We wanted our last dinner in Arcata to be a slightly nicer one so we came to Salt Fish House. Like other reviews mention, it's not cheap to dine here. * SMOKED STEELHEAD DIP We shared this as an appetizer. The amount of fish they give doesn't look like a lot but it's densely packed so there was actually a good amount. I liked the smokiness of the fish. The homemade potato chips tasted like salt & vinegar and while the taste was fine, they were a horrible vehicle for dipping. They were too thin and crisp so they kept breaking while trying to scoop up the fish. * ROASTED VEGETABLE AND GRAIN SALAD I know, I know - who comes to a seafood place to get a salad? I just needed it because I hadn't eaten a lot of veggies throughout my trip. The salad was hearty and the addition of pears and red onion added life to it. The pears were sweet and juicy while the red onion was acidic and tangy. I didn't try the cioppino that my friend got, but it came out piping hot and looked tasty. I saw a good amount of large prawns and a handful of clams. I wouldn't be against coming back if I am in town again but I don't see myself suggesting this place either. read more

Stylish dining area, high end style food presentation. Concise menu, the sauce for steelhead is quite impressive. read more

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Ambience is good, cute decor, nice bar and drink selection. Service was good but a bit slow. The food: burger, fries and clam chowder was good. Risotto was highly disappointing, no flavor at all and mushy consistency. They ran out of the charred octopus by 7pm. My sunset punch came in a tiny glass and wasn't even full for $15 it was good but overpriced. read more

Salt - Clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

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So disappointed. Trendy. Waitresses give you the bare minimum info. Also my favorite is the drop and run. Dump off a plate of cold fish. Off and forget the lemon. Didn't even look good . I said forget the lemon. Take the fish of my tab and bye bye. Trendy. lousy food and not good service. Maybe a cool hangout for college kids but not a seafood place to take anyone. Plus very limited menu. Save your money Don't go rhe read more

We ended up here when only happy hour was served, my bad, I didn't realize we couldn't get dinner at that time. Too many fried options for me, but it is a really cute place and service was good. read more

Food is above average. Environment is nice and quiet. Would be great if there is a couple more servers though.

Always hit and miss. Had a good meal there motnhs ago but sadly not consistent. The food was mediocre at best. Six people and nobody left happy. read more

I was up here for vacation and after 3 days of bad food, was not sure anyone in the county knew how to cook. Someone suggested this place for seafood and boy was I happy to follow their suggestion! Delicious oysters, amazing bread and butter, free clam chowder (when they thought they were out of said bread and butter), and scallops cooked to perfection. Their cocktails looked wonderful but I stuck to their white wine, which I enjoyed. As a person traveling alone, it can get lonely, so I also appreciated the staff's willingness to chat with me about anything and everything. Finally, the restaurant is really very attractive. And that's coming from a Los Angeleno! If I'm ever in Humboldt again, I hope I have the opportunity to eat here, and will happily recommend this place to any other travelers. read more

Food and atmosphere were top notch. Especially for this area the prices and portions were very good.

This is a nice little fish house off the square. The location has two accesses one from the square and one a level below adjacent to parking. The restaurant is on the lower level adjacent to parking. There are no views due to this placement but it It has been well designed so as this is not a issue. The decor is contemporary. The food is all about fish with quite a variety of preparation and style. The stand out for me was the octopus and if you have never had it try it here. Charred on the outside and tender on the inside. Service was great in spite of one difficult customer at my table who ordered a Bloody Mary at 7 pm. read more

Salt - Octopus - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

Cool layout/design, but missed on the execution of the dishes. Had the fish & chips. Tartar sauce had waay to many herbs in it and they made the ketchup in house...just give people Heinz. The fish and fries were on point. read more

Salt - Ambiance - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

Rating 1 star not for taste of food - the food was actually fine. It probably would have tasted better if the service wasn't so insane. It took 30 minutes to take our order, another 30 minutes to get our drinks - they sent my husband the completely wrong cocktail but he didn't say anything for fear it would take another 30 minutes. First app comes after another 30, second app comes after another 30, and I swear we waited 45 for our main to the point where I asked if she forgot to put it in. The waitress was kind but the bar staff and everyone else was so off. Everyone was being passive aggressive to eachother- it made the atmosphere very very uncomfortable to be in. My skin was crawling to leave. Safe to say we will never be back. read more

I want to love Salt Fish House however as others have commented I've found it to be very inconsistent, especially considering the price points. It's best just for drinks and appetizers, the new menu is limited and lacks inspiration. The aesthetic and ambiance are on point, however I feel that management is more focused on those aspects than the food, and there are other options nearby where the food (and prices) are simply better. read more

Overall pretty good experience. Nice finer dining place to go to when in the area. I went in for dinner and to read my book, they were chill and I didn't feel rushed. Unfortunately they didn't have mussels! So instead I got the Steamed Clams ($17), which were good. I was disappointed in the Cesar salad ($12) cuz the anchovies (+$2) are deep fried and not enough, and the salad is overpriced by itself, considering it's just iceberg lettuce. The server offered to remove the anchovies charge, which was nice of him. The Malbec Felino ($10 glass)was good! The service was good. $42.31 total, just add the tip! read more

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Very good sea food restaurant in Arcata. Tonight we had the oysters, octopus, cioppino, and ahi tuna poke bowl. All were delicious.

