who do not really appreciate its food. The plates are ultra fancy and the food is worth dreaming about. Salts quietly flies under the radar as Boston best restaurant.
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Review from Jan Mark H.
Bedford, NH
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been to Salts a couple of times and never been disappointed.
It's a fairly small location (just opposite to Craigie on Main) and makes for an intimate atmosphere. A little dark but comfy and quiet.
The food is always great and if you're planning to visit with 2 or more I highly recommend the duck for 2 (or more) , you just have to order it in advance.
Their tasting menu is very reasonable priced and a great choice.
I am not the biggest dessert fan but their dessert are great too.
The wait staff is very friendly and always willing to help/make suggestions.
Probably not the best place for a large group (6 or larger) but for small/medium a great spot. -
Review from Jane S.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
4/5/2012
Excellent combination of food, wine and service
a perfect experince -
Review from Jade R.
Boston, MA
12/2/2011
After much research went into finding the best restaurant for my 2 year anniversary, I decided to go to Salts. I based my decision on the food and how "romantic" the place was said to be.
Food wise, it was absolutely delicious (although a tad overpriced). We ordered the butternut squash soup and a beautiful salad that had roasted root vegetables with goat cheese (presented as a garden on a plate -- magical!) Then of course, we had the duck for two. It's as wonderful as everyone says. However, it's a duck for 4. There will be left overs, which makes me feel like I'm getting a bigger bang for my buck! We finished with the chocolate cremeux, which, I unfortunately did not like. (My boyfriend on the other hand licked the plate clean). I thought it was overpriced and overhyped.
Service wise, it was pretty bad. We didn't even get recognized waiting for a table for several moments. Then, when we are seated, we're ignored for at least 10 minutes... very bizarre.. no one even watered us. Once arrived, he was knowledgeable about the wines and food, and was pleasant to talk with. However, we was very MIA throughout our meal.
To tell you the truth, it's not that "romantic." When you hear the world what do you think of? Dim lights... soft music...candles...cozy seating. Well, sounds lovely, but it was quite opposite. Bright, longer tables for two so it was awkward to hold hands, and very loud.
Would I be back? Eh. The don't get me wrong, the food was delicious. But I'd rather try out other restaurants before running back to this one. -
Review from Joe U.
Cambridge, MA
5/16/2012
Culinary art; not everyday nor for the masses, but if you crave a taste you've never had before, and probably has never existed before, then Salts is what fine dining is about. I don't know if I'd save up that many pennies to splurge here again, but the dining experience I had was very memorable. Every single dish and portion of a dish was painstakingly prepared with panache and creativity. Caveat: it's not always *delicious*, but is always flavorful and fascinating. It's like an outfit from a fashion show - you may want to try it on and be impressed by the fashion sense of the designer, but you don't wear it every day and you're not even sure it looks good on you. The duck for two was very good and the quantity was large (never thought I'd say this at a gourmet restaurant) with great presentation (they slice and plate the duck in front of you). The halibut was very good and the steak was not bad. The one sour note were the rolls - I expected more from a French inspired restaurant. I had two different kinds and they were on the hard/dry/tasteless side...not inedible, but a letdown. Tried 4 desserts and each one had something special in the flavor department. The french onion soup was revisionist in a good way. OK, I don't want to be punny, but my main complaint about flavor is that many things were on the SALTY side. The butter for the rolls, the French onion soup, another soup we were served gratis, and slightly the duck and steak as well. So, why do I give it 5 stars? Amidst the saltiness, there were a multitude of flavors and flavor combinations in every dish that just begged to be slowly savored. For someone who likes to down large chunks of bbq quickly, to evoke such a sensation is an accomplishment. Furthermore, they served several side dishes gratis "from the chef." That just pushes my happy button at a pricey restaurant. The service was excellent and the ambiance was what I would expect from a very cozy exclusive restaurant. So, if you want to play judge-for-a-meal on the Food Network, you can get real close at Salts.
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Review from Regan C.
Cambridge, MA
12/1/2011
By far my favorite restaurant in Camrbidge!!!
I went there for one of many birthday dinners and got the tasting menu with a friend of mine. The wine pairings were perfect and every dish expertly presented in front of us. The chef makes an effort to bring one dish to the table, which was greatly appreciated. Our watiress was increadibly knowledgeable and friendly. You almost wanted to invite her to sit down with you. My absolute favorite part of the dinner was the savory course, where they bring out several different salts. Who knew there was black salt?? Not I. If I could afford to eat here every night, I absolutely would.
