Rock Salt Restaurant & Cafe — Restaurant in Salt Spring Island Electoral Area

Disappointing Experience at Rock Salt Restaurant & Cafe

We today visited Rock Salt Restaurant & Cafe during a one-day trip to Salt Spring Island, drawn in by the restaurant's high Google review ranking. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what we had hoped for, particularly due to a troubling issue with one of the dishes we ordered.

We ordered the Tuk Tuk Bowl, which included mussels and prawns. To our dismay, the mussels in the dish were not fresh. Out of the few served, three were especially bad—smelly, with a texture akin to mud, and a strong odor reminiscent of rotten fish. My wife, assuming this was normal, swallowed two of them before realizing something was off. She then spit out the third one and immediately informed our waiter.

The waiter checked with the kitchen and came back to tell us that the mussels were "fine and normal," which was quite surprising given how bad they tasted. They offered us a mere $4 refund for the dish, which we found inadequate considering the distress caused.

Upon returning home, my wife experienced symptoms that were nearly identical to food poisoning—stomach discomfort, bloating, and slight vomiting. This has only heightened our concerns about the food quality at this establishment.

For a meal that cost us $210.64 (including a $32.13 tip), we expected much better in terms of food quality and overall experience. Seafood, especially in the summer, requires strict quality control, and it’s alarming that something like this could happen.

I urge the restaurant management to pay closer attention to the freshness of the seafood they serve, especially in the summer heat when it’s prone to spoilage. Customers should not have to risk their health when dining out.

To fellow diners: If you decide to try the Tuk Tuk Bowl, please be cautious and check the mussels carefully before eating. I hope no one else has to go through...

The waitress told my wife and that we could sit anywhere we wanted, as we sat down at a table that had view she told us that we could not sit there (with a bit of an attitude like I had just broke the salt shaker off the table) so we moved to a table with no view. Then she sat a single customer at the table after we moved to the other table. We ordered two cups of coffee and my wife ordered a brunch item and I ordered a soup and sandwich. When a couple at another table with a view left we said to the waitress that we would like to move to that table after they leave. We were then told that she did not want to rush them. Which I totally understand with. After the couple left the restaurant my wife and I moved our coffees over to the other table. We then were told by that same waitress that we could not sit there because two customers that just arrived at the restaurant were going to sit there. I didn’t think that we were be out of line at all and I also thought that we were being polite and understanding as well. But I guess I was wrong. I then said to the waitress that I changed my mind on the food and then would like to pay for the coffees. She told me that they were already preparing our meals. I said well I think that we will just pay for the coffee because obviously you are to busy and we are just in your way. She went to the kitchen to cancel the orders. Another waitress came over and asked what had happened. I explained it she apologized for the inconvenience and offered to pay for the coffees. I thanked her for her kindness but politely declined her offer and paid for our coffees. I know that we are tourists onSalt Spring Island just visiting family but I sure did feel that we were a major inconvenience for this waitress. My wife and both decided that we will never return to this restaurant again and we will tell others about...

Order food 3 days straight in a row, first morning I order 2 matchas for me and my wife.

The Lady making them talked over my drinks the entire time. On top of that with another customer that half sneezed over my drinks.

Then she handed them to me. I took them home, then they went straight into the garbage.

Tonight I ordered ahead. Said the order would take 30 minutes, I said fine I’m around 30 away. Pack the stew separately because I didn’t eat it the night before because it became soggy. Got there picked up my food tipped the girl for remembering me from the night before. Then bang, she brings out the food and it wasn’t separated, so she handed it back and asked them to remake it. Now I’m here with all the other food. I mentioned to the cashier that my rest of my food is gonna be cold by the time I got the stew. 20 minutes later out comes the chili, not stew.

I ordered the so called Ruckle stew two nights in a row with a lamb burger and poutine plus a few pastries. First night ordered the stew with a side rice. By the time I got home it was saturated almost through the box. didn’t even bother eating it.

Ordered again tonight they gave me less that a half of cup of rice which even more sadly, was more dried coconut flakes than rice ratio and the coconut wasn’t cooked so it was crunchy and

The so called stew that is actually a weird lamb chili, not an actual stew. Smh you can tell they chopped up long chunks of the same burger patty used for the burger inside the stew with obviously canned beans. If you’ve worked the kitchen long enough you can tell the difference. I wouldn’t recommend the food especially not for the price if the ingredients used inside is sub par to price being charged for a particular dish. The service is hit and miss. I spent almost a $100 buck 2 nights in a row and didn’t...