Salt cellar is always a big hit for the fresh seafood and consistent food. Micheal was our service this evening and delivered a 10 out of 10. She got us through the menu. I had the most wonderful birthday experience. I would highly suggest getting the stuffed lobster. It's out of this world. The parking is very small and you need to call to get a reservation. This is a seller very cool experience group. read more

See all

SENTRY - WATCHING RESTAURANTS The Salt Cellar Restaurant 550 Hayden Road Scottsdale 85257 The restaurant had a special on during the summer, and since it featured one of my favorite crustaceans we decided to go. The offer was the Lobster Bake, which was a 1 1/2 pound stuffed lobster, 1 pound of clams, 2 shrimp, along with salad and potato. Companion ordered the Beef Wellington along with New England Clam Chowder. But, I digress! It was also our anniversary, and we felt this would be great place to celebrate. While we don't usually imbibe, we did order a very nice Trapiche Malbec to wash dinner down. First out was the Chowder. It was nicely prepared with good flavor and body. Next was my Lobster Bake. Our waiter cracked most of it open to make eating it easier. Unfortunately, he did not crack the knuckles which are some of the best meat. The lobster was overcooked and much of the meat was dry. The clams were also overcooked and reminded me of chewing on rubber bands. And as if in keeping with the others, the shrimp were also overcooked. But, on the good side, the potato was properly cooked! Companions Beef Wellington seemed to lack seasoning. The duxelle was dry and lacking flavor, and companion did not enjoy it. Dessert was complimentary and was nice. We were both glad that the Malbec was so good as it helped make up for the lack of everything else being right. I've been to the Salt Cellar many times before, and this was the first time I was so completely disappointed. Sanitation was good, though they now have a rating of R. Service seemed a bit off for the night. Removing 2 stars read more

I went there on 4/19 and was not impressed. Service was good, it's a different place underground. Small intimate rooms........but the food?? claim chowder was very watered down. No thickness at all. i had baked stuffed lobster and it was either frozen or way over cooked. Lobster was tough.........even the claws. Stuffing was mostly crushed crackers with two small shrimp in it. Being a lobster fan and purchaser, I'm here to tell you that it was not good for $78. Service was good.............but that's about it. I won't be going back again. read more

I don't care for seafood but my husband loves it so we went here for his birthday dinner. The atmosphere is really cool, I love that it was underground and the way it's decorated makes you feel like you're walking down into the hull of a ship. It's dimly lit and romantic. There are a lot of options on the menu, including classics, more unique things and a few that aren't seafood. I actually really loved the Ahi Tuna dish that my husband got and the salad dressing I got on my salad was one of the best I've ever had. There was a miscommunication with my main dish when I ordered it and the waitress was very polite about it and quick to fix the issue. They let my husband pick out a dessert for free since it was his birthday. It's pricey of course but it's a nice option for a special occasion and it's cool that it's been in business for so long! read more

Salt Cellar - Grille salmon with jasmine rice and baby carrots - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

We went for dinner at the Salt Cellar . The Service was great but their oysters weren't that fresh . Clam chowder was watery in stead of thick. We Ordered a 3 bls lobster and omg so chewy . Their food is on the average, I've had better plates for the same price else where . read more

Salt Cellar - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

The Salt Cellar is an institution! I think it was started in 1970! I'm an AZ resident since 1966, with a few years in other states/countries. The first thing you notice when you drive into the parking lot is... there is no restaurant!!! That's right! There is a very small building with a door and you go down the stairs! To my knowledge, it is NOT handicap accessible! It is a really cool ambiance. A big tank of live lobster. Daily happy hour until 6pm. We were greeted warmly. We arrived at 6:15 on a Friday night for a 6:30 Reservation. No traffic (crazy right?). We were seated immediately and offered water and drinks. I didn't notice any other open tables. Our friends were a few minutes late but it gave us time to peruse the menu. They had several specials. They served warm rolls and butter. We all passed on the appetizers because the entree servings are quite sufficient. My husband ordered the 1.5# lobster with 1# steamer clams and 2 jumbo shrimp. ($79) Our friends ordered the Chilean seabass ($71) and swordfish. I debated between the grilled scallops or the shrimp with tomato and parpadelle pasta. The shrimp won out! Entrees come with house salad (choice of 5 dressings), baked potatoe or starch of the night (rice pilaf) plus a vegetable which were some lovely looking tasty carrots! They also have steak amd chicken but they are really known for their lobster and fish. Our server was attentive but not intrusive. Everything was clean. One guest ordered carrot cake. It was just okay IMO. all of our meals were delicious! I was the only one who took leftovers home!! We enjoyed Aperol Sprotz, Hugos, and wine! They have a full bar. Drinks were in the $14-16 range, which in this day and age seemed reasonable! Wine list had nice bottles in the $40 range, and of course more expensive selections. Great place. read more

