It's been awhile since I've eaten at a place where I come away so happy with the meal, the service and the ambiance. It's always been a cute place so that was not a new thing. However I'm not a brunch person and we came here on a Saturday so the menu was brunch. Let's just say the menu was so varied and interesting that I had a hard time choosing. Plus I had to share with my mom so I had to cater to her palette as well. We got the scones which were big and fluffy and came with creme, pineapple and passionfruit curd. Delicious. The meal we had was the pork belly with potatoes, salad, eggs and financier. Every part of that dish was thoughtful, well seasoned, and just a great complement. Sometimes sides are added like an afterthought. This plate was composed. I live across the bay but I would be happy to drive for that meal again. read more

Came with a Group of 9. Service was really Good. Always around to fill our Water.. Food came out Fast. I had the Beet Balsamic Kale Salad with Grilled Chicken. Small portion for the price. Taste was ok.. Nothing stood out. Others in my Group got the Autumn Grain Bowl & Fall Salad. They were larger portions and looks yummy.. Others got the Ribeye Burger... They said it was good but nothing special. read more

Food was undercooked and small portions. We won't be returning. It's otherwise a cute place with a nice outdoor space.

Great ambiance and fresh salads. The pear quesadilla was delicious and service was lovely.

We've been coming here for years! A solid brunch spot that's a goto around our neighborhood. I like that they change their menu often, with fresh farm-to-table ingredients, and warm, friendly service. Johnston's also has expanded their outdoors area in recent years and it's a great spot to bring out pup! I'd rate this at 4.5 stars, rounding up for the lovely service today! read more

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Came here to enjoy a midweek lunch and left a happy camper. I could not pass up the guajillo pork belly (egg on top was extra) which also included a good sized salad. A Guinness topped off the meal. Friendly staff . Plenty of 2 hour street parking. TIP: No reservations here. When you enter, you order/pay at the counter then find your own seat. Food is then brought to your table . I gave my friend my order then walked past 10 people and found a nice table outside. read more

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

Another delicious brunch at Johnston's Saltbox. Love the cozy, welcoming atmosphere, especially on this rainy morning. Enjoyed the housemade scone of the day--cranberry pecan with orange butter and cranberry jam--as well as the roasted caulifliwer soup, and kale salad with beets and goat cheese. Kept the holiday cheer going with an Aperol spritz all around, and finished the meal with an oatmilk cappucchino. The service is always top notch--friendly, quick and efficient. Highly recommend! read more

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

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Saltbox is an amazing restaurant with incredible food! I go there with my family all the time and it is an absolute joy to spend time there. It's very cozy and comfortable, both inside and outside. The service there is wonderful across the board. Tonight we had a great waiter named Xander. He was so nice and attentive the whole time we were there. Highly recommend coming here if you haven't yet tried! read more

I love brunches that are hearty, well-seasoned but have a load of fresh veggies that don't weigh you down. This is the place--and with plenty of nice shaded outdoor seating too! Restaurant is a hybrid between casual and serviced. You pay/order at the outdoor counter and but someone is there to plan and seat you as you finish ordering. Outdoor seating is perfect for lunch, but there is also indoor as well with natural lighting. Menu has something for everyone--though it's on the $15-22 end for a brunch dish, they are generous with portions. And there are options that will please light salad-eaters as well as those looking for a filling breakfast or lunch. Summer Bacon Hash ($19): The bacon (which is more like rendered pork belly than thin strips) is what makes this dish! That with the swiss chard sopping up all that cayenne honey hollandaise. It's a little on the sweet side with the corn, but I would totally get it again. Chilaquiles ($18 + $5 avocado): My BF got this one and loved it! Normally he doesn't get full but was super happy with the portion size here. He devoured the pork carnitas, eggs, and avocado. Well seasoned and not crazy heavy. Overall, brunch was delicious! Price is higher than other brunch spots, but worth it imo because I love fresh veggies. They really pack in the flavor without skimping on portion. Would come back and check out their menu as they change it through the seasons. read more

