The Salt Cellar

We had an amazing experience here. Drinks were delicious and appropriately strong. The rabbit and scallops were heavenly. Truly foodie heaven. And they are friendly to gluten free people as well.

My experiences at Salt Cellar have been hit or miss. I live on the avenue and can honestly say that there’s no incentive for repeat business. My better experiences have been in the dining room as opposed to the bar. Service is lacking considering the price tag and the food, again, can be good or sub par depending. I will say I have never had a dessert here that I didn’t like! It is clear that head chef Allen is passionate about what he does — I hope he can partner with his team to put out dishes that consistently deliver (portions are small and prices are higher end). I truly love the owners of the cellar and hope that this place finds its niche in the near future.
Favorite new learning this week at the cellar: the cute round windows in the bar open out, providing that outdoor/​indoor vibe that us Minnesotans live for!
Tip: check out the owner’s rooftop bar @ The Ox Cart in Lowertown. It’s a very cool spot to swing by before or after a Saints game.

Amazing entrees with fairly upscale pricing. It is Cathedral Hill however.
Not my type of place to go every night, but more like a «treat yourself”//date night place.
Awesome happy hour times — Tuesday — Thursday 3pm-​6pm & 9pm-​close — Fri.- Sat. 3pm-​6pm & 10pm-​close.
On the corner of Selby & Western Ave in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. Such a cute area that embodies some of the best restaurants. The Salt Cellar was a good addition. Residential streets surround most of the restaurant so parking is easy especially on quieter nights. The walk from any distance will be nice in this neighborhood as well.
The service was amazing, very professional and attentive. Sadly arrived between regular and their late night happy hours (so sad) but got a few cocktails anyways. I ordered the Artic Char and my friend had the Seared Scallops with fries to share. All was very good. The Char ($ 23) had an amazing flavor and was cooked till crispy which I love and usually ask for but somehow forgot to this time. The Seared Scallops ($ 26) had a unique, savory flavor as well with a perfect texture. So good. Portion size is smaller but I’m trying to train myself to get used to this and be okay with non-​American food quantities. Ha ha…
Get their Ritz Old Fashioned cocktail, it’s amazing ($ 11 not on HH).
Not many people were here it being a Thursday night, not even in or at the bar area. This usually turns me off when it’s in a central location. It being very «fancy» and upscale will also make me not return as often. Great date night place none the less!

The cocktails were skimpier than skimpy. 1−½ oz liq MAYBE (a good one should be 4 oz) although the price was commensurate. The craft cocktail culture has us hostage to this ‘cuteness’ these days.
The bartenders were more interested in washing the glassware than checking on my needs.
The green goddess salad was flavorless. The gnocchi had none of the advertised meatiness.

Expensive! Delicious! I went all-​out, got a cheese plate and wedge. The cheese plate was awesome and the wedge was weird; No balsamic and there was corn on it, weird and expensive! Tenderloin melted in my mouth… Awesome, but that and two draft beers was $ 100 with tip just for me. My friends burger was bomb

Hands down the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Our waiter Manu was wonderfully personable and made the night fun! The executive chef made a point to come out and talk to us about his food, which was unique and truly special. Take your time at Salt Cellar– it will be well worth your while.

Service was slow, sat without wine for 10 minutes. Fixed price menu was only thing available for valentines and I didn’t care for 3 out of the 5 courses. Reluctantly, they did substitute for one of the courses. They advertise as a steak house yet prix fixed menu dud’t even offer a steak. We were excited by their regular menu. We’re told they called everyone to let them know about the special menu but we didn’t receive a call. If we had I would have cancelled and save the 70.00. Most disappointing. What I did eat was under seasoned.

Great entrees. Creative sides. Best steak frites in town. Full disclosure: The chef here (Alan Bergo, talented guy, see
) is a friend of mine — but I would be saying this even if he wasn’t. The food is carefully sourced and carefully handled, and that has a lot to do with why the steak frites are so freaking incredible.
They special order these über-​potatoes and this richly flavored Piedmontese beef, and then they put the taters through some crazy six-​step process that concludes with them being fried to a crystalline crisp in the beef fat.
Do yourself a favor: Sit in the bar (only place you can get the steak frites for the moment), order wine, a salad, steak frites. Bask in your happiness.
If you like that, come back another night, sit in the dining room and try some other yumminess. Menu changes with the seasons, the chef’s whims and killer ingredient scores.
Bonus: Gluten free paradise. They don’t advertise this (and they really should) but TONS of stuff here is GF or can be made GF and they offer homemade GF crackers and breads to go with the charcuterie plate and other goodies. Yum!