See all

I loved the experience at Salt Cellar. From the road. It looks like a small venue. You enter through the front door and then you go downstairs into the cellar. So you are in a box. Once you pass the hostess station, you get an opportunity to see live lobsters and choose your lobster. If that's what you want for your main course. The staff was all pleasant. We had a regular waitress as well as one for cocktail. Both were very good. I'll tried the Shrimp Scampi and it did not disappoint. The meal came with a salad, a starch, vegetables, and complementary bread. I must say it was a great experience. It's very romantic! This is very good for anniversaries and date nights. There are stairs that you must go down to her to the facility. read more

See all

What a delightful surprise! We came here last night for our anniversary and had a great experience. Starting with the staff. Every single person we encountered was friendly and kind. They were not only efficient but seemed to enjoy their work. We absolutely loved our waitress, Angela. So very knowledgeable about everything on the menu in detail. The manager stopped by and was extremely friendly, too! The food was exceptional. Very high quality seafood. The King crabs legs were succulent and big! Portions were generous and everything so fresh! The ceviche (halibut) was so much! Lovely lime, tomato and red onion. This restaurant has been around since the 70's (over 40 yrs!) The atmosphere is old school, comfortable. We highly recommend venturing outside of your comfort zone and go here. It's not cheap, but the quality you receive makes it worth it! Good job team! read more

See all

This is a happy hour/bar review... raw oysters are $4 each and HUGE. The ceviche is AMAZING with a strange, but good, corn nut garnish? The ceviche is as filling as any meal. Bartender made a killer filthy martini, but she was the only server who really killed it. The others were barely there, didn't even bother to refill my water. They were too busy chattering about their outside lives. Hence, 4 stars instead of 5. But the food was worth every dime. I love the atmosphere here and went out of my way to drive over instead of going to Old Town. read more

Salt Cellar - Oysters on the half shell - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Tucked away and easy to miss from the street, The Salt Cellar has serious hidden-gem energy. The kind of place you feel lucky to have found. Descending into the restaurant feels like stepping into a speakeasy, with twinkle lights strung overhead in the bar that instantly sets a romantic mood. I settled into the bar for a glass of wine and an order of the crab cake, and it did not disappoint. It was perfectly seasoned, with a good sear and no filler overload, just clean crab flavor. Bartenders Payton and Rosie made the evening even better. They were attentive, warm, and genuinely respectful, which honestly feels rare in restaurants these days. It's the kind of service that makes you want to come back just for them. If you're looking for atmosphere as much as good food, this is an ideal spot for date night or a quiet drink after a long week. read more

Salt Cellar - Maryland Crab Cake - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