Hidden gem in San Carlos! I was born and raised in Redwood Shores and so I am pretty familiar with the restaurants on Laurel. This spot has been on my list for a while, but I would forget about it whenever I am on Laurel because its so far away from the main area on Laurel. This restaurant is on the far south end of Laurel, away from the main hub of restaurants ( Town, West , Park Bistro , farther down from Boba guys even). The food and the service were both top notch, but what blew me away the most was the beautiful outdoor seating area they had hidden away in what looked to be a small cozy restaurant! It felt like as if I took a quick getaway and I was having brunch in Napa. Even if you were to opt to sit outdoors, the indoor space is a lovely open space that lets all of the natural light fill up the restaurant! For food, the star of the show for me was their lavender scones with lemon curd! The scones were crisp on the edges, not dense nor dry and not overly crumbly, the lavender flavor was not too overpowering and it paired perfectly with the lemon curd. Loved these scones so much that I would come here just for this! The strawberry mimosa and french toast was a nice twist to a traditional french toast and their grain bowl is perfect for a healthier option for brunch. For Sightglass coffee lovers, they are serving sightglass coffee here and offer french press as well! For a family of 5, brunch here can get a bit pricey pretty quick, so we won't be here every weekend, but we definitely will come by again for a treat yourself kind of weekend:) read more

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The food is really good there. I recommend it. It's ordinary food. The service is awesome. Outside seating and they have water for dogs and I really recommend it. I've been there. read more

Visited first thing when they opened and there was a line already, go here early if you can. There were good vibes there. We ate outside, under a tree. You can bring your dog with you. The staff was friendly and checked up on you if you needed anything. We had the chicken sandwich and the ribeye burger. The Jabanero sauce they had was good to add to your ketchup when eating fries. I would like to come back again to try other food with friends or family. read more

Ambiance is the best part of the restaurant. Initially we started off a little bummed because the hostess was sort of cold and unfriendly to our kids. But the young waiter who helped was a rockstar. Felt like he was genuinely excited to be there that night. read more

another insanely good dinner at jonstons saltbox lasagna was so insanely orgasmic so much mushroom so cheesy and delish. brussels sprouts so crispy and flavorful. duck and bacon puff pastry so insanely flaky and savory. no notes except stop taking my money. i'm so obsessed with this place read more

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The food is great and the decor and patio are lovely but service is pretty much non-existent and for the price I find that to be really disappointing. After waiting in line (our wait was about 20 min but YMMV) the hostess asks how many in your party and decides where you'll be seated after you order your meal at an outside window. You're given a number and your order is brought to your table. The hostess didn't have much to say otherwise ... for example we had to ask what the soup of the day was, and it would be nice if that information was offered. Once we were seated things didn't improve. Our pastry came before our drinks. My SOs fried chicken sandwich was very messy and there was no offer of extra napkins. We were never asked if everything was ok, and our water carafe was never refilled. My SO also had to ask for our empty plates to be removed. So from what I can see they just drop your food and leave. My SO works in the industry himself so this was particularly annoying. It's too bad because, again, the food is excellent but because of the lack of actual service I can't say I'll be rushing back. read more

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Johnston's Saltbox is amazing. We popped in one Sunday afternoon and found the restaurant to have no line and a couple of open tables. (Score! No wait.) I had the hardest time deciding what to get, but I opt for the "Spiced Apple Sour Cream French Toast" which had huge pieces of pan de mie bread smothered in cinnamon, spiced sour cream, cardamom apples, golden raisins, pepita oat streusel, vanilla whipped cream and apple syrup ($21). This french toast was probably one of the best I've ever had. They weren't skimpy either, like most brunch places in San Francisco. So flavorful and ingredients were top notch. My husband had the "Jamaican Jerk Fried Chicken Sandwich" which is a crispy fried buttermilk chicken breast with habanero jerk spiced aioli, pineapple pepper slaw and saltbox fries ($18). I had a few bites and we both agreed the sandwich was also pretty tasty. I can't wait to return to try other items on their rotating menu. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - French Toast & Fried Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

I love the vibe there! And you can feel the quality of the food. Also t the e alcohol is good. I really love to sit there read more

I have no idea why it took us so long to come here. So many of our friends raved about this restaurant and their seasonal menus always have looked interesting and appetizing. Maybe it was the fact that they don't take reservations or large groups (i.e., larger than 6 persons). Or the fact that the lines always looked so long. Nevertheless, it took us a few years and a joint birthday celebration to finally come here in February 2020 (right before the pandemic shutdown), and I have to say this is one of our favorite restaurants, whether for brunch, or any meal for that matter. For brunch, my favorite is the chicken and waffles. Since the pandemic, I've been here for lunch with a friend and the outdoor space is really great. I've had the fried chicken sandwich which is one of the best that I've had. read more