This is a must try!! -
Review from Eric F.
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sweet sassy molassey that was one SCRUMPTIOUS duck!
I was in search of a birthday dinner venue for my friend and there was a handful I looked through until my eyes landed on this particular menu...Whole. Duck. For. Two.
I was all over that like gravy on loco moco.
The duck was roasted perfectly with a nice pink hue on the inside. Each bite was deliciously tender and imbued with the pleasant, soft sweetness of lavender honey from the skin. And the stuffing? Bursting with savory goodness. The carrots, turnips and onions gave me nice mini-breaks amidst the carnivorous experience and provided great balance to the meal. So all of this taken together with the fact that we had enough for almost three plates of duck and veggies each made for one helluva fine dining deal.
The lemon tart was quite tasty too and piping hot...they weren't kidding about making each one to order.
Food aside, the restaurant is on the smaller side, but well laid out and very cozy and intimate. Service was on point throughout our meal and some of the best I've seen in general. The staff here really do give 100% to make for an excellent dining experience and the birthday decorations on the table were nice touches. My only point of contention is that this is basically a destination reserved solely for an upscale dinner out for a special occasion as the prices are indeed steep and there are no special offers or a bar section/menu (unlike say, Craigie on Main, down the street) to provide some versatility.
Even so, we had a wonderful meal and I have no hesitation rounding up this ~4.75 star establishment up to 5 =D -
Review from Ian R.
Cambridge, MA
2/15/2012
We had kind of an odd experience here last night, which I'm hoping is not representative of this place in general, but I thought I'd share.
I made a reservation a few weeks in advance and was told on the phone that the chef was preparing a special Valentine's Day tasting menu for the evening, which was to feature a playful take on "aphrodisiac" foods. This turned out to be a fairly generic three course prix fixe featuring such exotic aphrodisiacs as free range chicken and a minor variation on the pasta off the normal menu.
We showed up just in time for our reservation, but couldn't actually even enter the restaurant for several minutes due to the logjam of people waiting to get in the door. Ultimately, we spent the next 45 minutes packed into the little plexiglas box in the doorway pressed shoulder to shoulder with several other couples, while people with later reservations stood out in the street in the February cold.
Luckily, my wife and I have been together long enough to be able to laugh this off as a silly adventure of sorts, but I imagine it would have been a bit mortifying for a young guy taking a new girlfriend out for their first Valentine's Day. The hostess did make a perfunctory apology about the lack of space in the entryway, but didn't really acknowledge the fact that it took nearly an hour to get us a table.
Once we were seated, the service continued to be glacially slow and it was perhaps 30 minutes before we got our appetizers and well over an hour before the main course arrived. When we finally left, it was about three and a half hours after the time of our reservation and the restaurant was still filled with our fellow penalty-box occupants from earlier in the evening, so I'm guessing that we weren't the only ones caught in this time-warp.
The food was fine, but nothing especially imaginative or creative. Basically the kind of unexciting but well-executed thing you'd expect from a recent graduate of a good culinary school. For example, my main course was six or seven ounces of sliced rib eye, perfectly cooked to order (rare) and placed over a scoop of root vegetable puree with a couple of glazed miniature vegetables. I kind of got the feeling that the chef decided to take the night off and left the line cooks with a prix fixe that was supposed to be too simple to screw up.
My overall verdict is that the experience was pretty sub-par for a dinner that cost 250 bucks for two people. Yes, I realize that a truly great dinner can come in at twice that amount or more, but it does seem like enough to not have to wait in line for 45 minutes like I'm going for brunch at a diner.
And really, it's not so much that somebody screwed up. Things happen, I get that. What bothered me about the experience was more the lack of acknowledgement that something had gone wrong. How hard would it have been to open a bottle of cheap champagne and send out a waiter with a tray of glasses and an apology for the people waiting in line? Or to at least take a couple of drinks off the bill or something? Even a quick "sorry about the wait" when the food arrived would have helped.
Basically, this place is pretty amateur given the prices that they charge. -
Review from Jono G.
Somerville, MA
3/3/2012
Yum!!!! Small place so call ahead, make reservations, and order the duck (requires 24 hour notice). They will take great care of you and you will not be disappointed!
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Review from David C.
