I heard this place was very good so we tried it out. I thought the food was just a little above average. I did not really like the seating area in the back of the restaurant. Parking is sometimes hard to find on the street near this place. On a scale from 1-10 ten being the best, I would give it a 7. read more

There are no words. The hype is true. We went out on a limb and tried the chefs tasting menu. Every bite was better than the previous bite. My wife who never had an oyster before became a fan immediately. Flavor combinations and layers of flavor paired with the perfect wines made me a believer in BLACK SALT. We will return again and again. One of the best meals we've ever had. Service was good too. read more

I had a great meal first time dining in the back of a fish market, nice ambience.

I went here 6 years ago and fell in love with it. The thing I love about this restaurant is that there doesn't seem to be anything they don't make perfect. Everything seems to be made with precision and care and tastes so good!! read more

So, lots of expectations on this place. The fish market in the front is excellent and able to order really good stuff, if they dont already have it in stock in their ample market. The restaurant offers great service, but (for lunch) a small selection and a menu that doesn't take advantage of the wide selection of fresh fish. Dishes are sort of all over the place with overly faux-fancy presentation. read more

I walked into BlackSalt Fish Market just as lunch service was ending so I got the bar menu which I thought was spectacular nonetheless. I ordered the crab cake sandwich and my sister ordered the burger. Although I still didn't enjoy the arugula in my crab cake sandwich, I thought it was flavorful enough that it masked the taste of the arugula. The burger my sister ordered was cooked perfectly--medium rare, a tough feat for some restaurants. Service was good but it was a slow time at that point in the day. read more

I was surprised by the set up of the restaurant, having done very little research. I went for brunch and had a very pleasant experience. The mimosas, coffee, and sparking water were a genteel touch and I feasted on oysters and skatewing. I was a little disappointed by the quality of the food and the service. For the money spent I think they need to reach higher in what they deliver. Although brunch may simply be slower to the target. read more

Went there for the first time... It's a hole in the wall, next to a Safeway, and once you walk in, it's "fishy".. But once your seated inside it's really nice. The food was exceptional. Very fresh fish. read more

Amazing fresh seafood! Great ambiance and food. My husband brought us here for our 3 year wedding anniversary. When we walked in, the curtain sorta thru me off and I wasn't sure if they were having a private event or what. So walked towards the back and gave our rsvp name and almost immediately we were sat in a cozy little corner. Our waiter gave us great customer service however, he was not very sociable and he just didn't seem to crack a smile at all or the least bit friendly. Had to ask for bread, which was a delicious variety and oil/seasoning dip. Ordered the Oyster Rockefeller for an appetizer, Bouillabaisse which absolutely amazing. And then had the peanut butter crunch cake which was also great until I went to sop up some of the caramel with the toffee piece and there was a long brown hair in it. Then I was turned off. That is my only complaint but overall, still enjoyed my food. Will def be back! read more

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There wasn't one thing we didn't love about BlackSalt! The service was great, the sangrias the best, the oysters delicious, the fish fresh and savory and the dessert decadent! We'll remember this restaurant as an icon in Washington DC and we'll be back, for sure! Don't miss it! read more

My first time there. Great service. But the menu didn't really sit well with me, most of the seafood dishes had some kind of meat as well (i.e., chorizo, veal ragout, ham hocks) I was surprised that so many dishes weren't pescetarian friendly. read more

BlackSalt - Menu - swordfish and dessert - Seafood Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My daughter took me to this great restaurant after seeing the Yelp reviews. The waiter was an excellent server and fun. I had Branzino with Quinoa and an excellent sauce. It was fixed perfectly with the whole fish cooked and eyeing me. The Turnip salad was excellent also with just the right amount of a special dressing. For desert I had the Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch which was enjoyed by all. We had a nice table in the back which was round and great for five of us. There was some kitchen noise which they could work on eliminating with a better curtain or door. We had a great view of the kitchen staff working which was fun. read more

This place is kind of hit or miss with me. I've only come for brunch, which is cheaper than you would expect. I think they do sweets a lot better than their savory stuff. The scones and muffins are extremely good, the bagel with salmon not so much. Chocolate french toast was delicious, and their shrimp with corn cakes was just ok (I was expecting the corn cakes to be like fritters, but they were more like pancakes). I'd probably come again if i'm in the area. read more

A wonderful brunch. Scones with chocolate chips were warm and with jam and cream, unbelievably delicious. Brunch menu was inventive (maple-glazed shrimp on short stack of corn cakes, for example) but also had classics (quiche and salad). Quiet enough to be able to talk. In every way, exactly what I was looking for. read more

The meal was amazing. Perfection with portions that make sense when the quality is so good! MAKE RESERVATIONS!!!

