Such an amazing experience. Starting off with the restaurant itself, such a beautifully curated spot that is unlike anything rockford has to offer. Every detail a work of art. We really enjoy the bar area and its ambiance but hope to also experience the dining room as well. We started off with the Dip of the day which was a Miso Ranch dip served with fresh made tortilla chips. This was phenomenal and my only complaint is there wasn't more! We also both ordered a drink off of their happy hour menu. I ordered the old Fashioned and my wife ordered their margarita. Both were excellent. I also ordered the VIEUX CARRÉ based on our Server's recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed that. Such knowledgeable staff makes a big difference. For our main course, I got their Mushroom Pot Pie and my wife ordered the Ora King Salmon. Both dishes blew us away. Neither of us expected to be so full after our meals, their serving sizes were very generous! I wanted to highlight the mushroom pot pie, as a vegetarian, Fine dining usually does not cater to vegetarians. So having options at a place this nice was such a welcomed surprise. The greens included with the Pot Pie really stole the show, The most perfectly cooked and seasoned greens I have ever had. Chef Nick Risseeuw came over and checked on how we were doing and after hearing me rave about his pot pie offered two of his desserts on the house. We got a pistachio orange dessert and a Malt ball ice cream that was his interpretation of whopper candy as an ice cream. Both were DIVINE! Thank you again Nick for your generosity, it was a perfect way to end a perfect meal. I also wanted to highlight the staff as they played an essential role in our unbelievable experience. Everyone was so friendly, attentive, and prompt. We will definitely return soon and cannot wait to see what is in store for their upcoming menu read more

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OMG we loved this place! It was our 1st visit to Salt Rockford and they SHINEDMy husband and I had the most lovely and delicious dinner!!! And thee cocktails are so good too we are going to attempt to recreate them at home. It ambience is clean and classy with a comfortable atmosphere. My favorite kind of dining experience! We will be back! read more

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All entrees were lukewarm at best . Service was excellent with Howard but food was mediocre at BEST . Perhaps an off night but not busy and drinks were excellent . Appetizer that is usually scalding hot was room temp . Very disappointed compared to previous experiences read more

This has been a frequent for my wife and I. We came first on Valentines, and a second time for our anniversary. It was very romantic for Valentines. They had a pianist playing music, which really made the atmosphere. Tables seemed to be not so crowded, plenty of space so I didn't think I was listening to other people's conversations. Food was a little pricey when we went, but the first time- food was amazing!! (Second time, got the tartare- will never get that again). Otherwise drinks are fabulous!! We want to try the weekly special sometime! Really loved the bone marrow! read more

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Higher end casual dining in a relaxed and airy atmosphere. Huge picture Windows on one end with high ceilings gives an outdoor but air-conditioned experience. A true balance of seafood and steakhouse. You can see the prime cuts of meat and their large wine cabinet. This is no slapdash place. High quality for everything we ate, including the iced tea and spice mix with olive oil for dipping the fresh sourdough bread. Catches of the day included swordfish, snapper and grouper. Maine and Florida lobster are usually on the menu, too. Their tomahawk steak is quite the sight to see.... Hopefully will catch a glimpse as it's bright to another table. Our server Corey was impressive: organized, personable and knowledgeable. He balanced being attentive without being intrusive. read more

What a find! We are from the east coast and just loved the vibe of Salt. Clean and classy but yet somewhat informal. We sat at the bar and Oscar tended to us. He's a rockstar as he made us a gin gimlet and a vodka gimlet with egg white foam topped with vanilla bitters. He regaled us with a wealth of local knowledge about the area. We had homemade tortellini and the Brie en croute. Both were fantastic. We also had a nice Pinot that Oscar recommended. I like how the owner committed to doing this right. The food, design, ambiance, acoustics, and music set the tone for a wonderful evening. We would have paid 3x in NYC to have half the experience here. read more

Excellent food, impeccable service, classy but not stuffy, they have a variety of different items on the menu and the cuisine doesn't lean to just one genre. I dined with a party of 10 and they had something for everyone and all food sensitivities. We ordered almost every app from the menu. Standouts were the milk bread, cauliflower, and walleye tartine. I had the quail for my entree which was a special for the month. It was delicious and although it looked small, the way it was paired, it was filling. Everyone licked their plates clean. Definitely recommend for a special night out. read more