9/20/2011
There's probably not much more I can say about Salts' duck dinner for two that hasn't already been said (for me it was like having Thanksgiving in September, and that is the best possible praise I can give), but that leaves me open to review other aspects of the restaurant that might otherwise get overlooked.
I should start by acknowledging the restaurant's chief hostess, who is one of the kindest, most gracious human beings I have ever met. I know that is quite a sweeping statement to make when we only shared a few brief exchanges (both in restaurant and on the phone beforehand), but I stand by it. In fact, the entire wait-team was sweet and professional, and I knew early on that my mother and I were in great hands. That being said, it kind of rubbed me the wrong way when they told us we had the last duck of the evening, only to trot out four or five more over the course of the night. That's really just nit-picking, though, and I'm actually inclined to believe that something got lost in translation. I mean, did they really think we weren't going to see everyone else get served their duck? It is quite a production, after all.
This particular meal was a birthday treat for my mother, and it definitely would have been a five-star occasion if our other courses lived up to our duck. Appetizer and dessert, however, didn't quite meet the mark. To start, we ordered the roasted fingerling potatoes topped with frisee and shaved truffles, and drizzled with a mustard balsamic glaze. It was light and tasty, but much too expensive for what it was (the truffles, unfortunately, added little to the dish). For dessert we chose the Chocolate Cremeux, and while it was beautiful to look at, it was quite awkward to eat. The menu says it comes with banana, miso, Salts Farm Kabocha Squash, and peanut dulce de leche ice cream--a littany of unique ingredients to be sure--but they didn't quite come together to form a cohesive dish.
The kitchen was nice enough to include a candle and a large wafer with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate, but it didn't feel very special once you saw that everyone else there was celebrating their various birthdays, anniversaries, and engagements and receiving the same treatment. Still, Salts treats its customers better than almost any restaurant I've ever been to, and I would recommend it for a special occasion in a heartbeat.Listed in: The Real "Best of Boston"
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Review from Cathy S.
Cambridge, MA
So i saved Salts for my anniversary celebration...big mistake.
Well, to be fair, food aside, everything else is nicely done. The host is welcoming and cute, the waitstaff is attentive, the decor and ambiance is romantic and cozy...but the food is a huge, huge let-down.
First of all, it took too long for every course to get out. I mean i literally waited 30 mins for my salad! And it is not even that good, which leads to the second issue: the presentation is beautiful but the flavor is unbearable.
Autumn garden salad: i munched on those hard carrots and beets like an otter. These veggies are not suitable for human consumption. Please, go to True Bistro for the real-deal beets.
Squab: the pigeon tastes funky...too gamey i guess...it is tender though.
Ballotine: mediocre, lacks the wow factor.
Anglonotti: compared to others it is good, but still way too creamy and oily.
Lemon tart souffle: i don't get it! What is the hype all about? It's just a tart, with some ice cream, and some fruits...that's it. -
Review from Kelly A.
9/15/2011
If I had to describe the food I would say simply that it is well executed French food with clean flavors. It's definitely not as adventurous or creative as other restaurants I have been to, but you certainly won't have a bad meal. The ambiance is also charming and romantic and perfect for a date. (I came here for a birthday dinner with my then boyfriend.)
We had the duck which my then boyfriend pre-ordered since he know this bird is my favorite. Served table side, the presentation was beautiful and the portion size exceptionally generous. It seemed like a very good value for the money and also quite tasty.
Overall this place is great. It's very classic. However, I will say that if you're expecting to go somewhere and find surprising flavor combinations or unique technique, this definitely isn't it, but if you want simple, well executed food from great ingredients, it delivers. -
Review from Gretchen C.
East Village, Manhattan, NY
11/12/2011
Honestly, my favorite restaurant in both Boston and NYC. Yes, this is a bold statement but I've been to the Del Posto's and the Merea's here in NYC - and Boston born and bread .. still, Salt holds the #1 spot.
The service, the management, the FOOD. Me and my boyfriend think of the chef here, Gabriel as an artist as the presentations are so meticulous. Every flavor is so unique and so pronounced, I dream about my meals there. From the apps, to the "filler" courses, compliments of the chef to the desserts.
Definitely NYC prices, but for the elegance and experience, Salt is worth every penny. I highly recommend this place. -
Review from Roshini Z.
