Salty's Restaurant on the Columbia: Brunch with the Fishes
Written: Aug 27 '00 (Updated Aug 27 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Wide variety of excellent offerings;
Cons: Hard to catch the waitperson's attention
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| conradd's Full Review: Portland |
What do you call a fish with no eyes? This question (and several others) were part of a Halibut Brain Food Quiz that several hundred Salty's Restaurant patrons recently played. Although only two guests were lucky winners, the others had the satisfaction of enjoying a very nice meal and increasing their knowledge of fishy facts. Salty's has two locations in Washington (Seattle and Redondo Beach) and one in Oregon. This review covers the Oregon location.
Prologue
Shane? Set your alarm for 7:00 tomorrow morning. We have brunch reservations in Portland at 10:00 . . . yes, you knew about this a long time ago . . . no, we have to leave by 8:00 to get there on time . . . no, I won't call and reschedule just because you want to sleep in.
After extensive research, I had found a highly recommended brunch location for the next installment of Dine-off Around the USA with a number of other Epinions members. While my son was initially enthusiastic, the allure of unlimited Belgian waffles paled against the reality of getting up early on a weekend. Maternal rank prevailed and we were on our way, only a few minutes late.
First Act
We arrived at Salty's Restaurant and found ample parking in the two tier lot. After walking past tanks filled with lobsters and Dungeness crab, we were seated promptly at a table overlooking the Columbia River. Jet boats streaked through the water below us and jet planes screamed overhead. I hadn't considered that the location would be directly north of Portland International Airport, but conversation was possible despite the noise. The view was fantastic. Mt. Hood and the Columbia River. The view alone was worth the price of the brunch.
We were given water and a wine list, then our waitperson explained that the brunch included one complimentary glass of juice, Champagne, or a Mimosa, plus unlimited coffee, tea, and soft drinks. I ordered a Mimosa and my son asked for orange juice. The juice was fresh-squeezed and delicious. The waiter was evidently unfamiliar with thirsty teenagers since he did not return to ask if we wanted other beverages.
Second Act
We were instructed to meander through the tables heaped with brunch offerings, choosing what we wished. Since refills are unlimited, I had asked my son to "come hungry" and he complied. Our first stop was the chef's station where crepes, pasta, and omelettes are made to order. Shane and I both chose the berry crepes. The chef placed a pre-made crepe in a sizzling pan over a propane burner, spooned in a few blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries, then sprinkled with Grand Marnier. The resulting flames reached eyebrow level and the result was very tasty, especially when a bit of whipped cream was added. Other diners chose pasta or omelettes (cooked to order with shrimp, ham, mushrooms, onions, artichoke hearts, cheeses, etc.). Another station offered breads (bagels, croissants, pound cake) with fruits and cheeses. A plate of lox was accompanied by dilled cream cheese. I would have appreciated a cup of tea with my breakfast but couldn't catch our waiter's eye.
The main buffet table was loaded with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items. Bacon and sausage, Eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, roasted potatoes, and an egg casserole were followed by Belgian waffles with various fruits and whipped cream. As one would expect in a seafood restaurant, the marine life was exquisite. Huge tubs of crab legs and boiled shrimp were followed by steamed clams and oysters. The Blackened Salmon was rubbed with a sweet-hot spice mixture that complemented the rich flavor of the fish perfectly. Several salads were available; I tried the dilled potato salad and found it delicious. I made two or three trips back to sample the various offerings . . . each time, I returned to my table to find my previous plate cleared away along with my fork. I had to ask for a replacement fork.
Third Act
The dessert table was a standout. Salty's evidently has a pastry chef who understands what baking is all about. In the interests of research, I sampled everything. The chocolate torte was fantastic with a rich creamy ganache. A basic pineapple upside down cake was paired with a rich blueberry/apple cobbler. A dessert tier held napoleans, chocolates, and choices of cookies. Liquer glasses held a rich chocolate raspberry mousse with cherry topping. The selections were uniformly high quality. By this time, I was desperate for a cup of coffee and finally managed to trip a busboy who alerted our waitperson.
Post Dining Reflections
Finally, after a second cup of coffee, we were ready to depart. My son seemed, uncharacteristically, to be in no hurry. He finally explained that walking past the unsuspecting crabs and lobsters in the entryway reminded him of The Green Mile. I reminded him that every living thing has a place on the food chain and we left. Will we return? Perhaps. At $21.95 per person ($1.50 per year for kids), it isn't going to be a regular breakfast haunt. The food was outstanding but next time, I'll order tea and coffee with my Mimosa. I'll also ask for a supply of forks.
Closing Credits:
This review is part of a continuing series of Dine-offs Around the USA, starring my fellow reviewers caroleg, fiatgirl, forkids, garypai, halfsweet, kboo, macresarf1, mrisch, mrsfitts, nita, poseidon, sleestakk , srothstein, sweeper , tanster , workingmomof2, and zzjulia. Please visit their reviews as well . . . I know they'll be worth the read.
Note to reader: This review covers the Salty's Restaurant in Portland, Oregon and was placed in the travel section since there was no way to review it in the restaurant section. This sidestep has been approved by Epinions category management. It will be moved to the Portland Restaurant section when the database is updated. The restaurant can be found online at: http://www.saltys.com and the reservation number is (503) 288-4444.
And, by the way . . . a fish with no eyes is a fsh.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
conradd
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Deborah Conrad
Location: Coos Bay, OR
Reviews written: 105
Trusted by: 388 members
About Me:
Bio-Haiku:
Seeker of Wisdom;
Chocolate and Pinot Noir;
So Proud Marine Mom
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