Visit: 3/31/21 Such a fun time hanging out with #talentcharmers! It's been a while since our entire team hung out, so we came out to Johnston's Saltbox for a team HH. Parking: street parking. Luckily the other restaurants were not too busy so we were all able to find spots. If you don't get a parking spot, you may have to do in residential area. Someone made a table reservation for 10 of us at 5:30pm. The ordering system is interesting - you order at the front, and then sit down. We ordered a variety of things for our table, here are just a few that stood out: 1) Crispy crab cakes ($12 for 2 pieces) 2) Saltbox burger ($16) 3) Hot for caesar fried chicken sandwich ($17) 4) Bouillabaisse ($32) 5) Slice of carrot cake I ordered the fried chicken sandwich and tbh it was quite flavorless. The breading had no flavor, and the only "saving grace" was the coleslaw inside. The fries on the other hand were too salty and dry - which, kinda balanced out the chicken?! Overall, rounding up to 4 because of the ambiance, fun times, and just overall nice service. Would I come here again? Probably not for a while. Cute date night spot though! read more

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This Farm to Table cool setup with an outdoor beer garden and casual but elegant indoor patio style dining is a surprise in downtown San Carlos. Decent selection of small plates, salads and hot dishes: Falafel & Hummus - the hummus fell short as the texture was a little grainy and chunky as it was not the usual hummus that most are accustom to. Scallops - this small plate of 2 perfectly seared scallops over orzo had good flavors but a little overpriced for the portion size. Fries- its always disappointing when a place can't execute on a simple order of fries.....only knock was the pieces were small but texture was fine. Fun Dip- dessert style of whip cream and mix pieces of fruit served with pieces of fried dough sprinkled with sugar; and ok dish. Staff is super friendly but when asking for dining recommendations our waiter just read off the menu instead of giving his own opinion but he still provided excellent service. read more

What a fun place. The venue is welcoming with its open-air design and it's outdoor seating. It's in one of the most temperate climates on the planet so it makes sense that it takes advantage of indoor and outdoor seating. This was a chilly day and so the blankets were out and available for the outdoor seating and right up until we left at almost 1:00. The sliding windows and doors were all closed. There's always lovely, fresh, seasonal offerings and I'm always happy with the choices. Today my friend ordered the kale salad, and I ordered the summer garden salad. Both were fabulous, a wonderful combination of textures, colors, flavors, and sensations. Crunchy, salty, tangy, sweet, savory. Service is always prompt and orders are made correctly. Today, I also ordered the seasonal soup, which was a broccoli asparagus bisque. That was the only disappointment; it tasted neither like broccoli nor like asparagus and was just this nondescript puree that had no distinct flavor. I only took a couple of bites. The color was also unfortunately rather unappetizing although the presentation was beautiful. read more

I visited Johnston's Saltbox for their Saturday/Sunday brunch that they offer and I had a solid experience in my visit. The ambience for their outdoor and indoor seating is top notch, but my table opted for indoor seating due to the weather. The inside definitely gives strong cafe vibes and all the staff were friendly. My table ordered Scones ($7), Rising Sun with Avocado ($20 base price and $24 when Avocado added), Saltbox Bacon Hash ($19), and their spring special which I honestly forgot it was called, but it was some sort of corn beef hash. I highly recommend their scones of the day as an appetizer because they are incredible and fresh. Very warm and has a nice soft texture and the almond and coconut flavor really stands out. Their cream is also perfect and not too sweet either. The Rising Sun was my personal choice and I'm gonna be honest out of all the other dishes this was the most underwhelming for me and it can be an unfortunate feeling when everyone else at your table ordered something better than you. The Asian BBQ braised brisket was a bit dry and was too sweet, but the veggies that came with it were solid although pretty standard and doesn't blow me away. The corn beef hash dish was decent, but the star for me was the saltbox bacon hash. Aesthetically all of their dishes are pleasing to look at and the bacon hash was no exception. It looks like something you'd eat in a warm cozy atmosphere and the neuski bacon lardons were packed with flavor as well as all the wide variety of vegetables that it came with. Their wholegrain mustard hollandaise was also a 10/10 and the poached eggs were flawless. It was so good I was disappointed I didn't order it for myself and I wanted to steal the whole plate. Overall, I'd gave to try their menu more extensively and it can be a but confusing when it comes to their menu due to how often it changes. Regardless I had a pleasant experience despite my own dish being a miss for me personally. I'd recommend trying Saltbox out for their great service, food, and environment. read more

