The Salty Rim — Restaurant in Corolla

Terrible Food, Disorganized Payment Process, and Disrespectful Tip Accusation

I visited The Salty Rim with a group of friends, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from beginning to end—particularly when it came to the food and the way our payment was handled.

I ordered the Birria Ramen for $15, and it was one of the worst dishes I’ve ever had at that price point. The beef was about 90% fat, with barely any ramen noodles. The broth had some flavor, but nothing could make up for the fact that most of the dish was inedible. My friend got the same thing and had the exact same complaint. It was absolutely not worth what we paid.

The payment process was just as bad, if not worse. When it came time to settle our checks, one staff member handled card payments while a different server took cash, saying cash payments had to be taken downstairs. My friend and I both paid in cash, separately, and handed our payments directly to the staff.

Here’s exactly what we paid:

I gave two $10 bills and a $5 bill. My bill was $18.62, so I left a $6.38 tip. My friend paid with a $20 bill and two $1 bills. His bill was $17.68, and he left a $3.32 tip, just shy of 20%. We paid, left the table, and figured that was the end of it. But while the rest of our group was still closing out their tabs by card, staff came back and falsely claimed that we only left $1 each as a tip. They also insisted that our checks were combined, which was not true. Although they didn’t directly demand more money, they made the rest of the group feel bad and uncomfortable, to the point that someone added an extra $3 in cash to "make it right"—even though it absolutely wasn’t necessary.

Whether this was due to poor communication, careless handling, or something more questionable, it was extremely disrespectful and unprofessional. We tipped more than fairly, and being accused of not tipping—after already leaving—was offensive and embarrassing. That alone was enough to ruin the experience.

Summary:

Food: 1/5 – Fatty, overpriced, and barely edible. Service: 1/5 – Friendly at first, but totally disrespected us at the end with false accusations. Professionalism: 1/5 – Mishandled cash payments and made our group feel uncomfortable with misleading claims. I won’t be returning to The Salty Rim, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The food was bad, the handling of payments was worse, and the way they treated us over tips we clearly left was just...

I truly wanted to like it here while I was on vacation because I heard such good reviews, but the drink was okay, service wasn’t really the best multiple people from the back walked out and helped other people at the end of the bar but not us until someone else finally helped us. The menu really needs some more detail, my boyfriend forgot to mention he has alghagale when ordering the chowder, which shows no where in the description that it’s topped with bacon, and when we received the food we wanted to make sure and turns out it’s made with bacon on it which he can’t have. They remade it, he still paid for it, but he did not eat it because it was never clear if it was cooked with bacon or garnished with bacon. I ordered the birria ramen which I was really excited to try, I asked for no cilantro and it still came with cilantro. It also says no where on the menu that it comes with red onions, which I don’t like. I tried picking them out but it was distributed throughout eat bite. Also I think it’s odd I asked for a fork and was told they only had spoons, because you can’t even eat regular ramen with a spoon. Unsure, I wouldn’t recommend for anyone who’s a picky eater or has allergies because the menu isn’t detailed enough to show everything that...

🎉 The Salty Rim – Corolla, NC (1104 Corolla Village Rd, just steps from the Currituck Beach Lighthouse) 

From the moment we walked in, the laid-back beach vibes hit us right—it’s the perfect mix of casual and lively, with fun tunes and views of the iconic lighthouse .

Service was top-notch: Will, Rex, and Ethan went above and beyond—welcoming, attentive, and always with good spirits. They brought the energy and personalized service that made our visit memorable.

The frozen margarita? Absolutely epic. Topped our OBX vacation with the best margarita in Corolla (no contest). Fresh, balanced, and strong enough to satisfy without overpowering. Add in flavor-packed tacos and burritos—it’s a match made in beachy heaven.

Highlights: • 🌅 Ambiance: Relaxed beach shack with lively staff and chill vibes • 🍹 Margarita: Perfectly frozen, well-balanced, and a local favorite • 🌮 Food: Elevated Mexican comfort—tacos and burritos that hit the spot • 👥 Staff: Will, Rex, and Ethan were warm, proactive, and added a personal touch

If you’re in Corolla, visiting The Salty Rim is a no-brainer. For the margarita alone—and that hospitality vibe—it’s become a must-stop on our Outer Banks itinerary. Can’t...