Salt Cellar

Nothing spectacular… A bit pricy for what it is really… Nothing that blows the mind of makes the mouth find excitement…
The food is not bad but nothing exceptional…
Atmosphere was old school and kind of cool and kind of old at the same time…
Not sure what else to say…

I have no clue why it has taken me so long to come check this place out! I had always heard great things — I love funky places (its totally underground — a cellar)! Awesome Happy Hour!!!
Came here for happy hour and sat at the bar by the time I left the place was packed and it was a Wednesday!
We started with the shrimp bread — this was not my choice order but I was happily surprised. It was tasty!
Oysters were awesome! Fresh! I like that you can order the amount you want and not get ½ dozen or a dozen. $ 1.5 for each.
Next we had the bucket of clams — This was different. You get the steamed clams in a bucket and the broth and drawn butter in ramekins on the side… the clams had such great flavor and freshness they were great on their own.
I then tried the Manhattan Clam Chowder because not many places in Arizona actually make Manhattan. I will say it was Ok — it tasted much more like a vegetable stew with a few clams. I would stick to the traditional New England here.
Halibut ceviche — great flavor BUT the fish has been sitting in the citrus too long and was no longer firm — it became mushy. Lime/​Lemon cooks the fish if it sits too long the acid starts to break down the fish. The texture was off. Like they had made the batch the night before or early that morning and it just got mushy :(I would give this another go because the flavor mix was great.
Now something I didn’t try — but the two ladies sitting next to us had ordered the escargot — They said it was absolutely delicious and baked to perfection. I will take their word for it. I have had a bad snail experience so I passed on this little dish :)
Even though two of the dishes were «okay» I still loved it and will be back to try more! Definitely recommend if you are looking for some yummy seafood.

I had no ideas this place was here. So small from outside, I drove passed here many times for the past 16 years but didn’t even notice. On the day I came here, I missed the exit from the freeway and was driving up Hayden Rd to get back to Scottsdale eventually, when my friend said there should be a good seafood restaurant nearby, and when he spotted this place, we decided to try here instead.
Taking the stairs down, I felt like I was going down to a wine cellar. It’s such an old school, I felt like I was back in time. Apparently they haven’t changed for over 40 years. I liked their classy ambiance.
Server said halibut was fresh so we shared halibut ceviche. Fish was fresh and really liked the taste of ceviche. It was so hot that night, fresh appetizer was perfect choice.
Yakimono Hawaiian ahi had a great flavor. One of the best ahi I had before. Outside was charred just perfectly, I enjoyed every bite of my ahi.
Portion size was very big. I didn’t have enough room left in my tummy for desert.
Server was as friendly as he gets. He sounded like he’s been working there for a long time and knew what he was doing. I had such a good time there that night, I hope I can come back here again soon.

Not being a fish person (so take that as you wish) my mother wanted to take my wife and I with my daughter here for dinner because she likes it (on Friday 6÷10÷2016). I found the whole experience to be very overpriced for the quality they deliver. Starting with the parking lot.
I started with the Turtle soup, being from Philadelphia, Snapper soup was a staple at a restaurant there. Although the Salt Cellar’s soup lacked seasoning (and lazily puts the sherry on the side) I didn’t think it was that bad. I’d give it a ³⁄₅.
Salad dressings choices leave to be desired, and I can’t eat mushrooms — but the waiter never told us they had mushrooms and by the next time I saw him our entrée was there.
I had the Beef Wellington, and so did my daughter. We both found it overcooked — and no seasonings. The raspberry syrup they dump on it is absolutely awful. It totally killed the whole thing, but I suppose when they don’t season it, that’s what you should expect — heavy syrups. And definitely not Grade A cuts, nothing more than you can buy at a supermarket (for the lower grades)
My wife had the salmon which she said was okay, they spend more time in presentation than flavoring again.
The free desert they give us for our anniversary for chocolate cake seemed liked they found a stale doughnut from a store and microwaved it with chocolate sauce. Good thing we didn’t pay for that.
I’d say this place is overpriced by at least 200−300% given the quality. The staff is friendly, but the waiter doesn’t get you drinks, some cocktail one does — so be prepared to get everything different. The beer she refilled wasn’t the same I had (nor did she ask) and she refilled my mom’s Gin and Tonic with Sprite — but charged us for a Gin and Tonic.
We didn’t eat half the meal as the sides were barely edible — the kus was nothing but water and the broccoli and cauliflower had some sauce on it that made it taste and smell «off». The baked potato was microwaved and not even scrubbed.
Not one elicit response from the waiter, cocktail waitress, or even a manager to come up and ask what’s wrong given that we barely ate 30% of the meal. I’m guessing they just bank on overpriced, completely under-​quality food and hope that people still believe this is some type of «place to be seen» given its Scottsdale address.
I’d expect more from a place that averages about $ 60 a plate with tip and drinks — you should also. Their management seems to have no issues with it.

