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Saltwater, San Diego, CA

Saltwater

4.5
4.5
499 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood
Top Tags:
Saltwater is the premiere seafood restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter, owned by the SD Dining group. As the best seafood restaurant in San Diego, we pride ourselves on the freshness of our ingredients, with fish being flown in daily from the mediteranean sea straight to our fresh fish bar where diners can choose their fish, weigh it and have it cooked to perfection, exactly how they like it! This is one of the few restaurants in California that offers this kind of seafood experience and truly sets us apart from our competition. The interior is a stunning deep royal blue that offers a romantic, premier, and nautical ambience that will make you feel like you are on a 90’ Riva yacht sailing through the Grand Canal. Come stop by for an experience that you will surely never forget.

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
Experiences are available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 525-9990
  • Website
    http://saltwatersandiego.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Owned/operated by
    Women
  • Executive chef
    Vincenzo Lo Verso
  • Private party facilities
    Equipped for intimate gatherings (10-12 guests), Saltwater’s private glass-encased wine cellar within the restaurant will provide uninterrupted and exclusive service.With our timeless yacht setting, interior accentuated by mahogany walls and scenic portholes, we will make sure to envelop you in luxury unlike anything you have ever experienced.
  • Location
    565 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-6913
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    Market Street, 5th St
  • Parking details
    We do have a parking structure near us, called Park it on Market. It is on sixth and market st.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Taste the luxury of Caviar and Champagne

    Multiple dates available
    Indulge in a luxurious experience with a limited offering of a bottle of house Champagne paired with our domestic caviar. The Champagne boasts a complex flavor profile, with notes of citrus and brioche, and a fine mousse that dances on the tongue – a perfect complement to the rich and savory taste of the caviar. This $99 limited-edition pairing presents an opportunity for the most discerning palettes to savor a refined, sophisticated combination of flavors, and to create unforgettable memories.
    Taste the luxury of Caviar and Champagne Photo

What 499 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Seafood

499 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Hawaii

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    Overall4Food4Service4Ambience4
    Food was good. The people I ate with loved it. I had the lobster ravioli and was a little under whelmed.

    Is this helpful?

  2. OpenTable Diner

    Minneapolis

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Upscale but friendly. Welcomed my 8 yo daughter and treated her fantastic. Food was delicious and fresh and well prepared. Pasta is made in house! Beautiful meal with my family.

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Wonder, attentive staff. Food was fabulous. We will be going back soon.

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    We enjoyed a wonderful evening with great food and excellent service. We were a group of 11 people and everything was perfect for us. We would happily return and we highly recommend this restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    The food was fantastic, and the service was even better.

    Is this helpful?

  6. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    10 reviews

    4.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 12, 2023

    Overall4Food4Service5Ambience4
    Less fish on the menu than I would have expected at a restaurant called "Saltwater". Sort of disappointing.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Runner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 5, 2023

    Overall2Food2Service1Ambience3
    We had a group dinner occasion. When I entered, I was a bit surprised to see relatively few people for Friday primetime (7 PM). The food was overpriced for the okay quality. The waiter was kind of crafty and sly. He tells many items as "today's specials" for appetizers, drinks, and entrees. He never tells us the price of those and sort of takes advantage of the atmosphere of our group dinner, where nobody might want to look stingy to ask, "How much?"- I still dared to do so for some items and found that this waiter's "specials" are astonishingly overpriced. We still fell into his trick and wound up having a tiny appetizer, Magane, with so-so quality for $45/person... Several years ago, this place was under a different ownership, which was good. So, I went to the same place, but I will never recommend this place to others.

    Is this helpful?

  8. RobertG

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    Overall4Food4Service3Ambience3
    Scallops were tinder and well seasoned, linguini and clams were also good, would have rated higher but food was borderline cool when it reached our table.

    Is this helpful?

  9. JulesTools

    Indiana

    22 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on October 22, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    As always, our meal was wonderful. My husband did not care for the dish he ordered and the restaurant was happy to accommodate a change. Added bonus was the street musician that played just outside of the restaurant...he was EXCELLENT!

    Is this helpful?

  10. FandBFanatic

    San Diego

    49 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    Overall3Food4Service4Ambience3
    The restaurant has some real potential, but hiccups like being served fatty and undercooked octopus, not being served one appetizer until the entrees were served, some menu limitations, and way too much noise (competing street musicians combined with the restaurant's own - not the kind of energetic chatter that has become expected), combines to make this restaurant a low priority for a return trip. It is sad too, as it could have been wonderful...

    Is this helpful?