It isn't easy to get to the ocean when you live in a desert, but Scottsdale can bring the ocean to you. It's an unbelievably delicious experience and a proper seafood restaurant that makes you feel like you live in a coastal town. It has a groovy basement setting and throwback supperclub vibe that's great for dinner with pals, date night, or treating yourself to a seafood smorgasbord when you're sad and lonely and in need of your favorite comfort food (not spoken from personal experience, really, not me). The bar is cozy but comfortable and comforting. Definitely worth going early and having a drink or two before dining. Especially if you're dining alone and want to forget about your nasty divorce and having to move out of the dreamhouse that you bought and cherish (again, obviously not spoken from personal experience...I'm just spitballing why someone might be sitting at the bar alone). The service is great and actually my recent visit here was some of the best service I've had in Scottsdale ever as the whole staff was friendly and helpful. But, while the service and the vibe are great, the food is definitely the star. I had the Halibut Ceviche which I'd highly recommend as an alternative to a shrimp cocktail. I also had the Maryland soft shell crabs, which were exquisite. They're seasonal (something like May through October), so If you're at the Salt Cellar while you can get them, don't skimp on an extra appetizer you skinflint. You can't go wrong with any of the entrees, but I had the enormous three pound baked stuffed lobster. It's a whole lobster that's stuffed with shellfish and a baked with a buttered cracker crust. Imagine if your Thanksgiving Turkey was a lobster! Now, imagine if your mother-in-law never came to visit ever again. Happy, aren't you?!? And trust me, you will be happy if you have dinner at the Salt Cellar. And if you see a lonely guy at the bar, buy him a drink. read more

See all

I've dined here on special occasions since 1988. I'm from Maine and Salt Cellar was always a great choice for fresh Maine lobster. Tonight my wife and I were celebrating my birthday and i had lobster and she had Halibut. Both of our meals were overcooked and chewy and dry. I never complain about food but our server, Sidney, sensed something and asked if it was good. I told her mine wasn't and to her credit she didn't charge us for my meal. For the first time tonight the food was not good at all. I hope they figure out what wrong because they're better than this read more

MAN! This place has been practically in our backyard and we've never been!? WTH! Went for hubbys birthday and it was outstanding! I think there was something wrong with the a/c that evening though cause it was hot inside. We ordered a lot - Appeys: Oysters for the teen and I. served with a mignonette sauce. Delicious! Teen wanted to try the turtle soup. He was the only one who loved it, but since he was the one that ordered it..thats all that matters! Hubs ordred the clam chowder. He thought it was delicious. We ordered some scallops for the table. they were tender and not chewy. Entrees: Me - SeaBass. Wonderfully fresh. Like salt water sea butter! :) Teen - Pan Fried Lobster. He said it was ok. I think he thought this was going to be different. he ate it, but i knew his heart wasnt in it. Hubs - Beef Wellington. He enjoyed it. Said it was savory, tender, and flavorful. Mother - Baseball Cut Top Sirloin. Said hers was tendor and flavorful. We will definitely be back! read more

See all

A group stopped here for dinner. This was my first time. From the outside, it looks like an extremely small building, but then you walk down two flights into literally the cellar and it opens up. Cute little bar, it's small, maybe 15 seats but they have a great happy hour menu. We started off with oyster shooters, which had a lovely horseradish kick to it. Once it was time for dinner, it was a hard choice. I ended up going with the scallops which were divine. A couple of people in our group had the lobster which was very tasty. Somebody had the crabcakes which were delicious as well. All crab, no filling., True Maryland crab cakes. The other frequent user hack is to order a side of the San Ramos sauce to dip bread and food in. This butter, garlic, sun dried tomato sauce is to die for. I will definitely be back to try some of their other options. It is on the pricey side, so I'll probably hit happy hour more than anything. read more

Salt Cellar - Sauteed Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

First visit. Arrived for early dinner at open at 4 on a Saturday. Folks were lined up and the door opened. The food was extremely tasty. They open as this iconic restaurant built underground in 1971. Fresh seafood flown in. I had Alaskan blackened halibut which was perfectly grilled and seasoned. (I had expected over spiced but it was perfect.). I shared the turtle soup with a shot of sherry and Manhattan clam chowder with my wife. The last turtle soup I had was in New Orleans and this one did not disappoint. Yum. My wife had the Beef Wellington cooked to perfection and just in season MD soft shell crabs as an appetizer. Enjoyed the snickers torte for dessert. I was tempted to try the key lime cheesecake but I asked if it was green or yellow. Learning it was greenish, I passed as real key limes are yellow. The service was attentive and amazing. I will be back. Note: I learned most in line at 4:00 opening headed first to the bar where they have an extensive happy hour menu (no entrees in bar) to have their discounted apps first and then head to eat in dining room. As happy hours prices did not apply in dining room. It certainly encourages the bar to fill up early. read more