Have driven past this place a ton and decided to give it a try. So glad we did!!! Fantastic fine dining so be prepared for an experience not a fast dinner. Salmon wellington was fantastic. The Ahi from Hawaii recommended by our server was to die for. Lava cake to top it off. Spendy meals but well worth the cost for what you get. We will be back in September at our next visit!

I have been to the Salt Cellar a few times before for happy hour but decided to come in for a nice sit down dinner with a friend and have the full experience.
When we walked down the stairs we were immediately greeted by the hostess who was very nice. Since we were a little early for our reservation, she suggested that we sit at the bar for a cocktail and appetizer since it was still happy hour.
Our cocktail server was very polite and promptly took our drink orders. We decided to have the oysters on the half shell which were just delicious. We sat at the bar with our drinks and appetizer for about 30 minutes when our server introduced herself and showed us to our table. We were able to transfer our tab from the bar to our table. We of course tipped our cocktail server because she took such good care of us.
Once at our table, our server went over the menu. We decided to order a bottle of wine because we were there for the whole experience. She brought us and poured our wine and preceeded to tell us about the menu. One of the appetizers on the menu I have never tried before so we decided to order it. The oysters rockefeller, oh my goodness, it was heaven in my mouth. I would go back just to eat 3 or 4 orders of it for dinner! I finally decided on having the stuffed crab for dinner. My friend chose the scallops (which I have had before and they melt in your mouth).
Let me tell you about the lobster I had. It was stuffed with crab meat and scallops and I couldn’t get enough of it! It was so good! Our server took the time to crack the claws and I’m so glad she did because the meat inside of those claws was phenomenal. It was fresh and cooked to perfection.
After the amazing dinner we had just experienced, our server asked if we were ready for desert. Now, I couldn’t eat one more bite because I had consumed about 2 pounds of amazing, fresh and perfectly cooked food. She suggested after dinner drinks. Heck yeah! More drinks? Why not? So she and another server suggested a drink called Nuts and Berries. My friend and I decided that we would have that. Holy cow! It was probably the most amazing after dinner drink I ever had! I would love to know how you make it.
All in all i recommend this place to everyone. Between the fresh food, the intimate atmosphere and the wonderful and caring staff, I will definitely be back. The happy hour is amazing, the service is amazing and the food is amazing. Thank you Salt Cellar for an wonderful dining experience! I’ll be back :)

If you choose to eat here food is VERY good! But MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR BILL! They have hand written bills with no break down, and they DO NOT know the pricing in their menu and over charge.

My hubby and I were laughing, because at first we missed the restaurant. Then it clicked to us that it is located downstairs, hence the name «cellar». I don’t know what people are comparing this seafood to? It is your average bite, we felt it was overrated. Wasn’t pleased with the appetizers or entrée. As a matter of fact, we left our dinner to go to Wildfish instead.

Very cool experience to walk down underground in order to eat your supper. I love the feel of this place, it is intimate and charming.
The service was good– prompt order taking and delivery of beverages, etc. we had a recommendation for the calamari and it was probably the best I’ve ever had. It’s not your average calamari– try it!
Overall our experience was only decent as the cocktail waitress was a little pushy on the beverages after we were already settled and enjoying ourselves. One member of the party had a halibut that was delivered dry and overdone and when the replacement came it was instead raw. Things happen, but this seemed sloppy to me coming from a place with such a great reputation for seafood.
I’ll definitely come back again before deciding whether or not this place has my loyalty as a patron.

