We were looking for a place to have dinner before a movie at the W. Newton Cinema, and this cute place a 2-block walk away fit the bill perfectly. We arrived on time for our reservation made on Open Table, and were greeted graciously and shown to our table. The ambiance is cozy, and there is indoor and outdoor seating. Our server took my order for vodka rocks and when she returned took our dinner orders. My companion ordered tuna tartar and a mushroom flatbread, and I ordered the rigatoni and meatballs. All three dishes were served promptly are were quite tasty. I could have used a little more sauce on my rigatoni, but it was flavorful and the meatballs were small enough to easily cut in pieces so I could have a bite with every forkful of rigatoni. I also had a slice of the flatbread which was delicious, with just the right amount of cheese and mushrooms. My companion declared the tuna tartar the best she'd every had, and that' saying something as it is a staple of hers at another restaurant we frequent. We came on a Friday night so about an hour in the live music started, a lovely duo of vocalist and guitarist, who played standards at just the right tempo and sound level so as to allow conversations to continue. I neglected to get their name but gave the a round of applause after most numbers to show my appreciate. Blue Salt is a find and a neighborhood gem. I'll be back!!! read more

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Really tasty food, quality service and a nice clean atmosphere so definitely a place to try. It's got a pretty eclectic menu, Greek, Middle Eastern, Russian, French, Italian, American options! Lots to try and everything was very tasty. Foie Gras, Borscht, Fig flatbread all really well done and excellent flavor. read more

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Came here for Valentine's Day. The food was good! We ordered the beet salad, foie gras, tuna tartare, the lamb special and lobster special. A couple of things that need tweaking. We were the first ones to come to the restaurant close to 4:30pm. Having said that we were told we had 90 minutes to eat. I get it but seriously no one was there and people started coming in around five-ish. So the appetizers came really quickly. That's fine, but it was a small table. It didn't allow us to enjoy it one by one so I told them please do not bring the entrees until after we were done with the appetizers. My favorite was the tuna tartare, it was fantastic! The foie gras was good, but the fig sauce completely masked the taste because it was so much of it! I would've preferred the sauce on the side. The beet salad was distinctly different. It was used as a spread. I found it creative and delicious. I generally don't eat beet salad like that, but it was good. When our main courses arrived, the lamb looked small and it was well done! I had already requested it to be medium rare so I don't know what the confusion was considering we were the only ones there! This made me believe that these were pre-cooked lamb. But the chef took care of the problem and gave us medium rare lamb chops, which were beautifully cooked. In fact, these were lamb chops on a completely different level so I appreciate the make up lamb chops. The lobster was good, but it was almost like it was a southern lobster vs New England lobsters. I'm not entirely sure. Then dessert was a very cute raspberry heart shaped moose. Later on live music showed up, which was great but we were already done with our meals so we just stayed to finish our 90 minutes and then we left. Overall, I had a good meal and the service was nice and accommodating. I would come back here again. If there was extra attention in service and food attention, then it could be a five star level from me. Also please don't tell customers you have 90 minutes to eat when they are the only ones there. It is applicable if the restaurant is busily crowded. read more

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I had wanted to try Blue Salt for a long time, but I finally had the chance last night. My wife and I went out with another couple on a rainy Friday night, and we truly enjoyed it. The atmosphere felt warm and inviting. It was simple elegance. An ensemble was playing, mainly Brazilian jazz (which was surprising for this "Eastern European fusion" restaurant), but it was lovely music and did not overpower our conversation. I later found out that they have music every Friday night. Service was prompt, but we did not feel rushed. We shared the mushroom blintzes as an appetizer, which was heavenly. Each couple then shared a salad. Ours was the beet salad, which was not your traditional American beet salad. The beets were finely chopped with small walnut pieces and served in a mound next to a small green salad with pickled onions, along with pieces of toasted brown bread. It was delicious and reminiscent of borscht, although my wife, expecting larger beet pieces, didn't love the texture. The dishes, all generous portions, were beautifully plated. My wife had the cornish hen, which she devoured. My dish, from the specials menu, was the best looking. It was a whole branzino, fried and served with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts (see photo). I had never had Branzino prepared this way. It was perfectly cooked and tasted even better than it looked. I didn't try our friends' meals, but they enjoyed it. I am picky about my restaurants, but Blue Salt really delivered. We will be back. I don't know why it took us so long to try it. read more

Blue Salt Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Food was great, service was fast, and vibes were great for a nice date :) we plan to come back for karaoke night!