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I love finding hidden gems outside of the hype of SF, and Johnstown's Saltbox is my favorite new find! It looks small from the front but they have an amazing covered patio in the back that's perfect for a breezy summer brunch. The vibe is very SoCal. I arrived a little after 10 and there was plenty of seating but it did fill up as the morning went on. the menu is just the right size and as a vegetarian there were several items I wanted to try. Make sure you ask what they can modify since they had some modifications to offer that were not on the menu. i cant wait to come back. read more

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

Food is great. Service is great. Outdoor dining experience is great. 10/10 recommend. I'm a vegetarian and I loved their grain bowl! I only wish they would offer tofu, which is why I removed one star. I would definitely come again. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Grain bowl with added avocado - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

Had heard about Johnston's for a while from a few friends who lived in the area, and was so glad to finally able to try it. The outdoor eating area is just fabulous (and perfect given our current state). Hubby and I had the #hash and salmon scramble, both of which was delectable. Our son ordered the chicken tenders with a side of bacon, and couldn't stop talking about the bacon. The entire family fought over the french toast we ordered for our daughter. Just a great dining experience! Hope to be back soon. read more

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This place was extremely good! The service was also pretty fast, with my food coming out about 7 minutes after I ordered it. They also had great outdoor seating next to a garden. I ordered a ribeye burger, which was very filling and delicious. It also came with a big portion of fries, which were great. I also ordered a root beer, which had nothing special about it. The only thing I have to complain about are the prices. For some cheese on your burger, you had to pay 2 extra dollars, which is crazy! The root beer I ordered also had a price tag of 4 dollars, and there was less root beer in it than a simple can of root beer you can buy from any grocery store, since half of the cup was filled with ice. Overall, besides the prices, this restaurant was very good, and I will come here again. read more

This is a solid 4 star place because of an interesting and diverse menu and good quality of food and service. The backyard is decorated with so many lights that make the seating very pleasant at night. They don't go by the host to seat and order sequence. Everyone lined up at the backyard entrance, order and pay through an order window and then be seated. Backyard seating takes longer wait. When we got there at around 6:50 on Saturday night, there's a line in front of us, about 10 parties. It took us about 15-20 mins to get to the order window but we were told that if we wanted backyard seating there could be another 20'mins wait. We took indoor as they left the doors open for ventilation anyways. The food is good. The hummus is not super smooth but it comes with chopped green olives on top and the taste was a nice blend. It also came with lettuce and cucumber for pairing, not just plain pita bread. The Tuscan Stew is big portion with good balance of meat and vegetables as well as pasta. I could only finish half of it but it's a good winter soup dish and the lamb isn't super gamey. Chicken Pot Pie came with a big piece of pastry on top of a bowl of creamy chicken soup. It has spinach, carrots, onions and celery, I love the balanced amount of veg in each dish. We also tried the Toffee Crunch dessert. It has broken pieces of toffee garnish the chocolate and cream cake. Lots of cream but it's not super sweet of the cake. Very soft. The also have a seasonal ginger lemonade. I like the ginger flavor but kid found it weird. Lol. Service is good and friendly as the waiter came to check on us a few times and I had a free refill while we were waiting for our food. Although we didn't order the fish but it looks very good when we got a wrong order delivered to us. They don't take reservations, so waiting can be long. They close at 8 and would turn away people when the kitchen is backlogged. That's also the reason why I took down 1 star because we waited so long for food. We sat down by 7:15 but until 8 our entrees were still not ready. My advice is to go early. They also have lots of take out orders, so for nearby folks this is a good channel to get good food without the wait. read more

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Got the Brie pancake thing and it's nothing like a pancake but it's absolutely fire. The scones that were the special for the day also were literally the best scones I've ever had. That said after tip we spent 155 for three people to eat so it ain't cheap. The environment is super cute and would make an awesome first date spot. Gotta come back for dinner or another meal at some point. No reservations on a Sunday morning around 10:30 and sat in less than 5 minutes even tho it was super busy. Plenty of attentive staff. read more

