Saltine — Restaurant in Norfolk

We were celebrating our 38th Wedding Anniversary and decided to do it at Saltines after a Great visit in mid-February.  We booked (Open-Table with "Anniversary" as Special Occassion) for 22 Oct 2023, 5:30 pm, called to reconfirm for a Window Table and remind we are celebrating our 38th Wedding Anniversary.  We arrived a little after 5 pm, promptly seated by the window, and ordered some drinks, then Calamari and She Crab Soup.  The waitress (Tyrene, Table 174, Check #815) never asked if we were celebrating anything or mentioned "Happy Anniversary" in complete silence but showed up promptly.  The Soup was amazing, per my wife, and the calamari was lukewarm, well-overcooked, and hard.  Next, we ordered the main course, whole red snapper, and I had the Bone In Hereford Ribeye (40oz; Steak on Stone).  The Red Snapper looked pleasing to the eyes but tasted very old with a slight fishy odor.  My steak was just as delicious as before in February, but the juices ran off the board, onto the table, and almost onto my pants.   I brought this to the waitress's attention, and all she did was hand me paper napkins and walk away; no apology, offer another tray to contain, or even come back and collect the soiled napkins or check to see if the issue was resolved. The heating stone went cool halfway through the meal, and there was no offer to exchange or reheat.  To her credit, she was pretty responsive to our orders for additional drinks but was one deep in the entire section where she had to service the customers and sometimes collect the dishes when the meal was over.  This was a much different experience from the February 19 visit.  Again, there was no mention of "Happy Anniversary," a little dessert or something to celebrate it, just pure silence despite putting this on the reservation submission and calling to reconfirm.  We were disappointed with the visit and thought we would provide a review reference the same.  Again, the 19 Feb 2023 visit was simply magical, which made us decide to celebrate our 38th Wedding Anniversary at Saltines.  They were clearly off their game Sunday night. We may give it another try down the road but the wife is more interested in trying Grain and or Freemason Abbey Restaurant. ...

Saltine, nestled within the Hilton Norfolk The Main, offers a generally excellent dining experience, particularly for seafood lovers. It’s a sophisticated spot that delivers on fresh flavors and a polished atmosphere, making it a reliable choice for a nice meal in downtown Norfolk. The star of the show at Saltine is undoubtedly the raw bar. Their oyster selection is consistently fresh and varied, allowing you to sample different briny delights, and they're always shucked perfectly. On my last visit, I thoroughly enjoyed a platter of local oysters, which were plump and bursting with flavor. Beyond the raw bar, their seafood entrees are also well-prepared. I’ve had their pan-seared scallops on multiple occasions, and they’ve always been cooked to a tender perfection with a beautiful sear. The presentation of the dishes is also consistently appealing, reflecting the upscale nature of the restaurant. The ambiance at Saltine is refined yet comfortable. The decor is chic with a nautical touch, and the lighting creates a pleasant dining environment. It's a great spot for a business dinner, a date night, or a more upscale family meal. The service is generally attentive and professional, with staff members who are knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. Why not five stars? While the food is consistently very good, it occasionally leans towards being just "very good" rather than truly "exceptional" or innovative, especially given the price point. Some of the non-seafood options, while perfectly adequate, don't quite reach the same heights as their seafood counterparts. Also, during peak hours, the noise level can get a bit high, making conversation a little challenging at times. That being said, Saltine remains a highly recommended restaurant for anyone seeking quality seafood in downtown Norfolk. It's a strong four-star performer that consistently delivers a satisfying dining experience in a stylish setting. If you're staying at the Hilton The Main or just looking for a solid seafood dinner in the area, Saltine is definitely...

My issue is not with the food it's with the experience. The person who took my order was perfectly nice and repeated back my order. I sent someone to pick it up and asked that they leave a $10 tip. When I received the order I saw that they automatically added $66 in gratuity and 2 sides were missing. No one told me they would add gratuity because I wouldn'thave ordered and left a tip! I ordered 2 days worth of food for my partner and I to celebrate his birthday and with what they charged for gratuity, we could have gone there and dined in. I called the restaurant about the missing sides. The hostess offered to remake them but I politely asked for a refund of the sides because I don't live close and I wasnt able to physically get there which is why I sent someone else to pick it up. She told me a manager would call but I never got that call. Essentially I was taken for $66 and 2 sides.

Update: I was going to let this go but decided to call back the next day because money was stolen from me. I talked to manager Lee who told me she couldnt give the money back because the person i sent to pick up the food signed for it. My pickup person saw the gratuity before she signed and was told that it was automatically included which the manager confirmed was not true. The manager also said she wouldn't refund the sides because my order was double checked. My order was wrong when my pick up person got there and items were mislabeled which is how they missed 2 sides. The only thing she could offer me was a $60 giftcard. Why would I want to come back when you stole from me and practically accused me of lying about missing food! Why would I lie about 2sides when I was clearly willing to spend $295. I spend hundreds of dollars on takeout every month so it's not about the money. I called back again today and they finally agreed to at least give me the $66 back and im so tired of going back and forth that I didn't even mention the sides again. I will never again patronize this restaurant or its affiliates nor will...