I was in Phoenix working for a new client and trying to woo new ones and decided to go back to the Salt Cellar. I had not been here in years and hoped it was still as good as I remembered it.
Wrong. Nowhere near as good as I remembered, but a whole lot better.
Damn, damn but this place is great.
The crab is just so G-​damn good here. I’ve had crab on the coast, looking at the waves that did not taste as good and fresh as the crab I’ve had in a hole in the ground in the AZ desert. That is no BS.
The two things that amazes me so much about the Salt Cellar–
For such flat out high end kick ass seafood, this place has zero pretension. No upper crust looking down your nose kind of vibe here. That is rare and for a place that resides in Scottsdale (even if just barely) it is extremely rare.
The 2^nd is the high quality of everything, not just the seafood. The baked potatoes would be enough to come here!
Love this place. I cannot wait years before coming here again. I end up in the valley for business numerous times a year and I need to make the Salt Cellar a priority more often.

Yum! Can’t wait to return for a full-​blown dinner here.
Came here for impromptu apps/​drinks this past Sunday and was very impressed.
Not only is the location and ambience unlike ANYTHING you’ll find in Phoenix, the food was pretty amazing as well. Are you in the cabin of a fisherman’s boat in the middle of the Pacific? Are you in the Arizona desert? You’ll never know the difference here.
We pulled up a seat at the bar and ordered a dozen oysters, shrimp cocktail, and fish tacos.
Let me first say that the oysters were HUGE (see pics). The biggest I’ve ever seen — this might be the first time in my life that I’ve been full from oysters. the largest shells were the size of my entire palm! I asked one of the bartenders where they came from and he said Chesapeake Bay since the gulf of Cali doesn’t produce the best oysters. I found it surprising they were all the way from the East Coast. they were very fresh.
Sensing a theme here, the cocktail shrimp were also ginormous and super tasty. Cocktail sauce (has some kick!) tasted homemade, and didn’t seem like it came out of a plastic tub.
Shrimp/​fish tacos were very yummy. They definitely didn’t skimp on the portions when they stuffed the tacos and the sauce + coleslaw also had some spicy kick!
To finish, we ordered the Banana Foster. HOLY COW. It was gone in maybe 3 minutes flat. I’d go back just for that.
While this is an upscale restaurant, don’t expect to find the nicest of nice things here. The restaurant has been open since the late 70’s/early 80’s and not much renovation has happened since as evident through the bar cabinets, furniture, etc. I did find it oddly charming the super skinny door entrances (you really feel like you’re on a boat!) and that there were high tank toilets with a chain in the bathrooms.
We will be back soon! :)

Pricey but REALLY DELICIOUS seafood place!!! I came here with some co-​workers and when we arrived around 7pm there was a 20 min wait. We just waited by the bar until they called our name. Happy hour specials are 5−7pm.
Oysters are $ 1.50 each and super juicy. My co worker got the shrimp toast and said it was delicious as well.
For my entrée I got the house stuffed lobster… SO GOOD!!! They crack the shell for you at the table so you can get the meat easily. The lobster was stuffed with scallops. $ 47 but really FRESH!!! They light a small candle and place the butter on top. I think all the entrees come with the house salad– I picked the thousand island dressing– salad was alright. Main attraction is def the seafood!
Service is excellent!!! One of the freshest seafood places I have been to in my life.

When My better half and I pulled in to the parking lot here, she did not look to pleased, because the outside of this building makes it look like it’s not too appealing. This is probably the prime reason why we don’t judge a book by its cover, we would have really missed out. This place has to be one of the best kept secrets around. Like a delectable seafood Speak-​Easy.
This is probably the best restaurant in the valley and that is no joke or exaggeration. There is a reason why this place has stood the test of time. I believe wholeheartedly that boils down (No Pun intended) to three things: Atmosphere, Food Quality, and Service.
I actually found this place just asking around at my local barber shop for a quality place to take my lady for a nice night out, and boy did I stumble on to a gold mind.
We had clam chowder and the sauteed Shrimp San Remo, and then as far as entrée’s go we did the Stuffed Lobster and she had the Salmon. Both we’re mind blowing, I mean we’re talking ridiculously fantastic. Kudos to the salt cellar.
I’ve also heard that Happy Hour here is super legit, buckets of clams and brews for days, We’ll be back to try out HH.

The best seafood restaurant ever!!! I had the whole main lobster. The buttery, soft, smooth lobster just melted through my mouth and down my whole body! I was so happy to finally have good lobster. The crème brûlée was 1 of the best I have had. The cold custard under the hot carmilized sugar made every bite taste better than the last bite. The service was on point.

