Saltine

Our first visit to Saltine was lovely. They have a great bar that makes you feel like you're somewhere very swanky. We were seated in the middle of the restaurant (where it was thankfully warmer). Our server was attentive and informative and friendly! For drink I ordered the Pistachio Butter washed martini which was probably the best thing I had all night. Delicious! I'd return for one of those alone. My husband had something called Romeo's punch? Not sure that was the correct title, but it was very tart and interesting. Not his favorite but also something we wouldn't create at home. We started with the calamari and the She Crab soup. These two items were the most disappointing of the night, unfortunately. The flavor was great, but there was ZERO lump of crab in the soup and they skimped way too much on the calamari. For a $16 appetizer, you better give a hefty portion. I ordered the crab cakes with delicata squash and my husband had the Opah with whipped potatoes. Both entrees were fabulous! I had never had Opah and it quickly became one of my new favorite fish. Overall we would return, but we know that the appetizer portions are small or not including enough of the main product. We'd skip those next time. Would definitely recommend a visit to Saltine!

Food is pretty good. Drinks are hands down worth paying valet for.....TRUST ME. Things I loved:Ambiance Shrimp appetizerLettuce wedge salad-needed a funkier cheese (blue cheese) to set it off. It was like the chef was afraid of loading up the onions and dressing. What I did not care for:Calamari-first bite was weird. It had a fish scale attached to it. The sauce that accompanied the dish was a ZERO. Just tasted like hot sauce and some made up sauce. It clashed. I had to ask for cocktail sauce. The clam chowder-It was a muddied rendition of the classic. Look- whatever herbs are added and other seasoning STOP. Just keep it creamy and simple. It should not be brown and taste heavily of thyme. Again the drinks saved the day. I will be back to try other things on the menu.

This restaurant comes up quite often on Open Table, so I always wondered about this place. Reviews looked decent and pictures of the interior were nice.I finally got the opportunity to dine here when a few friends and I met recently in downtown Norfolk. I wasn't aware this restaurant was inside the Hilton. The host and hostess were attentive and friendly. When the hostess asked if we had a reservation I said no and thought there probably isn't any availability on a Saturday. Luckily we didn't even have to wait for a table. Another host escorted us to a table upstairs. It was great to be away from the noise and any hustle and bustle downstairs as we ladies had a lot to catch up on. The complimentary bread was not warm and served with a side of butter. The butter had a texture like cream cheese and one of my friends said it tasted minty. Unusual butter to spread on a multigrain roll that had a strong rye taste (not a fan of rye). I ordered one of the specials, the flounder with lump crab meat covered in she crab soup. To my dismay the dish was without flavor and only came with 2 slices of focaccia bread (menu said 4). I found the entree bland and overpriced. Don't think I'll be back.

Great happy hour specials! Even better service and ambiance! We were seated next to the bar and on a high table and it was an awesome view looking out. Food was very tasty and portions were big!

Came for brunch with friends. We had a reservation so we were seated quickly. The $3 mimosas & Bloody Mary's and $4 manmosa is a great deal. I got the she crab soup as a starter which was very tasty. I wanted the lobster quiche but after hearing how it just sits under a warmer I decided not to get it. I ended up getting the smash burger. It was huge but very bare, I didn't want the tomato relish so it came plain. I asked for mayo to put on it. Pickles & onions would've helped ot out greatly. One friend got clam chowder and the mussels appetizer which was a huge portion. She took half home. The other friend got the Chesapeake hot brown which looked great. I would go back again, maybe for dinner or happy hour instead of brunch.

12/24I really always want to have an excellent experience but they fall short on the quality of food compared to the price. The cup of she crab soup had little to no crab meat and that's certainly not the standard but somehow Saltine hopes to get away with that. I had the crab cake sandwich for lunch and it had no lump just shredded crab. For a $24 price point I certainly expected more. The service is always superb and that helps.

I had high hopes for Saltine, but unfortunately, my experience was underwhelming. I ordered the truffle fries, fried snapper, and braised short ribs, but none really hit the mark. Especially for the price of $190. The truffle fries were lukewarm and tasted like they had been reheated in a microwave--definitely not the crispy, flavorful experience I was expecting. The fried snapper had a nice texture, but the seasoning was almost nonexistent, leaving both the fish and its sides bland. The braised short ribs were the best dish of the night, with good flavor, though slightly overcooked. However, the carrots and mashed potatoes that accompanied them were also lacking in taste.Overall, nothing stood out enough for me to return. For the price and reputation, I expected much better execution.

So if this were just a review of dinner it would be 5 stars. But we had brunch and dinner there during our stay. Let me start with the service which is and always has been great. No matter where we have sat or when we have come in the service and the staff have been consistently wonderful. Now let's talk about dinner. - The absolute star is the fish wings. They are cheap and delicious. Here is the secret: treat them like you would a chicken wing and not like a piece of fish. The flavor is awesome and they are loaded with delicious meat. - the oysters are another star. They have a constant and large selection of local varieties for a variety of tastes. From sweet to briny to small to large. Absolutely delicious! We also had a delicious shrimp appetizer and several distinctive cocktails. I know the rule is not to eat at the hotel when you travel but this place is the exception. The variety of seating areas means that you can sit at the busy bar or have a quiet booth in a corner. Good for socializing with strangers or for an intimate evening with friends. I do not recommend the brunch. The chicken biscuit was not very good. The biscuit was extremely dry and the gravy was strangely flavored and slightly spicy. The potatoes were also inconsistently spiced. There are much better brunch options within walking distance.

I am not quite sure why ratings on this restaurant are below 4 stars. I have been there multiple times and it is always very good. We were there last weekend and had three types of raw oysters that were fresh and very good. Also I had the lobster bisque and it was very good. Finally I had the lump crab stuffed flounder and it was everything I hoped for. Virtually no filler just big chunks of crab and a nice thick slice of flounder. It was topped with a bit of lobster bisque which rounded out the meal for me. I paired the meal with a smoked Manhattan and it too was great. Service was on point and the atmosphere was lively but not o er the top

I didn't realize Saltine was a hotel restaurant when I booked the reservation. From my experience they tend to be mediocre at best for some reason. By the time we realized it was too late. The hostess seated us promptly at an outdoor table. It was a beautiful day so we didn't mind. We ordered a few appetizers before deciding to skip entrees. So so across the board. 2.4 stars.