First, a note: I won’t comment on the service as I went here xmas night– and even though you are paying for top flight service, no one likes to work xmas day.
I ordered two drinks– a house sour and an old fashioned. The sour was average, but the old fashioned was good.
The bread they give out was by far the best thing we ate all night. We had the table side Caesar was the second least disappointing. It was easily enough for the three of us. For the main course, my brother and I shared the steak for two with pomme frites and vegetable mix. My wife had the gnocchi. When you charge these prices for a steak– there is no excuse for anything but amazingness. What we received instead was a tough chunk of medium well (we ordered medium rare) meat that, for the restaurant being called Salt Cellar was lacking in seasoning — particularly salt. My wife’s gnocchi was simply just an odd dish… not sure how else to describe it.
It’s really a shame… we didn’t visit this restaurant simply because of the bad word of mouth since opening– but I had hoped they were wrong given that it’s around the corner from where we live.
If you are in cathedral hill and want steak, please go to the happy gnome, whose cheapest cut of meat is always cooked to perfection (literally every time, it’s incredible) and so much of a better value in every way.

A high end (pricey) steak house on the crowded end of St. Paul in the trendy cathedral hill area serving steaks, chops and seafood.
We made an early reservation prior to a visit to the Ordway Theatre on a Friday night. At 5:15 we were one of the few parties at the tables although the bar was full.
The food was very flavorful and prepared to perfection. I had a petite fillet cooked Medium Plus. We also ordered the delicious pomme frites (thin French fries) that were crispy and delicious. Be advised that the portions at this place are normal sized — that is NOT the typical oversized, enough to feed two or three people size — that have become so common place at area restaurants. The Cesar salad prepared table side for two — really was just for two although we stretched it a bit and shared it among the three of us. The «bowl» of lobster bisque, while creamy and packed with lumps of lobster, truly is a starter course and not enough to substitute for a meal like one in our party thought. Also be advised that everything is ala carte so if you want something with your steak, you will need to order a side.
With all that said, this place suffers a bit on the value equation — high prices and smaller portions — but it is A#1 in service. This is the type of spot that fills your water almost as soon as you take a sip and food is served with a flourish.
If you are looking for a place to splurge or to celebrate, this is your spot.

We had an outstanding meal at The Salt Cellar on Tuesday.
I had the holiday cider martini — and it was awesome. It smelled like Christmas and tasted even better. My fiancé had the cocktail special — the eddy, which had vanilla infused bourbon, some holiday infused bourbon and lemon simple syrup, and it was also very good.
The executive chef presented the amuse bouche/​relish tray, which was lovely — it had a bit of sharp cheddar rolled in pumpkin seeds, some type of salmon salad, a radish salad, and some pickled carrots — all were delicious.
Nate had the chanterelle soup, which was perfectly done — it was warm and rich, and had a great mushroom flavor. I had the green goddess salad as my appetizer — the dressing was light and refreshing, the greens were crisp and fresh, and I absolutely loved the radishes.
For our entrée, we had the Salt Cellar Steak — medium rare, with the heirloom potatoes and caramelized onion sour cream and the winter vegetables as our sides. The steak was excellent — perfectly done, and just the right amount for two people. The winter vegetables were great, and included parsnips which are my favorite right now. Those heirloom potatoes with the caramelized onion sour cream were excellent, and I would put that sour cream on pretty much anything.
Service was great — attentive without being overbearing, and seemed very well coordinated. The chef stopped by a couple times throughout the meal, which was nice. We even got a tiny dessert plate with the check — a great finishing touch on a great meal.
We will definitely be back.

The First the I must say is the fourth star is for the service.
The Salt Cellar seems to have an identity crisis. You walk into a beautiful high end bar, with a giant tv stuck in the middle. It seems out of place and takes away from the feel of class. Also when that door opens in the winter the entire bar is blasted with cold air. The dining room is also lovely, except for the giant gothic table in the center it feels awkward and so empty. It was as if we were waiting for the royal family to show.
Unfortunately the Sommelier was rude. I won’t go into it. The wine list is far to large, many bottles that over lap in style, grape, region, and price. The prices are fair.
The food was interesting. I must say the bar menu looks like a lot more fun. I did order the cracklings they were very good especially with the hot sauce.
We loved the Charcuterie it was original and delicious. We also ordered the Sunfish it was underseasoned to the point of utter blandness. When our entrees arrived they were so over cooked as to be uneatable, both of them. Our server quickly took they away. The chef sent out a bit of a treat for us while we waited for our food to be refired. It was amazing. Our server during all this was pleasant and never condescending. That means a lot to me. Our refires were so well cooked and tasty we could forgive the wait. The manager came to our table to apologize and took the sunfish off the bill as well as a bit of a discount on our wine. He also treated us with consideration. Far too often when a place gets it wrong they blame the diner The Cellar staff did not do that and with the extreme exception of the Somm. they were to a person pros.