We had a wonderful time at the Blue Salt on Saturday night. Wonderful food, and at the end of the night entertainment and new friends made. We had driven by this Washington St location many times and said we should go there sometime. We had no idea when we walked in how much we would enjoy it. We started with the Mushroom Blintzes, followed by the Stuffed Vegetarian Eggplant, and finished with the Brazilian Steak special with fresh asparagus, roasted tomato, and a unique potato side. All excellent. As we satisfyingly finished the last sips of our wine the owner came over to our table and thanked us for being there. We were invited to stay for the impromptu karaoke, and enjoyed ourselves immensely with some singing, dancing and conversations with new-found friends. If you're looking for good food, a unique neighborhood feel place, I'd recommend you give Blue Salt a try. read more

I picked Blue Salt because the menu definitely stands out among the options in Newton. The menu is an eclectic mish-mash of different cuisines - you've got blintzes and borscht, chimichurri steak, Brazilian seafood stew, and salmon pasta. Oh, and burgers if you're in the mood for that. Basically, you can bring a ton of people here with different tastes and I'm sure they'd all be satisfied. [Also, they do indeed feature little shakers of blue-colored salt on each table, which I thought was a cute touch.] I got the borscht (my FIL makes an outstanding version) and the country salad with chicken. The salad was a little heavily dressed for my preference, with a pretty strong olive oil, but the chicken was wonderfully seasoned and tender. The one issue was there was one tiny piece that I bit down on and got a weird almost soapy taste. And then swallowed it before the more rational part of my brain said to spit it out and maybe show it to the restaurant staff. A lesson for next time! The borscht was not bad - liked that it came with a cup of sour cream on the side - but more cabbage/carrot slices than beets. My friend's branzini looked like the better option. It was a huge portion and came with brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. Very nice presentation. The inside dining room filled out while we were there, so recommend making a reservation. Parking: Some street options right in front of the restaurant but I ended up parking down Watertown Street. Free after 6pm on weekdays. read more

Blue Salt Restaurant - Country Salad and Borscht - Seafood Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Blue Salt did not "have record" of my reservation, even though it was confirmed on Open Table. When I arrived, the restaurant had their door locked and would not let me enter. Shortly thereafter, a woman came out of the restaurant and told me that it had been reserved for a birthday party and I would not be permitted to enter. The service I received was both upsetting and confusing. read more

I had reserved this restaurant for a milestone celebration 3 months in advance. After multiple exchanges with the restaurant to plan the menu, table set up, etc., they canceled my reservation 4 days before the event. The double booked. I had to scramble and find a new venue for 30 people. Very poor business model. Not cool! read more

Very underrated, unassuming spot tucked in middle of West Newton's town center. I came here with my family since we were all craving some Mediterranean food. We weren't entirely sure what to expect, the restaurant had a ton of reservations, and was pretty empty on a Saturday night. But we were pleasantly surprised with how good the food was, and how large the portions were. We loved every bit of the meal. A bunch of us got the kabobs, and honestly they were super flavorful, and tasty. We also got the calamari, and the burrata for starters. Just honest, simple flavors that we will definitely be back for. I definitely will not gate keep this from ya'll, don't judge a book by its cover, and try Blue Salt. read more

The food is decent enough, but not outstanding. However, the service is lackadaisical at best, at times nonexistent. And I bet they know this, given that they automatically add a 20% gratuity to the bill, so you can't even penalize the servers for poor service. There are many other better options in the area. read more

Fantastic quality and great flavor in all dishes my party had. I got App - mushroom soup, blintz Meal Chimichurri steak read more

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Tried Blue Salt for the first time. I'm always hesitant to spend money on the untried, given today's dining prices. Plus, I'm always the first to complain given those prices and what it costs to eat out. This establishment was a delight. The waitress was very pleasant and the food delivered to the table was fast without feeling they had just thrown it together. My companion and I had, what she called, the "fanciest meal yet!" Totally delicious chicken, salad, and the soup was especially amazing. Already hoping to return soon! read more

We were scrambling for a last minute Mothers Day reservation for a large group of 20 people and Blue Salt came through and exceeded all our expectations. Not only did they fit us in on short notice, but they were extremely gracious and patient throughout the meal. In addition to the fantastic service, the food was OUTSTANDING. We ordered the fried bronzino, chicken kebab, and cheeseburger sliders. The branzino was the best fried fish entree I've ever had. The chicken kebab was tender and flavored very well. And my kid gave the sliders 5 stars! Can't wait to come back here again! read more

