Saltus River Grill — Restaurant in Beaufort

Upon arriving (5mins) early for our 5pm reservation everyone was waiting outside til 5:05 when they opened the door. The hostess then proceeded to seat us at the worst table in the corner facing a wall. We ordered 4 appetizers (6 oysters, 1 wedge & 2 Crab bisques). Appetizers were not served together. Actually it was about 25mins from when the oysters were served & finished before the wedge & 2 Crab Bisques (were sent back twice for being cold) were served. After 2 attempts to have our soup served hot we decided no more attempts since the wedge was now also finished. The server said the reason all the appetizers did not come out together was they came from "different kitchens". Dinners were served with no bread that we were told was coming. Had to request steak knives, more tea, plates to be cleared. A so-called manager came to ask how the food was and we proceeded to inform her of everything to this point. All she said was "I won't charge you for the soups" even though the Osso Buco was inedible and untouched on the plate. We then had to flag the server down to ask for the check and all she kept saying is "can "I show you the dessert menu". We then paid the check via cash & had to inform the hostess there was cash on the table since no one ever came back to pickup. What a total Disappointment from Start to Finish ( Funny is we have been there before and enjoyed it but tonight turned us off completely) Also can someone please explain the inconsistency (picture upon request) of the "local fried shrimp for $30/lb

I will try to be more cordial when I write & publish my review... But I have to say...Tonight seemed to showcase the 2nd string at best which failed miserably Training goes a long way...

Pretty shockingly bad service. My boyfriend and I had a 7:15pm reservation, which I made one month in advance with a request to be seated outdoors. When we arrived, we were told there was no availability outdoors, so we said that we’d wait at the bar until a table was ready since we had been looking forward to eating by the river. The hostess said it would be a 15 minute wait and that she’d check in with us if it was taking any longer. After 25 mins, I went to ask her for an update and mentioned I could see a table that had clearly been open since we’d arrived. She reluctantly seated us after conferring with another member of staff - it then took literally 20 minutes for a waitress to come over. We didn’t even get the chance to order food until 8:15pm. There remained several empty tables outdoors for the entire time we were seated.

I understand restaurants get busy, may be understaffed and/or training new staff. I wouldn’t leave a bad review or be upset if there had been even minimal apology or acknowledgement of the wait. But their whole vibe was passive aggressive and unwelcoming. I’ve had restaurants comp our drinks and/or desserts for much smaller inconveniences and have really never left a restaurant in the USA feeling offended by the service before.

I have to say the food was really good. I don’t know if it’s complacency being one of the nicer restaurants in town, or if things are just done differently in Beaufort, or if they only treat locals well, or what, but it...

We had an exceptional experience at Saltus River Grill in Beaufort, SC. Making a reservation through OpenTable was seamless, and the visit exceeded our expectations. It’s easily some of the best food we’ve ever had in Beaufort, and we make it a regular stop when we’re in the area.

One standout feature is the restaurant’s convenient access to the water. They offer a free public dock where you can tie up for up to three hours, perfect for those traveling along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). There are also plenty of good anchorages nearby.

As for the food, everything we tried was fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed the roast herb chicken—perfectly cooked with rich, savory flavors. The cocktails had a delightful Lowcountry flair and were well-crafted. My wife had the shrimp and grits, which were nothing short of amazing. This wasn’t your typical cheesy-grit dish; instead, it offered a complex and layered flavor profile that elevated the experience. The collard greens were, without a doubt, the best I’ve ever had—and as a self-proclaimed collard greens snob, I consider that high praise.

We will definitely be returning. The prices were reasonable, though the wine list felt a bit overpriced—a trend we’ve noticed elsewhere as well. On the other hand, the cocktails provided excellent value.

Saltus River Grill delivers on every front—fantastic food, great atmosphere, and excellent service. Highly recommended, especially for boaters passing...