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Having lived in Portland for 11 years now (Wow, could it be?) I've heard the name Salty's tossed around a time or two when talking about seafood restaurants. Since it's way out on Marine Drive, I had never gotten around to checking it out until last Friday night. I saw the posting here on the site for the "March of the Nutcrackers" and being a bit of a nutcracker fan, I moseyed on over to their site to check out what this march was all about. After watching the cool video clip I was hooked (talk about good marketing!) That video clip got me all excited and in the holiday spirit. (Check it out here.)
I made reservations for myself, my husband, my mother-in-law and my four month old son. When we arrived Friday evening for our 6:15pm reservation, snow was falling, the outside of Salty's was decked out in lights and three life size nutcrackers and two doorman greeted us at the door. As we entered, we were immediately enveloped in the warmth of the room's décor, the staff's kindness and the holiday spirit. Live jazz music from the three-piece band on the second floor bar drifted down to us as we were led to our table by the window (so many tables available by the window is a real treat!) Quickly and courteously our coats were taken, seats pulled out and a special seat for the baby's carrier set up. The staff took turns cooing over our little one and before our drink orders were taken someone produced a cup of hot water for me to heat the baby's bottle.
Our drink orders were taken and as we perused the menu we were offered an amuse bouche (or small bite before your meal) of smoked salmon mousse atop grilled foccacia- smoky, savory and delightfully presented. The wait staff at Salty's is very knowledgeable about the food and the wines, suggesting a lovely Pinot Gris to accompany my halibut with pinot noir marinated onions (moist and tasty) and white truffle fiocchi (little homemade pasta purses filled with white truffles that melt in your mouth) in a spicy tomato sauce.
The oysters on the half shell are served with a selection of the chef's own sauces (sold on site) and come in flavors like mango pepper, traditional cocktail, and raspberry and shallot Mignonettes. They were delicious and so fresh you could actually taste the cucumber flavor notes in these sweet chilled and creamy oysters. The seafood chowder (clams, bay scallops and shrimp with applewood smoked bacon) is simple and straightforward but comes brilliantly to life when topped with the cream sherry and pepper offered.
As we enjoyed the appetizers and the ambience of the life-sized and smaller nutcrackers that fill the restaurant we spotted the first of the Christmas Ships parading by on the Columbia. We ate our meals: the Fritti Platter (huge portions of fresh prawns, oysters and cod, battered lightly with a spiced cornmeal and served with fries), the Seafood Cioppino (juicy salmon and cod, savory mussels, clams, sweet prawns and bay scallops in a flavorful sherry tomato broth served in a super sized bowl with grilled rustic bread) and the aforementioned halibut with fiocchi. We enjoyed the festive feeling watching the ships go by, satiated by the top notch cuisine and watched over by an army of life size nutcrackers brought to life by the many artists who hand painted these beauties.
Then dessert came- the sampler is the only way to go. You get to taste a bit of everything and portions are so large that one sampler was plenty to go around for three adults: Mini Crème Brulee, their signature Cheesecake in a Glass, White Chocolate Mousse Cake and their luscious Best Chocolate Cake Ever. We washed ours down with the Hot Tub: Kahlua, Baileys, Grand Marnier and Amaretto with steamed milk- warming and truly decadent. Though you can't eat like this everyday cost or calorie-wise, Salty's is perfect for a special night out during the holiday season with your out-of-town guests.
Friendly, service that makes you feel like a VIP, the freshest of gourmet seafood options, a casual (no coat and tie required) and kids welcome atmosphere in this restaurant that goes out of its way to make the holidays special. Even with the spendy price tag on the bill at the end of the evening, the only regret I have is that we didn't go sooner. We hope to make it a holiday tradition.
Where did Salty's giant nutcrackers come from?
The 411 on those Nutcrackers from Salty's web site:
In 2007 the annual downtown Seattle Nutcracker March headed to Salty's for their new home in West Seattle, Des Moines and Portland, Oregon. Beckoned by Gerry Kingen, Salty's owner, the giant nutcrackers saw 2007 as the third and what was to be the final season of the Nutcracker March of life-sized replicas inspired by the Pacific Northwest Nutcracker Ballet. It was a fund-raiser to benefit Northwest Center and it started in downtown Seattle as a public art display. Individually designed by local Northwest artists, these seven-foot tall colorful sculptures used to stand guard in downtown Seattle and now they're at all Salty's from Thanksgiving Day to New Year's Day every year!
"We are thrilled that all the nutcrackers have been purchased," Tracey Lyman, VP of Community Affairs and People for Northwest Center told us in 2007. "We broke our donation record from previous years' participation in the Nutcracker March." She added, "We look forward to putting these donations to good use, furthering our mission to promote the growth, development and independence of people with disabilities."
