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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Bella VistaTue-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Don't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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I love this little BYO, and it would be a little useless for me to talk about individual menu items as it changes every few weeks.
Their set-up with the small kitchen right near the seating--such that you can feel the hot flames on the back of your neck as they flash about in the kitchen--is the first thing you'll notice. Nothing to hide here!
Our dinner service for four was a little longer than a typical restaurant with a larger kitchen, so if you tend to be starving and emaciated as you get seated for dinner, snack first or save this for another time. They do serve bread and water to start.
The particular dish I had was the seared bronzino (a type of bass) with gnocci and asparagus. The fish was cooked perfectly and was moist and flavorful from first bite to last. I usually don't complain about portion sizes, but I felt sad as I came to the last bite! That might have been my own problem as I was perfectly full after (I'm a glutton, sorry). I had samples of the chicken and the execution was perfect. Most places will overcook chicken white meat, but this restaurant did the chicken some justice.
So looks like I mentioned individual dishes...but use the above as a guide to what you can order as they try to vary the meat selections as their menu changes. The second visit to this restaurant showed salmon as the fish with different iterations of chicken, lamb, and a steak.
Great place to repeat as things change, and it is definitely not for those who have anxiety attacks when their one "favorite" dish is off the menu! Don't forget the wine!
Five stars all the way!
A friend of ours kept raving about this place, and armed with a gift certificate, our group finally made it to Bella Vista to try the yumminess that is Salt & Pepper.
I loved how we could see the kitchen from where we sat. The guy who served us wasn't kidding when he said they don't pre-make anything. I saw my chicken completely raw.
That being said, I was very impressed with the menu. Whoever said a small menu wasn't impressive obviously hasn't been here, because I wanted to order EVERYTHING. Alas, I started off with the seared scallops, followed by the roasted citrus chicken.
The scallops were perfect. The flavors made me want more, but at the same time, they made me want to stop so I could save my appetite for the main course. One person in our group had the wasabi crab cake, which was yummy as well, but I'm not a fan of wasabi so I didn't care for it too much.
Main course was roasted citrus chicken with potatoes, salad, and a poached egg for half our party, and the seared bronzino with basil gnocchi for the other half. We were all impressed with our food selections.
Seasonal menus hold a special place in my heart, and I can't wait to see what Salt & Pepper has in store. This place has become a favorite, and we're definitely coming back!
Salt and Pepper is a sweet, tiny lil BYOB in Queen Villiage. The menu is a very refined and well thought out palette for the foodie in all of us. There are not many options on the menu, which is all the easier for you to make your decisions from the few tough choices there are. I had the scallop appetizer, the bronzino, and the creme brule. The scallops were absolutely perfect. Perfect sear. Perfect texture. Perfect flavor. I could have had 2 orders of these for my dinner and been happy as can be. The bronzino was good, though something, maybe the fish, was a little too salty for my tastes. It was still absolutely delicious. My guy had the salmon and that was great too! Perfectly prepared. The creme brule was decent, though I have definitely had better.
Service was great, all very sweet and helpful.
Definitely make a reservation, as this is a tiny place.
Wonderful! Went there for my birthday, they brought us a little dessert that was great. I got the steak which was fantastic and we split appetizers all around. Everything was great.
My first BYOB experience in Philly, and I must say Salt & Pepper set the bar pretty high!
I came here with my girlfriend, and brought a bottle of white wine. Knowing our elementary "white wine pairs with seafood," we decided to share Salt & Pepper's Seared Scallop stater and the Bronzino w/ Gnocchi for our entree. The result...
Let's just say my stomach was happy, my girlfriend was happy, and I was ecstatic! The scallops were fresh perfectly seared, and they practically melted in my mouth.
If that wasn't enough the bronzino & gnocchi topped that with a flavor and texture bonanza. The fish was cooked to perfection, prepared with the skin attached to the fish leaving a slight crunch that went well with the flakiness of the fillet. The gnocchi complemented the dish perfectly. It was creamy and flavorful and paired well with the flavors of the fish. I really loved how the dished played so many textures and flavors into one entree, well done!
