Salmon Dave’s Pacific Grille

The food here was so good and I’m giving it 5 stars because of the amazing happy hour prices and the quality of the food. I had lobster risotto, shrimp and a burger here and a few cocktails. Everything was really reasonably priced and the service was great. We sat in the bar area. I’m excited to go back and sit in the dining area too. Their menu changes semi-​regularly from what I can tell online which I also like. I’m definitely going back to this place.

I probably should’ve written a review of Salmon Dave’s years ago — when I would’ve easily given it between 4 and 5 stars.
Last week, we had probably our 25^th meal here, and it was a bit of a miss all around, beginning with our server, who had a haughty, off-​putting way about her. I thought I was alone in this opinion until both my wife and our friend made the same comment at almost the same time. It’s funny how much the service can affect the overall meal. As an example, when my wife was asking a question about how one of the entrees was prepared, she quickly interrupted with, «I don’t know what you’re asking me? What are you asking me?» Quite rude.
The food was good but not as good as I remembered. I had the voodoo salmon with crab risotto and fried green tomatoes. The quality of the salmon was top notch, but it was bland and oversauced. Edible, good, but nothing special. The accompanying crab risotto was also bland, and the fried green tomatoes were very heavily breaded and somewhat sour. I left them almost untouched but had no inquiry as to why from our server.
My wife ordered the scallops and shrimp with dirty rice and fried okra, which she liked but was not wowed by. Again, high quality paired with somewhat underwhelming execution.
Our friend had steak — the cut of which I don’t recall. He seemed to like it well enough. He was a first-​timer and, having eaten many meals with him, we had the sense he wasn’t impressed.
We had 2 issues with drinks. First off, our server forgot we ordered them and said «Just water, then?» before remembering she must have never put the order in. When she delivered the pino and the zinfandel, she mixed them up, leaving one sip each from another person’s wine.
The lobster bisque was very good, as usual, and I had a bowl of gumbo, also good.

A nice meet-​up spot with a decidedly «pub» atmosphere. All in our party had different seafood entrees and all were done nicely with adequate portions. However the high prices did not fit with the very high noise level or casual feel of the place. At the prices they charge, one should expect a gentle, comfortable dining experience where one can converse with ease.

I took my mom here for her Birthday this week. When she requested Seafood I was over the moon since I have been wanting to try Salmon Dave’s for a while and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with the goofy pumpkin display in the window but stepping inside it was a very cozy and quaint. The décor is classy with a little bit of old world rustic. They have a great wine selection that is reasonably priced. Our waiter was very professional and kind.
After taking our order they brought out bread and butter. This was no ordinary butter, it had a subtle sweetness that was top notch. My mother got the Lobster bisque and said it was some of the best she’s had. She ended up with their Fire grilled Salmon for dinner and I the Crab crusted swordfish. Neither dishes disappointed, both were flavor and delicious.
To both my mother’s and mine surprise they brought out a special surprise Birthday Crème Brûlée. Neither my mom nor I had Crème brûlée before but found this dish tasty.
My only complaint of the evening was it seemed to be a slower night as there were only a few tables in the restaurant yet we had some trouble tracking down staff to box up the decedent remains of our dessert.
All in all this is a great seafood stop for any lover of fish or crustaceans.

Restaurant Week is what drew me in to Salmon Dave’s. They had good offerings and I was pretty hungry just thinking about the deliciousness.
I brought along my friend, Amber, who had been there several times before.
My first impression– what a charming restaurant! I loved the décor and the location and there were lots of people at the bar so I am not alone in my thoughts.
Amber was already one martini in and saved me some ahi sashimi. They serve it with soy sauce, wasabi, ginger and a wakame salad. The tuna was so perfect and fresh and flavorful, I didn’t even need the accompaniments. Delicious. I knew I wasn’t drinking, but they had a nice wine menu.
We both selected the twin filet for our meal which came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. My filet, though slightly undercooked for my taste, was very good. The demi glacé was flavored well without being too salty. Nice seasoning on the steak. The asparagus was cooked perfectly– simple, bright but still a little snap. The mashed potatoes were a bit of a disappointment. I’m not going to say they are from pearls/​a box, but they didn’t taste homemade to me. My lobster bisque was fine, but nothing to Unilocal about. I had a bite of Amber’s salad and it was delicious– great presentation and I loved the dressing and elements of texture.
We shared dessert of crème brulee with raspberry coulis and a flourless chocolate torte. Wow. The brulee had a golden crust and I loved the bright, tangy coulis. The torte was light enough and I loved the crusty base and homemade whipped cream.
I’ve heard great things about Salmon Dave’s crab legs and of course, salmon. I would definitely come back to check out seafood!

