Takeaway for this place is that it looks nice and the food is just okay but for the price you can go somewhere else and have a better time. I don't think I'll be coming back. I came with my dog yesterday and entered only to be standing for a solid 5 minutes before anyone even greeted us. Some waiters saw us but quickly looked away for some reason. I guess they're not allowed to seat people? Even when some manager-esque looking person came by to assure us we'll be seated shortly, it felt cold and uninviting. Long story short, we got our food and it was just okay at best overall. Scones were the highlight but the entrees left a lot to be desired. My fried chicken sandwich was lukewarm warm at best and it wasn't crispy at all. Looks nice but that's about it. ‍ read more

I can't count how many visits I've had here, it's just that good. When my family moved nearby before the pandemic I hoped this place could become my 'Cheers' hangout, a place to frequent so often that everyone knows your name :) The staff are always friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. The food selections rotate often based on the season and the quality shows. Recently I had the Chinese five spice braised short ribs which was incredible! The beef was excellent, but I thought the unsung hero's of this dish were actually the smoky/spicy vegetables that accompanied it. So, so delicious. My only complaint, if you want to consider it one, is that the quality of desserts is not as often up to par with the quality of the main entree's. All the sweets taste great and are a quite inventive combo of flavors (far better than most other restaurants), but sometimes the flavors are a bit too creative and blur together. Even still, I highly recommend coming here anytime throughout the week. It's an amazing gem on the peninsula. read more

COVID-19 update: We got take-out on Thursday evening. There are still a lot of good options on the menu. My wife went to pick up and said they have small one-use pencils for signing for the food. And most of the food came in compostable containers (except for the soup, which came in a plastic container). We ordered a baguette, the kale asian salad, fried chicken sandwich, and a quart of chicken noodle soup for the kids. We heated the soup up ourselves and the kids split it. This version of their kale salad has a sweet, sesame flavor, which I really liked. Fried chicken sandwich was still warm and crispy, and the fries were good. I definitely missed sitting in the restaurant with all its natural light and openness, but really happy that they're still open to pick up some comforting food. read more

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So this was my first visit to Johnston's Saltbox. It's a small restaurant, so we ended up sitting outside under the heat lamps. I ordered the rib eye burger starting at $19. If you wanted all the fixings (cheese, bacon, avocado) you were looking at almost a $30 burger (a little pricey, but it is a rib eye burger). The burger was cooked perfectly and the fries were crispy! For dessert we had the chocolate mousse, which was very good. Our server was attentive and friendly. All and all I would recommend this restaurant and will be back to try other dishes. read more

Ima 3.8/5 but rounding up because the service was really good. Atmosphere is very cute. You feel like you're having dinner at home. Food was good! My one problem with the burger was it needed more sauce or some kind of sauce . Overall I really liked coming here read more

Good lunch spot in San Carlos. Super nice outside patio my coworkers and I enjoyed and it was a very cool place overall. Got the carnitas torpedo. Braised pork carnitas, salsa verde, black bean spread, queso fresco, crema, cilantro, radish, pickled red onion on torpedo roll, house chips and salsa. Sandwich quality and ingredients were good, just did not expect the back bean spread and probably would have liked it more without it. No joke, the tortilla chips that came with these were some of the best I've ever had. Nice and crunchy and light, the salsa it came with was also very good. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Carnitas torpedo - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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I've had this place bookmarked FOREVER and I'm so glad to finally knock this off my brunch list. It's located in San Carlos off a main downtown area. Parking is available nearby and street parking so it wasn't a hassle. We came by on a Saturday around 12 and made it at a good time since it was right before the crowd came in. You order at the window then get seated either indoor or outdoor. I ordered the pork chilaquiles with jalapeños and the strawberry mimosa french toast. My boyfriend got the country fried breakfast. We also ordered the beach spritz and a hard cider. The food came fairly quick and the chilaquiles were good but nothing crazy for that dish. My boyfriends country fried steak was sooo good, that gravy is one of the best gravy's I've ever had and he agreed. The star of the show was the strawberry mimosa french toast, wow! It was such a unique flavor for a french toast and it came with home made whipped cream, strawberries, and an orange and it was so refreshing and unique. The service was also 10/10, our guy made small talk and explained that they have a revolving menu matching the seasons, so that was very cool to know. We sat outside and it's such a cute and beautiful area to eat. We left very satisfied and I'd love to bring friends here for brunch or dinner next time! read more