Aside from the food, the atmosphere and environment was amazing. My girlfriend and I managed to snag a seat inside in plain sight of the partially exposed kitchen (we could smell all the dishes as they were being prepared). Plus, the service was excellent, all of our inquiries were answered thoughtfully. But a word of warning, this place is very small and not ideal for large parties. I would also advise a reservation.
I know I will definitely come back to Salt & Pepper!
The atmosphere is the best part of this BYOB -- cozy, warm, with an open kitchen, and tiling on the wall that reminds me of a traditional French kitchen. I had the filet, though I don't remember now what accompanied it (only because I went last month and am just writing this review now) -- something tasty with a nice red-wine based sauce. My entree was solidly good, but, as another reviewer notes, everything was very salty, my dining partner's dish included. So, while the food wasn't among the best I'd ever had, it was very good, and the atmosphere was inviting enough to make me want to return soon.
This is by far my favorite Byob. Went on a tuesday night armed with two great wines from Moore Brothers and was not disappointed by the menu's amount of wonderful sessional food.
The food was just amazing, our entrees were spot on, we couldn't get enough.
I'm just embarrassed that it took me so long to go this wonderful spot in my neighborhood.
I don't really like the sign and I'm not too keen on the name, but it's my favorite restaurant on the planet. It's truly local and truly owner-operated, it oozes authenticity and good feeling. Then of course the food is flawless, and the crowd is fun. It warms my heart to know that this place exists. Owner is awesome.
My wife and I had expected a lovely evening out. Instead, we received a RUDE, horrible, and curt ATTITUDE from the owner himself. He did not listen to our requests and was extremely domineering. Second, the service was SLOW, and they mischaracterized how slow the dishes would be - they stated we would just wait 20-25 minutes for a particular dish . . . we ended up waiting 50-55 minutes. Not even the taste of the food can make up for being treated like second-class citizens.
This is the worst dining experience we have ever had.
If you look up hole in the wall in the dictionary, you might find a picture of salt&pepper under the definition. It's intimate. My boyfriend and I walked into the restaurant to see a full house (about 20-30 people), two waitstaff, and one chef, a really small team. The waiter took awhile to take our order--probably because he was trying to not overwhelm the chef, who was soldiering through the orders. It's a good thing we weren't in a hurry, but definitely something to note for future reference.
Another thing to note for the future: when scheduling the reservation (which they do take) I might call to see what they have on the menu to help decide on the wine. The menu on the evening I went was overwhelmingly seafood-oriented (and different from the menu posted online), so we could have gone with a lighter white wine instead of the amarone we actually brought.
Boyfriend started with scallops, cooked to perfection in a tomato vinaigrette. I got a shrimp and fettuccine in a white wine sauce. I'm not sure if it's because there was a mini-rush of orders to push out of the kitchen, but the textures for my dish were a little off: the shrimp was over cooked and a little tough, and the pasta sauce was runny. The pasta itself was delicious, though.
For the main course, I got lamb chops, which came with a lemon risotto, and boyfriend got the filet mignon. My lamb chops were perfectly cooked and the lemon risotto was a refreshing contrast to the rich flavor. The filet, while tender, was a little overcooked-ordered medium rare, but cooked all the way through.
Desserts were good, we went with the creme brulee (straight-forward, nothing fancy) and the molten lava cake (decadent).
Overall, great experience, solid food, and I'm looking forward to my next meal there.
Other things of note: Service was really great, their butter (they start you out with bread and butter) is DELICIOUS, and they accept credit cards.
This place is a.mazing!
I first ate here several years ago with a big group of my girlfriends, one of whom is a vegetarian. We opted to do the chef's 5 course tasting menu.
Robert (the owner) came over and asked if anyone had any food allergies, or dietary restrictions, which I thought was very appropriate.
He then had the chef make an entirely different 5 courses for our vegetarian friend. Actually, maybe it was more like 4, because I think the soup was veggie. Anyhow, this left a wonderful impression on my friend, who always has a hard time finding enough food at smaller restaurants, especially restaurants with set menus.
I brought my fiance' back the next year and we did the chef's tasting menu again-totally different and PHENOMENAL! The hangar steak melted in my mouth! Since then, we have brought many, many friends to Salt & Pepper, and we have yet to see anyone leave disappointed.