Was really looking forward to our lunch here and some fresh, delicious fish. Unfortunately, that never happened.
We came for a late lunch on a Tuesday. They were very understaffed, as our waitress was also the hostess and bartender. She was inattentive and got many parts of our order wrong, however our food took so long rather than send it back we all dealt with it. I will say she didn’t write our order down when she took it which irritates me, because that is obviously the reason it was SO WRONG. I also asked for bread shortly after we sat down to which she replied «I’ll bring it with the appetizers» which ended up being 20 minutes later. When a customer asks for bread, you should bring it THEN.
Our food was mediocre. For starters our table had a Cesar salad, minestrone soup, and lobster bisque (which they are «known» for). It was decent but I’ve had much better. It also came out mildly warm, not anywhere near the temperature one expects soup to be at. Disappointing.
Our entrees showed up eventually (the wait was too long, especially since there was only one other table in the restaurant being served, who we also overheard complaining about how long the food was taking). Our table had the salmon, a salmon salad, and the crusted cod. All were ok, although the cod was VERY salty and I wouldn’t order it again. I was not impressed by the really oily cream sauce that was drenching every inch of the plate either. Not happy.
Our waitress didn’t even offer dessert and just brought the check, which was weird. That’s okay though because from what we had experienced so far it was a definite pass for all of us.
Oh well, still gotta get my fish fix!

Always have a great experience here! Love the bar staff (I always sit at the bar because they are so friendly and fun to talk to. Their food and drink knowledge is on point). I’ve never been let down by this restaurant!!! Highly recommend!

Great lunch and dinner restaurant .
The daily specials are always worth checking out.
Dinner time gets busy so reservations recommended.

Ate there last night. Haley was our waitress and had the personality of a stick. It was obvious we were not her favorite customer. Lobster bisque was very pasty and fair. Dinner was excellent. Had the shrimp and scallops. My wife had the scallops as an app and but was served at room temperature. She had crab cake for dinner which was excellent. Seems like we were just a number. Get in get out get someone else into our seat.

I eat a lot of seafood and this place was verrryyyyyy mediocre.

Salmon Daves has great seafood. Salmon is their signature dish and it’s delightful. They have great prices on drinks and food during their happy hour. One of my favorite places in Cleveland.

ROCKY RIVER (CLEVELAND) OH: I was skeptical coming into the kitschy, cabinesque restaurant with a name like «Salmon Daves,» but after partaking of their delicious fare I can only sing praises. It was outstanding and I can’t wait to come back on my next Cleveland adventure.
It’s no frills on the inside; a little dark and woodsy, with pleasant and laid back waitstaff. The big menu is not pretending to be cool or recently reinvented, but the items immediately catch your attention for their uniqueness and creole inspiration.
FOOD: I tried three items
Voodoo Salmon (5 stars): This was awesome! Delicious, perfectly prepared with just the right amount of spice and no fishy flavor. You can’t judge a place called «Salmon Daves» without tasting the salmon, and it was excellent. Five stars.
Boudin Balls (5 stars): Wow! I had never seen a menu item like these and had to get them. Spicy rice balled up, fried and served with creole dip. They were wonderful and a conversation piece.
Lobster Bisque (3.5 stars): This was a good, well-​prepared lobster bisque. No surprises.
I am eager to return. Salmon Daves clearly has passion for good food and traditional ingenuity that doesn’t bend to trend but makes its own.

Salmon Dave’s was really really good. The potatoes took the chicken Marsala to a whole nother level, and the salad dressing that came with the house salad (which was wrapped in a cucumber) was amazing! It was a Chardonnay honey vinaigrette !