The ordering is not self service anymore which is good. But the menu choices are not very appealing the last few times I visited. Today's gazpacho was too sour and did not come with bread, although the menu said it would. The host and the waiter seemed too inexperienced and almost like teenagers. Been going to the Saltbox for 8 years, but not sure if I will go again in the near future. read more

We have been here twice and have thoroughly enjoyed both of our visits. The coconut coffee cake and the French toast on this visit were sooooo good! Come early before opening to avoid a wait and enjoy their patio seating. read more

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They are excellent in service! High quality food! Beautifully plated! We are always a happy customer! Will bring friends for sure! read more

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

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COVID: heated huge back patio that's super cute and well lit, well spaced!! Order at counter, they bring food to you, servers wear gloves and masks. Single use menus, hand sanitizers at table SERVICE: friendly, fast and attentive FOOD: - kale salad ($15) + chicken ($5): YUM, lots of different veggies, salty cheese, sweet raisins and flavorful grilled chicken breast - chicken pot pie ($29): Despite being pricey, S.o very much loved this TLDR: will definitely be back! Pricey but quality ingredients worth the $ read more

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Order: * Strawberry Gem Salad * Harvest Pasta * Chocolate Lovers Cake Pros: * Five-star friendly service from the host/cashier to servers and bussers. * Perfect ambiance from the warm and contemporary décor, reasonably spaced tables, large glass doors in the dining room that open all the way, plentiful outdoor dining with shade and sun, which has also been decorated in a warm, contemporary fashion. Bar top counter a plus. * Salad was fresh, light and crisp, plentiful strawberries, with just enough flavor from the mild dressing. * Pasta dish was also fresh, light and mild, but cooked perfectly. * The chocolate cake dish knocked it out of the park for me. I like desserts that are light (not dense), flavorful, but not too sweet. I also think whipped cream is one of the world's best discoveries/inventions so the Chantilly was a hit for me. Also, the crust had the perfect consistency, not too hard, and didn't crumble and fall apart. Cons: * I could see how some people might not love the salad dressing as it has a slight peanut butter background flavor. * Overall, I would say these dishes are very mild in seasoning, which I appreciated for a work day lunch and how I was feeling in the moment, but I could see how some might think these dishes need a bit more punch. Comments: * Normally I'd prefer stronger seasoning, but I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt that the other dishes have more impact, just because I think they did so well in the other facets of the dining experience. The service, ambiance and other dishes on the menu really make me want to come back here with friends for happy hour, dinner or a date night. read more

We eat here as frequently as possible! This place is incredible. Amazing neighborhood restaurant with a rotating menu that always has delicious options. Their service is impeccable and they are family focused. The indoor is cozy with bi-folding doors that open to a cute patio and a large outdoor eating area with a shaded deck. read more

Amazing, fresh and vibrant menu and staff. The folks at the bar are great. I love that the menu changes often and maintains extremely high quality throughout. The outdoor seating area is wonderful, and I love that this is farther away from Laurel streets main drive. read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Boysenberry chicken and Ribeye Burger - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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Came here for lunch with some coworkers. They had tons of outdoor seating (no seating inside). I got the Summer Mushroom Pasta that had peaches and a cute pasta shape that reminded me of shell pasta! I enjoyed how creamy the sauce was and the mushrooms! The peaches were nice sweet touch! read more

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

We went to Johnston's a few years ago and enjoyed our lunch, but it's a bit far from us. Last weekend we were in San Carlos and ordered to go since it's SIP. We got the BLT, summer block party salad, and avocado carbonara. This was some of the best takeout I've had during SIP! Everything was fresh and delicious. I really enjoyed all 3 items. The heirloom tomatoes in the BLT were very good, and the watermelon salad complemented the sandwich. My only complaint was the watermelon salad is juicy/saucy so it made the BLT soggy. If you get the BLT to go, make sure you ask for the watermelon salad to be in a separate container. The block party salad is perfect for the summer heat and I loved the dressing! 5 stars for the avocado carbonara- al dente bucatini and delicious avocado cream. A unique and solid pasta dish. I would definitely order from them again! read more

Johnston's Saltbox - Takeout during SIP: summer block party salad - New American Near Me - San Carlos, California

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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

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