Salt Cellar Restaurant

We chose Salt Cellar for our Anniversary this year (we usually visit Capital Grille). There are good reviews and there are some bad ones for this location but we chose Salt Cellar because we wanted a seafood experience in the desert and we wanted to judge for ourselves. We wanted something to sit down to and get quality seafood in a place that isn't traditionally known for seafood (Arizona). Now, your mileage may vary - some nights may be off nights or maybe other things could go askew for you based on what other reviews there are, but for myself and my boyfriend - our experience was *amazing*. The atmosphere was quite lovely (though I noticed that while there is a ramp access for handicapped people, I didn't see an elevator or easy way for anyone to navigate the stairs- so please note that is worth asking ahead of time if there is an alternate route into the restaurant if you're wheelchair bound). As you descend into the downstairs, you immediately feel the cooler temperature than the entrance above. So nice. The seating was charming and you get the sense that maybe you've stepped aboard a wooden ship - with all the nice paneling and decor and then the spacing of the tables where we sat. It feels very nautical and quite comfortable. Our servers were our drink staff, Riley, and our food staff, Sydney who were both friendly and attentive. We ordered Clam Chowder, Steamed Clams, a 3lb lobster that was available (sizes may vary. 1.5 is the most common size), a Beef Wellington plate, a fried shrimp addon, a Rum Punch, Disoronno & Coke, and Martini's. The seafood is reportedly picked up from an airport (daily it sounds like) and is very fresh. You wouldn't know you're in Arizona by the taste. The clam chowder was really tasty but note that it's on the thin side, probably milk based instead of heavy cream based, and we had more potato than clam but it was super tasty and the crackers and bread served made for nice additions to dipping into the soup. I would get it again and do much the same - crackers and dipping my roll into. The Steamed Clams came in metal buckets with fork picks. The meat of the clams was flavorful, fresh, and juicy. They provided a brine or a butter saucer which was really nice. The 3lb lobster was juicy and oh, so delicious. Sydney put a saucer of butter over an open flame to keep it warm and melted which is fantastic and she cracked my lobster for me which was pretty great given the huge thick claws. I could have done it but I was happy to not get lobster water juice all over myself. Sydney was prepared with gloves, a towel to crack the lobster parts into, and the lobster cracker. No mallets were needed :) The meat was absolutely wonderful! My baked potato with butter had *some* attention but mostly it was the lobster that held my appreciation. The Beef Wellington was medium rare and lovely and pink inside with a flavorful pastry. The butterfly fried shrimp was absolutely delicious - juicy and crusted just enough not to outdo the shrimp itself and in a tasty coating. We had a Snicker's Bar cheesecake which was a decent end dessert that we split. To my mind, the cake probably could be sweeter (you'd think it would be with how colorful it was) but it mostly tasted like peanuts and dark chocolate - I didn't notice any caramel (unless that's part of the cheesecake portion and I didn't taste it). But you don't come here for the dessert - it's just something to keep in mind if you're expecting a sweeter treat at the end of your meal and if you choose the Snickers Cheesecake. Our experience was wonderful and we absolutely plan to be back for a next big occasion. We were very pleased and very, very full when we left. In fact I haven't needed to eat breakfast this morning lol. I hope if you choose this restaurant that you have a really lovely time. Cheers and Enjoy!

My husband got me a gift card for Christmas because we’ve always wanted to go here. We went for Valentine’s Day and could not have been happier. We started out sitting at the bar and had a cocktail and the escargot en caps. The atmosphere was amazing, being in a cellar. Such a cool vibe. Then we were sat at our table and had the most delightful and helpful server, Robert. He was so attentive and shared his favorites with us. The food was outstanding. I had the scallops with rice and my husband had the salmon and baked potato. The house salad and grilled veggies that came with our meals were phenomenal. Next time I want to get the whole lobster that the table next to us had and looked incredible. Nikki at the checkin booth was also wonderfully kind and helpful. Our whole experience was first class. Hot lemon towels to wash our hands completed the amazing experience. We can’t wait to go again! Thank you for this.

We arrived with no reservation.. so we sat at the bar and ordered tapas style from the Happy Hour menu. Cellarita was a great tasty treat. Three appetizers later we were stuffed... So we topped it off with a great carrot cake... The whole place is under the parking lot. Great use of a parking lot... Dog a hole, sell the dirt, build a restaurant, pave a parking lot on the roof.. As the commercial says, "Brilliant !"

