The Salt Line — Restaurant in Maryland

After we were seated it took at least 15 minutes for a server to come to the table. The place was busy, lots of larger parties than our 2 people, most of them with bottles of wine. I saw one table of 5 open, finish, and open a second bottle before we had a server come to us. We ordered 6 oysters and after they were eaten it took almost an hour before our dinners arrived. My husband had swordfish on a bean puree with green beans, and a twice backed potato. He was happy with his meal. I had bass with chard and green beans. My fish was delicious, the beans were not. We only drank water, and during the times that we sat and waited, servers were busy waiting on the more profitable customers bringing bottles of wine and individual cocktails as well as glasses of wine. I totally get that. We were not going to be spending more than the $130 dollars it cost for 2 dinners, 1 baked potato, and 6 oysters. We got there at 7:00, ordered at 7:42, left at 9:15ish. It was hellishly loud. I get that some people like the racket, and that our ages put us in a category that doesn't always tolerate that much of a din well. But with as much time as we sat without food and waited, it would have been nice to be able to converse. The noise level made that impossible. Oh, and while this is totally out of style I guess - a really interesting bread basket with a couple of spreads like an olive tapenade or some bean puree would have made the wait a lot more enjoyable. (There are rolls on the menu for $5, which we didn't order.) If asked, would I recommend Salt Line? Only to younger folk who have a lot of discretionary money and like a bustling...

UPDATE: I came back a year later and adjusted to one star, however I will say the service was fantastic and Sam was amazing. The only reason I would go back is because she was such a great and personal server. I ordered the Maryland Blue Crab Louie Salad for brunch. I have ordered this salad before at other restaurants, so I didn't think there would be any issues at Salt Line--a SEAFOOD restaurant. The dish included the iceberg lettuce, half a hard boiled egg and two cherry tomatoes topped with MINCED crabmeat (I think it was crab-it was translucent). I think they popped it out of a can--but honestly it was worse than canned crabmeat. It tasted like water with no hint of crab, in fact it dissolved in my mouth. I brought it home only to have my family try it--and I only said--"hey, try my leftovers". they laughed, asked what it was, tasted it and then were equally shocked. This was $31.00. Seriously, use real crabmeat. Review from last year when they opened in Bethesda: I just got back from Salt Line in Bethesda and a was disappointed. We were excited to try Salt Line given friends' reviews. The Rockfish was completely raw and when my husband mentioned it to the waiter, he said..oh yeah, that's not cooked. No apologies, nothing. they just took it away, and 20 minutes later came back with a new dish. Again, the rockfish wasn't just undercooked, it was raw. I was done with my meal. Restaurants make mistakes and that's okay, but the lack of care and being so flippant about it--never seen anything like it. I got the fish stew. it was good, but both dishes...

Five of my very good friends took me to Salt Line for my birthday on March 8th. Salt Line was chosen for me as I am a seafood/fish fan and I had been wanting to try it since it opened.

My excitement diminished with my review of the lunch menu. It was very limiting. In fact, I asked to see the dinner menu for a comparison in the event I returned but after my lunch I will not return. I ordered the wedge salad with crab with a thousand island dressing with walnuts. I have had wedge salads before but never presented the way it arrived.

A huge bowl of iceberg lettuce pulled apart sprinkled with crab meat, cranberries and a few walnuts accompanied with a small side of the dressing. There must have been an entire head of pulled iceberg lettuce in the bowl. Not only was it unappetizing in presentation the food had absolutely no flavor. I requested pepper hoping to spice it up but it added nothing. I thought another dressing might perk it up but was told there were none other than oil & vinegar. I gave up. Also there were long shoots of some white sprig on top which did absolutely nothing to enhance the dish.

The others picked at their meals much like I did. No one pushed their chair back declaring, “ this meal was delicious can’t wait to return.”

I have never been so disappointed in a restaurant. I so wanted a new seafood hangout.

Our server was excellent and so were the Parker House rolls which I consumed more...