Sea Salt (Carlton)
364 Lygon Street, Carlton, Melbourne
03 9347 4777
Fast Food, Fish and Chips, Healthy Food
$$
Food
- Swordfish and Leek Croquettes
- Hiramasa Kingfish
- Seafood Marinara Sushi Pizza
- Seafood Platter
- Clam and Seafood Miso Ramen
The Good
The Swordfish and Leek Croquettes were the first things we were served and were impressive right off the bat. Perfectly cooked and full of flavour, the crispy shell breaks to reveal a lovely pocket of seafood balanced out with a dollop of jalapeño and anchovy tartar.
The following Kingfish sashimi dish was also packed with flavour, and being raw fish, it could not hide its freshness, which was immediately apparent. The mandarin Ponzu added with the slight twist of a Mexican pineapple salsa added the perfect tartness to complement the sweetness of the fish.
The Mediocre
The Seafood Platter was quite a sight to behold and had so many components we barely knew where to start. It really stood as a testament to the different culinary influences the chef brings to the table, with Japanese and Mexican influences (among many) showcased through Australian seafood. Many of the items were delicious, including the Chimichurri seared scallops, grilled and fried Kataifi prawns and the beautifully presented cray fish, but there were a few misses, with baked Brazilian BBQ oysters being a little bit overpowered by the sauce, the salmon skewers a little bit overcooked and the battered flounder butterfly quite confusing to eat.
The Bad
I’m not sure the chances of a sushi ‘anything’ being successful are particularly high, and while seafood pizzas can be very good, this sushi pizza fell a bit short. A pizza should really start and end with the base and the Nori cracker base didn’t add much, becoming soggy, and while the seafood toppings were fresh, I suspect that the process of melting and browning the mozzarella resulted in many dry and overcooked elements.
The Verdict
Sea Salt is a Melbournian and Lygon Street institution and the new Winter Specials Menu, despite a few misses, provides a very enjoyable meal overall.
Head Chef Rafa Santos really elevates the restaurant above and beyond the standard fish and chippery and produces exciting food on the whole.