Not only do they use fresh, LOCAL ingredients but they RECYCLE! This is a rare thing among Philly restaurants and worth noting. Its a small place and it gets super busy on the weekends, so be sure to make a reservation!
I love this little place. It is a hole in the wall but it's so cute and the service is really great.
It is a good idea to make reservation because it is tiny and fills up quickly.
The portions are small-ish but nicely presented and simply prepared.
I enjoyed the scallop starter and the herb-crusted chicken. My only issue is that everything was really salty. And it's not just me this time, my date agreed.
This isn't your late 80's - early 90's female rap trio! Salt and Pepper is the smallest, most unassuming BYOB where my friends and I have had the pleasure to dine.
I don't think Salt and Pepper can seat more than 25 - and like most small BYOBs in the city, the kitchen and bathroom and dining are ensconced tightly on this little first floor corner property. But no matter, they were able to fit seven of us!
Food - was lovely - simply prepared. As previously mentioned, menu is small like the property. About 5 appetizer selections (and a special of the day), along with 5 principal dishes (salmon, striped bass, filet, lamb, and chicken) and 3 desserts (your token creme brulee and a chocolate lava cake, and a rice pudding)
We tried it all - the hummous and shrimp apps were meh- the rest (lobster rav., scallop) were well-executed. Average to smaller portions. Had the lamb chops with creamy risotto. They got my med-rare temp right on the money. Others had the fish dishes and filet - everyone enjoyed their dishes . The food wasn't ground-breaking - but it was well prepared and tasty. Comforting.
Desserts didn't make me convulse (in a good way, I mean) - although the stand-out had to be the chocolate lava cake... (skip the rice pudding, unless you truly have a hankering)
Service was friendly - only two people working the floor - (I'm assuming the owner was playing double duty both in the kitchen and at the tables) and unlike other BYOs they didn't rush us whatsoever. They were glad to provide us with champagne glasses and to keep our whites cold - The dinner took a while, but we were a big top and we weren't in a rush.
All in all, pleasant low-key dining experience that felt like you were eating at someone's house who is a terrific cook.
oh, and p.s. - big plus - they take credit cards!
My husband and I dined at this little gem of a restaurant last night. First of all, it's a BYOB and I thought it was particularly awesome that when my husband called to make reservations the restaurant encouraged him to bring a bottle of wine two so we could sit and enjoy ourselves. You don't get too much of that these days, especially at BYOB's with a limited amount of tables.
The dining room is very quaint, and if you want a restaurant with a certain ambiance, this is probably not the place. It is however, nice, warm, and inviting like your eating at your friend's house. This restaurant is clearly all about the food, and it was divine! My husband got the scallops which were delish, and I ordered the pumpkin risotto which was out of this world.
I definitely recommend this place if you're a serious foodie looking for a night full of wine, excellent food, and hospitable service!
Simply well done! The food was elegant and delicious. Service was on point and the climate was cozy and inviting. Went with a group of 7 and everyone loved the food and had a great time!
My wife & I dropped by this BYOB on a Friday night when we didn't feel like cooking, but wanted to have a well-made slow-food meal. With a name like Salt & Pepper, how could we go wrong.
Grabbed a two-top outside and enjoyed the warm summer night air on a quiet street. Service was awesome, very attentive and personal, explaining as much about each dish that you would care to know.
We started with one of the night's special, light meze/tapas of humus, eggplant caviar (warmed with smooth, wonderful taste), olives, a pickled slaw and some seasoned octopus, with a good seared-in flavor and perfectly tender.
The scallops are as good as it gets...served with a light tomato vinaigrette and summer veg, they were perfectly sweet and tender, with the carmelized char you crave in a scallop...check out the picture above.
I had the lamb chops, which were cooked a perfect medium-rare and served with a veal demi-glace that was plate-licking good. Accompanying fennel gratin with panko was a buttery good alternative to a starchy side.
Prices were reasonable and there were plenty of other entrees to come back for. A real gem.
I moved down to Bella Vista not too long ago, and have been walking by Salt and Pepper like 5 times a week ever since, but just haven't had the time to stop in. Finally got around to it last night and was really impressed.