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Winter update: I was contacted about the reservation fee and was happy to find that they stop the charge when you arrive and check in. Good to know! We returned for round two and the experience was as below. Winter 2024: I very much wanted to love their winter menu but what we tried just didn't do it for me. Our server was very nice and enthusiastic about the menu; they were offering a set menu for $50 that was four courses sounded promising but the thing that made me not go for it is the gumbo. After moving up here from Louisiana I have high expectations of gumbo and I personally had made a big pot a week before so it just wasn't thrilling us. That's not at all on them though so I don't count it as a negative. Since we were more interested in the regular menu she recommended a few items and we chose her selections. The meal: all of our cocktails were excellent. They really should keep their bartender and not let him or her go. The raclette pierogis were tasty and I particularly liked the crème fraîche, but I missed the texture of the dough when seared in butter. I also was really hoping for a blanket of cheese, because to me that's what a "raclette pierogi" is advertising. The pistachio dessert was a nice change because it had such a nice pistachio flavor and paired excellently with the little quenelle of raspberry ice cream, and was not your typical Rockford dessert. Definitely a highlight. Each other dish had some technical flaws that affected the dish. The smoked walleye appetizer was pretty to look at but all I could taste was somewhat greasy bread and naturally-oily aioli; I couldn't get much flavor from the fish; the dill and onion could have not been there and I wouldn't have known. It was oily enough that it needed some acid to cut through the oil and we couldn't finish the bread unfortunately. The plating was on point though! The bone in ribeye was missing the deeply beefy flavor I associate with the dry aging process, and the steak just didn't get the nice sear I love on a steak. The inner temperature was perfect though, and there were no complaints about the potatoes and sauce. It wasn't a bad steak but it didn't live up to the price point of $89. The scallops were the saddest for me only because of the expectations set when we ordered. One of my favorite things about scallops is again an amazing sear. I honestly wasn't going to get the scallops due to having been burnt a few times in Rockford but the server, completely without cue, mentioned how well the scallops are seared so I thought I'd be safe. Unfortunately they still looked very anemic when set in front of me. The flavor was great, and I overall liked them but I had really been hoping for a nice sear. Two were a little gritty and seemed like they just needed a little more of a rinse. The risotto had a nice flavor and paired with the scallop beautifully, my only small ding was the rice was a little al dente. We both agreed that overall we were satisfied with the meal in general but didn't feel it lived up to the sticker price. Again there are Chicago prices charged but not quite Chicago quality. We really want SALT. to succeed and I'm sure we'll give them another go (even if just for their great cocktails!) but I don't feel that the quality that is expected when paying these prices was there this visit. Hoping the next menu will show continued improvement! read more

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Excellent service and food was full of flavor, pretty romantic seating with candle lit table setting. Only down fall was that the waiter didn't have much knowledge of the menu as is was new for the season, otherwise everything was great! read more

Salt Rockford - SWEET CORN BISQUE roasted pork belly. daikon. scallion - Wine Bars Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

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We dropped in after looking at cars. Nice place. The interior is redone. The walls have an interesting pattern, and the bathrooms are just as nice or nicer than they were under the previous business, Josef. We arrived and were seated promptly. The place recently opened in October (around the 25th) and we'd wanted to try it. The menu is, how can I say it, confusing. My wife said the key part of this review would be when I asked her "What would I like from these entrees?" Yep, that sums it up. Anyway, once we were seated, we received water. I was looking for a wine list, but they don't have one....yet. They do have an excellent sommelier who considered what we were planning to order, and recommended an excellent Merlot from a firm that I had a hard time pronouncing. Until I looked at the cork. There it was, clear as a bell. 4 pictograms on the cork. A gun, a lock, a bun and a shoe. Pronounced Gunlock Bunshoe, written Gundlach Bundschu, it's a real mouthful both as a wine and something to pronounce. With the wine settled, we had to make our entrée orders. My wife ordered their Lamb Ragu, and I ordered their Prime Dry Aged Ribeye, which came with a nice adirondack potato galette, better known as a potato tart of sorts, which also came with a nice bordelaise sauce. The food arrived nicely plated in a very short period of time, but they weren't exactly slammed - why, I can't imagine. (Maybe the confusing menu?) The food tasted great, my wife noted her Lamb Ragu was luke-warm, not hot, while my steak was piping hot. We wrapped things up with their Basque Goat Cheesecake, which tasted like cheesecake made with goat cheese, and their Pumpkin Torte, which was nicely accented with citrus and ginger, and was quite good. I think it was better than the cheesecake. This is a restaurant looking towards the higher end, just as it's predecessor did. The food is there, the wine cellar looks very good. I think the menu needs a little less fancy and a bit more down to earth, read-ability wise, and they might draw more people. Because the food is good enough, it can't be anything else keeping people away other than thinking "What is THAT?" when they read the menu online. The staff even left a thank you note after we paid and before we left. See the pictures. read more