My chicken kebab, grilled vegetables, and rice were excellent. Vegan hubby loved the vegetable tagine. He hopes to discover more vegetarian dishes on the menu in the future. There's a nice outdoor eating area. read more

Blue Salt Restaurant - Chicken kebab and vegetable tagine - Seafood Near Me - West Newton, Massachusetts

Always fresh, always cozy, always great service. Visited on a Thursday night. I had the 16 oz steak and she had the seafood stew. Large portions. Expect to pay about $55 per person. read more

Food is hit or miss. Last time it was a complete miss, food was disappointing, especially for the money.

Ok experience but not phenomenal. Service was good, space was OK. Nothing to rave or crave about. Won't be coming back unless someone pays for the meal read more

What a delight! Our first visit on a quiet evening. (This did not take away from the delicious food!) Kiki, our server was a delight and swayed to our every request. (Even the lighting and the music being played!) I had the Special Salad which was indeed especially delicious!) My husband had the buccitini. Our neighbors at another table were raving about the lamb chops and a seafood pasta dish! Please go and visit! We can't wait to make Blue Salt our go to dining spot! This is a fusion restaurant which only exemplifies the Chef's great talents! read more

I got invited here for dinner and this was probably my first time trying Eastern European inspired food and I probably wouldn't have checked out this place by myself. I was utterly surprised by how good everything was! My favorite was the foie gras. The interior decor was really nice, with lots of water-themed images that kind of make you feel like you're dining by bodies of water. read more

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Unusual and delicious food with eclectic menu. Mushroom soup was delicious. Beet salad was excellent. Lamb kuttab was very good. Chicken kebab was good. Vegetarian tangine was very good. Lamb chops was 4/5. Chicken under a brick was very good. Chocolate mousse was delicious but way too big. Four people couldn't finish it. Suggestion - make it smaller and charge less. Service was very good. I highly recommend. read more

Service was beyond wonderful. Our waitress can out to help my 87 year old mother and her walker get in during the rain She wiped down and dried off he walker and parts of her. So kind. Menu looked intriguing, but some new and unsure things. The waitress explained and recommended after asking us some questions about our likes. She was so good, I asked if she was the owner or family. She was neither. She explained she loved the food and enjoyed her workplace. We enjoyed everything. Can't wait for our return, maybe dinner next time. read more

Charming blue decor, warm atmosphere. We went for lunch and all of us enjoyed our meals. Service was first rate. I got the bucatini and salmon, 2 others got flatbreads, and the fourth got the Georgian dumplings and mushroom soup. They didn't have dessert, but that wasn't a problem. They do have a liquor license & small bar. read more

I had the vegetarian stuffed eggplant dish, which took a while to prepare, bake and get to me but was WELL worth the wait! I can't wait to return to this restaurant. (BTW, I rarely give 5 star reviews. read more

We celebrated my 70th birthday in this hidden jam in Newton. Restaurant is small but cozy and excellent for celebrating events or just for a casual launch or dinner. The food is excellent, mostly Eastern European, but not only. It has a wine bar with variety of drinks. In my case it was a party of 20 people. Food was great and delivered right in time. Waitresses' did an excellent job, there were friendly, polite, and we did not wait for anything. They also advised in organizing of the party. The restaurant has a karaoke machine, and a life music 1-2 days per week. Highly recommended this Restaurant. read more

Pretty decent! Unique menu, food was tasty, prices not bad. Services was friendly. There was live music that was a bit loud, my friend and I felt like we had to shout to hear each other, but other than that it was good! read more

There were two very nice ladies who served us. It was quick and efficient. I got the rigatoni and meatballs which were outstanding. The food was filling. Highly recommend. read more

Definitely will be back as we had the best Branzino fish and fried frog legs we've ever tried. The portions are big, drinks were good, and it's a cozy little restaurant with a great atmosphere, so highly suggest! read more

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The Blue Salt is a hidden gem in Newtonville! Everything they serve is excellent! Chicken kabob and the other chicken dish are so moist. Good flavor and plenty of it! Fois gas with arugula and balsamic dressing is a good appetizer! Good choice of food on the menu! Ambiance is okay! They even have karaoke night too! Well worth the trip for foodies! $$-$$$ I think they have a full liquor license! Seating outside when it gets a little warmer. Service was excellent and the waitress knew the food! read more