Salt Cellar
550 N Hayden Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85 257
Companion and I arrived for a 5:00 dinner reservation just a bit early. We were asked to wait in the bar, which would not have been a problem except that every seat was already taken with people waiting. After a short wait, we were seated at our table.
The bar waitress arrived quickly and took our drink order — 20 year old port for myself and a pink squirrel for companion. The port was a Graham and was excellent, and companion loved the pink squirrel. It is notable that the bar has a large stock of premium single malts, ports, and other spirits. Best of all, they have a bartender that has knowledge of what is being served and knows what he/​she is doing.
We started our dinner with a bowl of chowder — Manhattan for companion and New England for myself. The chowder had lots of clams and potatoes in it, and instead of being thick and goopy (is that even a word?) it had a nicer, thinner texture that was very enjoyable.
Next came an order of Steamed Mussels. They were satisfactory except that many of the shells did not have a mussel in them. Our waitress made things right very quickly by bringing us a steaming hot new order to replace those. The mussels were cooked perfectly and came with a broth and a melted butter cruet to dip them in. Best of all, the mussels were totally clean with not a drop of foreign material in them.
Next came the salad, perhaps the only weak point in the meal. Two problems presented themselves — first was that the salad itself was either torn into small pieces that were hard to get on the fork, and other pieces were too big to be put in ones mouth without being cut up. The second problem was that we selected the house vinaigrette, which just really wasn’t to my personal taste. Not wanting to be a complainer, I ate the salad and accepted it as part of the experience.
The main course arrived next — baked stuffed lobster. Each lobster was stuffed with a mixture of crab meat and scallops, then covered in bread crumbs and baked. The lobsters are smaller ones — about 1 ¼ pounds I would guess, but after the appetizers and the salad they were more than adequate. The lobsters come with a candle heater with drawn butter in it. I prefer a good salt butter to eat with my seafood, and somehow, miraculously, a small packet of Maldon Sea Salt appeared from my purse to help with the butter. The lobster was delicious and nicely cooked. Our waitress, when serving it took the hard parts apart for us so the eating it was simple and non-​messy.
Our only unfortunate part of the evening was that we were seated next to a buffoon cardiologist that insisted on recounting his latest surgery experiences to his table in loud enough tones that the entire dining room found out about his sutures. I did not allow that to affect my appetite though.
Service and cleanliness were excellent as was the food.
5 stars

Let me start off by saving the service was excellent, they even kept it old school and gave us a cocktail waitress along with our waiter. Which makes zero sense but I appreciate the sentiment. The décor is cool, you are underground but the place is clearly dated which I will overlook for now.
I’m banking at this point on the seafood being extraordinary, the underground gimmick can’t possibly be what’s keeping people coming back all these years… right
NOPE, the food is mediocre at best. I mean I’m not a sea food snob and I live in a land locked state BUT sand is never ok in your scallops. My lady had some shrimp deal and was equally as enthused with the blandness. Again the restaurant is pretty cool décor wise, the waitress and their sidekick cocktail server took care of us incredibly well.
BUT you can get better fish at a chain restaurant. So maybe go for a drink, feel like your on a boat in 1971 then go somewhere… anywhere else for a delicious dinner!

Great place for happy hour! I have been here twice and staff is very nice and food is always good!
Great atmosphere but if your going for happy hour get their early for a seat!
One of my favorite places and I will be back!

I went to this restaurant Wednesday evening about 830 had ordered clam chowder and crabcakes. I would not go back again the clam chowder was coagulated and did not taste well plus had big chunks of bacon in it. The salad was nothing but a bag salad that I could have bought at the Fry’s grocery store with dressing on top. The crab cakes were burnt on both sides the steamed vegetables which were cauliflower and broccoli with a hollandaise sauce on top was bland and mediocre not even worth the trouble. The food I heard and saw by the reviews were supposed to be very good I was very disappointed will not return suggest you don’t waste your money… it’s not worth it