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The food selection is quite small having roughly 5 beef dishes, two fish selections, one chicken and two noodle/pasta selections, however small the selection is they do these items to perfection. I had the 7 oz filet which came with my choice of a side, choosing the Yukon potato's. My steak was done perfectly and was one of the tenderest filets I've ever had. Others in my party had the lamb chops and the red snapper both complemented on how good their selection was. Just be prepared, the portion sizes are not huge but what they lack in volume they make up with taste and presentation. All in all we will be back for a special occasion sometime in the future. read more

Trying to hard to be something it isn't. Slow service on a slow night, was here for almost 3 hours. Timing of the tasting order was no where near close to other guests who ordered just a regular meal. Do not get a Mai tai as they do not know how to make them. Correction, they'll make you one they think is right but is not good at all. Tried to save a little money and order a burger, don't waste your time, mcds burgers are better. Also the cheese cake was burnt, how is that possible is beyond me. For the price there are many better options. read more

Food, service, ambience and overall experience was excellent! The fish of the day and the filet was awesome! I will be back.

Celebrated our anniversary there. Had beef wellington which was very good. Staff were excellent. Service was prompt! Would recommend and would go agaun. read more

First, the atmosphere in this place is incredible, from the moment you walk in you feel welcome and appreciated as a customer. The tables are spaced apart perfectly to ensure you are not on top of the next table, and local artwork on the walls. We had the milk bread which was too die for along with the charcuterie board (served with olives and honey). My hubby took on the ribeye which was perfectly prepared! The bar had the most unique drinks, interestingly, no soda... but the bartender will make sure to custom make what you like! The carrot Brule was for dessert... definitely a must try! Sounds crazy, but even the bathroom was totally unique and they thought of everything (touch less toilets, mouth wash, even extra deodorant wipes)! My only negative, the Ravello was over Salted. Almost a perfect place read more

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Salt is a new fine-dining restaurant and bar with a modern twist. Their uniquely crafted dining experience and the finest wines and cocktails made my dining experience an unforgettable one! We ordered the Oyster which was so fresh and delicious. The Little Gem Salad that had a lovely texture from the quinoa crunch. The Hamachi Tiradito which tasted like it was just caught fresh from the sea. The Lobster Tortellini that had a rich lobster buttery flavor. Bone Marrow that just melts in your mouth. The Lamb which was cooked to a perfect medium rare. The Chocolate Pots De Crème which you must save room for. And the Basque Goat Cheesecake which was the perfect ending to this fabulous meal! The cocktails were great too! My favorites were the Diablito and the Rend & Sow! I love the smokiness from the mezcal and the smoke show. Not only was the food and cocktails amazing, the service was as well! The staff was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the menus. We couldn't have asked for a better night! I would highly recommend Salt. to all my friends family! It's the perfect place for date night, anniversary, birthday or any special occasion! read more

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Had nice dinner at Salt. Diane wanted the Stuffed Zuchini, which did not disappoint! We were surprised that the bar did have any cranberry or Cointreau? And I thought the milk bread came out Cold? But my Pork Chop & Grits were perfect! read more

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Fantastic vibe and such friendly waitstaff ! Food is creative and well thought out menu whether you're in the bar or dining room. My fav if their filet with an Aperol spritzer read more

We've been disappointed with the "white table " restaurants in Rockford and were looking for a place for special occasions. We heard that a new restaurant had opened in the old Joseph's and decided to try it for my wife's birthday. We were very pleased When we got there we were told that our table was ready and already set. While the menu is somewhat limited (but includes vegan choices) it offers some unique options, all of which were delicious. We were pleased with the quiet ambiance yet felt relaxed. The service was excellent. It is not inexpensive, but we've paid more at some of the more popular restaurants and enjoyed it less. We'll be back read more

I came with a party of four. Two people did not get the tasting menu and two did. The timing for food coming out was off and took forever. I would recommend either the whole table getting the tasting menu or not at all.. The shaved ice on the oysters were an interesting touch. The burger was dry, ordered as medium came out well done. The waitress took 20 min to apologize for not bringing ketchup for the fries because "they were eaten too fast". The cheesecake was burnt though the pecan crumble was delicious that comes with it. The duck and halibut were delicious as well. Also would recommend the sunny salad. Service seemed slow during this time and yet at my table we felt barely waited on and forgotten from time to time during our dinner. They also charged us for a "mai tai" that I took a sip of and returned because it wasn't a mai tai... Let's just say it's not my first choice for restaurants after this experience. read more

This restaurant is a hidden treasure! Both the service and the food was next level. This is a Chicago quality restaurant right here in Rockford. Our family celebrated a birthday by dining here. The chef and staff provided a memorable experience! read more

