Salt Bar

09/30/09

Perfect for 2 friends catching up!

by HottyToddyNYC

Salt in Lower East Side was perfect for 2 friends: red wine, bacon wrapped dates, coconut shrimp, cheese plate and tuna tartar. The service was slow, which prompted the waiter to refill our wine glasses on the house...we appreciated his gesture. Yummy find in Lower East Side!

• Pros: Warm atmosphere.
• Cons: Wait time for food.

01/10/09

sweet dating spot

by laura757

Well unlike the reviewers below, I did not find it too loud. Perhaps I missed out on this manager? It is such a romantic little spot with a neat vibe. The food and staff were great. Can't wait to go back.

• Pros: food, ambience, staff
• Cons: over sauced salad

10/14/08

Earsplitting music, otherwise good ambience and drinks

by ecparker71

I agree with the reviewer below who complained of the noise level. It's not a big space and is layed out to encourage conversation, both at the tables and at the bar, but the music was insistently cranked so loud over and over again by the manager (despite several requests to turn it down) that my friend and I left, slightly deafened and frustrated by the fact that we had to shout even just sitting next to one another at the bar. I suspect that this problem has more to do with that particular manager than general policy. The bartenders were cleary afraid of him (they would turn down the music but not actually speak to him about it and give in when he turned it back up) and he exuded a hostile vibe.

• Pros: Drinks and food, polite bartenders, unpretentious
• Cons: Noise level

10/10/08

Great place, music too loud.

by poprock

It's really unfortunate. Salt Bar has been a place I've frequented many times. I feel bad saying this -- because Salt Bar is GREAT -- and the ambience is awesome -- but the manager tonight blew it. The music was ridiculously loud. I mean, you couldn't have a conversation. Don't get me wrong. 1. I love music. 2. I like it sorta loud. However, this was bad. Everytime someone in the restaurant asked for it to be lowered the bartenders and waitresses abided immediately. Not the manager! He kept changing it up, despite the customers' requests. I've been told by people who work there that other nights are better (i.e when that manager isn't there causing ear drum damage.)... I will go back for sure. Just on nights when he isn't there.

• Pros: Love the service.
• Cons: oversight is spotty -- too obsessed with turning the ipod up. too loud.

03/27/08

perfect comfortable spot

by lovefood77

I have yet to go to a New York City restaurant with as much warmth and comfortability we did not feel like leaving hours after our meal was finito. You instantly feel welcome the moment you walk in.

we adored it and are excited to return very soon

• Pros: the ambience is perfection
• Cons: the location is far from my lifestyle

01/27/08

Quaint Romance on the Lower East Side

by edex

I have been coming to Salt bar for years. The service has always been above average, rock n' roll/blues plays on the iPod selection from behind the bar. The food is wonderful and the location is perfect.

• Pros: location, service, ambience, friendly, food, music

01/02/08

Lovely space, terrible service

by missmadison

This place has such potential. It's adorable, and I was really looking forward to coming here. But the service was terrible-the bartender was just very rude, and only informed us it was cash only after we'd ordered drinks. I will not go back-from what I'm seeing of the reviews everyone else has written, they desperately need to rethink the 'service' aspect of this place.

• Pros: nice space
• Cons: RUDE waitstaff

12/12/07

One of our most memorable NYC nights out!

by camillebeck

Don't listen to the other reviews! My experience with the Salt Bar was seamless.

My husband and I held my father-in-law's birthday party here and everything from working with the event planner to the end of the night was great. They were extremely accommodating to our needs and made sure everyone was constantly taken care of. There was plenty of food out and it was very yummy. We only heard praise from our family and friends. (And this is a very picky crowd.) No one was ever without drinks.

We even stayed after our party was over because we were having such a great time. The service was still great. The other patrons all seem pleased as well.

The staff and the owner were tons of fun and added to the enjoyment of the night. They helped provide the atmosphere we were striving to find at other NYC bars and were lucky to find it here.

Be your own judge when deciding on the Salt Bar. We look forward to returning for plenty more good times!

• Pros: very relaxed atmosphere, great service
• Cons: parking can be a pain in this area

10/01/06

a big let-down

by hearthetrain

the atmosphere at salt is lovely. unfortunately i can't say the same about the service.. the bartender treated us like idiots for asking to start a tab (cash only bar) and then told us that about ninety-five percent of the specialty cocktails were no longer served. we tried one of the few still available, liked it, and ordered another, and were scolded for not ordering them at the same time. the bar was also relatively empty for a saturday night. we promptly finished our (inconsistent) drinks and left, and certainly do not intend to go back. definitely a let-down.

10/29/05

too dark to see the food!

by mongoliamary

Salt bar is really geared more towards drinks and light foods, and it's a great trendy scene and very lively. But they really shouldn't put their entrees in bowls if the light levels are going to stay so low, as the food just looks like a dark glob of mush. I couldn't even eat my chicken because I couldn't see how to cut it, and it is completely unappetizing to have a bowl full of dark stuff that you can't see sitting in front of you. I took the food home, and once I could see it, it tased pretty good. The appetizers are great, esp the dates in bacon (and they are on a plate and spaced out enough so that you can actually make out the form of the food in the low light!)

• Pros: dates in bacon, trend o rama
• Cons: too dark to eat!