Fresh Salt

Nothing can beat the Sunday brunch for $60 if you are in the mood for some good food and are starving. There’s not that many brunch buffets or buffets in the area in general but this is worth it. I still have not tried everything but my go to is their carving station and pasta bar. Also exceptional service.

This place was a joke from the moment we walked in. We politely asked to sit at one of the many empty window tables, and the hostess shut it down without explanation. No smile, no effort, just a flat-out refusal. It felt like we were inconveniencing her by being there. Asked to speak with the manager — who apparently couldn’t be bothered to leave her office. Hiding in the back while guests are clearly unhappy says a lot about how this place is run. Then came the food. Completely flavorless. It was like someone Googled “how to cook” and gave up halfway through. No seasoning, no effort, no pride in what was being served. Honestly, we’ve had better meals at gas stations. This restaurant clearly cares more about controlling their tables than offering any real hospitality or quality. Skip it. There are dozens of better spots that actually deserve your money and time.

(Was here over the summer) My friend had the whole fish special with a wonderful chickpea salad and I had the pan roasted salmon with fresh garden veg & hummus - such a great combo. The seafood was very fresh and cooked perfectly. Our view of the marina was serene. It was a great night to catch up.

This is a nice little restaurant right on the water. We sat in the glass room by the marina and looked out over the water. Our server was excellent. They had vegetarian options. I had lentil soup, veggie black bean burger and sweet potato fries. We also tried the truffle Parmesan fries which were delicious! My friend had a burger and enjoyed that.

My husband and I enjoyed a great lunch at Fresh Salt! The food was delicious, and the location and views were wonderful! We had the perfect table for two outdoors overlooking the marina, which was very relaxing. The resort itself is upscale and absolutely lovely. It was our first time here, but we will definitely return!

I'll start by saying WOW the place is awesome, very nice feel.. the drinks a touch pricey but not shocking. service A+ , and the meal was exceptional

My friends had the pleasure of having lunch at Fresh Salt on Friday, 6/20. It is in a beautiful location, with amazing views of the water. The decor inside the restaurant is beautiful. The waitstaff were friendly, efficient, and attentive to our needs. Each of us enjoyed our meals thoroughly. I highly recommend the salmon burger with sweet potato fries.

We spent a relaxing afternoon overlooking the marina while dining. The food was great. We enjoyed oysters, clams, shrimp, a charcuterie board, a lobster roll and more to celebrate my parent's 57th wedding anniversary! The portions of the food were just right and the quality was top notch. I especially enjoyed the shrimp. My wife loved her after dinner drink, the banana foster cocktail. We will definitely go back.

We had lunch on Christmas eve at Fresh Salt and it was just perfect! The drink specials for Christmas and right to the amazing desserts it made our day special! They have a great kids menu with many options! We hope to be back next year!

I've visited this restaurant twice within the last 3 months. Both experiences were very positive - great cozy ambiance with a nice view of the water, great service (I wish I remembered the name of my waitress who had my table both times) and good food. My first visit, I tried the burger which was very tasty. On the second visit I had the pork chop, which was flavorful and not dry at all. I tasted the ribeye which was also delicious. Both visits were for special occasions and this was definitely a good setting for that.

Great ambiance,and very nice staff. My daughter LOVED the burger and the fish tank! And it was a nice place to be when we couldn't be with family for Thanksgiving.

So they do two portion sizes here with most of the food selections. Started with the large portion of the Ceasar salad to split. On the smaller side to split but still enough. Very tasty. For an entree I had the smaller portion of the Fresh Salt Cioppino. This is the second time coming here and having this dish since I loved it so much the first time. Definitely enough food with the salad. The lobster essence sauce is delicious. One critique. I substituted the pasta for the spinach and they buried it underneath the shellfish as if it was the pasta. That was a bit strange. Not a lot of it either. Would be nice if it was on the side. For $4.95 extra, again, would be nice on the side and a bit more of it. Boyfriend got the salmon and said it was very good. Hummus a nice touch. Service was excellent. Ambiance beautiful. On a nice night you can walk around and see the boats. Mini golf too. Outdoor bar has about 6 seats if you come early for a drink. Lovely evening at Fresh Salt.

Beautiful ambiance, right on the water, but still cozy and semi casual. We spent a day at the spa and got lunch here afterward - it was great! Service was quick and we loved the food and wine options. Lots of healthy choices and many dishes were adaptable to be gluten or dairy free, etc.