First off, love the dining room. It very tiny, with 1 waiter and the kitchen right in the room. It felt like you were at a good friends house and he was cooking for you. Very cool.
Had a scallop appetizer that was coked very well, lamb chops for entree which were great. They also came with a side of fennel gratin which was SUPER GOOD. Then my fiancee and I split a creme brulee for desert. The whole thing was very tasty, and not super expensive (10 bucks for the scallop, 25 for the chops). All the plates had excellent presentation.
My only complaint, if I had to say one, was the portions seemed a tiny out of whack. My appetizer was rather large (2 very decent sized scallops). My entree was a little on the small side, and the creme brulee was pretty tiny. Not that I was starving when I left, but I certainly wasn't stuffed.
Overall I really enjoyed my dinner and recommend this place to anyone.
food is fantastic. portion not so much. if you are a big eater you will think you are stuck in a hellish nutrisystem infomercial. but I must say the filet and scallops were very good and the bronzino was phenomenal. also coming from a dessert lover who does not particularly care for creme brulee..that's a good creme brulee.
My wife and I visited Philadelphia for the first time and wanted to try one of the BYOB restaurants. Boy did we make the right pick!
Salt & Pepper had amazing food. We had to wait a few minutes for a table, which was no big deal since our server made sure we had our wine glasses full. Every dish that came out of the kitchen looked so good, I was ready to order everything on the menu!
We both decided on the Octopus Salad as an appetizer which had a perfect mix of meat and vegetables and was very flavorful. We also both ordered the lamb chops which were perfectly cooked and very tender. The seasoning was just right!
For dessert, we both had the most tasty creme brulee ever! I would go back just to get that!!
The space is limited, so I'm glad we called ahead. The place is small, so if you want a quiet place with fancy mood lighting, this is not for you. But if you want excellent food and service at a great price, this is your stop.
It was the perfect choice for dinner to cap off a great visit to Philly!
This tiny BYOB in Bella Vista is know to residents all around the neighborhood, but we like to keep it our little secret.
The dining room is big enough to fit about 6 tables at most, and the dining room shares the space with a tiny little kitchen. The owner of the restaurant is also the waiter.
Food is meticulously prepared and presented and they are always experimenting with new foods and ingredients. This is the perfect place for a date or to chat with friends over a bottle of wine.
What a find! I'm tempted not to review this place so that is stays a secret, but here goes. The ambiance leaves a little to be desired for, but the restaurant more than makes up for it with excellently prepared food. We ordered the scallop appetizer to start with. Two large perfectly prepared scallops were accompanied by green beans and a tomatoe based sauce drizzled around the plate. Like I said the scallops were prepared perfectly and we quickly finished this yummy app. My only complaint would be that there was an oil drizzled around the plate as well which made the accompanying sauce a bit too oily. Overall very good. For dinner I had the most delicious lobster dish with couscous. I'm drooling just thinking about it. It was in a red curry sauce and very unique. My husband had the lamb which was perfectly prepared and equally as delicious. For dessert we shared a warm chocolate cake which was the perfect end to a perfect meal. Highly recommended.
This is the second review I am writing, the first being on saute, which I didn't really get to review due to the fact that they told me they were open till 10 and when my date and I arrived, they had closed an hour early. So this week we decided to make reservations at salt and pepper for dinner. 8:45 reservations. We were running 5 minutes late so out of courtesy I called to let them know, being that we both work in the industry and wanted to respect their establishment. They said no problem. We hop in a cab and off we go. 5 minutes later, two blocks from salt and pepper, we get a phone call saying , " Josh, this is salt and pepper. Our chef just hurt himself and we will not be able to serve you tonight" A week earlier, we had tried to dine at saute, and had the same experience ( see the review ). This time we went to little fish instead and had a wonderful dinner. Both of these establishments made promises they couldnt keep ( saute and salt and pepper, that is ). You both should just close. Twice in one week we have tried to visit your place of business and twice we have been turned away. All the stellar reviews wont serve you any good when you start screwing over your would be patrons. Good night losers.
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Spring Garden
Category: Latin American
Neighborhood: Olde City
Category: American (New)
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Italian Market
Category: Italian
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