Frank W.
Yelp
I would eat at Salt Line again. I'd like to establish myself as a regular. The food was good, the service was fine, and it is convenient.
Here is the story. I live in New York City. My wife lives in San Francisco. We lived in Washington, D.C. for years though. My elderly father is by himself in a DC suburb. We have to go, either one of us or both of us, to check on him. We stay in Chevy Chase, Maryland. So we are looking for places that are reliable, for everything. We don't live in DC. We are just there very often.
They have regulars. I know from one of those funny moments that, if I were prone to being embarrassed, as in a younger more insecure point in life I was, which happens to everyone, of someone saying hello and you replying, only to realize the good spirits and enthusiasm were not directed at you at all, but someone else standing behind you. We walked in. Two -- not one but two -- waiters greeted us as if we were folks they were eager to see and liked considerably. Except it was an older couple that had come in just afterward. We then had a minor issue. They resolved it with such graciousness. I have the uncanny knack, even when I agree to whatever is proposed, of appearing to be begrudging about it. So I notice when someone is capable of the opposite, being accommodating, even if it is of a special request. We had booked outdoor seating. We had checked the internet. We also had called ahead. We knew our dog would be welcome. That was a key factor in our dining choices. We had an outdoor table reserved. What we had not arranged, however, was for it to be in the shade instead of direct sun. My wife has a bona fide medical condition. I don't mean a personal peccadillo or a self-diagnosed affliction that might or might not have a basis in fact. Due to medications, she cannot be in the sun. It will cause a real problem, and she brings a hat everywhere and takes precautions. The server didn't miss a beat. She had us wait at the bar for a moment. It went fast. We had not even ordered drinks, and we were back under a tree.
I had clam belly. My wife had a salad with grilled shrimp. We split the crab dip. We also got, given we were sharing appetizers, the cod fritters (that is the wrong word, balls). The clams were perfect. The salad, with heirloom tomatoes, was a reminder of how fantastic it is to have summer tomatoes. The crab dip is a specialty, and it's something to be recommended for ever table. The cod was okay. I am not complaining. It wasn't seasoned enough. A bit of salt would do the trick. I had the blue cheese martini. I did not realize that was "a thing." They used a stick blender. The blue cheese is in the liquid, emulsified. They add those olives stuffed with more blue cheese. I'd have that without hesitation.
I look forward to visiting Salt Line on our next trip.