Cambridge, MA
2/15/2012
We had the same problem as another reviewer who came on Valentine's Day 2012. We had an 8:45 reservation and we weren't seated until 9:30. The hostess explained to us that people in the first seating had shown up late, thus throwing everybody off. I realize this puts the restaurant in a very difficult position but I thought it was really odd that there was no compensation in the form of a free drink or some such (as is standard in upscale, classy places).
The food was very good - well thought, interesting, tasty and plated nicely. Our server was also fine. For some reason we were served more slowly than other couples who were seated after us...but who knows why. So the breakdown of the rating is:
Food: 5 stars
Waitress: 4 stars
Ambience: Quiet, romantic, intimate
Getting seated 45 minutes after our scheduled reservation: Awful! -
Review from Xing X.
Sunnyvale, CA
3/27/2012
one of the best restaurant i've ever been to. food is fantastic and service is excellent. unlike other restaurants, servers at this restaurant do have hearts.
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Review from Nho H.
7/25/2011 8 photos
Not really sure it gets any better than this. We had the chef tasting menu which the chef himself brings out. Talk about great service!
Every dish had a special twist of their summer ingredients. The chef's tasting menu is customized to your taste. The waiter/waitress will ask you any diet restrictions and what you like/dislike. The food itself was beyond amazing. There were some kind of unexpected surprise in each plate. Lovely presentation. All credits to the amazing chef which I had the pleasure of thanking when he brought out our last plate.
I really wish I could describe the food more but I would probably ruin it with missing details of the dish. Go there, its a must! You will not be disappointed. We also got the wine pairing but weren't too blown away by it. -
Review from Carol K.
Gilbert, AZ
7/27/2011
We went here for a special treat via Yelp fans recommendations. We of course had the duck for two which didn't disappoint. It was crispy, moist, delicious and paired with fabulous roasted root vegetables. Loved the romantic ambience of the place and the wait staff was friendly and professional. It feels like a place to go for a special occassion.
I felt it was akward walking into this small restaurant, there was no place to stand and wait, and wait , and wait for someone to acknowlege our existence. When our invisible shield was finally uncloaked, we waited outside for our table to be set up so we werent' hanging over diners by the door.
Do, do the duck for two. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
2/14/2011
Sorry it took so long for me to review you, Salts. I did your Tasting Menu ages ago, but wanted to try your famous duck as well before writing my review. Unfortunately, that took almost a year. In my defense, you *are* across the street from Craigie, my boyfriend's favorite restaurant.....
All right, then. Here's the skinny on Salts:
Tasting Menu: 4 stars
- No doubt different now than it was back then. Some of the dishes we tried included beef medallion, some juicy chicken and a fantastic dessert with chocolate foam, cookie and cookie crumbs. I was treated to my meal, so I don't know how much it cost, but if it seems reasonable to you, I'd say go ahead and try it. I certainly liked it better than No. 9 Park and there's no way Salts is more expensive than that snob factory.
Duck for Two: 4.5 stars
- Yes, you're not going to feel all that unique when you realize every other table around you is having the same thing, but once you bite into that plump, tender, juicy, perfectly-roasted bird, you won't bloody care. I wanted to lick my plate at the end. The accompanying veggies and sliced pear are just as delicious. You can tell the whole thing's been roasting in its delicious gravy for hours because it all tastes like duckfection (that's "duck" + "perfection").
Other fun things to get while you're here: the Wild Japanese Hamachi and the Brown Butter Pecan Panna Cotta. I am....how you say....OBSESSED WITH HAMACHI!!!!! I could eat slices of beautiful, delectable yellowtail all day and night if it wouldn't bankrupt me and possibly kill me with mercury. This is one of the best hamachi apps I've come across, both in terms of value and presentation. The cuts were beautiful and thick, and perfectly accented with citrus, vegetables and other garnishes.
The Panna Cotta, with vanilla compressed apple, maple, caramel, and apple cider was incredibly light and delicious, despite the seemingly heavy ingredients. It's what I call a "silencer': one of those dishes that's so good, you and your dining companions completely stop talking as you busily stuff your faces with it. I must say, Salts is quite underrated as a dessert destination. I've continually been impressed by the desserts they offer.Listed in: Obsession: Yellowtail…
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Review from Aboud Y.
Cambridge, MA
4/12/2011
Wow.