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The food and the service were both outstanding! From the moment we arrived, I was impressed. I don't love that the restaurant doesn't take reservations (annoying) but I'm happy that they have a nice back patio waiting area where you can get a coffee and a scone. Scones are heavenly! The soup of the day was something like cauliflower and it was delicious. We also got the cornmeal pancakes and fried chicken, breakfast sandwich, kale salad, scrambled eggs. My friend is diabetic and had concerns over sugar in one of the dishes. A manager came out and literally read her the ingredient list! Sometimes restaurants have are indifferent when customers inquire about ingredients but this place took is seriously (as they should) and were very nice about it. Loved that. Definitely worth the wait (come early if you want a table!) read more

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A bit disappointed with my brunch experience. I was expecting a full service dining experience. Upon arriving, we stood in line until it was our turn to order and pay at the window. After ordering, a hostess told us to wait on the side until a table cleared up. We were finally seated and our food arrived shortly. After our plates were dropped off, no one came to check in on us to ask about our food. #Hash: Worst decision was ordering this underwhelming entree. Everything about it was mediocre. Over 3/4 of my bowl was filled with steamed potatoes, broccoli, onions, ricotta, and cauliflower. It was incredibly soggy due to all the excess water from veggies mixed with hollandaise sauce. I cut into the yolk expecting it to be runny, but it was way over cooked. There were less than 5 tiny pieces of bacon the size of a pea. Fried chicken French toast: this dish was tasty but very small. It's really hard to mess up French toast and the chicken was cooked decently. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - #hash - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Searched for a brunch spot nearby and came across here. The food pics from previous reviewers looked really good and it sure doesn't disappoint. The ginger lemonade was refreshing for a warm summer day. The peach cobbler cinnamon roll wasn't fluffy as expected. It's more denser and has a sweet crunchy outer piece almost like a kougin amann. I personally wouldn't call it a peach cobbler because it doesn't remind me of one and the peach purée didn't stand out for us, but overall its not bad. I ordered the shrimp and chorizo shakshouka and it's pretty good. I never had it before. I love the abundance of veggies in it. However, it was too saucy. One piece of bread isn't going to be enough. I didn't finish my dish and used the leftovers to mix with pasta and it tasted wonderful. Bacon hash is delicious as well. Thick pieces of bacon. The plate had a nice portion of meat and veggies. Interior decor is cute and the outdoor seating is nice as well. FYI read signs because entrance is on the side...I think it's interestingly weird considering how there's a front door haha. Overall, it's worth the try and I would recommend. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Peach cobbler cinnamon roll and ginger lemonade - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Solid 5-stars! The food was just great. Every dish was delicious in its own way. The scone of the day was so beautiful and delicious, my wife and I both agreed we'd gladly come back to just grab a cup of coffee and a scone! The service was also wonderful, though my ratings are always just about the food. Amazingly, we didn't even have to wait to sit down, even though we got there around 11 am on a Saturday. read more

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We went today for breakfast! The food was amazing and our server, Emerson was awesome! The environment felt like you were in Napa! We also got the meet the owner, Johnston! Super nice We will be back! read more

Delicious brunch spot with always something new and unique to try. They switch out their menu items often but the hash is one of my favorite constants. Lovely seating area in the patio outside, and the staff is always great. read more

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Johnston's Saltbox continues to be a gem of a neighborhood spot. First, the service and ambiance is always friendly and welcoming. The patio is always an option, even in the colder months since they have heaters and blankets but it was nice to sit outside now that the warm weather has arrived. Second, the food is always amazing. They really epitomize the 'farm to table' concept without having to tout it. I've been a fan since they opened in 2014 and they haven't lost anything in terms of the quality of the dishes they serve. With a regularly rotating menu, there's always something new to keep it interesting. It's usually the place we end up at whenever we can't decide what to eat for dinner. read more