The best restaurant in the area! High quality food, service, and views. Make sure to sit outside! You cannot go wrong with what you order but the tuna triangles and lobster roll are definitely my favorite and the best in the area. 10/10 recommend

This restaurant is situated right on the water and sports beautiful views and classically coastal decor. The restaurant is cozy, with a dark wood interior and soft lighting. The service was excellent. They helped accommodate our table choice and quickly delivered the dishes throughout. All the food was delicious. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and the lamb shank stood out.

$4.95 for a tiny cup of 'diner' coffee (and I had to ask for a spoon). Egg Benedict was super average, half the potatoes were burnt. GF bread was tough as old boots. Super disappointed given the class of this hotel. Was expecting extraordinary food and great coffee. Ambiance is lovely, views are amazing, decor beautiful. I wish the food and coffee were at the same level. Not inspired to come here for any other meal

Nothing at all negative, everything was absolutely amazing! Sunday Brunch is an absolute treat here! The food stations are thoughtful and varied. You could enjoy something here every day and never get bored! The service is, of course, impeccable, the dining areas immaculate and tasteful, and the food is the phenomenal focal point! A special shout out to Chris's Bird, the hotel manager, who is truly dedicated to the enjoyment of every guest!

We had a nice dinner here recently . The food is just terrific . Everything we ordered was cooked on point and delicious . There were a couple of issues . We requested a nice table ahead of time for our Anniversary . When you walk in straight ahead there is a nice looking romantic sort of restaurant vibe . To the right there is some sort of sun room , lots of windows , very bright , a bit tight and very LOUD. Not the end of the world but would have preferred a more romantic setting . It's also a bit pricey but given the quality of the food it's understandable . The shrimp cocktail was huge , fresh and the cocktail sauce was off the hook . Our server was a nice enough guy , but he seemed a bit harried and it appeared he was taking care of many tables . But he was polite and helpful . It was a good experience , but with a little tweaking could have been great . We'll give it another try .

Our second time at this restaurant. The Salt Burger was amazing ! Kids meals are nice sized and also yum. Husband loved his seafood dish. David our waiter was super nice, he made our dinning experience super fun and relaxing.

Excellent waterfront dining. I highly recommend! The bespoke cheeseburger was excellent .

The burger is really really good. The fish specials with lobster rissoto have been a hit on multiple occasions. The chicken dish is good. Siriacha Calamari app is amazing. Caesar salad was a big disappointment flavor wise. Swordfish has been hit or miss depending on how it is served (changes each season) Cioppino is good but could be better. Pork chop is prepared expertly and tender - but the flavor was not my favorite because the bacon brought out a hot dog flavor. The cocktails could be made better. Sometimes they are too boozy. We do love the atmosphere.

What a pleasant place to grab a meal. You have the option of dining inside, at the bar or outside. We dined inside and enjoyed a great meal. We started with The calamari which was excellent. A bit on the spicy side but not too spicy. For our entrees I had the NY strip steak served over asparagus. My girlfriend had the salmon. Both of our meals were excellent. The service was very good. The next time I will definitely get reservations to dine outside, the view were spectacular.

We went on Valentine's Day and not only was the food terrible, but the service was worse. I am not sure where all of these positive reviews came from. We were seated in the far back room of the restaurant and forgotten about for 30 minutes until my husband went to ask. Then a server came, but my drink took another 20 minutes. My husband got his beer. Then the entire back room was seated at once. Clearly the waitstaff and bartenders could not keep up. Our order was taken, but while we waited 25 more minutes for our food, 2 tables left and 2 other tables had to take the drinks off of the tray from the tables that left because they had not even been addressed. Once I got my steak, it was entirely raw in the middle. My husband got the paella and liked it, but paella valenciano is NOT made the way they make it. We will never go back. At one point during dinner my husband got up and went to the bar to get drinks because we were not served, but there were so many in the room in worse shape than us. We all talked about how we will never come back. Save your evening...go somewhere else.

Came here for lunch during a spa day. I Was so excited for this lunch as the menu items all sounded amazing. We had the salt burger which was amazing but the French fries were soggy and undercooked. A definite disappointment when we paid to upgrade to the truffle fries. I would have asked for them to be re done but our server Shania never came back until we were done eating. We were offered bread when we ordered and it never came. I love bread at restaurants so again another disappointment. The mangotini did not disappoint and the eggplant caprese sandwich was quite good. For the price of the food the service was lack luster. Very slow service when it was not busy. I hate to see how bad the service would have been if it were busy. Not sure I would dine here again.

Been in the area recently for work and have stopped by a few times for lunch. No major issues with the food or the service. In my time visiting the restaurant, I've had the following: - Clam Chowder - CT Lobster Roll - Fish n' Chips - Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl One of the fish n chips I ordered, the fish was a little under and cold.