The food here was delicious (among the best fine dining meals I've sampled in Boston) but the staff and service at this place was truly, truly exceptional. It *was* the best I've experienced in Boston...and ranks up there with the best anywhere.
Definitely recommend and definitely going back.Listed in: Boston Posh
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Review from Vivian C.
4/2/2011 11 photos
To make a reservation, Salts is not on Opentable, so you'll have to call them direct and wait for a call back. When they called me back, I made sure to let them know that we wanted to have the Whole Roasted Boneless Duck for Two as to avoid any possibility of their running out the night of our visit. I made brief mention that we were coming to celebrate a birthday, and they acknowledged that they had paid attention to every word I said by the sprinkling of silver birthday confetti on the table that greeted us upon our arrival, and by the tasty birthday cookie that later garnished our dessert selection.
This was my first visit to Salts, which is a neighbor to Royal East, so I was a bit confused as I entered through the exterior door only to have to make a few turns through a small entrance way to finally arrive at the dining room. Go, and you'll see what I meant by that.
I was personally walked to our table by the hostess, to join my friend who had arrived shortly before me.
We perused the menu for an appetizer to join our entree selection, and decided to share the egg appetizer (Soft cooked farm egg, Burgundy snails, duck ham, morels, parsley, green garlic, steel cut oat risotto, and walnut oil - the description of which I grabbed from Jeannie H.'s review, since it isn't listed on their online menu... I think it was $16), seeing as a whole duck was probably more than enough for us two lightweights.
Each of us were served a pair of warm crisp crusted rolls from a basket to enjoy with the softened butter provided, which seemed rather generous in this day and age where bread is either served only upon request or only one piece at a time at certain higher end establishments. Then, surprise! Perhaps a quarter cup (but really, I have no idea) of a nice little soup to amuse us - Parsnip & Pear Soup. It was a nice creamy treat!
The egg appetizer arrived in a nice shareable portion due to the denseness of the creamy oat risotto. It was a nice, interesting dish.
Thirty minutes later (no joke - I looked at the time stamp of my photos), we were presented with a nice fat glistening duck. Mmm... After the photo op that they alloted us, the bird was whisked away to the table at the center of the dining room for plating. (If you want a view of the duck being dismembered - in a yummy fashion - book the table by the vase.) A portion of root veggies, half a pear, and two nice pieces of duck adorned each plate, with the rest of the duck awaiting us on the side, which was later boxed for our convenience.
The duck was well done, but very tender and yummy, with a slight crisp to the skin. I do wish, however, that the duck was better plucked... I peeled off some of the skin that looked a bit too gristly to me. The pear added a nice sweetness, and the veggies were cooked just right.
For dessert, we selected the Lemon Souffle' Tart, Lychee Gelee, Raspberry, Rose, Green Tea Ice Cream. $12. This was nice and sour/sweet, with a crisp pastry shell.
As a little something extra, two little tastes arrived on a piece of black slate - Banana & Passion Fruit Patifeaux and Coconut Vanilla Shortbread. Nice.Listed in: Duck Duck Goose!
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Review from Doris K.
3/1/2011
1 course = 3 hours!
We had the duck (what everyone talks about when you mention Salts) and thought that it was fantastic but the service leaves much to be desired.
We arrived to a restaurant that was half full but no one in sight to greet us at the door. After being sat we were poured water, given the menus to look at, went through the wine list extensively, chatted, took a restroom break, chatted some more with the menus closed and yet no one came by to ask us what we wanted to drink. The rest of the night continued like this where there were large gaps in service. I would guess that it took us over 30 minutes before we actually received our bottle of wine.
I agree with everyone that has reviewed Salts before me that the duck is fantastic. The first bite was a little sweet for my taste but as I took the second and third bite the flavors really blended well. We didn't have dessert because they ran out of panna cotta which is what I wanted that night. I feel like that's usually something that you would explain to your patrons right when you drop off the dessert menu for them to peruse. Because our server didn't do that, we spent another 20 minutes waiting for her to come back and just to let us know they did not have what we wanted. Then there was another 30 minutes to bring us the check. Even though the duck tasted good, the 3 hour dinner with only the duck has left a bad taste in mouth. -
Review from Michael C.