Food was amazing, service can be enhanced or trained by someone from Chicago as I used to be a server a couple years back before I opened my own business but the server was very sweet and knowledgeable! Great new spot! Came here for a meeting a couple days ago from the city and I'm happy dinner was what it was! read more

SALT Rockford is a very special place on Rockford's east side close to Interstate 90, at the Riverside exit. Worth the trip from Madison or Chicago! We were able to get reservations for opening night and based upon everything, you would have never guessed it was opening night! The cocktails we tried were amazing. My date ordered the Amalfi Sunrise and raved about the flavor profile and balance. In spite of all the options, she ordered a second later in the night! I tried a "Reserve" Mai Tai, and it was equally delicious. My second was the Constane which was poured over shaved ice at the table! We started with two small plates, the Hamachi Tiradito. Next, we shared a small kale salad, and it was the best kale salad I have ever eaten! The kale was tender and finely chopped. Bravo! For entrees I had the Lobster Tortellini with the trout roe, and she had the lamb ragu which was superb. I can't wait to try the Foie Gras Schnitzel and Rack of Lamb! Next time. You won't be disappointed. Just be sure to bring an appetite. I should also mention the décor was classy but not pretentious, and the bathrooms were stylish and spotless. You can eat in the bar area as well, so we plan to try that next Friday! Their website has better photos. read more

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Fine dining is back on the east side. When Josefs opened a decade and a half ago, it was a welcome surprise to Rockford. Over time it became less and less consistent and met it's inevitable ending in what I consider to be not a foodie town (Olive Garden and Outback are popular). Salt definitely brings quality to the area. The staff was excellent, the ambiance enjoyable and as someone else said, facilities were clean. But the food is the real draw. The amalfi sunrise is quite good and the charcuterie plate was a work of art. The tacos were simple but delicious-some assembly required. The cinnamon heat dessert with base of chocolate pudding was A plus. We stuck with the small plates this time but will definitely be back next month to try the large plates. Our neighbors tomahawk chop was ridiculously large. This is our new favorite place! read more

Amazing food, atmosphere, top notch service. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a nice meal in the Rockford area

I am being super generous with this review. I went out with my family hoping for a delicious and amazing meal and ended up having such an awful meal. I ordered the scallop risotto and it was bland and undercooked. my father had the ribeye and said the flavor was awful, and paid 89 dollars for the steak itself. Our bill was over 300 dollars and left hungry and disgusted. I would NOT recommend visiting this restauran t. Other GREAT options are Prime Italian Steakhouse, Francesco's, and Merrill and Houston's read more

This was our second visit to Salt, after dining here last week. It is wonderful to have a fine dining restaurant in Rockford! Our second time was just as good as the first. One starts out with a warm welcome from Marty. And then, Lauren, our server, helped me make my decisions after her description of various items. And I'm glad she described that apple desert - it was great! Daniel at the bar made potent, excellent drinks. This is an excellent restaurant, one that Rockford desperately needed. We did notice the walls and ceilings. It looked like sound-deadening material. Much appreciated! We have dined at very popular restaurants in Madison (mainly because there weren't upscale restaurants in Rockford). When we have walked into those restaurants, my husband has said, "I've been in quieter Army mess halls". Not so at Salt. Everything is first class. It's an adult, sophisticated restaurant. We are officially "regulars". read more

We tried their 5 course New Year's menu. Our server was attentive and helpful. The presentation was beautiful. There were a lot of interesting flavors but each course just didn't quite land. The 1st was cold and would have been better warm (or on a warm plate), the 2nd needed the sauce spread more evenly throughout the dish, the 3rd the pasta was very dense and needed more light notes to balance the dark heavy flavors, the steak was cooked perfectly and glaze was delicious but the mushrooms were rubbery and distracting, the dessert needed more passion fruit filling to balance the soaked cake. We'd have been satisfied if it was half the price, but for the cost we expected more. read more

The steak was average at best and certainly not an $89.00 steak. It came with a 3" side of potatoes. The steak was over cooked. FYI's-There is a $10 charge per person for the reservation. There were only 4 tables being served- so certainly not needed. Also it should be noted there is 3% employee health service charge added to your bill. There are much better restaurants in Rockford. The price would be acceptable if it was fantastic but it was not. Service was fine. read more

We had our company holiday party last night at Salt. and it was fantastic!!! There were 35 of us and they did an amazing job with service, food and drinks. Zizi worked with me for a couple of months to make a menu for us and make sure all of our special requirements were met. The entire staff was very nice, very professional and very accommodating. The food was excellent and creative. We'll be coming back! read more