One of the best meals I have ever had. Came here with my wife and group of 10 for her birthday. Food was great, service was awesome. Can't say enough good things. Clam Chowder was fantastic!! If you want a seafood dinner to remember go to Black Salt! read more

The food was fantastic and five-star-worthy. The reason we gave it four stars instead of five is because of the nasty greeting we got from the hostess. My husband and I came here last night to celebrate a late Valentine's Day. I had made reservations a week prior over the phone for 7pm that evening, and had received confirmation of that reservation. Last night, however, when we got there, the hostess searched for my name twice before icily informing us that we had been put on the "wait list" instead and would have to wait for a table. I told her that I'd made the reservation a week prior and had received confirmation, and she said that it must have been a mistake. Then she nodded her head (the kind where each word gets its own individual nod) and said, "You'll be seated as soon as possible" in a pushy, don't-talk-to-me-about-it way. Then she left. "Wait list"? For what? Did she think I called and said, "Excuse me, but my husband and I are thinking about dining here one day in the near future. Could you just put our names down so you know who we are?" When she came back, I confronted her and asked how long the wait would be. Curt response: "About 30 minutes." No apology, no offering a complimentary drink at the bar, nothing to acknowledge that a mistake had been made at our expense. By the way, I'm almost 8 months pregnant. Standing for 30 minutes is visibly uncomfortable. When I questioned her, she replied, "I physically don't have a table for you." Then I lost it; I told her I understood that but would have appreciated an apology or a complimentary drink, or some type of behavior that would have indicated their regret for this mistake. She cut me off, asking if I wanted to see the manager. Yup. We were seated within one minute. Now onto the food. It was awesome. We had three appetizers: I had the baby octopus (phenomenal) and my husband had the oysters and the tuna tartar, both of which were delicious. They brought out three types of oysters for him to try, each from a different region. He said he could have had two dozen more. Our entrees were also delicious. I ordered the California black cod in a miso broth and ate the entire thing; it was light, fluffy, and complex. My husband got the ribeye, which I tasted. I'm not sure what type of sauce they coated it with, but it was really, really good and I would have been jealous of him for ordering it had my own entree not been so delicious. I ordered the butterscotch pot de creme for dessert, and it was truly one of the best restaurant desserts I'd ever eaten. It had about five layers of "flavors" and was so rich that I could only eat about a quarter of it. We left satisfied and happy. read more

Amazing seafood! One of the best in DC. Love love love! I cannot rave highly enough about this place. I went here with my parents last weekend, and we were impressed by everything, from the mussels as appetizers to the sashimi to the swordfish to the great cocktails. I will certainly return. read more

When I crave for some fresh seafood, this is where I go. We love this place, the food, ambiance, the helpful waiting staff... and last but not the least - the pastry chef! Their deserts are to die for - especially their key lime pie. yummmmm. I have ordered various things here, and NEVER been disappointed. You really can't go wrong here if you are a seafood lover like me. read more

My friend and I did the 5 course tasting menu. Let me preface this by stating that I'm completely addicted to whole-fish as the only way to have fish (after having it at Evvia in Palo Alto, so good!). I thought it was all very delicious but it didn't blow my mind. The most interesting was a soft-shell crab dish. Everything else was very good, but nothing spectacular. The service wasn't great either. The waiter was pretty impatient with us, which was pretty unfortunate. read more

Went to this restaurant based on some friend's recommendation. We made reservations, and when arrived the table was ready. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Explained the menu, and the options we had. We decided to have mussels, and scallops for appetizers. The scallops are a must in my perspective. Then we had whole grilled fish, and Halibut. Both were delicious, but I loved the Halibut. Definitely a place to try again. The fish is fresh and is amazingly cooked. read more

Don't be fooled by the entrance. It looks like just a fish shop at first glance. The restaurant is in the back and is very large. The service was outstanding and the food is still on my tastebuds. Out of all the restaurants we visited, this one I'll go back to without question. Go now before the rest of the world figures out this beats out the top chef places. read more

I went here for lunch recently and had the tasting menu. The food is excellent. I had the fish tacos. They were quite tasty. What I really liked about the menu was that you have the option of choosing a glass of wine as one of your courses. They have a great wine list, as well. read more

Restaurant week lunch review: Really lovely restaurant (despite being the boonies for us regular folk). The service was classy and attentive, the ambiance was perfect for a big group brunch, and the food was great. At $20.13, that lunch was a steal. The food was all familar seafood stuff (smoked salmon, mussels, shrimp and grits) but they had a little unique flair (like caper cream cheese). Only complaint was that things seemed a little salty, but that's a personal preference. My dessert was a perfectly pretty key lime pie -- light and creamy with some delicious passion fruit sauce on my plate. Nice perks that show true colors: perfect portion sizes left me feeling full, nothing was too heavy/greasy, and almost all of their seafood passes the Monterey Bay Aquarium app test. read more

The food at Blacksalt never disappoints. Always fresh seafood, a lot with a southern/cajun flair. Reasonably priced for what you get, and the menu often changes to ensure variety. There are a few servers there that aren't very attentive, but if you can avoid that you should have a great experience. read more