I dined last night with flies all over my food. I was told the restaurant was infested and they planned to fumigate today. Why did they even open yesterday knowing about the problem? I'm also tired of dishes with so many elements piled on top of each other that, in the end, you can't even tell what you're eating. Whatever happened to serving a main course with sides separately? Let's go back to simplicity--enough with all the sauces and purées. Are they trying to hide something? Enough is enough.

Fresh Salt is a beautiful restaurant right on the Marina in Old Saybrook. I've been here several times in the past but I didn't realize it was Fresh Salt, until my most recent visit. There are so many beautiful boats to look at, and fantasize of a life if one of them was mine. We were quickly seated and given the menus. Wow!! This place is expensive... of course, it's the beautiful ambiance of the Marina that makes it so expensive. I didn't get a cocktail, because they were too expensive. I got a beer, I got Half Full Bright. It's a typical blonde ale, with a bit of a tartness. I got Ceviche and the rest of the party got a few servings of calamari and their kettle chips. The calamari was just average, a bit greasy for me personally, but not bad. When my ceviche arrived I was in shock, this was the tinniesssttt serving of Ceviche I've seen in my life, and they charge $20 for it. The container it arrived is I'm sure the same one they use for their one scoop of ice cream or maybe a generous shot glass, I'm not kidding, it was tiny.. I was really mad. It was pretty good, I couldn't even enjoy it, it was gone by spoon two. It had shrimp, avocado, cilantro, pretty tasty till it was gone. Fresh Salt is a nice place to get a drink, on a nice summer day, I wouldn't get food here, the portions are tiny and very expensive.

The place is situated at the point of Old Saybrook so you know the view is magnificent. It was a perfectly sunny day so it was great to sit outdoors. They have lots of outdoor sitting mainly for 2 people. And limited sitting for bigger groups so make reservations. Service was great and always has been. This is my third time here. This time Crystal took care of my sisters and I and did a wonderful job making sure we were hydrated and had everything we needed. I have liked everything I tried here but i always end up getting the tuna tartar triangles. I cannot leave without these. I have also had the avocado toast in the past. This time we had salad; the Fresh Salt Cheeseburger with fabulous sweet potatoes fries; and Calamari. For drinks we had a refreshing moscato, local beer and Blue Chair Oasis

My wife and drive an hour to get to Fresh Salt today to celebrate our 55th Wedding Anniversary. We have been there a number of times before. We started to go there because they allowed us to bring our little Boston Terrier. They have inside and outside dining with an enclosed porch in between. I made a reservation online indicating it was our 55th Wedding Anniversary and we would be bringing our dog. Well, when we arrived we were turned away. I told them that we always dined on the enclosed porch. We were told that because the windows were closed dogs were not allowed. How stupid!!! And our 55th Wedding Anniversary was wrecked. It was a very long hour ride home! Even though the food is very good, we'll never ever go to this place again.

Overpriced! The food is okay... but beware, they will bring you the larger portions if you do not request the smaller one... The cost for a burger... oh my!!!

This is a must do brunch. The food on the buffet is truly amazing. Tasty and varied. The service is excellent. The restaurant is directly on the water. The atmosphere is special. Don't miss it

Came here for Sunday Mothers Day brunch. Absolutely incredible. I had several plates of many different dishes. I am so full after the meal. The gluten free lasagna was incredible & so was the paella and cocktail shrimp. I got a gluten free Belgian waffle and it was SO GOOD I can't stop thinking about it. They also have an extensive and delicious wine menu.

Fried clams and french fries need to be crispier. Lobster roll was so tiny and tasted meh. Not worth the price.

I like the ambiance and the location. Makes for a nice road trip to lovely area. Even the ladies room is nice. We opted for lunch rather than brunch. For me, the food was just okay. The restaurant was very busy, I'd suggest resverations even for lunch.

This place was predictably packed for a holiday weekend. Food is typically very good. Highly recommend any of their seafood but especially the Mahi Mahi. It's a great light option after a long day of drinking and fireworks. Their truffle parm fries (no photo, we ate them too fast) are a great way to get the meal started. Took a little while to get our check but otherwise a great visit.

Attractive hotel/ inn. Hostess not very accommodating even tho we had a reservation. Wait staff very pleasant . I was worst "special of day" meatloaf sandwich that I've ever had. Others had " just ok food". Very overpriced , very limited menu- menu for lunch and dinner are the same. Lovely location to sit outside in nice weather. I think it is a tourist trap, I live locally, not worth trip .

