Salty's on Alki Beach: Seattle's Best Dining Experience!

When visiting Seattle, there are some must see sites and attractions, such as; Pike Market, The Seattle Center, and The Space Needle. There are also some restaurants that should not be missed, and Salty's on Alki is my number one choice for the place to dine when visiting this wonderful city.

Location

Salty's is located on Alki Beach at 1936 Harbor Ave. SW, Seattle WA 98126. Directions can be found here: http://www.saltys.com/seattle/findus.asp Please be aware that this is not an easy place to find. I lived in Seattle for nine years and got lost every time I tried to get to Salty's. If you're visiting on vacation, then it is definitely worth the trip, and it is even worth getting lost, but be sure to not only follow the directions given by the restaurant, but also to try to get some details from a local. You may ask one of the employees at the hotel you're staying at, or even try calling the restaurant.

Hours of Operation

Salty's on Alki stays open, depending on Season, until 9:30 or 10pm. This is the latest you can be seated, but dinner can last a couple of hours, which means the place is still active until at least midnight. I "highly" recommend making reservations no matter how small your party is, and when you do make reservations, ask for a table by the window. Part of the experience of Salty's is the view, and you don't want to miss it. I have waited for two hours before for a table by the window. I'd do it again, but I'd rather have it waiting for me when I arrive.

The Menu

In the interest of saving space, Instead of copying the menu, I have included the URL for a description of what is offered as well as the prices. http://www.saltys.com/seattle/menus.asp Salty's is open for lunch M-F, for dinner seven days per week, and for brunch on Sundays. I have not attended the brunch, but I hear it is a fabulous experience. The restaurant also has private dining and banquet rooms and can accommodate parties for weddings and other catered events.

The Food

Salty's has some of the best food I have ever had in the Pacific Northwest or anywhere else, for that matter. The crab cakes are melt in your mouth delicious, and they have this white chocolate mousse cake that is to die for. Their steaks are also top of the line and cooked to perfection. Keep in mind Salty's is a seafood restaurant, so you will find primarily seafood dishes, but they do offer some non-seafood items for the landlubber. I am not a fan of fish, so I normally get steak, chicken, or pasta when having dinner at Salty's. Also keep in mind that the menu changes semi frequently. I don't know how often, but don't look at the menu now and expect it to have the same items on it six months from now. Many of the signature items will stay the same, but you'll find many changes as well.
Portion sizes of the food are pretty typical of a pricier restaurant. You will not get as much food as you think you should for the amount of money you're paying. But, there are many choices as far as salads, appetizers, main courses, and desserts, as well as a lovely basket of breads and flatbreads that will keep you eating for hours if you so choose to. I'm not a big drinker, but I have dined with guests who have been impressed by the drink selections and varieties, especially the wines. I'm normally happy with a glass of ice water or a diet coke, but every once in a while a mango margarita or something of the like is fun and Salty's is a good place for fun drinks.

Cost of Meals

Make sure if you're going to Salty's that your wallet is full. It's pricey. Entrees for dinner on the current menu range from $22 to $69, and that does not include drinks, appetizers, salads, or desserts. I am by no means wealthy, and the only time I could justify a night at Salty's was when friends or family came to visit from out of town, which was maybe once a year if that. If you live in Seattle and have not experienced this wonderful restaurant and are, like me, on a budget, save your pennies and go for a special occasion. If you're visiting and can afford at least one "special" night out, make Salty's part of the evening. It is well worth it.

Service

I have never had a bad experience with the service at Salty's. The last time I went there, which was in September of 2006, although we did make reservations, we still had to wait for about 40 minutes for a table because we wanted to sit by the window. This was frustrating, but the hostess promised that she would keep her eye open for me and get me a good table. She kept her word and found us a beautiful table that, although was not right at the window, was in a spot where we still had a fantastic view, and she found it in 20 minutes. I never had to go back to her and ask her what the status was, because she kept us constantly up to date.

The servers are always friendly and conscientious. They are regularly checking back and cleaning the table of any unwanted items. I do remember on my list visit that the server was a bit slower than normal, but we were in no rush, and it wasn't a problem.

Facilities

The restaurant itself is always clean and well maintained. The restrooms are fine and what would be expected of a nice restaurant. Nothing stands out to me about cleanliness, which is a good thing, because if there was a problem, I'd remember.

There is an outside deck for dining, although, unless in the middle of summer, is too chilly for me. The restaurant sits right on the water, and it gets very windy in the evenings.

As mentioned earlier, there are banquet and private dining facilities. I have never utilized these but if I could afford it, I would certainly consider a wedding dinner or special event to be held at Salty's. I can't think of anywhere prettier in Seattle to go for such an event.

The View

Okay, I saved the best for last. You might be thinking, "What's so great about the view that it's the 'best' part of the experience"? All I can say to that is you have to see it to understand. Salty's on Alki is not right in the downtown part of Seattle but instead on Alki Beach which is considered West Seattle. When you dine at Salty's, your view is the view of the city and its skyline, and I might be biased, but I think the Seattle skyline is the most beautiful of any I've ever seen. And, I've been to many, many large and beautiful cities. Nothing beats Seattle, and from a window table at Salty's you can see the best of it. If you take a look at the Salty's website, http://www.saltys.com/index.asp, you can get a general idea based on the photo at the top, but you really do need to experience it first hand to understand.

Bottom Line

For an overall perfect Seattle experience, I recommend Salty's on Alki highly. It's not the easiest place in the world to get to, and you will spend a pretty penny, but if it were me, I'd make it a point to save my pennies in advance so I wouldn't miss out on the experience!