Absolutely delicious food and beautiful space! We had oysters to start, then each had a different fish for our main and ended with the lemon dessert. All were fantastic! read more

Lacking GLUTEN FREE options It would be worth it to have one fryer for at least french fries so you could offer Something besides salad to people who do not have a choice. So come here only if you have no fences food, sensitivities or are concerned about quality of food do not bring friends here that have any sensitivities at all you will be extremely disappointed and they will be out casted by the service. It's kind of sad because the year 2024 and you think businesses would be happy to have gluten-free options since they usually tack on an extra four dollars Each that would pay for an additional. I'm certain the management won't even consider this option so good to know choose wisely. There's a lot of great places to eat in Arcata this is not on our top 10 for this reason alone. Go to Tomo's for better fish, better service and servers we are educated in the positions and can accommodate all your guests. Only 1.5 blocks away. read more

They need HEATING inside. Ate dinner with my down jacket on!! Lingerie was undercooked! Wife's dinner was fine. Great atmosphere but needs to improve read more

Stumbled upon here while on a roadtrip. It was quaint and a nice little spot. The fish and chips were fantastic!

The dinning was a really nice atmosphere. It was pretty fancy. I love that they have the outside dining along with inside dining. The servers were really nice. They were definitely a little bit busy though for only having two servers. I would give the service like three out of five stars. The calamari was probably the best I've ever had here in Humboldt. The oysters were really good. However, they were a bit salty. I was not a fan of the Dungeness crab pasta. It was pretty pricey it was like $35-$36. The price wasn't the issue though I expect that for Dungeness crab it just wasn't that great overall. But I would definitely go back for the calamari along with the oysters and to try something different for the entrée. read more

Salt - Dungeness crab pasta - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

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You can't go wrong with this place. Service was fun and excellent, food was all around satisfying and fresh, and environment overall was decorated nicely. We had a great night with food and people we met. read more

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I would include a picture of the poki bowl that I ordered but it was so delicious, I ate it before I could remember to snap a pic! I loved coming here on a Saturday night. It was lively and fun with outdoor dining. A very fun atmosphere which was a nice relief during Covid. Come here if you love seafood! A bit pricey for meals around $20-40 but worth it for a lovely date or night out on the town. read more

Salt - Inside dining area - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

The wife and I tried the them for a light lunch. I had the clam chowder. She had the chowder fries. Doubt there was a full clam in our two bowls combined. But, if you like bacon chowder this could be your place. Nice atmosphere. Good service. Oh, but watch your bill. I didn't hear the entire conversation. It sounded like they added another tables tab to the party next to. read more

Local review. This was my second time here. We came here because humbrews was closed. The inside dining area is super cute, loved the vibe. My table ordered the clam chowder. And although delicious it was luke warm. I told our server, Eli. He was on it right away. The cooked oysters we ate were delicious as well as the crab dip. Our soups finally came back and we had 3 new soups, very hot. After eating the hot soup and having been taken care of by the server, Eli and additional staff I rate a 4 star. I would go back because they did take care of my cold soup issue and the food and environment was good. read more

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When I was in town recently for work, I was eager to try Salt Fish House based on the great online reviews. Sadly, I was very disappointed. While the restaurant is nicely decorated and the service was decent, the one dish I ordered missed its mark. Cioppino is delicious tomato based fish stew infused with wine, garlic, clam juice and herbs. While Salt's Cioppino contains large prawns and decent white fish, the liquid tasted like a heavy tomato soup. Save yourself nearly 40 bucks and a lot of disappointment. read more

Salt - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

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Stopped by Arcata during MDW. Came here based on Yelp reviews, and it seemed like every other tourist did too. Our order: fried calamari, raw and grilled oysters, clam chowder, fish tacos, and fish and chips. While the "clam chowder" was delicious, it really is more of a split pea and ham soup. Calamari was crispy but nothing special. Bf said these were probably some of the worst tacos he's ever had. The combination of red cabbage, sauce and whatever else that's in there simply did not mesh together. I found my fish and chips to taste bland and oily, and I had to smear all the tartar and ketchup to balance the flavor. Highlight of the meal was the oysters, both grilled and raw were amazing with vinaigrette. Although we were seated quickly, we waited a long time for orders to be taken, for food to come out etc. You could tell that they were trying their best to accommodate the massive influx of diners on a Sunday evening. Not sure if this played a role in the performance of their dishes. read more

