Sea Salt — Restaurant in Naples

We have been to Sea Salt several times before and we used to love it, not so much after this experience. We spoke to Tanya (the GM) several times and she had quite a few opportunities to make our experience better but instead did nothing more than try to pass along a friendly conversation; to perhaps distract us? Only acknowledging that the service was unacceptable is not a very proactive/forward thinking management style. It would have been better for the restaurant to welcome us back for a better experience when not so short staffed or perhaps offer us an incentive to return. I wrote the restaurant an e-mail and look forward to a response regarding this. I have shortly described the disappointments below and at the end praise the kitchen successes.

-Host did not seat tale with cocktail/wine list (had to ask for it after sitting at table for 5+ minutes and not being greeted, asked SA who dropped bread) -Bread, salt and EVO was dropped before water was poured at table -Salts were never described by waitress (table next to us got description and much better service) -1st course was dropped without proper flatware (sea urchin app was in bowl and had a coconut broth, required a spoon), had to send back the uni app because it was bland, inedible- waited several minutes to send back and was never asked how food was -Salad was dropped and never asked for pepper -Water glasses were empty and not re-filled, had to ask manager -After a round of cocktails we decided to order a bottle of wine, Chenin Blanc from Australia bin #199… The manager pulled the wine and placed on table, we were brought the wrong wine (product of Italy in fact!) looked pretty foolish on the server and managers part- I caught the error by reading the label (was never told what the wine was when presented or the vintage) -Snapper dish was good, however there was no taste or hint of a taste of crab or bone marrow as indicated on menu, snapper tasted frozen and not fresh -spoke to manager and she acknowledged it was unacceptable, yet never did anything (missed opportunity to correct the food and service) -told the server before presented with check that this was the worst experience we have had here and we will probably not come back (no empathy, nothing) -No cotton candy presented (saw it go out earlier in the night to another table, and I like that touch and look forward to it each time I go, very disappointed!)

*On the other hand I do have to commend the kitchen for their successes: -our whole hogfish was excellent -oyster selection was plentiful and high quality (should put the descriptions you have online on the menu, would have greatly helped in our selection) -tuna was top notch -caesar salad very innovative and tasty -beet salad was delicious and had visually...

UPDATE: In response to the comment, Dimitrios continues to do what every Sea Salt employee has done since our first encounter: continuously deny all of their horrible customer service and behavior. Regardless of how they may try to paint the picture on Google Reviews, they were vile, in the wrong, and they know it. Sea Salt staff displayed and continues to display "abusive and insulting behavior", not my family. Also, Dimitrios’s comment is absolutely not factual, as no one asked us to leave. We immediately left on our own after the bartender exhibited a disgusting attitude, rude tone, and pointed her finger in our faces! Sea Salt staff and management should take note that leaders own up to wrongdoings and take accountability, they don’t hide and make excuses for their mistakes and shortcomings.

At Sea Salt, my family and I were treated with the worst customer service we have ever encountered at any restaurant. What a poorly managed establishment filled with rude and unprofessional staff. Sea Salt and the Aielli Group have tried (and failed) on numerous occasions to deny their actions and silence my family and I about their despicable customer service and behavior. They have hung up on me over the phone, dismissed multiple online reviews, and repeatedly failed to take any ownership or accountability for their actions or their staff’s actions because they can’t handle the truth. So here I write again. Sea Salt staff needs to learn a very important life lesson: Bad behavior has consequences! You can’t escape your own actions no matter how hard you try.

To have the mindset that working at what is considered to be a high-end restaurant makes you high-end, above others and entitled to treat your customers like they are beneath you is an extremely inaccurate interpretation of roles and customer service, and this is the exact misconception Sea Salt staff suffers with.

Elia, Dimitrios, bitter bartenders, and all of the other unrefined staff at Sea Salt and the Aielli Group, you know who you are. I am already expecting that a response will be given to this review from Sea Salt like many others minimizing my concerns, dismissing me and failing to take ownership. But again I say, you know who are, and so does the energy of the universe. There is no hiding from that.

If you’re seeking a positive dining experience with pleasant staff in the Naples area, I strongly recommend you go elsewhere, because Sea Salt surely cannot offer this. Tommy Bahama next store is a much better dining option with a positive atmosphere and staff with...

In the first place to the food...overall it was good. The Venetian Chef is clearly talented and the Swordfish with fried egg and caper sauce was perfectly cooked and presented, as was the Octopus appetizer. It truly showcases his maritime expertise. Unfortunately, the Prime 14oz NY Strip Steak was not as successful, but because of the quality of the meat which was mediocre at best - shame. So why 2/5 - the service - or rather total lack of it! Probably the worst we've seen for a very long time and our table was not the only one totally ignored, the table next to us with 3 Gentlemen solicited complaints from them and requests for a different server. In our case the wine was decanted on our request in a totally inadequate small water jug which then nobody poured, the water service was nonexistent, the server delivering our food almost knocked the plate onto my lap he was in such a hurry, we had to request a proper steak knife to actually cut the meat and then waited 5 minutes while the steak got cold, no-one ever bothered to check on us during the service as to how the food was or even if we needed anything and so the list goes on. The manager albeit professional, seemed totally beside herself and harried and was not in control of the floor as otherwise none of this would have happened.

Bottom line for the flagship restaurant of the Naples based Aielli group and a very expensive one at that - the failure was huge and so disappointing as it also happened to be my wife's birthday. The lesson being that a Restaurant is all about delivering a package for the price and that starts with service and ends with quality food. One without the other is an absolute failure.

One more thing and a personal beef perhaps, but when I go into a fine dining restaurant, I look forward to enjoying the ambience as much as anything - and to be bombarded with TV screens on every wall advertising their other restaurants is at best crass and at worst really...