Returned to celebrate our 2^nd year wedding anniversary! Mistakenly reserved a table via the «Open Table» app and walked in knowing rsvps were never made. They explained it often happens and the rsvps thru OT were for a restaurant in Minnesota! What!!! They were so very kind to squeeze us in on the spot and find a table for two. This place never disappoints! Our waitress, Toni, was so wonderful; knew the menu by heart and recommended dishes that were very tasty! We each had a glass of wine red /​white– Row 11 Pinot noir and can’t remember the Chardonnay I had :(- buttery /​oaky flavored– so yum! For appetizers, we ordered ½ and ½ clams & mussels w/​broth & butter dips, that were very good. Our favorite were the mussels. Was served w/​delicious bread and butter. For our entrées, I had the petite fillet, medium, with baked potato and steamed mixed veggies, which also came w/​a house salad. Hubby ordered the Halibut w/​the same sides. Not enough room for dessert, but able to squeeze in a decaf coffee. :) perfect night!
The service and food, once again, PHENOMENAL!!! We can’t wait for our next visit! Thanks, Toni, you were awesome!!!

Excellent evening, food and service were amazing! Highly recommended if you are looking for great seafood in the desert!

My cousin and I took a drive out to Scottsdale from California and Every time I’m in Scottsdale it’s a must that I visit The Salt Cellar, I always have good service but it’s just good nothing special, however this time around was different Alex was our server and I cannot even begin to describe how phenomenal Alex was, I mean really above and beyond doesn’t even amount to his extraordinary service… my main concern is obviously the food and really that’s all I care about but with Alex he was so sweet so attentive and really cared about our experience you could tell… My cousin and I no longer cared so much about the food we just enjoyed his company at one point I just wanted to ask him to join us… he really made us Feel like friends/​family yet he never fell short on his professionalism… All in all Alex really made our experience such a memorable one and I can’t wait to visit again… Soon…oh and the food was great too! :)
P.S –Salt cellar you caught a good one hold tight to that Rod.
–cleopatra

I’ve been meaning to visit this restaurant for a long time. Needless to say that I’ve built up my expectations over time. When I was finally there, I was very disappointed. The New England clam chowder was so watery. It was a bowl of soup, definitely not chowder. The escargots were tasteless. The best dish for the night was the jumbo shrimp pasta. Not much presentation but it was tasty. I will not come back again. It wasn’t worth it.

Beautiful bar area but small. Get there early for happy hour! Shrimp San Remo is amazing!

I have lived in the area for a long time and have never heard of this restaurant. I went for the first time and what a fun place! Not only is the ambience super romantic, but it’s so different from anything else you see in Arizona. I felt like I was entering a Disneyland ride when I walked into the restaurant, and when we got to our table felt like I was actually at the ocean. That is hard to do in the desert!
Not only was the atmosphere so cool and out of the ordinary, but the food was wonderful. We started with calamari which was pretty average, but the crab cakes were out of this world. And I cannot even begin to talk about how great my stuffed lobster tail was (and how huge!!) I ate more than I should have but I couldn’t bear to leave anything on the plate. We went at about 8 o’clock on a Friday night, our service was great and I think that was in part to it being peers empty, we almost had the entire room to ourselves, but we did still make reservations.
I would definitely go back here, it’s a bit pricey but worth every penny for that kind of seafood in this kind of desert!

Expected much better food for $ 50 plates. Would have rather had Red Lobster and saved $ 30. Clam Chowder is oddly thin, like nothing I’ve seen before in a chowder. Oysters are excessively priced. Draft beers are 12 oz not a pint? Not going back unless they get with the times and revamp basically everything.

Love this place. Was looking for a food late night and decided to go there, best food ever.

Food: the food is good, I got the small steak and crab legs. I enjoyed it, but I honestly was expecting a little more. What I would have liked to see was something a little more flavorful that seems like a chef made it, rather than it feeling like something I could have made.
Service: the service was adequate. However at a nice restaurant such as this I have the tendency to expect above average service, seeing as they generally get an above average tip since the food is pricy.
Location: I think the ambiance is what people love so much about this place. It is underground and gives you the sense that you are on a boat. The lighting is dimmed so low that at times it can be hard to see the menu. I used the flash light on my phone to view the menu.

Great place for a celebratory dinner. Primarily seafood menu with giant stuff lobsters. This is my husband’s favorite place to go in Phoenix. We go for his birthday every year. It is a bit pricey, but definitely worth it.
There is a romantic ambiance with dim lights. ASK FOR A BOOTH! Otherwise the tables are pretty close together so it feels like you’re part of their experience too.