It was good needs more things on the menu for a brunch service ... I love the openness of the restaurant . The food was delicious and healthy .. read more

BlackSalt is certainly an experience. If you enjoy fresh seafood - this is the place for you. My wife and I found the food to be delicious and very well prepared. The seafood is about as fresh as it gets. As you enter the restaurant, it is a small fish market. As you progress toward the hostess stand, it forms into a more sophisticated restaurant. Pros for us were the food. Naked Roy oysters were amazing as was the sea bass. Cons were that the prices were a bit high - especially the drinks. Well worth the visit for fresh seafood in DC. If you want a casual atmosphere with great food, this place is great. If you're looking for seafood with a more sophisticated environment, try Fiola Mare. read more

I've never had anything here that wasn't outstanding. The bouillabaisse is amazing. Service has been great each time I've been. Absolutely worth the money. My one complaint would be some of the tables are very close so you can't help but sort of chat and dine with the couple next to you but really...I'll keep coming back! And I can't wait to try happy hour. read more

We went here for part of restaurant week. The food was prepared wonderfully and tasted fantastic. I'd recommend the brunch and will have to come back for dinner sometime. The fish market was a little more expensive than we wanted to pay but everything looked high quality. The only thing I could have enjoyed more was the service. I think our waiter was having a rough day. He didn't explain and of the food or drink specials well and I don't think he cracked a smile once. Other than that, would recommend! read more

Great menu. Fresh seafood and wonderful service. My third time there (this past Sunday). Definitely a favorite of mine for fresh seafood. read more

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Really disappointed that we arrived for dinner at 530 for a pre-theatre quick bite and they wanted to seat us next to the only other diners. They've always been great but treated us in a cold manner. read more

Had a birthday celebration and every dish delivered. The mussels were delish as we're the scallops. Service attentive and friendly.

Ooooi I love the food at black salt. The fried calamari appetizer is a good start. The main menu is good and we have yet to be disappointed with any of our choices thus far. I love the trio dessert plate. Yum. read more

I just had the pleasure of dining at BlackSalt for the second time for my birthday dinner and I will definitely go back again. The website definitely doesn't do it justice. The decor is much warmer and more romantic than the website would suggest. We showed up to our reservation early and had a few drinks at the bar. Yummy mojitos that came with gorgeous rock candy swizzle sticks. Once seated, our waiter was prompt and extremely knowledgable about the menu and made helpful suggestions - we didn't know if we wanted entrees and he offered to do a collection of appetizers in courses. The prosecco was flowing and out came the food! There are no words. Both experiences at this restaurant left me melting in my seat from sheer culinary bliss. This place is just fantastic for a special occasion if you're really into serious quality dining. Mind you, it's not cheap, but completely worth it! read more

We love Black Salt. Very fresh seafood, prepared creatively, in a lively atmosphere. It can be hard to get reservations, and it does fill up. read more

Black Salt would get five stars in my book if it were more accessible. Located in the Palisades, you have to drive (or take a bus) to get there, but it's worth it. The seafood is so fresh that you half expect the fish in the front case to be flopping around on the ice. The dishes are elegant and truly original, and everything I had was quite good. This place is really a hidden gem and I will definitely go back. read more

Right off the bat, I appreciate a restaurant that seats you right away when you have a reservation. We booked for a birthday (they had no idea), when they sat me and my boyfriend was was parking, they asked me if we were celebrating any thing special, and I mentioned it was his birthday. When we ordered dessert, an assortment of homemade sorbet and ice cream, they wrote happy birthday to me in real dark chocolate on the plate with a candle. Nice touch. This place is on the hirer end of cost, but worth every penny. We had a app, 2 entrees, bottle of cava, and desert, totaled with tip $150. But sooooo good. Obviously, strong point seafood. Cooked perfectly, seasoned well. Service was impeccable. Cliche maybe to say, but really, our server recommended well, was the the right balance of attentive. Bit of a commute for us coming from Arlington, but not too bad since right off parkway. If I lived in the Palisades, I'd be here every weekend. read more

Love this place, especially for Happy Hour....they offer it 7 days a week from 4-7. Addies mussels are a must! Service is always great and seafood is always fresh. read more

Thank you, BlackSalt, for starting our DC trip out on the right foot! Every dish we ordered was absolutely wonderful. I definitely recommend the butternut squash soup, wood grilled baby octopus, pompano & hamachi crudo, and Addie's mussels (with lots of bread to soak up the delicious broth). Unfortunately, the tuna tartare was just okay (the consistency was a little off). We also ordered a dozen various oysters and the waitress was really helpful in explaining the different types to us (the Kegotanks were our favorite). Both sauces went very well with them. Despite being extremely full, we still scarfed down the key lime pie and banana coconut cream pie. The belini was so refreshing that I could have drank the entire glass in one gulp. I will certainly come back the next time I'm in DC. read more

Had the chef's tasting menu. It was creative and filling.