Review

from Style of Wight Issue 78 September/October

by Style of Wight

A launchpad for positive thinking

Come for the food – stay for the music!

By Hannah Wilson Pictures by Christian Warren

With a Live Music Lounge and exquisite fresh seafood - we give you… Salty’s Restaurant

A lively harbour, cobbled streets, beautiful architecture, freshly caught fish. Yes, we’re in Yarmouth, Salty’s to be precise, and we’re feeling very excited to have a reservation in their upstairs restaurant… Expect nothing less than exceptional food and wine from Head Chef Tom Axford, who has recently gained AA Rosette status for Salty’s, which in our opinion is very well deserved. Inside the building, which was once a garage to The George Hotel, you’ll find a relaxing New England coastal vibe with their white leather benches and sea-blue panelling. Let’s not forget the upstairs balcony, which is a perfect spot to stand with a glass of wine and catch the evening sunset across the harbour. Awaiting on our table is a bespoke tasting menu with carefully selected wine pairings and a lovely glass water jug with refreshing mint lemon and cucumber (delicious!). Together with a warm, attentive greeting from the restaurant manager and the small details that noticeably categorise a restaurant as higher standard, we knew we were in for a treat. Here are the dishes we enjoyed on our Thursday evening at Yarmouth’s hotspot… To start we made the most of sensational seafood and tried the Porthilly rock oysters with Pernod, tarragon and pickled shallot; in true oyster style these went straight down the hatch! Next up were the grilled mussels teamed with the bold flavour of chorizo, gremolata, and fennel, perfectly paired with a glass of Blockhead — a South African Chenin Blanc with citrus fruit notes that really brought out the flavour of the mussels. The Chef’s Focaccia was next to arrive. These delicious golden squares are a must-try, a creative take on the classic Italian bread. To follow, the chef delivered an incredibly flavoursome, velvety-smooth summer squash velouté with toasted pumpkin seeds and a parmesan foam. With a pairing of ‘The Accomplice’ Chardonnay, citrusy and slightly oaky, we were ready to experience the marvellous zucchini fritters with ricotta and a heritage tomato garnish. To follow was a superb monkfish dish with a chilli, garlic, and soy bouillabaisse (perfect for those who like a kick to their sauces) served

with pickled sesame seaweed. This dish was once again expertly paired by the restaurant’s sommelier with a glass of ‘Cool Mountain’ Sauvignon — the tropical notes were a great accompaniment for the spicy bouillabaisse. With desserts on our minds, we were delighted to receive another fabulous treat for the tastebuds in the form of a caramel ‘mudslide’ pre-dessert topped with a chocolate crumb. This heavenly shot contained vodka and Kahlua, which definitely got us warmed up for some post-dinner live music. Before heading over to the music lounge, last on our list was a sweet, nutty, and everso-refreshing raspberry parfait with crunchy honeycomb and pistachio. With the talented acoustic duo ‘Mostly Jones’ in full performance mode we were ready to move to the music lounge and experience one of Salty’s carefully auditioned local, live artists to finish our evening. You don’t need to have a meal to participate in the live music lounge, but reserving a table is essential (we can’t wait to get back there ourselves).

To try the Salty’s experience for yourself bookings can be made online at www.saltysrestaurant.co.uk or by calling 01983 761550 (For full details on menus and the line-up for the live music lounge please visit their website).