The Salt Line - Ballston

4.7

778 Reviews

$31 to $50

Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 16, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 40 times today

Neighborhood gem
Lively
Hot spot

The Salt Line, the popular DC homage to New England’s iconic fish and oyster houses, brings a second location to Arlington’s burgeoning Ballston neighborhood. Just one year in, The Salt Line has already established itself as one of the top dining spots in Northern Virginia. Executive Chef Matt Singer is leading the kitchen team in partnership with award winning Long Shot Hospitality Chef/Partner Kyle Bailey. The Salt Line is where "New England meets the Chesapeake" so guests can expect the same New England classics and renowned raw bar found at the original location, along with lots of new chef driven fish and seafood entrees, house-made pastas, exciting selections of crudos, and of course the best lobster rolls around.

In addition to dining, the welcoming year round outdoor bar (tented in the winter) has also become a favorite neighborhood gathering spot and is the perfect place to enjoy The Salt Line's signature beverage program and grab what many say is the best burger in town.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Seafood, Oyster Bar, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:30 am–10:00 pm Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Phone number
(703) 566-2075
Website
http://www.thesaltline.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Chef Kyle Bailey

Location
4040 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203-4434
Neighborhood
Arlington
Cross street
Wilson Blvd between Randolph and Quincy
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
5 minute walk from Ballston Metro
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

What 778 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Washington, D.C. Area
Seafood
Virginia - DC Suburbs
Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Salt Line - Ballston offers a delightful dining experience with its "amazing oysters" and standout seafood dishes like clam chowder and Portuguese stew. The vibrant ambiance and "phenomenal service" from servers, especially Billy, make it a top choice for special occasions. While some portions are small, the quality shines through.

778 Reviews

S
Samantha
Washington DC
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Bright, fun, yummy place to meet family for a holiday dinner!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent Brunch experience. Fantastic service with happy hour prices for
Is this helpful?
K
Kate
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Our server William was phenomenal, made our evening and had great recommendations.
Is this helpful?
R
Ron
Washington DC
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
I’ve always been a fan of the Salt Line but my last visit was a disappointment. The oysters were fabulous as always. But the entrees were pretty sad. My partner ordered the rockfish and found it completely unseasoned and bland. I had the Portuguese stew and while the broth was good the fish was overcooked and the chorizo was mushy and oddly gamey. I simply couldn’t eat it. Overall, it seems the restaurant seems to have forgotten that the entrees are important. It can’t coast on the drinks and oysters alone.
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F
Frank
Washington DC
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 23, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
About what I expected. Excellent clam chowder - my test of a seafood restaurant. I would have liked to have seen a wider choice of fish on the menu, but the cod I had was very good.
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E
Eileen
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was an awesome meal and a wonderful experience!
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S
Steve
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 16, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had the Saturday brunch and loved it. Our group had the chef’s selection of oysters, cinnamon french toast, fish sandwich, mushroom omelette and lobster roll— all excellent. Our server was great. It was my wife’s birthday and the brought a great ice cream dessert to the table to top everything off. This was our third trip to salt line and we’ll be back!
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R
Robert
Washington DC
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 9, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
Overall, a decent experience. Nice atmosphere and good drinks. Food was good, but portions are small for the price. Service was a little spotty, but it was busy...just felt rushed, which we did not like as we were enjoying our time and wanted desert and etc to finish off the night.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Billy our server was amazing and made our wedding anniversary extra special. The staff was incredibly accommodating with my disability and the food was delicious! Crab dip & lobster roll is a must!
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C
Connor
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Server and food were A+. Will definitely be back there soon
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FAQs

The Salt Line - Ballston offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (703) 566-2075.

The Salt Line - Ballston is rated 4.7 stars by 778 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 16, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 40 times today

Order delivery or takeout

4040 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203-4434

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Wilson Blvd between Randolph and Quincy
Neighborhood
Arlington
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 11:30 am–10:00 pm Fri 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Seafood, Oyster Bar, Contemporary American
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
5 minute walk from Ballston Metro
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Chef Kyle Bailey
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.thesaltline.com/
Phone number
(703) 566-2075

The Salt Line - Ballston

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Popular dishes

Lobster Roll

Seared Scallops

Local Oysters

Menu

What 778 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does The Salt Line - Ballston offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is The Salt Line - Ballston restaurant rated?

Is The Salt Line - Ballston currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information