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The Salt Line - Ballston, Arlington, VA

The Salt Line - Ballston

4.6
4.6
779 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 779 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.1Value

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.

779 Reviews

  1. Jennifer

    Washington DC

    21 reviews

    2.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Our main server was attentive and pleasant. The fisherman’s stew wasn’t bad but served lukewarm, at best. I had noted in the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday but no mention was made at the host stand or by the servers. Our original reservation was for the week prior. I received a perfunctory call canceling my reservation for that day because of a restaurant buy-out. There was no attempt to mitigate the cancellation. If it were me, I’d have at least offered a free drink. I rescheduled for yesterday because that’s where the birthday guest wanted to dine. I wish I’d booked elsewhere. Like the phone call, the dinner was perfunctory. I’ve eaten at Salt Line a few times before. I previously had good experiences. I will not be in any rush to return.

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  2. Samantha

    Washington DC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 10, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Bright, fun, yummy place to meet family for a holiday dinner!

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  3. 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

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  4. 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.

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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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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 4.6 stars by 779 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for The Salt Line - Ballston

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
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