Me and my husband had a good time here. The food was okay but our server Micah L was amazing. Great attitude , great customer service. He checked in on us all lot to make sure we were good. Need more people like him around. Make our anniversary special thank you 🙏🏾

Best seafood restaurant in the valley, full stop. I've been coming here for 20+ years and recommend it to everyone. Always a great experience.

This was a delicious seafood restaurant. It's located in the basement/ceiler. Meaning, not handicap accessible. Stairs going down is the only way to get into the restaurant. Very busy, highly recommend reservering seating. Heads up, it's expensive! $400 for 4 people, with 2 appetizers, 2 drinks, 3 desserts, and 4 meals. It was delicious and worth it for a first (and probably only time) experience. Service was fantastic. Very attentive and friendly. We had our 1 year old, and our server and waitress were so nice. Now to the food : Everything was so very good. Salmon - soft, moist, and fresh tasting. Filet Mignon - even though I don't like my meat red, it was so prefectly cooked I loved it. Grouper - was fried so well. It paired with the Thai sauce very well. Scallops - my favorite! So soft, not chewy, not dry, not disappointing, to say the least. Desserts - Creme Brulee, carrot cake, and a chocolate mousse cake. I personally not care for anyone of them, but my family loved them. Great experience, but very, very, very out of my price range.

Seafood in the Desert? If it's at the Salt Cellar, then "YES" it's always good. 👍 Great food! We did the dining room for a special occasion but the bar is also great with its own menu (however limited seating and can get packed). 👍 Great service, very attentive (bar servers, hosts, and our server, Micha). 👍Decent cocktail and wine list, not extensive but plenty of solid options. 👍 Atmosphere, so unique for AZ being underground so it earns points for that. Wish it had a few more booths and less tables but I realize space is probably a concern. 👍 The history of the place! ➡️ We had: Surf & Turf w/Filet Mignon & Lobster, Alaskan Crab legs (pricey but delicious), Salads (come w/meal; one blue cheese vinaigrette, one Roquefort ), bread serving (complimentary), Amaretto cheesecake (pour the Amaretto shot on the cheesecake...delicious)!

We were in the 100 room. Very private. Cozy and romantic. Scott was an amazing waiter and took exceptional care of us. Rich the owner is outstanding. The food was spectacular! From the lobster to the turtle soup and the escargot. This was the first of many times dining at the Salt Cellar.

My son suggested seafood to celebrate his HS graduation so I thought I would introduce him to the salt cellar. Spectacular seafood with a great variety of market specials as well as standard standbys. Their specialty is lobster. I tried a bite of the stuffed lobster and it was perfect. Great texture, flavorful shrimp based stuffing. Very nice. I had a market special... halibut cheeks. They were cooked to perfection, no breading, slightly crispy on the edge and tender in the middle. They had an amazing lemon butter and caper sauce lightly applied. The dish came with broccoli, bell peppers, and rice and was more than I could eat. Spendy but ample. Service was prompt and their team knew their specialties well. One person brought drinks, another took orders and was very knowledgeable about the menu. They were friendly and helpful and made our group of eight feel welcome. They have a very well stocked bar for the adult beverages and a tank of lobsters that great you as welll. The ambiance of the cellar is intimate and cozy. It's down a flight of stairs, below the parking lot, quietly lit Nautically themed it is tasteful and not overdone.

We have been coming here for about 20 years. It is a restaurant that is underground. You walk down 2 flights of stairs to get to it. I recommend getting there early (like when they open) and sitting at the bar. They have happy hour everyday. We have sat in the dining room before and it is OK but the bar area is better (in my opinion). We ordered drinks and some food. I listed what we ordered below. Sorry, I was so excited about the food I forgot to take pics! Shrimp Sanremo- oh so decadent and rich. It used to come with bread but now you have to order it. I def recommend doing this cuz you are going to want to sop up all the juice. Clams- huge and salty and yummy! Shrimp cocktail - huge, fresh shrimp! The cocktail sauce has a little horseradish so it gives it a kick. Crab cake- huge lump crab pieces with very little filler. Totally worth it. Roasted oysters- I loved these. They were huge and buttery and garlicky. So good. Again- if you are in the area, go and sit at the bar and grab a drink and bite. You won't be disappointed.

What a interesting venue! Driving up it looked like nothing, down the stairs we went into what is appropriately named the Salt Cellar. I believe our server said nothing has changed since they opened aside from a few servers and the food prices and that wasn't surprising- the space was definitely dated, but eclectic, cozy, and welcoming. The service was top notch- lots of laughs and helpful suggestions. We shared a few things from oysters, to ceviche, salmon and steak and the highlights were definitely the oysters and ceviche! Oh and the chocolate cake! Don't pass on the cake!