Boston, MA
9/20/2011 1 photo
Salts is a fantastic dining experience! It is a great French restaurant located close to Central/Kendall Square. We decided long before we arrived that we were going to have their legendary Roast Duck for Two. We didn't get appetizers and didn't have room for dessert. They provided us with plenty of piping hot rolls though that came with sea salted butter. If you like duck this is a can't miss dish, be warned though, you have to reserve the duck when you make your reservation (it's was almost like a 3rd person at our table). The duck comes filled with stuffing, plenty of marinated veggies on the side, and glazed in a lavender honey sauce. To be honest, it is probably enough for 4. The duck gets brought to you whole and they will either cut it up at your table or on a serving station. Enjoy!
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Review from Wayne D.
Shrewsbury, MA
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
For date night go here. Attention to detail in every way. Quaint, friendly, delicioso. Get lost in the food, wine and conversation as its not a fast dinner... and that is sometimes exactly what we need. Enjoy!
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Review from Chad T.
4/15/2011 8 photos
Wow! This place was really excellent and probably the best value for this quality food and wine that I've had in a LONG TIME, now that everybody is trying to capitalize on the food craze.
We did the chef's tasting, which consisted of:
- De-constructed French onion soup (amuse bouche)
- Tasmania Trout with caraway greek yogurt
- Atlantic Halibut
- Soft egg with hen of the woods and chanterelle mushrooms, steel cut oats in risotto form, topped with parmesan cheese foam
- Beef ribeye, tongue, and short rib
- PB&J dessert amuse bouche (concord grape sorbet with peanut crumbles) and micro-celery
- Chocolate with miso/peanut butter sorbet
- Yuzu Marshmallow and Passion Fruit Gelee
For this great value ($35 total for the wine pairings... and these were not small pours) I was really impressed. A true gem. -
Review from Mike G.
New York, NY
12/18/2011
This restaurant is really as good as it gets. It was one of the first places I have ever been where the food was incredible but the service was even better. The owner of the restaurant who was there went far beyond her need to be accommodating and courteous. Because of some simple menu substitutions were were more than compensated. We originally went there because we saw some pictures of their food online and thought it was so beautiful and it met all of our expectations. This is the type of restaurant that ends up getting Michelin ratings.
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Review from Corinna R.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
2/15/2012
My husband and I went here for Valentine's Day last night and had a very mixed experience. When we showed up for our 8:30pm reservation, the kitchen was hopelessly behind, which meant a huge crowd of people gathered outside (in the cold) to wait. We were seated 45 minutes after our reservation, and got our entree 1 hour and 15 minutes after being seated. The food was delicious, no complaints, but what seemed strange to us was that no one acknowledged that there was a significant problem. I kept expecting the restaurant to make some kind of apologetic gesture, but none came. Maybe on a different night this place would be great, but last night didn't reflect well on their sense of customer service.
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Review from M Y.
Los Angeles, CA
3/25/2011 2 photos
I was in food heaven. I definitely recommend coming here and get the Duck for two. You HAVE to call ahead and reserve though. There wasn't one dish where my sister and I were moaning with pleasure.
We ordered the Russian Valley Pinot Noir.
They kept on giving us complimentary bread even though I kept on telling them I was watching my carb intake ( such an LA thing to say).
Appetizer:
- Hamachi Yellowtail - Fresh and yummy. Nothing too exciting.
- Beat salad - heavenly.
- Escargot Dish - I think the best appetizer. The flavors were rich and didn't taste like you were eating escargot.
- Soup - parsnip with vanilla ( complimentary).
Entree:
- Duck for two: let's just say that this would be my last meal if I was ever on death row ( hoping this won't ever happen). The Duck was moist, succulent and flavorful. The roasted pear and, potatoes, carrots and vegetables all complimented the meat very well. The meat also didn't taste "gamey at all". The meat literally melts in your mouth. I let loose and devoured everything.
They bring a whole duck and cut it into pieces for you and explain how it should be eaten.
The lovely sommelier made the really made the whole dining experience 100x more pleasurable. Her infections energy and passion for what she does is amazing.
The chef also gave us free dessert.
It was worth every penny and I would fly back to Boston just to eat here again. -
Review from Eric F.
Boston, MA
10/31/2010
I booked a reservation at Salts in late July for my girlfriend's 23rd birthday. The main reason I chose Salts is because of the positive reviews I had seen on yelp. I decided to go with the 5 course tasting menu (that is actually 7 courses), a flat fee of $75 where you are asked about dietary restrictions and preferences, so the chef will create (I imagine at least) what he thinks is the best meal possible. This is going to a bit of a love fest, but as you can see from my other reviews, that is not my style.