Walked in for a Cocktail, and the lounge appear full. My wife and I couldn’t locate a menu or get the bartender’s attention for a good 10 minutes while we vigilantly solicited service from behind a party sitting at the bar. I asked the hostess if there was additional seating or if we could have a drink in the restaurant. She recommend we «run to the next available table as it’s first-​come-​first-​serve» and point to another couple entering the lounge.
Long story short — it décor is liken to Butcher and the Boar, but the service is more like the White Castle off E. Lake St.

The Cliff Notes:
Just OK
Ambiance lacking
Good not great
The Review:
We started our evening in the bar with a cocktail. The bartender was friendly and the drinks were nice. The ambiance in the bar was better than the dinning room.
The transition to the dinning room was fine and we were seated in a nice booth. The kitchen was to our left behind tinted glass and the dinning room was very open. Oddly enough the tile floor was what caught our eye. in a bad way. Strange 12×12 tile. We sat awaiting another cocktail and said «I hope the food makes up for the ambiance.» The Bibb Salad was good, not great (a theme of the evening). The steaks were cooked correctly and the flavor was good. The Pomme Frites were also good. The dinner roll was great, but I’m not sure the dinner roll should be the only great item we ate.
We didn’t have desert so I cannot comment.
I doubt we will go back given all the other options around. but I am glad we tried it because it has been on our list a while.
J. Brand

There isn’t much I didn’t like about this place during the experience. Good atmosphere, good cocktails, attentive service, and good food.
However.
My steak was nothing special and it seemed barely seasoned, but with the bacon onions I ordered to put on top it was quite delicious. The fries were good, if a little oversold by the server. Just because they’re fried in beef fat doesn’t make them the most brilliant fries in the Cities, and there are certainly better out there. Regardless, they were good and I’d get them again.
I do agree with other reviews: it seems overpriced for what you get. Worth a try, but unless the prices come down or the quality goes up, I probably won’t be back.

Why oh WHY would you change something that was amazing??? The steak tartar — is now a raw hamburger patty, with zero spices (as I had loved before), and two funky mushrooms on the side. Ick. I even told the server how disappointed I was in the change! I could have gone to Cub for the same thing. I ordered the scallops, which were slightly larger than a quarter; I got a whopping 3 of them with about two tablespoons of polenta (which was a watery mess). I was STARVING when we left. My lovely dinner date had the pork chop, based on server recommendation. Again… Cub. BUT — the brussel sprouts were fabulous!!! We went over to Moscow on the Hill to finish dinner.
We were in the booth/​tables against the back wall. Why would the hostess put the ONLY other couple at the table exactly next to us? When there are about 26 other seats available? Seriously? First time? There was nobody else in the entire row of tables… except for we were sitting within 12 inches of somebody else’s date.
Mr. Kasel… Whatever you are doing ISN’t working!!! I recommended your restaurant (s) to so many people… please don’t make me eat my words (which would actually be tastier than our dinner)
My lovely dinner date, on the other hand, expressed the ambiance is fabulous — and we WILL be back soon! He’s anxious to try the steak!

This place is way overpriced for what you get.
I love oysters so I decided to try those. They offered west coast and east coast oysters so I went for two of each. In any other place that offers multiple types of oysters the server will take a moment to point those out when served. Not this place.
My date ordered the wedge salad. This turned out to be a few romaine leaves and not much else.
My prime rib was prepared properly and her tenderloin was just fine. It was as I’d expect any basic steakhouse to prepare, but it wasn’t outstanding. The Piedmontese beef was nice, but nothing to remember.
The sweet potatoes were undercooked and crunchy.
We did order two drinks. She had a cosmo and I had a vodka martini with Chopin vodka. The tab for the drinks was $ 45. Seriously? That’s a tad exorbitant for two drinks.
The total tab of $ 167 had me feeling like I was just ripped off. There’s nothing about this place that makes me think the experience combined with food and drinks was worth that price. Oh, they did offer us the choice of white or black napkins. So I guess that was added to the dining experience.