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My husband and I are driving up the coast visiting from the East coast and we decided to try this restaurant out. The service was great, very college town feel, great location and most importantly, delicious food. We ordered the Dungeoness crab dip for the appetizer. So yummy! Between the two of us there was very little left but it could've fed a much larger party. For dinner we split the fish & chips. Tasted fresh. We had a bunch left even though we shared the meal. Not much of a soda drink selection but I had mint tea which was a perfect way to cleanse the palette. Would highly recommend for both the atmosphere & the full belly you'll leave with. read more

Salt - The ceiling decorations. - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

We arrive at this restaurant in this remote part of town the welcome was very cold as the weather the service was fine the food no so good the salad was not dressed properly The short ribs were all fat $48 no good The bread look like a cake and not included The oyster very small for $48 again The desserts ok at best I put a note at the server for the short ribs And did not take off just am sorry Just a tourist trap stay away read more

Everything about this place is just great! Great food, great drinks, great service. We were able to get seated right away, the ambience is beautiful. It's rustic, yet modern. There's seating indoor and outdoors. We ordered clam chowder that comes with bread and the seafood platter. The seafood platter was just amazing, it's a little pricey but definitely would come back and have it all over again. We got to try a variety of oysters, the kind crab was so meaty and tasty and comes with a side of warm butter to dip it in, and the shrimp was big and savory sweet. I forgot the guys name who was helping us, but he mentioned he made a special cocktail and decided to try it. It was a an alcoholic watermelon drink and it was so good and refreshing. Definitely one the best drinks I've had in awhile. We would be coming back whenever we're in town again. read more

Salt - Seafood Platter - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

Was seated near the bar, and the door to the establishment slams very loudly when people are coming and going. Food was expensive and fair at best. Will not return. read more

Lovely. We came here two nights in a row while visiting Arcata. And though Salt is located in a relatively small town, there is nothing small town about the experience here from the ambience to the food quality and wine selection. It's just a block off the main square and has a nice, heated patio that is dog friendly. Would recommend reservations, as they can get busy during weekend dinner hours. Thought their oysters were fabulous, though they were sadly out of oysters on our second visit. The octopus dish was also fantastic and even though it was an appetizer, the portion was generous enough to be an entree. Definitely a must when visiting Arcata. read more

It's called Salt Fish House for a reason. I left with a pounding headache because everything was just oh so salty. The place had a nice ambience, and the waiter was very friendly and helpful... but I didn't like the food. I got the ahi poke and had to order rice on the side ($5) since it didn't come with it. Still too salty. Main dishes took 50 minutes to come out. I think if you do go, the lunch menu looks a lot better so go for lunch. Dinner's not the move. read more

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We stopped here on our visit to the Redwood National Park and absolutely loved it! The host and servers were wonderful, and the food and drinks excellent. read more

Salt - Old fashioned and cucumber cocktail - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

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Attended the first evening open back up for 25% occupancy but our groups was obliged to be seated outside. Family dining is a super treat these days and when you add fresh local food to our menu we couldn't be happier. Our table had oysters, poke, fish tacos, scallop crudo, grilled octopus, a burger, fish and chips and two variations of ceviche. The jalapeño shrimp ceviche is much more flavorful than the halibut ceviche which was super bland. All other dishes were delicious. Full bar available and new taps are being installed in the locations new digs. Restrooms super clean, staff very friendly and accommodating. Would highly recommend for intimate dates, and small gatherings. Tables are socially distanced and the location is near to public parking. read more

Salt - Scallop Crudo - so amazing - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

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Wow! This place was exquisite! The new simplified menu was delicious. I also ordered a root beer and I do not know how they obtained it but it was tge most delicious root beer I have ever tasted. The food was incredible. The dungeness crab dip was amazing for someone like me who isnt even a big seafood lover. It was not fishy at all and was just delicious. I also got the summer pasta and it was worth every penny. It was amazing for a pasta without tomato sauce and it was the first rigatoni pasta without tomato sauce. The pasta was soft but not too soft, and the breadcrumbs/seeds on the top were superb. Go here for a great experience and interior read more

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food was nothing special hundred dollars a plate and we had multiple dogs snarling not a real pleasant place to eat

10 stars! We were in search for seafood and I would go out of my way to dine here. Kinda difficult to find because it's nestled in an industry building. We were served by Eli who gave exceptional service. We had ceviche which is a MUST have. Fish and chips with clam chowder. Delicious!! Check this place out! read more