We had a fabulous meal at Fresh Salt. The service was outstanding. We felt like old friends and it was our first time. I always have trouble deciding between two options and our waitress's suggestions were right on the mark! We sat inside but enjoys the views. The lunch size Cioppino was perfect amount for me. It was filled with seafood. I was not a fan of the calamari in this dish but I had plenty of other options in my bowl. The dessert was not necessary but it sure was delicious.

We had fried calamari for the table for four. . Disappointed with a few rubbery pieces which was uneatable. Ordered fried whole belly clam roll. Very small portion of claims (maybe 3 oz ). More rubbery uneatable pieces. Friend had the same issue with her clam roll. Service was lackluster. We were sitting for 15 minutes before we had to ask the hostess to send a waiter to our table to take our order. Beautiful setting on the water. Wish the service and food were better.

Location is incredible, food is very good, and the staff is welcoming. Drinks were good, had a Manhattan. This is located in a hotel that is very nice. I would go back.

Off season is the perfect time to enjoy this restaurant. It is so quiet and quaint this time of year. We really enjoyed the food atmosphere and the service. It is a bit pricey but we would definitely do it again however we would go back between Thanksgiving and Christmas to see how they decorated it since we were there one week before Thanksgiving and they had just started. As for the lobster roll my husband had he Really enjoyed it. There was so much lobster in the roll that he had to keep putting the lobster back in the roll before he could pick it up. The cheese board was amazing and I would absolutely do it again. I chose not to get any meats with it and chose to get three of the extra large shrimp cocktail with it. They were amazing.

Great ambiance for a sea side setting, Food was great though they did serve cold French fries which were resolved in due time. But.... lt seems that they lack a dining room manager. pepper shaker was empty for starters. The staff was doing the what they had been directed to do. Food came out on time, but we had yet to even lift a fork and the server came over for the first bite check. they do not keep an eye on the tables. A good dining room manager would. make sure they are stalking the tables and not hanging out in the kitchen. dirty plates were left after the entrees were served. Please do not misunderstand - mostly a good experience. but bad dining room management can make a great meal average or an average meal great

Service was fine, especially considering the number of tables, both inside and outside, our waitress had. The food, however, was mediocre at best. For example, the octopus appetizer was average with minimal taste and the calamari was mushy - something that could easily be remedied by tossing the calamari in the hot sauce just before serving. We have had these dishes in the past and they were wonderful. The cod was satisfactory as was the salad. As for the chicken pot pie, all I can say is that the pot pie mass produced by Marie Calendar is far superior. We certainly could not be considered regulars but we have dined her several times before and this time was a major disappointment!

My husband and I stopped in to Fresh Salt for a bite to eat, and decided to have dinner at the bar. They were extremely busy for a mid-day Sunday timeframe, so the bar services was a bit backed up. That said the drinks were perfect and Peter was an amazing mixologist and server! We ordered the regular calamari, which was crispy, tender and flavorful - just the way we like it! On the way to the restaurant I looked at the menu for beef options because I was in the mood for a steak. When I arrived, I realized the menu was slightly different with a NY Strip rather than (my preferred) tenderloin cut. As I was trying to determine my Plan B for an entree, Peter told us about the seared halibut over lobster risotto with a burre blanc sauce. Ding ding - sounded amazing and it WAS. It was absolute perfection on a plate, and could be worthy of a James Beard award! The chef who created this fabulous dish came out to meet us after we sent accolades back to the kitchen. As foodies, we are always thrilled to meet the chef! My husband had the duck, which was cooked to perfection and very tasty. He did comment to me that the carrots were a bit 'al dente' and slightly undercooked, but overall really enjoyed his meal. And, some of mine as well! As amazing as the halibut was, I just couldn't finish it all! SO much food!

Food good. But for a restaurant/bar/marina of this size and caliber/status to not offer ANY draft beer is inexcusable. With all the many local beers available (and the restaurant boasts of sourcing local ingredients etc), I expect to see local beers on DRAFT in at least one of their bars/dining rooms.

The service was very attentive without being overbearing. But the meal...wow! I had the pork chop and it was AMAZING! Really a must try!

Had lunch with a friend. Delicious lobster roll. Went on a cold rainy day and sat in the room with the fireplace. Such cozy, warm ambience. Highly recommend.

The food from appetizers, main dish, to dessert is always delicious! The pork chop is my favorite but friends have had seafood too and they loved it! Tremendous atmosphere too looking over the water and docked boats.

Party of seven, appetizers, drinks and meals were all fantastic! Pork chop was juicy and delicious!