See all

Unique underground seafood restaurant. Always enjoy coming to the Salt Cellar, you'd never know it's there from above ground. Love sitting in the bar during happy hour and then progressing onto dinner. King crab grilled over mesquite is a great way to prepare the crab. The turtle stew with sherry is my favorite. read more

Salt Cellar is iconic! I've been going there for over 25 years! My parents would fly in town to visit me in college and we'd go to dinner there every visit. Walking down the wood stairs to dine underground is so unique. Love the large open lobster tank at the base of the stairs. Such a great restaurant that doesn't change. That's a rare find! It doesn't adapt to trends and maintains its menu. I love the escargot and I love their shrimp san remo as an appetizer. I also enjoy the san remo with the pappardelle pasta as an entree too. The flavor is delicious with the sun dried tomato, garlic, mushroom, onion, and artichoke. You definitely want bread to dip in the sauce. I like their scallops and seabass and this last time we were there had the baked stuffed lobster. Love that they crack the claws table side. Each entree comes with a salad, vegetable, and baked potato, so you will leave full. Love they give you warm towels with lemon after your seafood. I'm pretty sure Salt Cellar was the first in Scottsdale to do the "Reverse" Happy Hour, offering it again later in the evening. It's fun to come and just sit at the wood bar and order off the happy hour menu. read more

See all

Awesome place. Amazing seafood in the desert. Fresh seafood: Oysters Rockefeller and Halibut were unbelievable.

We went for my husbands birthday and he had want to come here for several years. Compared to Eddie V's and Mastro's this place is a level below them. Price wise same level, food quality not as good. I wouldn't go back. My husband got a steak with lobster. I got the stuffed lobster- do NOT recommend. My daughter ordered the pasta and we sent it back immediately as it looked dried and disgusting. So 2 out of 3 dishes were not very good. Glad we tried it, would not go back, too many other options in the area. read more

What a fun place to come to with friends! We headed over here for a late night snack after a comedy show. This was a Sunday night so it was nice and quiet and we sat at the bar. I ordered a caramel apple tea, which was absolutely delicious. For a light snack I decided to try a bowl of New England clam chowder. It was so yummy. We also got two orders of the half a dozen clam shells. They have a tangy pomegranate topping, which was quite flavorful on of the oysters. Our bartender was very nice and attentive, and we had good conversation, the service was nice and quick and very friendly. We definitely will be back, especially for the reverse happy hour which starts at 10 PM which we barely missed but for next time , we'll definitely take advantage of it! read more

See all

Ive been wanting to come here since I was a kid. That's over 40 years, lol... So I met up with some friends at the bar for happy hour one Saturday. The prices were decent, the staff was friendly, and my food tasted good. I didn't realize until I got there that the bar was a limited menu. I'll need to stop in again for dinner. read more

See all

What a cool, classy place! The whole concept of the cellar is fantastic, and the food is absolutely something to write about. I can't say I have ever had a crab cake that tasted as fresh and on point. For dinner, I enjoyed sea bass which I wholeheartedly believe was recently flown in. Our service was good, the server was accommodating and attentive, but also gave us space to enjoy our evening. I would not say this is a good place for a large group, but this definitely was a cozy, romantic evening, that also allowed us to have some exceptional drinks, and even better food. read more

Salt Cellar - Sea Bass , Baked Potato and Veggies - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

We've been coming here for 30 years Same ownership same amazing food Same attention to detail Came here for post game after ASU Football game They pour an adult pour Amazing wine list and great apps Highly recommend read more

