SALT — Restaurant in Juneau

Right out of the gate: the lighting is very dim in Salt, so my photos aren't the best. Also, I have an old Android. Nuff said there. This review is 5 stars bc of the halibut and lollipop lamb chops. Other items on the menu were will less than 5. So, the halibut, juicy, tender, and subtly sweet. FYI...If your halibut is ever strong and fishy flavored, it is old. The lollipop lambchops were the best I've eaten, and I've eaten my share. Rare, extra juicy, tender, no knife needed. Instead, use your hands, grab the bone and bite off a chunk. The appetizer scallops were a little pedestrian. They were not over cooked, but the proscuitto was floppy and way too salty. The scallops would have been better served with a contrasting maple bacon or even whiskey cured bacon instead of the proscuitto. RE: bacon and salt, not all bacon is really salty. Also, add some color to the presentation. Maybe a spray of sliced strawberries. Or few fresh sliced cherries. Baked oysters Rockefeller, average. For dessert the Coconut Cake was a bit over the top. The internal portion of the cake crumb it self was nicely flavored but a tad dry. The outer aspect of the cake crumb was overbaked, on the cusp of burnt, see photo. The outer crumb was a bit tough. The portion was the largest serving of cake I've ever been presented. Not sure if it was the last piece or cook just wanted to get rid of it. Re: the frosting? Well, there was a ton of coconut poured all over the outer sides. Maybe an attempt to compensate for the burnt aspect. Under all the coconut was a light slathering of sweet frosting that allowed the coconut to stick. I took half of it home. The next day, the left over cake had morphed into a coffee cake consistency so, I dunked in a triple esspesso. My husband,s Pistachio Creme Brule was novel, except the mint garnish was wilted at the tips. We both enjoyed cold, crisp martinis, his was a "lemon drop" martini. Mine were standard. One a well vodka, one a Tanqueray. The service was spot on, the ambience is relatively dark, with soft overhead lights and tiny candles on the tables. Reservations are recommended, but there is a bar if it is just one. Overall, 5 stars for the halibut, lamb lollipops, cold martinis. 3 stars for the other items.

I was a cook, baker, server, bartender for 20 years. I eat what I'm served unless the food is abjectly bad. I understand cooks and bakers can have bad days, or maybe just learning the trade. We've all been there.

Items I'd work on? The cake. Figure out what went wrong...oven not at correct temperature? Forgotten? Or, just don't know how to tell when a cake is done. The scallops. Really, try a crisp but not burnt maple or whisky flavored bacon. And add color to the scallop presentation. Cheers,...

Great place to have a glass of wine or a cocktail before you dig in to one of the amazingly prepared dishes. Wonderful atmosphere for groups or couples... Or it used to be. My family (3 of us anyway) went for mothers day brunch and we were so excited for it. Until the service. We waited 10 min to be seated even though we had reservations. Then 15 min to have our drink order taken, which took another 20 min to hit our table. Then 15 more min to have the food order taken not before being asked twice to give up our menues presumably because they didn't have enough. By now they had seated a 10 top and a few 2 to 4 tops. All of which ordered before we did. They also received their food before we did. A table of 2 that was seated near us had arrived nearly 30 min after we did and were almost done by the time we received our food. An hour and a half went by and we almost walked out. Just then our food came. Disappointing​ to say the least. My poached eggs were a dark yellow(almost brown) jelly all through and cold. My crispy potatoes were crispy...and cold. My daughters french toast was dry... and cold. And on mother's day my wife's food was bland...and cold. When I pushed my dish to the side and the waitresses finally noticed she asked if something was wrong. I politely told her that the dish was overcooked...and cold. Her solution was to argue with me that the dish should be served cold. She left to "heat it up anyway and fix it" and then we left not wanting to wait any longer for old food in a restaurant where we weren't being served. So we won't be back Salt. Thank you for the...

I have really tried to like this restaurant, but unfortunately, it has shown itself lacking in food quality, service and overall quality. It is Juneau’s only “fine dining” restaurant, which is likely why it stays in business. Most recently, I made reservations a week in advance. I arrived , gave the hostess my name, told her I had a reservation, and suggested my dinner partner might already be there. Her response was as though I was from another planet. She said, “if you don’t see your friend, I don’t know what to tell you”. I again mentioned my name and that I had a reservation, to which she responded as if I didn’t. I looked at the reservation book to see my name, party number, and my phone number crossed out. I did get a table, but was poured to take one, not walked to one. My friend and I were seated, a sweet but frazzled looking server gave us menus, I ordered a drink, and we waited. after a time I asked about my drink, which she went to check on. I left my table, coming back to find my martini in a rocks glass complete with ice and a lime wedge on the side. I canceled my drink order and we left to go to another restaurant which is consistently very good. My advice to Salt from someone who has worked in the industry…train your staff, find your niche and up your game. Until then, I can only say there are more casual restaurants with food and service that is far...