I had been looking forward to this reservation since we made it, and I am so happy to say that it exceeded my expectations. The service, atmosphere, drinks, and food were nothing short of incredible! The oysters were fresh, and presented beautifully and the entrees my fiancé and I had were so well flavored and tasted amazing. I would recommend making reservations as I could see them becoming relatively busy especially on a weekend but we cannot wait to come back!

This place would be closed if not for the view and being attached to a hotel/spa. First we sat outside and were surrounded by bugs. Not normal bugs but the fruit flies that hang out in damp places. Which we were given bug spray. The positives are good service for most part. I would rate the food as really really average and that's being nice. Nothing stands out on the menu. It's as boring a menu as you can get. It also seems like menu never changes. Have been going each summer for a few years and always the same. I think this place needs a new chef to spice things up a bit. Maybe a new manager or something? I give it 3 stars for the ambiance. Without that maybe a 2 for food and menu. And yes as you can imagine it's very pricey for ambiance.

So we recently returned to Fresh Salt on a recent trip to Old Lyme and Saybrook. We love this spot for the marina views, but really wished the food lived up to the views. Spoiler alert, it doesn't. Unfortunately it's one of those situations where you go for the location and know you'll sacrifice on the quality of the food. For starters, we were served the wrong drink...Negroni vs a Peroni...the waitress was sweet but didn't know the difference. When we offered to take the drink in spite of the mix-up, she just smiled and took it away. It's a head scratcher when you know it will just be thrown out anyway, but they would rather throw out a drink than offer it to a customer to compensate for the mix-up? We never heard any specials before ordering...but after we ordered we heard a nearby table getting a run down of things we would have loved to try... some sort of grilled octopus that was never mentioned as an option. It would have been nice to hear the daily specials off the printed menu. We opted for the ciopinno and frito misto platter along with an entree ceasar salad. While there was plenty of seafood in both dishes what they didn't have was flavor...first the ciopinno...swimming in a bland tasteless tomato broth...would have benefited from wine, garlic, fennel, anything really! The fried platter was also tasteless...it looked impressive but the clams were so chewy they were inedible, the battered fish had zero flavor and the calamari were soggy. The three shrimp were the only saving grace on a bed of cool, limp French fries. Such a disappointment. The entree Caesar was the size of a side salad. I can't imagine how much smaller the smaller version would be?? It was the last night of our trip and unfortunate the food quality doesn't match the wonderful views. Maybe there are other things on the menu that shine but this was our second disappointing visit. We were hoping it had improved from the last time...but sadly it didn't.

Incredible. We went there for the lunch. Service was excellent, location and ambience was awesome, and food was delicious. It was a special occasion so my wife chose this place to spend nice afternoon together. It was a great choice because our experience was great! If you like to dine outside but can't due to weather (too hot, or too cold, or rainy), they have porch seating with nice ocean view from windows. We ordered Fresh Salt Cioppino. This might be a most expensive entree on their menu but definitely worth it!! One dinner portion is good for two adults. We are definitely going again, and it's recommended even for special occasion such as dating, anniversary, etc.

We went for the Sunday brunch.There were about 8 salads .Only two main courses.Small bagels were hard as a rock!Therefore nothing to put the lox on. Where was the superior food they were known for? We live nearby but will not return.It is really too bad that they could not have done a very professional job.

Wonderful food. Great menu choices. The clam chowder was excellent. My daughter and husband got the burgers and raved how good they were.

Disappointed Last time we came here we had a great time and the food was great so we decided to come back again for our date weekend (we live far) We waited for a very long time for our food and both are overbooked. I ordered mahi mahi and my husband ordered the special burger (asked for medium). Bother are overcooked, dry and a bit burned... Not sure if they are short of people cuz there was a wedding, but our waitress was super busy, plus we were too hungry to wait for another 20 minutes so we just went with it. We did tell our waitress Erika and she actually took care of us. Otherwise I'll only give 1 star

Yelp may need to enable a higher star rating than 5 just for this restaurant! First and foremost, this place is stunning! Fresh Salt has mastered the art of a welcome greeting that was incredibly friendly, as we were seated at the Fire Bar where we enjoyed our food and drinks around a circular fireplace with other guests. The waiter, Adam, was witty and kind, and he was very attentive. The food was also fresh, hot and delectable! I definitely recommend the New England clam chowder. Overall, as you may guess, this place is a must stop if you're along the New England coast! Enjoy!

Excellent food and service. Definitely the best brunch in Ct. Love the atmosphere and gorgeous views.