Co-Owner and Front of the House Manager Analia Verolo was very helpful and friendly as I booked my reservation, made her suggestions and was even kind enough to decorate our table with a birthday theme. We started with freshly baked bread with sea salt flecked butter -- I had to actively restrain from eating more bread in an effort to save room for our meal. It was around this time we ordered a bottle or Laurent Kraft, a simple but clean and crisp white. Retrospectively, I would consider wine pairings, but you really can't go wrong. Here are the highlights of my meal...
Our first course was a White Gazpacho with heirloom radishes, garden blossoms, toasted nuts and a macadamia nut crusted Greek yogurt in the middle. Texturally, the gazpacho was amazing, lighter than air and a perfect way to start a seven course tasting. The flavors were spot on, fresh, authentic and spicy. The radishes, nuts, grapes and macadamia" truffle" was delicious, and provided an amazing textural contrast. Each bite of the gazpacho was different, some bites were more earthy due to the radishes and herbs, others sweeter and sour with the green grapes and some and crunchy nutty bites. It was everything gazpacho should be and more. A highlight of the evening.
Course 2 was "from the garden" red and golden roasted beets, baby carrots, baby corn and sugar snap peas with a "soil" of roasted leeks, goat cheese and roasted onions. Salts has an organic farm in Canterbury, NH, and it really shows. On top of the thematic presentation, the veggies were a joy to eat, fresh, seasoned to perfection. There was a guttural earthiness in the dish that was impossible to recreate when not using farm fresh produce. An ideal second course, seasonal, fresh and light and presented with an air of humor and whimsy.
Course 3 was a quasi deconstructed clam chowder with pan seared scallops. The scallops were tender and perfectly cooked, the clams were tasty and the fresh baby corn, mini chanterelle mushrooms, whipped potato mousse and just a little bit of bacon rounded out the dish, each present and complementing, but not overwhelming. A clam jus around the edge brought the flavors together, all the delicious seasonal clam chowder flavors but cooked and treated with a touch of French flair and fine dining technique.
Course 4 was a free range chicken Ballantine, dark meat inside white meat mousse inside a deliciously crisp skin. A goat cheese stuffed fried squash blossom provided an excellent textural contrast, while the grapefruit and darjeen tea reduction was a clean favor that subtly enhanced the chicken well. A sautéed pepper with grain (the name escapes me) and diced salts farm zucchini provided some freshness and earthiness. The chicken was the surprise of the evening, you could taste that it was a farm fresh and free range chicken. This dish redefined that bland, boring staple of American dinner tables into something so much more.
Just when I thought I couldn't eat anymore, our pre-dessert came on the table, a fortified lemon soufflé, with farm fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. The soufflé was so light, the berries drizzled in a berry sauce that made the dessert so easy to eat. I was quite full but finished in seconds it was so good. A perfect transition from the meat course to dessert.
Overall the meal was amazing, easily the most delicious meal I have ever eaten. Between the tasting, wine (a bottle of white laurent and two glasses to start), tip and tax, the meal cost 265. A pretty penny, to be sure, but easily worth it. My girlfriend and I agreed that while all of the food was spectacular, the gazpacho and chicken dishes stood out (deconstructed clam chowder there as well) as the best dishes of the night. Service was solid, we were given between 5-10 minutes per course to digest and get excited for what was to come, and the whole experience lasted approximately 2 1/2 hours.
After the meal I asked to see the executive chef Gabriel Bremer (Food & Wine Magazine's Top 10 Best New Chef in America in 2007) to thank him for composing an amazing eating experience. He (and the front of the house manager) were incredibly gracious and we had a nice little conversation to end night on a good note.
Salts is five star food, fresh and seasonal ingredients prepared at the highest level you will see in the Boston area. I have recommended Salts to many friends and will continue to do so. Pure class. Keep doing what you do. -
Review from John C.
Boston, MA
1/12/2011
We made a last-minute reservation; most tables were taken when we arrived, but we were the last table to leave at 10:30. The dining room is cozy and quiet; the tables were nicely spaced--nobody looked uncomfortably close to their neighbors.
Our server was wonderful, completely attentive and not at all condescending (we've encountered some snobby service at restaurants at this price point, but thankfully not here).
