Saltwater Oyster Depot
| Address: | 12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, CA 94937, USA |
| Phone: | +1 415-669-1244 |
| Site: | saltwateroysterdepot.com |
| Rating: | 3.9 |
| Working: | 5–9PM Closed Closed 5–9PM 5–9PM 9AM–9PM 9AM–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 11
G
G F
Im writing this one-star review to help Saltwater with a problem. They seem extremely annoyed that they have customers. I figure they need help reducing the number of customers. As other recent reviews are stating, the service is awful. Maybe they used to have better staff or management, I dont know. We arrived to find the restaurant fairly full but an empty table for four. We stood for about 15 minutes while every single person that worked there unanimously ignored us and avoided our gaze. Finally, knowing that the place may fill up on this beautiful day, I gestured for my companion to sit at the table with me. Immediately, a terse and emotionless woman came over and asked us not to sit there, since it was a table for four. The man behind the bar also echoed this wish. Reluctantly, but without complaint, we got up. I asked if we could look at a menu, the waitress sighed and seemed very put out and hesitantly said "yes". However, no menu was retrieved. After several more minutes, the waitress informed me that there was a menu on the side of the building outside that we could look at. At this point, Im bummed out, because people are starting to file in from all entrances. I ask if we can be the next to be seated. Again, sighs, as a serious sadness seemed to come over the waitress. She reluctantly pulled out her pad for waiting list and took our names. At this point, we had waited nearly 30 minutes. The empty table remained empty, waiting for that lucky, lucky group of four, that none others shall take lest those golden four be inconvenienced. Did I have the stink of someone not from Inverness? I have no idea. Im polite, and I understand sometimes people are busy or even having a bad day, so Im willing to put up with a little bit. But finally, at 45 minutes, with people lined up, surrounded by annoyed and disinterested staff, and that table still empty, we left. We went to the Perrys Deili down the street, that is full of great food and friendly people. I do hope more people will chime in and help Saltwater alleviate their terrible customer problem.
WI
william tipton
Im not making this up or exaggerating at all. We went on Fathers Day 2014. The service was completely disorganized and slow. We got a pitcher of water with a lemon on top...but no glasses for at least 15 minutes. Finally they brought glasses and waited an additional 15 minutes to take our orders. After waiting another 30 minutes, our order came. We thought they brought us appetizers...wrong!!! My wife ordered 12 oysters. She got 4 and they were so small that all of them combined would fill maybe a single tablespoon, and thats being generous. The 4 oysters were $16. She also ordered a spinach salad for $12 that contained exactly 8 small spinach leaves, a few tiny bacon bits and some vinegar and oil. If you took that entire salad and compressed it, it would fill another tablespoon...maybe. People who came in after us were served, ate and left BEFORE we got our morsels. This place sucked and almost ruined Fathers Day. TOTAL RIP-OFF!
MI
Michael Dybala
Fantastic! We were on vacation in California, driving north along Highway 1 and looking for a restaurant when we stumbled upon Saltwater. A very clean, simple restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere offering both indoor and outdoor eating options. They always try for organic locally-owned or grown ingredients if possible. We’re not normally oyster fans, but the waiter suggested baked oysters with some spices, so went for it. Delicious! It was pizza night, so we split a pizza that filled us up, but didn’t make us feel overly stuffed. A glass of Zinfandel was paired perfectly with the pizza from a local vineyard. Desserts were all made in-house and had the lightest, fluffiest whip cream that was definitely not store bought. A masterpiece from beginning to end, with a very reasonable price tag.
LA
Lauren Go
Took long to take our order despite plenty of servers and few customers. Only ordered a dozen raw oysters, and waited over 20 mins before server came back saying they were almost out of the oysters we ordered due to many of the oysters being dead. Offered to give us last 4 oysters of our original order, with remaining oysters substituted by other types. Accepted the substitution and waited some more. When we finally got our order, it had again changed to only 2 of our originally ordered oysters, with multiple other substitutions, all of which were smaller and did not taste as good as the measly 2 original oysters. So that, plus 1 beer, was just short of $60. Unsatisfying.
FA
Farzad Sharif
Came up from San Francisco to the Inverness/Point Reyes area to get back to nature this weekend, and totally stumbled on Saltwater much to our delight. Oysters were some of the tastiest and freshest Ive had. Margherita pizza was also super yummy. And they had an appealing selection of craft beers on draft – the bright and refreshing La Merle Saison capped off a day of hiking nicely. Service was fast and friendly, and the decor was minimal but sophisticated, sort of Scandinavian. Reserving an "Excellent" rating only because the single visit.
IN
inna penek
Magical views on the bay with constantly changing light and clouds and the rolling fog. Prix fixe choices for me today: panzanella salad with actually flavorful tomatoes and burrata, broiled sea bass with tiniest young green beans with capers and almonds, and bittersweet chocolate cake - all lovely and flavorful and bright. Of course, it also happens to be the only place willing to feed me on a Monday night in probably a 30 mile radius, but if you find yourself hungry in Inverness, you will be glad to find Saltwater.
SA
Saul Cohen
Delicious food in a beautiful location. It defines the rule that the taste of the food is inverse to the view. Oysters always taste like the sweetest part of the sea, very fresh. I have eaten here a number of times and sat inside, outside and at the counter. Service is always excellent and the meals are always fantastic. Informal-ish, give the restaurant some expect and knock the sand off if youve been to the beach but informal in that Point Reyes kind of way.
TR
Travis and Kristina Rhodes
This place is spectacular and I would highly recommend it. Love how clean and fresh everything is, our waitress was very attentive and friendly, and the food was delicious. I would recommend getting an order of bread to start. It is definitely homemade and yummy. You are able to order 3 different types of oysters individually instead of ordering a dozen of them which makes it more affordable. The salmon and steak were very tasty.
FA
Fabien Curto Millet
This place looks great and is super charming. It could be a really beautiful gem. Unfortunately, its badly let down by indifferent and unwelcoming service. The Tamales Bay oysters were nice and fleshy, but the Humboldt Bay ones did not impress. The sweetcorn soup was disappointing. If you can ignore the service, this might be a place to stop for drinks.
PA
Pam Krueger
Absolutely wonderful experience! We stopped by for oysters and wine after a day of hiking around the area. Beautiful clean and simple decor, friendly service and warm atmosphere. We also enjoyed some freshly foraged mushrooms specially prepared for us on the spot! Wish I lived closer because it is obviously a neighborhood find...
BR
Bramman Avery
Ate there on a Wednesday night. Prix Fixe menu salmon or hanger steak. Was very good and the wines were moderate in cost and high quality. Better than the higher rated S.(mediocre!) in Pt. Reyes Station where we dined later in the week. Saltwater really provides great food but not cheaply. But then this is the new West Marin.