We had been loyal customers of this restaurant for years, despite the noticeable decline in both the quality of the food and the service. We even overlooked the constant price increases because we genuinely loved this place. It had become a tradition to bring our overseas and out-of-state guests here whenever they visited. On our last visit, we were seated at the bar around 9:30 p.m. on a Sunday. The restaurant closes at 11:00 p.m., and by then all the other guests had already left. Shortly afterward, several employees--including waitresses and a couple of kitchen staff--gathered at the bar to celebrate something. They started drinking cocktails and beer, eating, shouting, laughing like teenagers, and became so loud that my friend and I could barely hear each other. I politely asked the bartender if she could ask the staff to keep the noise down, but we were completely ignored. After enduring 10-15 minutes of this chaos, we paid our bill and left (Yes, we paid tip too). I won't even dwell on the steamed clams, which smelled spoiled and were clearly not fresh. We were genuinely afraid to eat them. The rest of the meal was acceptable, but that doesn't make up for being treated as if we didn't exist while the staff turned the restaurant into their own loud party. This level of disregard for paying customers is completely unacceptable. What was once one of our favorite restaurants has now lost us as customers for good. Never again. read more

This is a great place to go. But we had a very bad meal experience. We ordered stuffed lobster and a filet as our meals. Both the meats and the vegetables were cold. Only a baked potato was hot. We advised our waitress about the problem and we were only offered new vegetables. We emailed the restaurant the next day and a week later no one has responded. Very disappointed considering this was a very expensive meal for a special birthday for my wife. We won't be recommending or going back again. We would recommend the Stockyards in Phoenix instead. read more

Cool ambiance the chicken was over done the salad was good and the service was excellent

Well I see why this place only has 3 1/2 stars. We got the shrimp cocktail and it wasn't good. Reminds me of the cheap china buffet shrimp that's tasteless and the texture was weird. What a waste for 26 bucks. The wife ordered the bass fish and it was amazing but the side order steak she got with it, had almost no steak flavor and a little like liver ? My 80 dollars ribeye was just as good as any 30 to 40 dollars steak. So just a lot of over priced average food mostly. The bass was amazing. The service was really good. But I wouldn't recommend this place if you are looking for food that's a level above the average. read more

Salt Cellar - Ribeye - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Shout out to our servers, Grace and Robert! You made the experience magical. I had heard about the double chocolate espresso martinis, and as soon as I mentioned it Grace noted that it pairs beautifully with the stuffed lobster. She knew what she was talking about! Both were amazing. Robert had the most perfect timing when it came to serving each course. Robert suggested the Ahi tuna and my husband loved it. We both really enjoyed the calamari appetizer as well. This was a 5 star experience. The ambience was perfect for our romantic birthday / anniversary celebration Pics do not do it justice! read more

See all

BEWARE! We came for happy hour for cheap drinks and small bites. Their oysters were full of black grit and made us feel queasy. The shrimp cocktail disintegrated in our mouths and tasted old. They charged us for a more expensive bottle of wine and when we pointed this out, they fixed it. Finally, as I was paying, I saw a cockroach skitter across the bar top. So gross!!! Beware expensive prices for such bad quality food! read more

See all

Came here (again) as we love this place. Freshest (and tastiest) seafood in AZ in IMO. Honestly Salt Cellar is top end quality and service all round. The bar has a huge selection of alcohol choices and their wine list is excellent - not huge but very well selected for its accompaniment for seafood. The King Crab legs always are a go too and the staff do all the hard work for you, which is awesome - they do a far better job than I ever would! Being underground, the surroundings are cosy and quiet, it's not noisy at all, even during happy hours at the bar. I frequently get the San Remo Shrimp, which is a favourite of mine. We (3) had a spectacular meal - Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, San Remo Shrimp, Mesquite Grilled Sea Scallops and the King Salmon. We decided to just split a dessert 3-ways which was a great choice as we were absolutely full after the main meal! If you're after a high end seafood experience, Salt Cellar is one destination that you should not miss. read more

We came in for our 20 year wedding anniversary!! we were able to get seated a bit earlier than our reservation time on a Wednesday night. Drinks and the appetizers of oysters, and the ceviche were so delicious!!! The rolls they give out were super dry and somewhat stale. one bite , and done. not worth filling up on that. our meals were pretty good, and i liked the table side lobster cracking. my pan fried fish with the thai sauce was ok. both that great honestly, and the cucumber sauce salmon is what i really wanted but couldn't for dairy reasons. we were given a complimentary dessert, but again, there was nothing i could eat, so my husband enjoyed the carrot cake. fun vibe, and kool place!! read more