LOVE LOVE LOVE! I have been to this restaurant several times and have never been disappointed! My boyfriend and I met there after work for a quick cocktail which turned into drink and apps.
They have a sampler platter that is.amazing. we were trying to eat a little healthier so we asked to switch out the ceab rangpons with their ahi tuna. Without hesitation, they allowed us to do that and it was a great choice. Their tuna is amazing!!!
A few weeks later we returned and had full meals. Surf and turf was amazing. The lobster tail was cooked perfectly as was the medium rare steak. Just typing this has my mouth watering! Such a great place. When you go, dont forget to try the lobster bisque! Sweet and savory in every spoon full!
Yummm!!!

This restaurant was AMAZING! Our food was delicious, timely, and decently priced. Our waiter was attentive, friendly, and informative. (Ask for Wes!)
We will defiantly be back again! Xo

Fantastic place to go! The best lobster bisque in Cleveland and top notch service.

Great food, good location.
I have had several meals here and I always enjoy them.
They have a nice wine list and their seasonal specials are always a treat.
I usually go at slower times, because it can get crowded.

We were here in Rocky River from Los Angeles for a family reunion and looked for a nice place to take our son who recently moved here. We’re foodies, we admit, and appreciate good food and service. We received both here. We arrived at 7:30 on a Sunday evening and it was a bit noisy at first, but that just turned out to be the boisterous group next to us who soon left, leaving us in peace.
Lobster bisque can be hit or miss. The worst I’ve ever had was in Boston, but this is supposed to be the specialty so we took a chance. Excellent. Creamy, layered with flavor, and filled with large chunks of honest-​to-​goodness tender lobster. Main course was the cedar plank salmon, very tasty, mild, and expensive cut of fish done to perfection. We paired that with a very nice Ferrari-​Carrano chardonnay and lingered over the meal. My wife is very gluten-​sensitive, so we split the flour-​less chocolate torte and it was sublime. She’s now asking when we can go back.
Service was excellent, the décor very attractive, overall a delightful way to spend an evening. Not what we expected on a trip back to the Midwest town I left 50 years ago when Beardens was haute cuisine. As to price, our son has been telling us how inexpensive everything is in Cleveland, but this shocked me. Cost for the meal for the three of us was quite a bit less than half of what we’d pay for the equivalent in California. If you can get meals like that anytime you want, without waiting weeks for a reservation, at those prices, then I envy you. Great meal, great service, and an excellent value to boot. We’ll be back on our next trip.

I liked the idea of the place more than the place itself — little cozy seafood restaurant hidden away in the armpit of the pseudo-​marina. Besides the deer heads on the walls, atmosphere of the place strikes your ego immediately — you feel like such an accomplished grown up (can pay for your own over-​priced salmon). While prices grab your wallet naturally. But we come to restaurant primarily to eat, as we should, and nothing spectacular happens to you for $ 20+ for entrée, at Salmon’s Dave.
Cedar planked salmon left bitter after-​taste in my cousin’s mouth (birthday boy), my Korean hotpot was this wanna-​be ethnic dish but was way too watered down with more than doubtful oysters and less than exciting coconut sauce. (I can take you to places where they can prepare something much tastier for $ 12, but of course minus the starchy linen tablecloths. You will eat by the kitchen listening to 96.5 FM but it will be the best Korean meal of your life).
My friend’s salad was somewhat generic as well. Calamari was the only dish worth of complimenting — fresh and delightful.
All I can say — I don’t need this. I am back to my under-​privileged delicious dining of the youth. As long as it accepts me back.

My wife and I dined here for our anniversary recently. It is a bit pricey but if you are trying to get good sea food in northern Ohio you have to be willing to spend some money otherwise it’s just Red Lobster.
I was told to get the lobster bisque, and I’m glad I did. It was rich and creamy and had a couple of big chunks of lobster. The service was excellent and the atmosphere was cozy, especially nice on a cold evening. My twin lobster tail entrée was very good and the shrimp cocktail appetizer was the kind of quality I expected.
No big surprises. This is a good high end seafood restaurant.