Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
The Salt Room Baked Bream
salt room brighton source
Food

The Salt Room Floats Its Autumn/Winter Menu

Sep 11, 2018
-
Posted by Gary Rose

If, here at Source Towers, we aplhabetised our favourite Brighton restaurants, the S section would be bloated like an overfed restaurant critic. Semolina, Silo, The Set, 64 Degrees (sort of an S) would all be there. And of course… The Salt Room.

The sizeable seafront seafood establishment, known for its sleek monochrome interiors and a crustacean collection rivalled only by The Sea Life Centre, has just cast out its autumn/winter menu, and we were stoked to be among the first to try it.

A handful of the old favourites are still available — you can still pig out on the Surfboard To Share (shellfish grilled over fire), for instance. But the majority of the starters and mains are new.

The Salt Baked Bream (pictured above), for example, looks to be a crowd-pleaser, and we spotted quite a few punters digging into its crusty, saline sarcophagus. The Scallops with pumpkin, bacon cream and yuzu (pictured above) are also easy on the eye, while if any of your party is seafood averse… Tamworth Pork Belly with apple, cabbage and parsley (also pictured in the gallery) provides a meaty option.

One new section that particularly excites us is the Ceviches (raw fish cured in citrus juices) — the tuna one even provokes a little dance when we taste it. Sharp (just the right side of tart) tuna arrives with oyster, ponzu and a punchy ‘bonito’ vinaigrette, all set against a flamboyant pink beetroot background. A highlight, both visually and sensually.

Salt Cod Fritters, with cod roe and squid ink, are another intriguing appetiser. Satisfyingly savoury, they’d pair well with one of the volcanic wines, although we reckon they could handle some citrus sharpness to complement the salt.

Alas, we don’t go volcanic with the wine, opting instead for the reliable (and reliably affordable) seafood staple — a refreshing Muscadet Sur Lie. It’s decent, but it’s the Roots and Rye cocktail (pictured below) that really gets our juices gushing. Rye whisky (Jack Daniel’s they almost apologetically tell us when pressed — not that we mind), Cognac, lemongrass, bitters, and… home made chocolate with crystallised ginger on a stick. The citrus lick and feisty ginger don’t mess about here: it’s a winner.

salt room brighton source

We aren’t allowed to leave without trying the crown jewels of the new dessert menu. Taste Of The Pier is a contemporary reimagining of your childhood’s guilty seaside pleasures — a Willy Wonka riff on the Palace Pier.

A jammy hibiscus doughnut explodes when pierced, like Dracula’s heart with a stake driven through it, while a fuzzy plume of candy floss (yes, The Salt Room kitchen has acquired a candy floss machine) towers over the platter like the i360 shrouded in clouds. There’s also an orange meringue ‘99’ ice cream and a creamy chocolate pebble — but thankfully no rock. That would’ve been a sugar rush too far.

As we glimpse out over the Friday-night Palace Pier lightshow, we decide the only omission here is a candy full English breakfast with gelatine sausages and gummy egg. Maybe they serve that for Sunday brunch… but hopefully not.

The Salt Room, 106 King’s Road, Brighton BN1 2FU.
www.saltroom-restaurant.co.uk

Sep 11, 2018
Email
Gary Rose
A magazine journalist and former BBC minion, Gaz's words can be found in publications ranging from The Radio Times Guide To Films to 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, as well as on his blog The Wine Ninjas . He plays drums in a psych band, and once fell into a frozen lake in Transylvania.
← PREVIOUS POST
Brighton Rocks Indie Film Night
NEXT POST →
Street Source No.27
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
The Salt Room Floats Its Autumn/Winter Menu - Brighton Source