We had the best dinner here last Sunday evening. I love the feel of this little underground restaurant. They have their own parking lot with lots of parking spots. The restaurant is not fancy but you immediately feel comfortable. Chuck was our server and he was very friendly and informative. We went with his recommendation on most of our orders. We started with Oysters and Sautéed Shrimp San Remo for appetizers- both were beyond our expectations. The sauce on the Shrimp was heavenly- don't let them take the dish away until it is all gone! It's so good. Prices aren't cheap as it is fresh fish, but dinners come with buns, a nice sized salad plus a choice of potatoes or rice and a veggie. For dinner I ordered the Sea Bass. It was buttery and tender and came with rice and a nice portion of carrots. One of my two dinner mates had the crab legs, heftily priced at $130 but delicious and large with a ton of crab meat. This was my other dinner mates first time ordering lobster and this really is the perfect spot to do it. When Chuck brought the Baked Stuffed Lobster to the table he cracked open the lobster and made it ready to eat for her. He also cracked the crab legs! Chuck was so helpful showing her how to get it all out. The stuffed part of the lobster was crazy- we all had to try it- it was just perfect with lots inside including big shrimp. Dinner was delicious and we ended it with a scrumptious piece of carrot cake that Chuck brought us for our little celebration. We will be back!

The restaurant is gorgeous I love the old wood loom and the lobster tank at the front desk. The seafood is fresh, as fresh as you're going to find in the middle of the desert. My husband did order the filet with his lobster which they did not get that right but this is a seafood restaurant not a steakhouse. Our server was sweet and was on top of it. She cracked the crab legs and lobster for us which was cool. Worth the money.

Ashlee took such great care of us. She recommended some dishes and everything she recommended we really liked especially these escargot with shrimp toast. We really enjoyed sampling the food to figure out what we will have to have on our return visit. I'm gonna have to eat one of those 3 pound lobsters that's all there is to it! I'm excited! I can't forget Rosie she came on the shift later, and she was also fabulous. I WOULD RECOMMEND

My husband and I went tonight for an early Fathers Day dinner and it was the third time we've been (we live in south Gilbert). We started off with the shrimp cocktail and the cocktail sauce was wow... watch out for the horseradish . For our entrees, I had the mesquite grilled scallops and glazed carrots, my husband had the swordfish with capers and the glazed carrots. Truly amazing food. Our server was Michelle, and she was very helpful and personable. Only downside was I didn't even think about taking pictures, but maybe that's an actual plus so that I focused on the experience.

Stopped in here for a nightcap 2 nights ago on a late Thursday evening around 10pm. It was my first time there. You definitely get cellar vibes as soon as you walk in. If you've ever been to a winery and have gone down to their wine cellars, it's the same feel. From what I've been told, this place is one of the oldest restaurants around. I've heard the name before but just never tried. It's not really the kinda place that I would choose to go to. We sat at the bar. There were some people in there and a few others showed up later on. Not super busy but not empty either. I ordered the double chocolate expresso martini it was really good! There are some places that make them milky and some don't and I love the places that do!! It was so good I ended up having two! He first ordered a dirty martini then switched to a beer on tap. I wasn't expecting us to get any food since we had eaten a lot earlier around 3:30 but he ordered the bucket of clams and shrimp san remo. The shrimps were big and tasted good. The sauce was a buttery tomato with some mushroom. Could use a little more tomato than butter. The clams were a tad chewy so that was just okayy. It was a good amount for us to snack on with the bread too. I would try something else next time but will definitely get the same drink again. Staff here were all very friendly! They offered him a free birthday treat since they saw him with a wrapped gift in hand and he said it was his bday (his bday was in December. Late gift lol). Unfortunately we were in rush to leave at the end and didn't think to take the birthday dessert togo. Thats okay, next time!

The Salt Cellar has been around since the 70's. As a kid, I lived close to the Salt Cellar. I remember peering down the window as the restaurant is underground spying on the patrons and telling myself one day I would dine there. We have been here several times throughout my adult life. Sometimes for special occasions and sometimes just because we can. The restaurant as mentioned is underground. There are stairs that lead you to the Service was amazing throughout; our server was so knowledgeable & explained things in detail. We got the steamed clams, Hawaiian Ahi, and San Remo shrimp. Everything we ordered was delicious! We left full & happy. * Reservations are needed for the restaurant and full menu, but the bar is open seating and still has a great menu. * The only way down is with stairs so it is not wheelchair assessable.

