At Salt Harvest, a nice night out means sticking to small dishes - Review - Seattle - The Infatuation

"In a neighborhood where your night out options are mostly limited to dive bars (or, god forbid, Cowgirls), this upscale restaurant inside Pioneer Square’s Populus Hotel fills a much-needed "dressy shoes put to use" gap. The air smells like an Anthropologie candle section and there’s a brief game of “are you checking in or just eating here,” before you even make it to your table. But the dining room is pleasant enough with comfortable booths and upbeat chatter. And aside from ridiculous menu descriptions like “vegetable-forward” for vegetables, there are a couple of decent dishes, particularly the satisfying duck frites. Order a glass of wine while sharing some small plates, and it’s easy to forget you’re technically dining under a guest suite. Food Rundown Ambient Water When your server offers ambient drinking water, know that they just mean tap water at room temperature. Strawberry And Cucumber Salad This mostly works, but the addition of oregano leaves an earthy aftertaste that clashes with the refreshing strawberries and cucumber. The dish cries out for some mint instead. photo credit: Makena Yee Artisan Local Sourdough There are very tough, reheated edges, but the butter presentation makes it better. Each person gets their own smooth stone, topped tableside with a golden shmear from a dairy tower. A sprinkle of flaky salt and the stone butter is good on anything, including a side of radishes. photo credit: Makena Yee La Belle Farm Duck Frites Absolutely order this—even though the portion is small, it’s rich and fulfilling. The fries have a subtle lemon-y hint that brightens everything up, and the chutney on the side adds a nice sweet-savory balance when swiped with tender duck. photo credit: Makena Yee 12oz Prime NY Steak For the price, the steak needs to be flawless, and it just isn’t. Save your money. photo credit: Makena Yee Puget Sound Treasures The menu says this dish contains the “essence of shellfish.” But alongside hunks of halibut, there’s plenty of real-deal shellfish like clams, mussels, scallops, and shrimp. Unfortunately, most of the seafood is overcooked, and the white wine sauce desperately needs some acid. photo credit: Makena Yee" - Kayla Sager-Riley