I came back and was not disappointed. My gf had asparagus appetizer that she said was grilled to perfection. I had the mushroom blintzes that were still awesome. My girlfriend had the Brazilian fish stew she loved I had the pesto shrimp Pasta. I ate 1/3. Huge portion. For desert I had the largest most delicious chocolate mousse that was enough for four people. With tip came to $140. No alcohol read more

The food was good. However the ambiance was mixed. Tables are tightly squeezed together and the noise was so loud that it detracted from the experience enough that we went to have dessert elsewhere. Given all the great reviews we were disappointed. read more

We read all the 5 star reviews and decided we couldn't go wrong here, right? Best I can guess it they are written by staff and friends of the owner. Decor is upscale dive bar minus the charm. Rickety furniture, and cramped seating. Ambience is provided bright lighting accented by LED strings like quasi disco lights. We ordered the calamari and mushroom appetizer to start. Skip the calamari...scattering of fried shreds with a tub of bottled salad dressing as "dip". Mushroom appetizer was very good, over -priced but nonetheless good. Entrée's were the Brazilian seafood stew and the linguini and shrimp pesto. This is clearly not fresh seafood, pasta, fresh anything.... the stew was an overcooked, murky, and not visually appealing. Oddly it came without bread to accompany it, but the inedible, congealed mass of vermicelli, clearly a reheated leftover , that was the Linguini and pesto did. Perhaps the bread was so you would at least have something to eat? On a positive note, and the only reason we tipped and paid, was our sweet, attentive server. I felt bad for her when she checked on our table and we had barely touched the entrée's and asked for the check. She deserves to serve better food. Overrated, overpriced, and based on our experience, terrible food and ingredient quality. read more

Came in for lunch today with a couple friends. I don't know why the place was empty?! The food was amazing! They each ordered a salad with grilled chicken, both said it was one of the best salads they've had. I had the grilled cheese with tomato bisque. I hesitated because it was so warm out today but I'm so glad I ordered it. Absolutely delicious! Can't wait to come back and try more items, including the sangria. read more

Horrible cooking. The steak was raw, the calamari was soggy. The steak was asked to be recooked still raw. Never going back. I would not recommend it. If ordering meat recommend ordering well done since the chef has no experience in cooking meat and is likely to serve raw meat with all the health hazards associated with it read more

We have dined here for special occasions and the food and ambience is spectacular! Delicious dishes and service was great . Highly recommended read more

Excellent meal, especially the branzino whole fish. The chicken kabob was excellent as well. And they were very accommodating for a large group. read more

Very lousy food , small portions and everything i mean everything is very salty, rude waitstaff and absolutely not what i was expecting for the price they waitstaff offer more attention to larger banquet parties and totally forget about you! for 300$ i spent for dinner for 3 absolutely horrible read more

Great dishes and a variety of drinks are available here! The blintz was cheesy and a great shareable, along with my bucatini alla salmone was great. The staff was very friendly, nothing to complain about :) read more

We chose Blue Salt for a new experience in the neighborhood. My husband, a steak lover said, "it was "good enough, not great." I, on the other hand, came away very dissatisfied. I have food sensitives and with careful explanation to a server, I usually have great luck. Our server was excellent and tried her best to relay my requests--no salt on the frites, side order of the Balsamic drizzle as I am vinegar sensitive, no "hot" spices on the chicken kabob. Everything I requested was ignored. There is more but suffice it to say, if you have food sensitivities or special requests, Blue Salt is not your go to restaurant. read more

What a find Blue Salt is! This small gem is located on the fringe of West Newton Square. You can find it by looking for the blue awning. Inside, beginning with the blue décor, you know you're in for a treat. The menu can best be described as Eastern European fusion but that fails to entice diners to the Brazilian seafood stew, brimming with shellfish and chunks of salmon immersed in a tomato broth, the savory mushroom blintz bathed in a tomato fondue or the bucatini samone (salmon), probably one of the best pasta dishes I've eaten. And then there's a decadent mousse presented in a molded chocolate cup the size of a grapefruit. Elegant. Service is gracious and attentive. Servers are well trained and willingly provide customers with what companions claimed were the best Manhattans and martinis they've had. And be on the lookout for the blue salt shakers on each table. This restaurant is a five-star find! read more