  11. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 2, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Great menu for Happy Hour & Restaurant week! The Chilean sea bass is perfect!

    Is this helpful?

  12. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
    food was AMAZING our server was Brazilian and a few girls in our group were also. They connected right away and made for a heartwarming experience. It was a little strange the front doors were left wide open when it was raining and our table was next to the front door so it made for being a little colder. But the restaurant itself was fun. We’d go back!

    Is this helpful?

  13. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    Overall5Food4Service5Ambience4
    Looking to try a new restaurant during SD restaurant week. Picked Saltwater based on two things, wanted fish and this restaurant offered several choices that were a good representation of their regular menu. There were 4 of us and being family, we sampled from each others plates. I therefore got to taste both the calamari and tuna tartare appetizers. Both were delicious. For entrees I tried the Big Eye tuna, seared nicely, loved everything on the plate but the polenta (not much flavor). I also tried the stuffed sole and sea bass. Both dishes were perfectly cooked and the flavors melded perfectly. The sides, sauces and spices in/on each entree were a nice compliment to the main entree. The lemonchello cake was really lovely. The chocolate cake (substituted for the chocolate hazelnut mousse that had run out) was not memorable. The service was impeccable! Music a little loud for conversation but manageable. The 2 things out of their control were cost of parking (research before you go) and the smoke from the cigar bar two doors down.

    1 person found this helpful

  14. casabaker

    San Diego

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
    The food and service were great, especially because of the Restaurant Week pricing however, the smell of cigars from a few doors down has me planning to sit inside next time!

    Is this helpful?

  15. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    I went with friends for restaurant week and the food was so good! Our waiter was amazing cant remember him but also we happened to go during happy hour and that had very good deals

    Is this helpful?

  16. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 27, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    What a wonderful experience. The service was impeccable and food was scrumptious! We sat outside with a glass partition blocking the street so noise was moderate. It’s a great option on a beautiful night especially if you’d like people watching, We will definitely be going back again next time sitting inside to take in the ambience which looks lovely. Highly recommended. 

    Is this helpful?

  17. ShirleyH

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 25, 2023

    Overall2Food1Service2Ambience4
    Our food was not good - in fact we left most of it on our plates. A gnocchi special was gummy, the sauce was thick - no texture or dimension. The stuffed sole was supposed to be on a potato cake and the crispy cake would have been perfect but I wound up with mashed potatoes with leeks mixed in. The leeks were way too powerful for the delicate sole. One dozen oysters had bits of shell, no designation of which was which and despite 4 types being offered we wound up with only 3. The chocolate hazelnut mousse was dense and gummy with Hershey's syrup dumped on top. Our drinks were great. The atmosphere is lovely. But the food is not up to par.

    1 person found this helpful

  18. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    Overall3Food2Service5Ambience4
    Our waiter Thomas was the best part of the restaurant. I was very disappointed in the taste of the food.

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  19. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    Overall2Food2Service3Ambience4
    HONEST review on Saltwater. I don’t like giving bad reviews on restaurant but I had to. I don’t like when restaurant try to pass off imitation crabmeat for lobster roll. I can tell by taste, texture and density. The drinks was watered down and the smoked old fashioned doesn’t come close to other ones I had at other places. Steer clear of this restaurant and go elsewhere.

    2 people found this helpful

  20. Super

    Orange County

    84 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    84 reviews

    Dined on September 24, 2023

    Overall4Food4Service5Ambience5
    Excellent Happy Hour Oysters. Very good Vesper Martinis. Good Lobster Mac & Cheese and Bok Choy side. The Crushed Cannoli was one of the worst and the most over-priced cannoli I have ever had along with the fake Cappuccino. Very disappointing end to a good meal.

    Is this helpful?

  21. Jonathan

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 14, 2023

    Overall3Food3Service4Ambience4
    The service was good, and the food was marginal - especially for what we paid.

    Is this helpful?

  22. OpenTable Diner

    Miami

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Stuart and Sabrina were outstanding! Sabrina was extremely welcoming and accommodating and gave us a great first impression of the restaurant. Stuart was very knowledgeable and they treated us very well on our anniversary dinner. The food was outstanding and delicious! Can’t wait to go back.

    Is this helpful?

  23. BenjaminG

    Tucson

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
    Thomas was fantastic! He went above and beyond, volunteering to take our photo and even planning out our after dinner entertainment. I would highly recommend requesting him to be your server!

    Is this helpful?

  24. KathyL

    Orange County

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Our server was fantastic! Friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Our appetizer was the caviar and the presentation was beautiful. The Chilean Seabass was served in a delicious broth and the fish was cooked perfectly. I recommend sitting outside, the vibe on 5th Avenue is great and interesting people watching.