Salt Cellar continues to be a fantastic place and quite simply never disappoints. This hidden gem has been a staple in Scottsdale for many many years. If you aren't looking for it, you might drive past it because on top it looks like a small building that's because the restaurant is all underground. When you take the stairs down, you arrive at the hostess stand and the lobster tank. There are three rooms to enjoy dinner most with tables, but there are some booth options. There's also the main bar area which can get pretty busy but if you're lucky enough to sit at the bar, it's always a wonderful experience. They have a great menu of specialty cocktails and a full selection of any type of liquor that you may be looking for. They also offer a large wine menu and some beer on tap. The bar offers a happy hour as well as a reverse happy hour for late arrivals with selections like shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, mussels, bread, and so much more. Do yourself a favor and order some Shrimp San Remo butter to go with your bread. If you're really hungry, stay for dinner! With a large menu, there's everything from fresh fish to lobster, entrées with shrimp, Alaskan king crab, and plenty of others. Here's 2 we love... the Shrimp San Remo for an entrée which comes with pasta, the taste is absolutely fantastic. Our other favorite is the Yakimono Hawaiian Aji, which is seared to perfection comes with fresh veggies and a baked potato. We have been coming here for over 30 years. The seafood is fresh. The atmosphere is so delightful being underground and the service is always fantastic.

A true hidden gem. I've had Salt Cellar on my list for some time now and I finally got the chance to try it out. It knocked my expectations out of the park! I ordered several items -- warm bread and butter, shrimp cocktail, clam chowder, and a shrimp plate. Each dish was PHENOMENAL! The clam chowder was my favorite. Salt Cellar does seafood right. I will definitely be back!

It's been a minute since we have visited this place but have been so many times over the last 25 years. Nothing has changed which is perfect. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. If you have never been, this place has the coolest vibe. An underground bar and restaurant that serves up some of the best seafood in town. We ordered shrimp cocktail, 2 shrimp Sanremos, bread to soak up the juice for this dish (a must), oysters, clams and the crabcake. Nothing disappointed us and just once again validated why we visit this place while in AZ. If you have never been, you have to try it. If you want to sit at the bar, get there early. Bar staff, hostess and other staff were on point and friendly. Just a great place to visit. Forgot to take pictures because the food distracted me :)

Really disappointing. My wife ordered the crab cake dinner and had to send it back. She never does that. I ordered the Alaskan Halibut which came out over cooked. Nice ambiance, but the food needs to be improved.

This is a hidden germ and literally hidden underground! I have been here for their Happy Hours (great price!) and a birthday dinner. It was perfect atmosphere. The food was great at dinner it is pricey though so it would be great for celebration They gave my dad a free chocolate cake for his birthday

New Old favorite. Came here 20 years ago and Loved It. Then Life. Came back and found it better than I remembered so I came again just to be sure. Easy to make reservations. Friendly staff. Cozy bar (come early to relax before your reservation time). Knowledgeable Servers can guide you to the right entree for your mood & palate. Overall great date night destination. The owner still checks in on customers, even on a Saturday night. Nobody rushes you once you are seated it's a pleasant relaxing dining experience. Support Local Businesses and you will be blessed not stressed

C(t)ellar seafood restaurant. A cute experience for a date, friends, or family. I enjoyed my Double Chocolate Espresso Martini and my Salmon Wellington. Worth a visit. Price point is $50-100 per person. Maybe celebrate something special here since finding the entrance and heading down is a part of the experience.

The concept is great and we were really anxious to try this restaurant with a friend who recommended it to us. When you walk downstairs into the bar area, it's pretty cool since it is like a finished basement. Around the corner is the small dining area, which is quaint. The service was good but the food was just average, especially for the super high prices: grouper, ahi, scallops, swordfish, salmon Oscar, halibut cheeks - each for $50. The entrees do come with a dinner salad, bread, veggie and starch but I expected more from such a unique restaurant. The escargot was good but the major disappointment was the halibut cheeks. I hadn't had cheeks in about 30 years, and I remember them being really tender and succulent. Unfortunately, these were overcooked and dry. If guess I would recommend going for drinks and apps just to check the place out, but skip the more expensive fish dishes; they are not up to the standard offered by better steak and seafood spots.