See all

Our server was so sweet and helpful with menu. Attentive and efficient with drinks, bread and getting our food out when it was busy. Pan fried lobster was hands down my favorite! Get some oyster shooters on the side read more

See all

We've been coming here once a year for our anniversary for 15 years or so but decided to choose this place for my birthday in Nov. our server, Scott, just didn't seem to have the charm or care in the world being there, it seemed. I decided to order the lobster for the first time there and excited to try it and melt in my mouth! Wrong. It was so rubbery and hard to chew as if it were frozen then overcooked. I mentioned it to him and he asked if I wanted another one! No thank you! I was embarrassed to even mention ton anything, I just dealt w it and ate the overpriced baked potato and vegetables. This experience was meh. Disappointing as the meals aren't cheap. Maybe offer another meat replacement not another lobster! So weird! He said he'd give us a free dessert! Big whoop. Not a dessert person as is but, contemplating on ever going back. Sorry Salt Cellar, experience wasn't that great this time. read more

Bomb food. What a great experience we had. Shrimp was fire. Dirties were delish. Service was top notch. Will definitely be back.

We celebrated my husband's 65th birthday at the Salt Cellar last night. Everyone loved the Ambiance of the whole place. Our food was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS and the service was excellent from our server, Sydney, to the bartender Toni. We enjoyed the Halibut, Fried Lobster, and the Petite Filet. All was Very good! We will definitely go back to the Salt Cellar for another great dining experience read more

Salt Cellar - Sydney, our Wonderful server! - Seafood Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

See all

Went here for the first time on 7/23. We went for happy hour. I had never been here before. Just moved but was recommended by a friend. The parking wasn't bad. Had a nice ambience. The service was excellent. The drink menu was a popular list. But the food was terrible. The shrimp cocktail was so dry we couldn't finish it. Plus we ordered the shrimp toast. Would have been good except it was way too salty . Guess that is why it is called the salt cellar for a reason! read more

I literally had the best birthday ever. We started with the scallops and the escargot, super yum. They were kind enough to make me a virgin pina colada also yum (being pregnant and all!) then we both ordered the baked stuffed lobster. Sooooooo delicious! Melt in your mouth good. Even the baked potato was amazing! Angela was the absolute sweetest and best and made us feel right at ease!! Cracking our lobster like a pro! The ambiance was amazing, the best candle lit dinner I have probably ever had. The place isn't super big so make sure you make a reservation! The manager was very kind when my whole party didn't show up. 20/10! We will definitely be back. Oh! Also my birthday dessert was so good. Snickers cheesecake! Yum. Portions were huge we definitely brought some home. Thank you Salt Cellar for making my birthday memorable! read more

See all

We drove more than an hour and were excited to try this place. Service was good, ambience was too too banal, nothing special and the food was very disappointing. The clam chowder was very soupy and bland, and my halibut was so dry and overcooked. Lemon was the only saving flavor. Too pricey!!! We ordered salad and halibut and our tab was $300+ for 4 person plus tip almost $370.00! Not recommended read more

Sydney and Grace were our servers, gracious and knowledgeable. Our food choices include: New England clam chowder Filet Mignon Stuffed lobster Ribeye Snickers Cheesecake Also the drink selections are: Long Island Iced Tea Kilt Lifter beer Captain Morgan and Coke Ambiance? Extraordinary as usual, although one of our party did get overheated, so the temperature was lowered, of course. All in all, I'll keep coming back until the place says "you're not admitted" lol read more

See all

I love coming here for date night!! It's so fun going down underground for a dinner experience which is absolutely lovely. There aren't many tables so it's limited amount of people; keeping things exclusive and intimate. It's not loud or overly quiet and has very cozy old fancy restaurant vibes! The food is divine and service is always perfect! I love their drink selection and wine pairings! read more