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This place is great! We went for a Sunday breakfast and were very impressed with the menu and the quality of the food. Service was great as well read more

Such a fun spot! Loved that you could order and then chill on the beautiful outdoor patio. The food is really quite delicious! So many options. We had nice spritzes with our brunch that were perfect start to a Sunday. Excellent service. And the bacon is actually some of the best I've had! Damn that was good! read more

Johnston's Saltbox - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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great food and good atmosphere nice staff very friendly and great drinks very safe and lots ofparking

Saltbox is among a very small list of restaurants I've eaten at anywhere on this planet, in multiple countries, that I will always treasure and remember. The fact it's in our neighborhood is even more amazing. Year in and year out, both through once in 100 year pandemics and in good times, Sean and his dedicated team bring unparalleled creativity, high levels of amiable service, and just a MF'ing good time and great food, to this community. About the food: Yes, it's mostly locally procured, fresh, clean and tasty. Just get one of their many lunch salads to see what I mean. Chef Dale is the newest person wearing the puffy white hat. He has done a great job in giving the already notable cuisine many breaths of even fresher air. Saltbox is among the very few restaurants we go to, and go to regularly (when I'm not on a diet, of course). My wife and I love Sean and all the other employees who continually improvise, adapt and overcome. Keep going! P.S. Yes, I'm heavily biased. But it pains me to see other reviewers nonchalantly and somewhat dismissively critique this place. I'd suggest coming here several times to discover for yourself that Saltbox is more than just another restaurant. P.P.S. SF's Sightglass Coffee is served here, with all employees trained by Sightglass. You'll get a notably better espresso here than you will at many coffee joints. read more

Super cute place with outdoor seating. Dog friendly, however like the other yelper, it is a little tight so you are pretty close to the next table. service was awesome! really friendly service. We had the brunch menu which didn't have a whole lot. really wanted to try the other stuff I've seen on yelp photos. Food looked good, but was a litttle heavy for me. Chicken sandwich was super tender but a lot of "stuff". hahaha. a little messy. Short ribs wasn't so good today. Def wasn't made today. Really dry and didn't go with the sauce that came with it. The scones are a must!!!!!!!!! $11 for 2. I think i would buy more of those than anything else. must try. read more

Loved the Summer Clubbin sandwich, which was served warm, gooey, and meaty, with the restaurant's riff on ruffles potato chips. As delicious as it was, my companion disappeared her peach and kale salad even faster. We both ordered the house ginger lemonade, which was sweet and more lemon than ginger. Ordering at the walk-up window at lunch was efficient and friendly, and the guys running the food were incredibly quick and helpful. Overall, a delight that I hope to repeat soon. read more

They've converted their back-of-restaurant parking space into a very stylish outdoor dining area. Made the brunch atmosphere relaxing. Order at the counter and they bring the dishes to you. The pastry was a decadent treat had thought i might regret getting the hash cuz it had a lot of vegetables, but it turns out it was both very filling and flavorful while not being overly heavy like a traditional hash that is full of only potatoes read more

Great service, amazing food and a nice outdoor area. They are very creative in the presentation of the food. I will be back soon.

Come here way too often to admit and it's always great! Always recommend the burger for first timers, but everything is great. read more

I had Sunday brunch here and it was absolutely delicious and enjoyed the food and the service. The waitress was very personable and did a great job. She told me her name but it escapes me..but her sister also works there. The strawberry-rhubarb French toast was indescribably delicious. I love the taste of fresh rhubarb and it was delicious..I am going back soon. Check it out for yourself. The French press pot coffee, was very tasty and satisfying. read more

We ordered the corned beef hash, soup, tropical bloom Dutch baby, and sunshine kale salad. Food was really good! Would definitely come back!