Starting with a surprising entry that takes you down into a hidden underground restaurant and ending with a feel of a small town ocean front restaurant. The staff are a nice break from the Scottsdale dressed to the 9's normal restaurant crowd. They are helpful, kind, and generous. The seafood was fantastic. We had clams, lobster, and crab. With a sweet dessert at the end. Definitely recommend this place - especially if you are looking for a break from the perfectly designed, dance club, picture perfect food that Scottsdale is blanked with.

If you want a high class fancy dinner with great food, great stories, & ambience this is a great place!! Pricey for some but worth it !!! Service is top notch here & choices are always wonderful.

Wow. We chose this restaurant for our 36-year anniversary dinner. Great call! We shared an excellently prepared fillet (hard seared rare), Chilean sea bass blackened and cooked to perfection, crab legs, scallop appetizer, among other dishes...... all expertly served and serviced by their amazing staff. I believe Michelle was our main server. They even thoroughly unshelled the crab legs. This is our new go-to for fine dining.

We went to the salt cellar tonight and what a wonderful experience. We waited in the bar for our table to be ready and then we seated and were greeted by our waitress Jen, who was absolutely phenomenal. She recommended specific things for us. The crabcake was amazing. We also had the Chilean Seabass. It was absolutely fantastic. Everything that she recommended was wonderful and her service was absolutely impeccable. Highly recommend Jen as your server. she's very knowledgeable about the menu and very fun to have as a server.

The hidden gem so hidden, they keep it burried. 50 years under the Scottsdale pavement is one of these most unusual places you would expect to find great seafood. But here nestled in (of course) one of the oldest parts of Scottsdale, is the Sar Cellar. Relax, you really won't feel burried or claustrophobic here, they have done a great job with high ceilings to make you feel like you are in any other bistro, trendy historic restaurant. One caveat is there are a small set of easy stairs going down to the restaurant and bar, if you are unable to make the stairs, they can arrange for you to pickup curbside with notice Food is great, but what makes the experience whole is the staff. We went NYE, we had appetizers at the bar and reserved a table in the main restaurant. Our service at the bar, including food knowledge for allergies etc was fantastic. At the main table, Jeff our host did a superb job at making sure we felt at home and well educated on the food. We laid out what we wanted and he even suggested a more economical way for us with a special combined customized stiffed 3lb lobster, which great. Don't want to get messy from cracking crabs or lobsters? Your server does all that for you like experts. What makes this place stand out for us, other than it being first class for seafood, service, great happy hour, competitive prices, underground, great menu selections and portions.; is escargot, which seems a rarity in Arizona. It's kind of comical going down into a Cellar ro eat snails :) So why not 4 stars? There were a couple of things that caused us to think, but will not sway our return. Beer selection is very limited, only a few generic taps, no imports, bottles. For sure a great selection of wine, spirits and food, I felt the beer selection was very thin, kind of cheap bar beer and not fitting in the rest of the selections. Fake Krab, stuck out like a sore thumb and was so unnecessary in what ended up being a huge 3lb $150 stufffed lobster dish that was wonderfully packed with real crab, huge shrimp and lobster. However, right in the end of the tail ended up being a very small amount of diced crab sticks which took away from the great flavors. Recommend to request the stuffed backed lobster with the crab sticks

Came to celebrate my partners birthday, Delicious food and great service!! He got the stuffed baked lobster and I got the Cajun halibut... BOMB!!! Would definitely come again :)

This place is wonderful. First class service and excellent food. You'd have no idea it was fine dining when driving by. Their salmon Oscar style was incredible...huge portions. Def recommend trying the ceviche! Can't wait to go back

This place is really cool. When you drive by it hardly looks worth stopping by. It's a tiny building from the street. That's because the restaurant is underground!! So cool. We haven't been here for dinner reservations yet but we live really close so we like to come for the late night 10pm-12am happy hour and sit at the bar. We decided to come here for late night happy hour and ring in the new year. Clutch move. The staff are super friendly and a champagne toast is being offered for midnight. The cocktails are tasty and the food is very good. If you've never had escargot, this is the best place to try it. It's covered in garlic butter and placed in mushroom caps. So tasty! This is my final Yelp for 2022 and it's been a blast for my first year in Yelp Elite Squad. Cheers to a new year of yelping and fun!