A call to the manager earlier in the week snagged us a Friday-​night reservation for our anniversary dinner. We live just a 10 minute walk from The Salt Cellar… it was new… it looked nice… Turns out… Good Choice!
The evening started out well. The greeters greeted us with just the right attitude. Within minutes, we were whisked to our seats. We had a primo spot, right in front of the toasty fireplace. We loved the room. Clean, open, uncramped, and oh how I loved that view into the kitchen through the giant window!
Dinner started out with a Martinez* cocktail for each of us. It was superb, not as perfect as Dorothy’s, but pretty darn good (hey, I am required by law to say that… and it’s true! Her’s was a bit sweeter, and I liked that!). The cocktail was accompanied by a complimentary amuse-​bouche of pckeled bits and some nice compound butters.
The wine list is extensive, and not priced out of the universe. Presented on an iPad, it allowed for full descriptions of each bottle. The sommelier was knowledgeable, and aimed us at a bottle that was just right for our dinner selection.
I had the broiled swordfish with lobster butter over a bed of beluga lentils. The fish was cooked to perfection. Most with a light sear. The butter was rich without being overpowering. I like the way the lentils tasted. Yummy without that «lentilly» over-​taste you often get.
Dorothy had the classic duck a l’orange. She quite loved it. She didn’t share. Grrrr. So, no opinion on what I thought!
For desert, we had an anniversary treat, compliments of the house. It was a layered creation of butter and sugar and magic.
Finally, as the bill was being processed, another little treat from the house. Some tiny chocolates and biscuits.
The service was spot-​on. The server was there when needed, and in the background when not. Both the manager and one of the owners were «working the floor» while we were there. Our server said that they both bussed tables when things got busy. In my book, that is the sign of a good business!
Bottom line? Not inexpensive, but certainly not crazy-​expensive. We’ve eaten at a LOT of places around the world and have gotten a pretty good idea of prices. For what we were served, the meal was priced just right. Going back? You bet! I just wish they were open for lunch.
*Martinez — the precursor to the Martini. 2 oz Gin (old tom is best), ¾ oz sweet vermouth, ¼ oz marachino liquer, dash of Angosotra bitters, and a lemon twist. Dorothy puts a cherry in… a cherry from a $ 15 bottle of cherries! Scrumptious.

Who are the dudes in the suits? Leering and looking a bit scorned… That was a little odd to see roaming/​standing around.
I liked the layout and look of the place. The table side caesar salad while unique– may have been a bit much, and the salad doesn’t get served very cold.
Steak tartare was very nice looking and I thought a nice portion for an opening dish. But it was a little middle of the road taste wise. I’ve had it less ground up which seemed to have better texture than this version.
Prime rib was a tale of two: the exterior is extremely seasoned and powerful while the center was… bland. Prime rib is not a regular item for me, so I may not be the best judge. However I found the best way to eat this was cutting off an edge piece and pairing it with a middle bite.
Is it ok? Sure. But it does not live up to the price. $ 200 for app, salad, prime rib (x2) and a couple drinks each. I’d feel better if it was half the price for what was received.

Well it’s been a few weeks since they’ve opened. I’ve given a four star and believe that it’s probably more a three for now, but we all deserve the benefit of improvement. I have had the opportunity to explore the menu on opening day, the day after and last week, I now have a fair sampling to adequately critique. I’ve had the opportunity to sample the Salmon Gravlax – this small plate lacked flavor, to the point of not being able to even taste the flavor or the salmon or otherwise. The same experience for the Steak Tartare. Albeit, I had experienced this on the first night of opening, so I’m sure that this played to the experience. I was a bit shell shocked at the the pricing, given both the small plates were well… small…very very small.
My third and fourth experience was great. The Prime Rib Sandwich in the bar was beyond exceptional! I also want to give shout out for the Bartenders and Panda – each of you add a great flare to the Cellar and I enjoyed each of my interactions within your presence!
As for the ambiance, I enjoyed the décor and feel that is is well presented. I think the bar could use a wide runner between the bar tables and bar itself, it would warm the space up and make it more inviting.
A special note to the Managers and Owners: Get involved, interact with guests –SMILE and be gracious! No one appreciates management or owners standing at the bar-​well pensive and scowling.
All-​in all, I like the Cellar and appreciate them in our community and hope that they continue to improve and offer great food and to envibe in some delicious cocktails!