Greeted with and in a wind tunnel - freezing while waiting to place our order! The order taker/Bar tender was wonderful & patient for first time visitors on a long line and in a wind tunnel while waiting!! Appetizers came very fast and were very good. Entrees also came out fast and specifically the Kale Salad & the Burgers were delicious, the burger was actually out of this world good!!! There were many runners/bus help. Kind of odd that they make you stand outside in a wind tunnel to place your order and get a number like many less nice restaurants offer. The owner/manger (tall gentleman in buttoned down long sleeve dress shirt) goes around to various tables checking how things are (although did not stop at our table). Very good meets very odd. Would recommend only if you're in the San Carlos area - would not drive over an hour to spend a bunch of money but not have full service. - That amazing burger is tempting for the hour long drive :-). read more

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Been meaning to try Johnston's Saltbox for a while but finally got around to it during my recent trip to the Bay. I ordered the Miso aloha fried chicken sandwich for takeout. The chicken sandwich was flavorful and it came with a load of fries. I would have preferred the chicken to be crispier but it may be because I ordered for takeout. The restaurant design is phenomenal, with an open-air concept and a backyard patio for additional seating. The service was also very friendly and I would definitely want to come back to dine-in. read more

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The atmosphere of sitting outdoors in the patio was very relaxing! The service and food is great and I like the healthy choice's available on the menu. The wine recommended by bar staff paired well with my meal! read more

I've been here a total of 2x now and since I was too lazy (*yes my elite a** didn't feel like writing) to write a review the first time, here it goes. I was impressed the first time we ate here and this time around I was more than happy I chose this spot again. Because of my need for dark leafy greens (cough cough, healthier lifestyle choices), I opted for the kale salad. Here's the official description: *Kale salad | tuscan kale, toasted almond, roast potato, hard egg, pickled radish, whole grain mustard vinaigrette-- I didn't want the roasted potatoes because I wanted to save my carbs for dessert. I did however add some shrimp in the mix. What can I say about kale? It's the vegetable that you have to work at so it tastes good. But they executed this salad amazingly well. Everything about this was on point. The crunch from the toasted almonds, the tang from the pickled radish, the shrimp for that extra added protein and the lightly tossed vinaigrette. Oh and you can't forget the avocado. I ate every last bite of this. If I could have licked my plate clean, I probably would have. If you love salad and love kale, you must try this. *Chocolate Pot De Creme- Chocolate mousse with creme fraiche on top and a shortbread cookie with gooey melted caramel on the inside. In essence, this dessert could have been a total winner. The shortbread cracked perfectly when tapped with a spoon. But it was just a tad too sweet for me. If they had just lessened the sugar, it would have hit the spot. The coffee here served in these huge mugs was strong #af. My date was amped after his second cup. As for the service-- friendly and attentive on both occasions. You know a place is good when your mouth is watering thinking about the kale salad. Trust. read more

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It's a nice brunch spot with nice indoor and outdoor seating. Even when you're sitting inside, you feel like you're kind of outside because of the large windows. Also really like how their menu changes! Banana Pancakes - loves the hazelnut crunch! The chocolate-hazelnut spread was not sweet to me which was really refreshing. I enjoyed the banana pancakes without the spread. The banana flavors were a little more subtle than I had expected, I wish the banana flavors were stronger. Bacon Hash - the bacon definitely made the dish! The hollandaise was good. I wish the asparagus and red peppers were a little more pan fried. The potatoes would have been good if they were on the crisper side. Cinnamon Swirl Brioche - the espresso whipped cream was a balance of sweet and bitter (my favorite part). I really enjoyed the chocolate shortbread crumble as well but overall I was a little disappointed because the cinnamon swirl brioche was a little dry. If it was more moist, I definitely would have liked it more. read more

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Fabulous lunch spot! I love that you can pick and choose what you'd like on your salad, I had a summer salad with fried chicken that was just delicious and beautifully presented. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Love their creative menu! Nice open and airy and enjoyed the large outdoor seating area, cute tables and decor. read more