First off To start this off I've been coming to this restaurant for 30 years with my family, along with them eating here for the last 50+ years so this is painful to write. My girlfriend and I went here tonight and this had to be one of the, if not worst restaurant experiences I've ever had. It was just a cascading bad experience that was capped off by roaches crawling across the bar, not just one but ATLEAST 2 and after the second it's hard to say if we saw others. This was directly behind the bar tap. The mussels were over cooked and almost pulverized, but beyond complaining about the food because it was all just not good tonight, the roaches were just too much to handle. I didn't want to alert the bar guests sitting to the left and the right but I probably should have said something, which is why I'm here. One single "bug" can be a fluke, it can happen anywhere. This was TWO in the same spot directly infront of our food, which I had to blow at to get them away. Needless to say we tried to tough it out but we had completely lost our appetite. $70 later we leave shocked at what just took place. I say this in hopes you address the issue, as someone who bartended for 15 years and saw almost everything, the roach thing at one of my FAVORITE seafood spots ever is just a real let down as I don't think I can ever walk foot through there again. Please fix this for future customers, I have always spoke so highly of this as one of my favorite places ever :(

We have been coming to Salt Cellar for years since moving to AZ. 10 years to be exact. We go at least twice a year for special occasions. Within the past couple years I have noticed the quality of the food has declined. We always get the same thing. Shrimp San Remo as appetizers and stuffed whole lobster. I started noticing the quality of the shrimp and flavor of the shrimp San Remo is not the same. The stuffed lobster use to be stuffed with scallops, but now they're using small shrimp. This greatly affects the taste and quality of meal. But of course they still price it the same. Not sure if we will be going back anytime soon. Our past 2x have been less than stellar and when your spending $275 for a certain meal your expecting it to be a certain way. Very disappointing but Salt Cellar, you may have just lost a devoted customer.

LOVE THIS PLACE! My husband and I always make an effort to come here when visiting from San Diego! Their food is delish, the restaurant itself is super cool and the servers are always very friendly and helpful. I would 10/10 recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great spot to eat in Scottsdale!

A classic that's been around since 1971, it's exactly what it should be. Old school vibe and great service- I sat at the bar. Ashley & Jessica were awesome and my dishes were great. The wine selection is varied and well priced. I'll be back for sure!

Came here for our first time to celebrate the hubby's 40th Birthday. I heard about it being the only basement restaurant in AZ and one of the best seafood restaurants, so I knew I had to surprise the hubby by brining him here. Love that it's like a secret hideaway as you enter the doors that look nothing like a restaurant and then you go down the dark wooden stairs transporting you to the intimate cellar. There is a bar area to wait as your table gets prepared and the dining room is small and intimate (there were only 10 tables in our section, but there is another dining area on the other side of the kitchen). The space has a seaside theme without looking cliché and the mood is elevated with the 40s/50s/60s playlist taking you back to the good old days. Hubby ordered Oysters Rockefeller to start and then picked the Harbor Master's Choice and added the 7oz baseball cut top sirloin. The lobster is cracked tableside and he said it was steamed well and came right out of the shell. The steak was a little more on the tough side for his preference, but it had great flavor and he still enjoyed it. I actually don't eat meat or seafood (I chose the restaurant for the hubby so he could enjoy the food and dining experience), so I just ordered a baked potato, asparagus and a side salad. The baked potato was buttery, soft, and flavorful. The asparagus was tender and crisp. I may not have had much, but it was all delicious! We got the creme brulee for the dessert and they even put a candle on the plate for him. It's his favorite dessert to get at restaurants and this didn't disappoint. It was creamy and the shell on top cracked perfectly. Micah was our server and he was absolutely sensational! So attentive and gave great recommendations for the hubby's meal and dessert. He was patient and helpful in finding options for me to eat. He kept our waters full and I love that they have a dedicated cocktailer (Ashley) who walked around to the tables helping with drink orders. The dining experience here is what makes it all such a special meal. Slow-paced so you can enjoy and savor every bite. Attentive and friendly staff, and scrumptious food. Worth the trip up here for sure to celebrate a special occasion! It's definitely a five star dining experience!!

Not 5 star no worth the money bland and no flavor food. Fish is fishy and dry better off going to red Lobster

The food, service, and music are great. The ambience is very nice as well for a good date. Do not miss this classic Scottsdale establishment. the music is excellent. The shrimp and the muscles were excellent as well.

Just OK for the price A high end restaurant like this should have better dinner rolls Loved the staff

This place was on my hit list since last year. It appears to be a Phoenix institution for seafood. I'll do myself a favor and just wait until I get closer to the coast when I crave seafood. We tried their oyster shooters and thought it had too much horseradish. We had the tempura cod with red cabbage, calamari skewers with Thai chili sauce, grilled swordfish with lemon caper and carrots, and grilled halibut. We were just disappointed everything we had lacked seasoning. Sadly we will probably not return unless we are in the area for happy hour. The service was better when we were waiting for our table and waned when we sat down.