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The place was nice and fairly busy when we arrived. We were greeted right away by our waiter and order the crab dip as an appetizer....never saw him again. Someone else brought our app out and we finished it before he finally showed back up and we placed our order. The entrees showed up pretty fast afte that. In a rush to get them to us after he could tell he messed up not taking our order. The steelhead trout definitely was way undercooked. Flavor was funky with the succatash and whipped mess they had under the fish. Not sure what it was but it was sweet. Weird weird flavor. The same can be said for the crab dip appetizer. What on earth did you do to the jalapenos. They tasted like lemon. The crab dip itself was good though. Finally, the ciopino was decent but odd flavor too. Ton of bread and very little Ciopino to it. Shrimp were so overcooked. There is not.a chance I would return. $100 wasted on a meal. read more

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A year later and we came back, with family in tow, to the restaurant that was the crowning glory of our last Humboldt visit. Unfortunately, the crown showed a little tarnish compared to last time. We ordered a total of 8 cocktails--4 Vodka & Grapefruits that were originally ordered with Absolut, but they don't carry Absolut. ??? They also didn't have the ingredients in stock to make a Penicillin. So we asked for a spirits list to order a whiskey straight, but, alas, no such list was available. Sad change from the incredibly well stocked bar that we recalled from a year ago in their previous location. I ordered the Walrus which was very different from the Walrus described on their online menu. Instead of bourbon, tonight's Walrus featured mezcal, thyme, and green chartreuse. It was way too sweet for me. Followed it with a house margarita and requested light on the simple syrup and it was a decent margarita, but nothing spectacular to warrant a $13 price tag. Hubby got a paper plane (it was good) and the Paloma(ish) which was also good. The vodka grapefruits with Tito's were $9 each. A little steep for a two-ingredient well-liquor drink, in my opinion. Dinner was okay. The fresh catch special was halibut over parmesean risotto with charred broccolini. The veg was not charred, but it was seasoned well. The halibut was excellently cooked and the risotto was good. $36. Best dish of the night. The steelhead dish was a disaster. The fish was well cooked but severely underseasoned. The Brussels sprouts were okay, but incredibly salty. The polenta cakes were downright gross. Dry, cold, and bland. It was like biting into cold, soggy cornmeal. The tomato relish that came with the dish was ICE COLD and very off-putting. The whole dish didn't make sense, which is frustrating when you spend $32 for it. The cut of the day (steak) went over well for my dad, which I am so grateful for given that it cost $45. Yikes!!! Is this place aiming to be the new Moonstone Grill??? Geez louise. Now the most disappointing part of the meal... my oysters. Dang how I love oysters. I look forward to the oyster festival in Arcata every year. Any chance I get to eat oysters, I am all over it. A year ago we came to Salt two nights in a row just because of their tasty and economical oysters. Not this round. Not only were there no happy hour specials for drinks or oysters, but they weren't well cleaned. I got bits of shell and beard with every... single... one. We ordered 9, planning to do a second round, but immediately changed our minds. Big letdown. :( Other things that weren't as awesome as our previous visit included a wobbly pedestal table that had me worried our waters were going to tip over with just one ill-timed bump, the place was freezing because a cold front had zipped in for the week and yet the patio door was left wide open, and the bar just seemed sparse. Looking at the shelves on our way out was stark compared to the really cool and full set up in the Jacoby Storehouse. For $300 for a party of 4, it just wasn't worth it. It was a bummer. We had booked our reservation weeks ago in anticipation of coming here again, but it almost felt like they haven't truly grown into the new joint. Or maybe the lease there is much more expensive and they are having to either increase prices or cut back on quality and product availability to make ends meet. Not sure. But I will remember our past visits fondly in the tiny and unique little joint in the basement of the square. That place and visit was truly awesome and felt homey and comfortable, void of cooks and servers hustling around in North Face puffer jackets to keep warm. Hoping to experience that again when we come back in a year or two. read more

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I really hate tearing down a local place but this has gone too far and there must be a reckoning. The Salt Fish House has achieved a new low. This spot has been on a decline for a while but sea food fraud is an unfortunate and sad turn. Tonight I was served a terrible version of "lobster" Mac and cheese featuring shrimp. In fact one was on top of the dish prominently displayed as if the ruse had not been communicated down the line. When I questioned the bar staff the bartender who forgot to make my drink so he could make a special cocktail for friends replied "I dunno maybe cross contamination".... So I'm to believe another dish was being prepped and this shrimp somehow flew upon my plate? Aside from the fraud and tactless comment it was just not good. This is not an isolated incident as far as bad food. A few months ago I tried the crab pasta. The dish had a tablespoon of "crab", a poorly made sauce, and pasta that ate like overcooked ramen. It's a pretty expensive dish to mess up. One of their most expensive. This evening I was also served an under seasoned Caesar salad with less than fresh lettuce as well as smoked salmon dip that was neither smoked nor a dip. It's unfortunate when you loose the trust of your dinners. That's what has occurred for this Humboldt local. read more

Salt - You can see the shrimp and what look like crawfish tails - Seafood Near Me - Arcata, California

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