I had read a lot of good things about this place, so my expectations were high. I met up with some friends there to check it out.

The decor is very casual and bright, which is kind of nice. It made it look less expensive, even though it wasn’t.

Service was pleasant, we had no issues. My waitress did take my plate a bit early once, but it’s not a big deal.

The food? Very good. A friend had the clam chowder with bacon, which I thought was a great (if unhealthy) combination. I also really liked the anchovies in the ceasar salad, which weren’t excessively salty (in fact, they tasted pickled, like a non-raw ceviche).

I also tried the mussels, which I usually love. Here, they were solid as well, but the flavor combination (with lemongrass) didn’t work too great for me personally.

A friend had the salmon roe potato fingerlings. I didn’t think this was a wise ordering choice and it ended up being unremarkable.

Another friend had a grilled eel sandwich…this was basically just a sandwich with unagi as the meat. I like unagi, and the sandwich was good, but it also had a “I could make this at home in a second” kind of feel to it.

The halibut was tender, but lacked a little in flavor…perhaps a stronger sauce could have helped it. I had the malu, which was the best entree. The fish itself was very good, but the sides that accompanied it weren’t too special.

If we had spent about $10-15 less per person, then I’d think this place was awesome. However, at its price, it’s good, but you can actually find even better meals for the money (Lure in San Mateo springs immediately to mind).

For the record, Sea Salt seems like it caters well to the lunch crowd, so perhaps their prices are more favorable for that.

I particularly appreciated that the small plates were perfect for a meal, not just a taste. I loved the clam chowder with bacon and the chicory salad.

The best seafood around! Place I go for a special meal. Love sitting near the kitchen to watch