Always wanted to try this place and finally got the chance to for my mom’s birthday. Doesn’t look like much from the outside, but once you get downstairs it’s quite large. I ordered the crab cake entrée which came with a baked potato and mixed vegetables. The crab cakes were huge and the crab meat was delicious, fresh and were huge chunks! I couldn’t even finish it all. My mom ordered the baked stuffed shrimp and cleaned her plate.
It is often hard to find a place to get delicious and fresh seafood in a landlocked state like Arizona, but this is top of my list now!

We came here for the crab cakes. Fair to midland. Shredded the crab way too much. Had the shrimp scampi which was over cooked. Salad was drenched in dressing and the Ceviche was FULL of capers and the Halibut that was part of the Ceviche. Service was impeccable which saves the meal. I am not sure why this restaurant is still in business — maybe it’s the only fair restaurant in South Scottsdale. The customer next to us had the lobster and was also big time disappointed.

Seafood At Its FINEST | Hidden Treasure in the Desert
Salt Cellar is my go-​to birthday restaurant. I can’t say enough about the cool temperature, due to the cellar being underground, that the restaurant is housed in which looks deceiving from the outside — until you enter and walk down a flight of earthy stairs and a friendly staff. I have tried a few appetizers at Happy Hour at their stunning bar with great HH deals — try the shrimp they are incredible!
I have tried blackened Chilean Sea Bass that was absolutely STUNNING for a dinner entrée. However, my heart lies with the Alaskan King Crab legs that are becoming more and more difficult to find at many dining establishment, let alone at a great quality. Market price 1 and ½ pounds of the BEST king crab I’ve ever experienced is well worth it — maybe $ 60 or so. This comes with a side (I had pilaf), and their famous broccoli with a beautiful cheese on top (forgot what kind!). Also bread of a few varieties, a gorgeous restaurant to tour, live lobsters to watch, and wine and drink prices that are really not expensive for such a high-​end restaurant. They even crack your crab for you at the table!
Such a special place, location, history in the area, and with 5-​Star Staff, from barbacks to servers to managers I give this place all of the praise in the WORLD! You have to check it out — seafood lovers a MUST!!!

Went here for a special dinner. The ambience and service are on par with Manhattan fine dining. I know that seafood can be hit or miss. Ours was all HIT. The food was exceptional, from appetizer (shrimp San Remo) to dessert. The bread was NY quality. We had to fight our urge to gorge on it, after so many months with no quality bread here in AZ. The Halibut was superb, fresh moist and cooked to perfection. I had the Wellington and OMG so good. Tender and cooked to perfection as well. Our only issue was a very annoying and loud couple next to us, who came in at the end of our meal and made sure the whole restaurant knew they were there. Since we cannot control knuckleheads seating, I will not let it affect my score. But people, if you are in a dark, romantic quiet place, bring your volume down to that level. Thank you for listening.

The Salt Cellar is a true gem! They fly their fresh fish and seafood selections flown in from around the world. Clams from New England, Steak from New Zealand, Crabs from Maryland, etc. My first experience was a weeknight in August with a friend. We were fortunate to be seated in Toni’s section. Toni is knowledgable, friendly and offered fantastic suggestions.
The oysters were incredible, very large and flavorful. It was my first time having turtle soup and I was very impressed — Salt Cellar delivered on all the build up of the controversial dish. The sauteed scallops were exceptional. I tried to request a quart of the sauce to-​go, but to no avai. The crowning glory is the Maryland Crab Cakes. They have large pieces of Crab, with only enough of the other ingredients to hold it together. They are grilled to a crispy goodness. I have returned 4 more times, and always order them.
The restaurant is an actual cellar, making for fun conversation — be sure to check out the ceiling carefully. The restaurant atmosphere is a balance between upscale and comfortable — great for romantic dinner or family events. On weekends, it’s a popular date place. The bar offers a slightly more casual atmosphere. Alex the bartender is personable and makes a great drink.
This place is an excellent choice for both tourists, locals and regulars.