All of the food was amazing--the word we kept coming back to, from appetizer to dessert, was "rustic" (in a good way). Local, seasonal vegetables, simple yet assertive flavors, and beautiful presentation. For appetizers, we ordered the Nantucket Bay Scallops and Beet Salad. Both were unbelievable; the scallops and foie gras were incredibly savory, and my girlfriend's beet salad was sweet and complex at the same time. For entrees, I ordered the beef and she ordered cod; we both felt like the main ingredients took a backseat to the other flavors on the plate. Desserts were heavenly, the pacing of the meal was appropriate, portions are smaller than at other restaurants, but probably much closer to a suggested serving size. All in all, we had an amazing experience--some of the best food in Boston. We will be back. -
Review from M N.
Brookline, MA
7/13/2011
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Boston and probably among my top 10 favorites in the whole world (aka places outside of the american continent).
With all the new 'fine dining", "fusion-something" and "gastro-this" places that seem to open every week, it is truly rare to find a place where you can feel the love of the art and respect for ingredients rather than the love for the green $$$$ in your pocket. The service was great and extremely professional: they seem to magically appear when you start thinking you may need something and otherwise discretely disappear to let you enjoy what you came for :) - Here you will not experience: "how-is-everything-can-I-get-you-something-great-b ye" while you are still chewing on the bite you took before the waiter arrived.
I could comment about the dishes, but honestly I don't have a favorite. Instead I seriously recommend the chef's tasting menu which is customized to your taste. First your waiter will ask you about any diet restrictions and your likes and dislikes. Then based on your feedback, you will get a truly special meal created just for you. The food is not only delicious but it is also a pleasure for your eyes - The tastes are amazingly innovative in some cases: just when you thought there wasn't something you didn't try you will get a surprise. I lost count of how many courses we had... I think I stopped counting at 7...
There I said it - I am in love with this place! -
Review from Nick H.
9/9/2010 1 photo
PROLOGUE:
Salts is one of those places that has been on my list of restaurants playing hard to get for quite some time.
Unanimous praise and location in the Beluga Triangle of Cambridge (the Kendall-Hampshire-Central culinary death trap of stellar cooking that includes gems like Blue Room, Cuchi Cuchi, Evoo and Oleana) have been beckoning my palate here from the beginning.
Finally, on a sweaty late-summer night my dreams came true.
CH.1: THE SPOT
First of all - this is a tiny, intimate spot with hours meant to keep non-foodies away: 6-10pm Tues thru Sat. And the place is small. I mean, if you are not planning and plotting to eat awesome food weeks in advance you are not eating here.
When you get in and look at the menu - you'll notice that IT is similarly elusive, which I respect. I'd rather have a small number of excellently-executed dishes than three pages with the good stuff hidden.
CH. 2: AMUSE BOUCHE
Ok - the food. Started with an amuse-bouche that included a crazy yogurt invention topped with French ham and bathing in a cucumber liquide of sorts. Very pretty, and very decent. Interesting.
CH. 3: APPETIZER
Next - seasonal salad with goat cheese that was a sight to behold - baby carrots, what looked like baby radish, and all sorts of fresh exotic stuff rested beautifully atop a zatar-like spice and goat cheese. Again very pretty, decent. Interesting.
CH. 4: ENTREE
Now the dish that had me raving. Atlantic Halibut cooked perfectly in a method that really preserved the structure of the fish while still leaving it moist and succulent. Amazing. As if that wasn't enough, the fish was crowned in black truffle "caviar", surrounded by perfect (perhaps best ever) heirloom potato gnocchi, and loved by a dreamy dill emulsion.
CH. 5: VINO & SWEET
Everything was accompanied by a beautiful bottle of French pinot gris from Alsace which was reasonably-priced and lovely. Nice range of prices and quality on the menu here. Though we did not order dessert, the gratis house-made marshmallows dusted in chocolate were heavenly.
CH. 6 THE VERDICT
The overall assessment of Salts is as follows. Great technique on the cooking and perhaps some of the best presentation I've ever seen anywhere. Seriously, beautiful dishes that actually had me taking pictures of them. Though intriguing and thoughtful, I wanted more from the appetizer and amuse-bouche. The halibut easily vaulted into my Top 10 dishes of 2010, with the wine and dessert taste a nice touch as well.
I can tell that Salts delivers the food of the earth on a regular (and seasonal) basis and I'll certainly be back to sample at other times of year.
Solid.
THE END