    Is this helpful?

  25. ColoradoNative

    Denver

    15 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    Overall3Food3Service3Ambience3
    Was underwhelmed unfortunately. It was okay but nothing special. The cocktails were fair, the appetizers were mediocre, and the service was average. And even though it was practically empty it was still very loud. Would appreciate more vegetarian and vegan options.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Our server Andrew was awesome. Food and wine were excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  27. MarciB

    Phoenix

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 28, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Service was 10stars as well as food! We had Happy Hour and will be back for a meal next time!

    Is this helpful?

  28. Beak

    Pittsburgh

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 25, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Maybe the best Happy Hours in America!! The food and cocktail selections are extensive with a variety of pricing options. Everything: quality, value, presentation, and service were outstanding! If you are in San Diego, and looking for an early dinner go to Saltwater for their Happy Hours, you won't be disappointed.

    Is this helpful?

  29. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    The experience was 10/10. My girlfriend and I wanted to grab dinner before going to the San Diego symphony. We had 5:45 pm reservation and were seated immediately. Our waiter was incredible, such a welcoming and genuine person. He recommended some great choices and the food came out quickly and tasted delicious. The seabass was done so well. We will absolutely be back ! Also, the oysters are a must have. Side note: the happy hour is incredible!

    Is this helpful?

  30. ArianaR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    We had a fabulous dinner with our twelve year old girl. Staff was very attentive, indulged in our request for dessert first, and made a special lemonade for our girl. The server made her feel very special and that in itself was worth it. The food was fabulous and great people watching after a Padre game!

    Is this helpful?

  31. michaell

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    Overall1Food1Service4Ambience3
    I ordered the stuff lobster and the menu said it came with baked potatoe and vegtables and it came with just pasta I will never go back and will tell friends not to go it was terrible

    Is this helpful?

  32. Gobears

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 20, 2023

    Overall1Food2Service3Ambience1
    Not very good ventilation, server was very nice and attentive, menu was oil stained, some food was good notably ciopino but sea bass was over cooked, tuna and scallops didn’t have sear, and there was some debris in the beer that we were served.

    Is this helpful?

  33. ImranM

    Vancouver

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 17, 2023

    Overall4Food4Service4Ambience3
    Good food! Food timings were certainty off and bring close to a cigar bar auto all the doors open didn't make the place smell great

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  34. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 15, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    The service and food were beyond what we expected. With a birthday serenade for my wife and a wonderful limoncello cake to finish off an awesome evening.

    Is this helpful?

  35. EmilyR

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 14, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    This is our 3rd time back in 1 month because we love the food and service from the staff especially Stuart & Thomas. Thank you for an awesome experience with delicious meals 💖.

    Is this helpful?

  36. OpenTable Diner

    Sacramento

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on July 13, 2023

    Overall4Food5Service5Ambience5
    Loved everything until the stink of the cigar lounge intruded. Went elsewhere for more food/drinks.

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on July 5, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Lobster bisque and the Chilean sea bass were both excellent 👍👍! Quality service too and the happy hour menu is an extra value.

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  38. NancyD

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2023

    Overall4Food4Service5Ambience5
    We (4) shared the ceviche and burrata followed by the linguine with little necks (1) and scallops (3). We agreed that dinner was delicious; service was excellent; it should be a 5…but it is over priced.

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  39. EmilyR

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 29, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
    Excellent food and excellent service from the staff and especially from our waiter Stuart. Will definitely be back and will recommend Saltwater to our friends and family 🩷. XoXo

    Is this helpful?

  40. RichardD

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 26, 2023

    Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
    This is a great restaurant, very nice menu. We sat outside and got great service from Andrew. The tuna and octopus dishes were especially good. We thought overall it was good value and very nice seafood

    Is this helpful?

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily

  • Physical distancing

    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff temperature check required

FAQs

Saltwater is rated 4.5 stars by 499 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
8:00 PM
Booked 10 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Saltwater

565 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101-6913

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Market Street, 5th St
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    We do have a parking structure near us, called Park it on Market. It is on sixth and market st.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Owned/operated by
    Women
  • Executive chef
    Vincenzo Lo Verso
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://saltwatersandiego.com/
  • Phone number
    (619) 525-9990
  • Private party facilities
    Equipped for intimate gatherings (10-12 guests), Saltwater’s private glass-encased wine cellar within the restaurant will provide uninterrupted and exclusive service.With our timeless yacht setting, interior accentuated by mahogany walls and scenic portholes, we will make sure to envelop you in luxury unlike anything you have ever experienced.

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