Amazing food! A neighborhood restaurant with exceptional food Most fresh ingredients are grown on the rooftop of the restaurant I was just in San Sebastián, Spain home of most Michelin restaurants and Johnston's Salt Box can wipe the out with their menu and the ingredients they use! Blessed to have this restaurant so close! read more

Met up with some friends at this place. Let me start off by saying, if you are a vegetarian, there aren't many options. I got snap pea crostini and was good. The salad with it was fresh. Kale salad that we ordered for table was ok. Only 3 stars is because of sub par service. They messed up my order and got me incorrect order before getting the right one. We had to ask multiple times for anything like water, glass etc. Their most popular items were sold out(scones and French toast). Not sure if I would go again to this place read more

Almost 3 years of frequenting Johnston's and their gorgeous garden dining area after moving to RWC and it never gets old. The number of "regulars" who dine here weekly would surprise you. Always accommodating service, superb food, fresh produce and that freakin' burger. Oh myyyyy. Do a search for "gem" within the reviews and it should give you an idea how many people adore this place. read more

Went here with the work crew for lunch and food was delicious. Between the group we ordered 2 burgers, a chicken sandwich with mushroom and cheese, a bowl of the carrot ginger soup I believe it was, a harvest quesadilla that came with a yummy butter lettuce side salad with amazing thick cut chinch if still hot bacon and roasted squash, a kale salad with fried chicken, and lastly a kids Mac and cheese. We also tried the beverages which ranged from a Arnold Palmer, a house orange and jalapeño soda ( yummm ) a ginger lemonade, and a apple lemonade. The verdict: the burgers were yummy, but fries that come with them and the chicken sandwich were way to crunchy. One comment was like over done in and out fries. Majority didn't like them 2, said they were okay. My chicken sandwich was huge and so tasty!!! I really enjoyed it. The soup was approved 4 out of 4 gave . For desert we got the crème brûlée, and that was definitely a great way to end our meal. Server was great and pleasant. We sat outside which was previously affected by the heavy rain NYE, but it was still nice and the heat lamp helped keep us warm. Everyone left full and really enjoyed the lunch. We will / I will definitely be back. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Outdoor seating - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

The dishes here were pretty bland. Came for dinner. Menu apparently changes but I wasn't impressed with their preparations. Got meatballs, soup and a burger. Paid a lot for these but their flavor profile is just so bland. Service was great. Ambiance is nice. Maybe I'll try their brunch next time. read more

This was my to go place for brunch when I was living in RWC. Today was my first time going back after moving to SJ. The quality of food is still pretty good. They extended their backyard and make it into a cute outdoor seating area. I ordered Nice Pear Salad with avocado. The ingredients are very fresh and nice. Highly recommended! read more

Long, long ago, before people started wearing these things called facemasks, I frequented Saltbox as a go-to lunch place. I have recently returned here for the first time ever since then, and was very eager to try my usual, a fried chicken sandwich. They vary their sandwiches often too. Pesto Fried Chicken Sandwich. 3 stars. Unfortunately it was not the same as before - the chicken was a bit dry, the batter was not as flavorful, and the pesto was not so pronounced, making each bit not having that "wow" factor from what I remembered. The cheese on top didnt really enhance the whole thing either - it felt like separate parts instead of working together as a whole. I also forgot which soda was on that day, but it was closer to mineral water and a hint of lime. But also unfortunately it was very dilute, and maybe it was the ice, but it had the taste of tap water. My rating for this soda is 1 star This must be an off day for them as the soda and chicken sandwich was not as I remembered? I will probably go back again to try so Ill give it 4 stars instead of 3 for now. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Fried Chicken Sandwich, cross section - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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38 dollar pork and chorizo, not worth it. Pork is super dry, chewing a pice of dry wood probably would be easier than the pork. We were seated outside, my head is heated by the overhead heater but super cold everywhere else, not much hot drink choice either. Don't know how it got all the good ratings... read more

I went here once 5 years ago and forgot about it until I went there recently. Fresh food. Amazing flavors. Great service. The salads are divine with different flavors and textures. Kale - so good. Beet salad - amazing The entrees are delicious. I need to come back here at least once a month now! read more