Salt & the Cellar by Akira Back

Review summary

1. A

   Ahjin

   San Francisco

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined today

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   We went to celebrate a friends birthday, party of 7. Reservations were made at 8pm but we didn’t get seated until about 840pm. Not a great start. Then the inconsistencies started, which made the experience a bit odd. Table had a missing plate and one random set of chopsticks placed on table. But, appetizers and drinks were great! Tuna pizza, wagyu tacos, eggplant, and a sushi roll are some of the apps we ordered. Espresso martini was unique and I loved the presentation. Old fashioned was also great. For the main course, scallops and the duck were delicious! However, our friends ordered medium rare New York steak… one came out more medium to medium well while the other one was cooked just right. Togarashi fries… one came out warm sprinkled with chili powder but was definitely heavily powdered and overly seasoned, while the other came out cold with no or hardly any powder/seasoning. Wagyu fried rice was soggy and salty, and sent back. We’ve been to many fine dining establishments, including Michelin Star restaurants, and this place was overall not quite up to par with what we expected. The restaurant itself is aesthetically beautiful with overall service being average. I would say check it out if you’re interested in trying a new place, but I just can’t give a raving review considering the price point and all the inconsistencies we experienced.
   

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2. J

   Jose

   VIP

   Orlando

   36 reviews

   5.0

   36 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Truly a hidden gem! The staff is very knowledgeable. The presentation of the food and drinks was spectacular!
   

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3. T

   Teila

   Orlando

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Loved the vegetarian options. I was surprised the tacos tasted so good. The Rose wine was excellent as well.
   

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4. A

   Alex

   VIP

   Orlando

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   What a wonderful place to celebrate Christmas Eve! From the entrance to the restaurant a full experience. Leandro welcomed us in and showed us to the restaurant. Then Emeli and Isabella were exceptional while we were eating. Emeli is so charismatic and made us feel as though we were having a special private meal at home. Walking us through the holiday roast and the wonderful options for drinks. Isabella also served us with excellent service even offering to take our family holiday photo. The Chef was so wonderful carving the holiday roast table side and explaining the meal. We felt like we had a magical lunch that was as if we had a chef’s table experience. Highly recommend this restaurant.
   

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5. B

   Beverly

   VIP

   New York City

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We attended the holiday tea. The food, drinks and service were outstanding! We had a wonderful and relaxing afternoon. We will definitely be back and hoping to make this a family tradition!
   

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6. R

   Ray

   VIP

   Orlando

   16 reviews

   3.0

   16 reviews

   Dined on 14 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   Super Bummer: Salt & Seller Falls Short of Expectations Salt & Seller, run by Michelin-starred chef Akira Back, promises a high-end dining experience but misses the mark. The cocktail menu features options ranging from $20 to $45. We tried Into the Woods ($42)—creative but not worth the price. Despite the server saying it would be complimentary, it still appeared on our bill. The wine list is shockingly small for such a pricey venue. The food was hit-or-miss. The tuna pizza ($38) was tasty, and the spinach salad ($28) had great flavors with a striking presentation. However, calling compressed spinach a “salad” felt misleading. The steak ($68), served with three types of salt for customization, was chewy and tough—not what you’d expect from a supposed prime cut. The hot mess sushi ($38) was underwhelming, while the Togashi french fries ($14) stole the show. The $18 chocolate cigar we took to go felt overpriced. Service was inconsistent. While our server was fantastic, the rest of the experience felt disjointed, with a casually dressed host handling wine at tableside—a bizarre contrast to the servers’ stylish uniforms. Adding to the frustration, a 20% gratuity was automatically applied to our two-person table, which we missed and accidentally tipped over. Strict dining policies, like a two-hour limit and a dress code, were unevenly enforced. If you’re looking for amazing food, ambiance, and hospitality, I’d recommend Nami in The Wave Hotel instead. Final Verdict: Skip Salt & Seller. It’s just not worth it.
   

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7. L

   Leslie

   VIP

   Vancouver

   16 reviews

   5.0

   16 reviews

   Dined on 6 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food was excellent and great flavors. We all had different mains and all were excellent we all agreed that the Miso Cod was the best tasting dish we have had for a while. Would recommend the taco starter and the tuna pizza.
   

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8. V

   VIDAL

   New York City

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 4 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Comida presentación sabores combinaciones internacionales expectaculares
   

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9. O

   Omadai

   San Francisco

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 3 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Food was great! The vibe was perfect for an intimate date night for a special occasion. My husband and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary.
   

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10. V

    Verbelee

    Orlando

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 30 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We went for high tea and loved their selection of Mariage Freres tea selection - very hard to find this tea in the USA. Food was tasty and served in high tea style. We enjoyed our experience and will be back.
    

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