Have you ever been to a place so fancy, that your first thought before you did anything was «Will this make me look like an uncultured swine?»
Arriving early for happy hour, before my daughter’s birthday dinner, we make our way up to the bar, as the first patrons of the day. The no-​nonsense barkeep, whose entertained both debutantes and scofflaws alike since the Johnson administration, greets us and in a gravely voice, asks «Whaddaya havin»
In the lowest, manly toned timbre I can muster, I reply «An iced tea… please». Looking into his expressionless eyes, I sensed that my drink order may have just broken his spirit.
He returns with my frosty beverage, and a basket of sourdough bread.
Sourdough bread… it’s the rich man’s «funnel cake».
A few minutes later, as we were seated next to Arizona’s retired elite, who were downing vermouth and olive juice, scoffing at Ketel One, I noticed a plate of olive oil resting on the far side of the bar (see photo), I proceed to dip my bread… and then notice the viscosity is nothing like I’ve ever noticed before with EVOO.
The plate of «coarse salt» to its left should have been a clue. Nothing quite says «you dont belong», like dipping your sourdough bread in the margarita lime juice.
Needing to salvage dignity, I quickly order the shrimp san remo and fish & chips appetizers… and hoped no one was the wiser. I couldn’t try the shellfish dish, but it was probably my daughter’s favorite dish of the evening. My F&C looked like big puffy cod beignets, and were delicious with their light batter.
Our waitress then whisked us away to our white linen-​ed table, where another full basket of bread was awaiting our arrival. My daughter commented the feel of the room would go well with Disney’s Pirates attraction. After taking our orders, the waiter brings a tiny chaffing glass of yellowish liquid suspended over a candle flame. I just assumed this was a heated bouquet of fragrance, being too intimidated to inquire
My daughter ordered her first lobster, and I, my first wellington. Both of our assessments were exactly the same. I’m glad I tried it, and I dont feel the need to order it again… ever
In time, my curiosity got the best of me, and I inquired as to the canary colored solvent. It was clarified butter. Hmm, what exactly can I do with this clear elixir? It wasn’t simply put there for the fragrance. As the uncultured swine that I am, I proceeded to Google «clarified butter», to better understand these fancy-​man ways.
Ghee, from the hills of India, which contains some unsubstantiated weight loss properties… so I immediately tossed it back… much like the two ladies with their vermouth and olive juice.
A fun time was had by both father and daughter, as we bantered back and forth about our misgivings with the dessert menu, as «funnel cake» was noticeably absent
As we ascended the staircase back up to our awaiting vehicle, we are instantly transported back from 1800’s Spanish galleon to modern day, 104 degree phoenix… while that old, retired lady who was sitting next to you at the bar… you know, the one who had one too many vermouth and olive juices, looks back at you and says «hey, yous can go around me… its gonna take a while»
«Gladly, madame… gladly»

I’ve been to the Salt Cellar a few times a very long time ago. This place hasn’t changed at all. Small parking lot and a lot of people park on the street. Lots of street parking too. So you walk down two flights of stairs to the bar area and the hostess stand. Very small area with a few cozy dinning areas. Dim lights and romantic setting. All adults and no kids.
We started off with the New England Clam Chowder. It’s a huge bowl with lots of clams. Really good and the complimentary bread was so good and soft. Very fresh. We also had the Calamari skewer which came with four calamari on a stick with two different dipping sauces. Calamari was cooked perfectly and not too chewy. It was good not not great.
So with your dinner you get a salad. I was thinking this was a small dinner salad but no this was a huge salad. A normal salad but with the chowder, calamari, and bread. We ordered way too much. 3 out of the 5 people in our party were full after the salad. It was way too much food before our entrée.
Anyways, I ordered the Salmon Wellington. The salmon was wrapped around spinach with a nice crusty outside. The salmon was moist and good. It came with a small baked potato and mixed vegetables. Nice meal and lots of food.
My wife ordered the Mahi-​Mahi with macadamia nuts with a baked potato and grilled vegetables. Like I said before she ate so much she had to take home her entrée. Same thing with my son. He ordered the New York Strip with baked potato and grilled vegetables.
My daughter had the Turtle soup because she never had this before. Black soup and I stole a bite and it was pretty good. She really liked it. They gave a little shot glass with wine in it where they burned off the liquor and you pour in the soup so it’s not too thick. Like I said she loved the soup. She also had the Salmon Oscar with asparagus. She gobbled that down and didn’t complain so I guess she really liked it.
The service was great. They had multiple people serving you by clearing out the dishes and always filling your water cups. Very nice and friendly. Very helpful.
It was a really good with lots of food, good food, great service, and a really romantic ambiance. Just remember to be careful with the appetizer. So much food but well worth it. I enjoyed it. Very different with the underground restaurant. Enjoy.