Always 5 stars for me. Service/Food and all around just amazing. We go a few times a year. I ALWAYS get the King Crab. Husband got the scallops! We had martinis at the bar first. Enjoyed a crab cake and the clams with bacon for appetizers. All dinners come with salad and breast. Honesty our server Clair and all that took care of us... made our night !! Thank you.

A slice of AZ history from 1971 but neglected. Yes, it's underground. :) The ambience is cool and dark, a nice respite from the heat. It's got a live lobster tank as you come in which is a built in pool. Our server, Sydney, rocked her part. Unfortunately the drink server was missing in action, did not know anything about wine and pretty much failed at their part. We didn't get drinks at all for a full 15 minutes into our service. Sydney ended up taking over the drink service for us. After that all was well. The wine selection was decent but the restaurant could use a wine specialist on staff. The food menu promises a lot of fresh seafood and fun flavors. The execution was not up to advertised. Our group ordered a variety: turtle soup, large scallops, escagot, oscar style salmon, sea bass, halibut cheeks and softshell crab. The quality was there but the preparation left some items chewy or mushy and others under seasoned. Happily the creme brulee was fantastic. Perfect crust and delightful dessert. Our group probably won't go back to this restaurant since Phoenix is rife with good places to eat seafood these days. I am glad we got to go just to say we went since it's historical. Thank you to Sydney for all her hard work and good service.

We came here for our 22nd wedding anniversary and had a great time! The food, service and ambiance were the best! We will be back!

Living on it's Laurels... The Salt Cellar is unique and legendary for its longevity in south Scottsdale, plus the whole fresh seafood in the desert thing. While the subterranean setting is part of the appeal and charm, the furniture and fixtures were in need of a refresh ten years ago. On the night that we were there, there were 10-20 minute lags and lapses in the service. Waiting for drink refills, waiter to return to take order, etc.. The food ranged from excellent to meh. The oysters Rockefeller, scallops, and some of the sides were exceptional, while the side filet would have been a reject at the Golden Corral. Prices are lower than other Scottsdale establishments serving similar fare, but overall the service and the atmosphere need to improve to make it worth taking a chance.

One of the best restaurants in the valley. Originally from NJ I grew up of seafood. This place flys the food in from the East Coast. It's a little bit of home!

There is not one thing on the menu that disappoints. The shrimp cocktail is better than anything I've ever tasted elsewhere. Try the prawns for dinner. Love the reverse happy hour specials too. The staff are all amazing!

Food was very bad. Sour swordfish returned to kitchen. Shrimp and crab was a heap of breadcrumbs. Did not live up to hype.

Ok, first this place is kind of cool with the "cellar" atmosphere. Almost a little shack up top, then you walk in and down the stairs to the dining area. Looks nice. Some of the food is great. The mussels are tasteless, don't order those. The other food is good, but very expensive for what you get. The biggest issue I had was they have squeezed way too many tables in there. Too crowded to be completely enjoyable. Tables on top of each other. People ran into me several times. The service isn't great, but acceptable. Ask for a booth if you go, the floor tables will have you damn near eating your dinner with strangers.

I wanted to take my mom out to a nice dinner so since we've been coming to the Salt Cellar for years I thought we should treat her to this unique dining experience. I'm so glad we did because it sure didn't disappoint. The food was absolutely fabulous and the service was impeccable. Robert did such a great job taking care of us. You can tell he really cares about making his customers happy. It's a little pricey but it's worth every penny. Great for special occasions. Also, their happy hour is awesome. We had the escargot - absolutely wonderful! We all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Thank you!

Probably the best seafood in the Phoenix Metro area. Scallops for shareable were small (season) but delicious. We had the tuna, which was superb, and the 3 lbs lobster to which we added a "side" of filet mignon: excellent! The service gracious as they let us enjoy our food for 3 hours. The ambiance is unique for the fact that it is an underground restaurant but it needs a little modernization.

What a fun, old school seafood joint! Reminded me of the places I used to go to when we lived back in CT. Easy seafood dining and homey atmosphere.

Easy to miss when you're driving by, since the actual restaurant is in - you guessed it - the cellar. Had a reservation for a late dinner, and into the cellar we descended. We started with a caramel apple martini and Moscow mule . The martini was cloyingly + artificially sweet, with an overly strong amount of liquor. The mule was better, as the former was left forgotten, but not by much. We started with the escargot and mussels, both of which were pretty good. Dip the complimentary bread into the escargot butter, and sop up that goodness. We contemplated the oysters, but our waitress said they come in every 2 days from the east coast, so we decided to pass. We split the Salt Cellar Combo (fried shrimp, fish, oysters) and Harbor Master's Choice (lobster), both with veggies/salad and baked potato sides. The salad came absolutely drenched in dressing - honestly kinda disgustingly impressive. The lobster is shelled tableside, which adds a bit of flair to the meal. However, the lobster meat itself was quite dry, and the veggies were over-steamed. The combo was came with a generous amount of food, but the breading was on the thicker side, and had absorbed a large amount of fry oil, making it very heavy. I'm not sure if the fish and shrimp were breaded in-house due to the thick breading, but the shrimp and fish quality/texture itself were ok. The oysters were quite sizable, likely fresh ones past their serve-raw timeline converted to fried ones. I'm split since the escargot and mussels were good (ideally at the happy hour price). I was not a fan of the main entrees nor cocktails, which cost the bulk of our $209 meal. I see the appeal of the dark cellar, formal dress of waitstaff, table-side lobster service, and the excessive amount of utensils provided - it gives an air of sophistication and intimacy, but I'd rather spend this amount elsewhere.

First, the service was great. Our waiter, Robert, was 5 Star. We came to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday. We had the clam chowder which was very watery and I didn't find any clams. We opted for the baked stuffed lobster. When I was little, my father lobstered so I know what a good lobster tastes like. The lobster was tough, dry and had no flavor. I couldn't even cut the lobster tail with a knife. It was so bad, I sent it back. Robert did bring us some scallops on the house, but neither my husband nor I liked those either. We had been here years ago and the food was great. Something has changed - most likely the chef. I will never come back to this restaurant again. Totally ruined our celebration.

Been coming here for years but the last two times have been horrible. Lobster has been completely overcooked and rubbery, completely unacceptable for the prices that we pay. This used to be a place that I would have to take friends and family from out of town, not anymore, we're done, you've lost a 10 year customer.

Oh man. This use to be my favorite spot. I have come here 4 years straight for my birthday and anniversary. I will not be back. I celebrate every birthday with the stuffed lobster. It's .... I mean was amazing. They changed the way they serve it. Use to be stuffed with crab and scallops. I really shouldn't be spending money to eat out right now, since everything has gotten so expensive. But it was my 40th and my husband knew how badly I wanted to come for my birthday. He made a last minute reservation, which we were able to make with ease. They did throw in a dessert for free, and they let you choose from multiple options. That is the only reason I gave them 2 stars. I wanted to give one. Our total bill with tip was $257 ($50 tip) Our waitress seemed annoyed with me - granite I probably would have been a little too I was the stuffed lobster with crab and scallops. When I was told it is now stuff with shrimp and a buttery cracker filling I was totally bummed and not sure what to order. My husband encouraged me to get it because it is what I wanted. So I did $74 lobster. Best part was how much claw meat the waitress retrieved for me, (I do appreciate that they crack it all) but the lobster seemed near to none. Every time I thought I'd found a piece of lobster meat it was a shrimp. I am so disappointed. The crab cakes my husband got were not awful but for that price...... I've had way better. He didn't even finish the 2nd crab cake. The salad dressing was also off this time. I couldn't pin point what but it was gross. This was the worst $257 I have ever spent for dinner. I regret it so much. I could have had 28 lobster rolls at Angie's Lobster with way more lobster meat that I got here. I wish I had read the other reviews before I spent my 40th this way....... But I never could have imagined such a cool spot could fall so short

This place was great! When you drive in, it seems like the restaurant is small and can only seat about 15 to 20 people. Once inside, you see that the actual restaurant is underground, which is pretty cool and can seat what seems like more than 100 people. We loved the ambiance. Even though it is underground, it's pretty lit up and beautifully decorated. The food is to die for. It was my wife and I wedding anniversary and started with the Oysters Rockefeller and Sautéed Shrimp San Remo appetizers. The oysters were good, but the star of the show appetizer was the shrimp. My wife and I split the Beef Wellington and it was delicious!! Probably one of the best filets we've had and cooked to perfection. It melted in our mouths. I can't say enough about the service. Our waitress Jen was awesome. If you are in the area, I would recommend asking for Jennifer's area, definitely one of the best waitresses we've had. She provided recommendations and everything we tried was outstanding! She is very knowledgeable on all the dishes . The meal ended with the most delicious desserts. We tried the Chocolate Mousse and Carrot Cake and both of them were to die for. We will definitely be back.