Summer Salt

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

First time diner at Summer Salt and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The views from the dining room were breathtaking and the atmosphere was vibrant. The staff were friendly and were genuinely committed to making sure we had a great time. The lychee mojito was a real hit on 30 degree day! Could have easily had 3 more but was driving! The desserts were the highlight, I would highly recommend the dessert tasting plate, we got a little of everything and the souffle was to die for. We will definitely be back for more.

Dec 30, 2008 

7.3 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

Great menu, was part of a party of 6 on the Sunday before Christmas, so definitely a busy day, in fact it was packed, no tables spare and groups waiting.

Food was great, something to please all stomachs and the gluten free indications were very helpful for one of our party. Most of us ended up just having the entree and desserts, but a couple had mains. Was surprised that when the mains didn't turn up with veges/salad, that the waitress didn't point this out when the dishes were ordered.

Perhaps too much avacado on the smoked chicken, mango, avacado 'salad' - didn't realise that a few wisps of green leaf constituted as salad. Desserts were just fab, and enjoyed by all. Will go back for more!

Dec 21, 2008 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Love the food..... Love the staff!! Considering how busy their friday night service was and the fact that I was at a table of 15 people I still felt that I got that one on one attention from our waitresses and they were all lovely.

I take my hate off to Carl Jenson, it's not often easy for a chef to live up to the hype that the local media has often cast upon him. In saying that every single person at my table thoroughly enjoyed every last bite of their meal and the waitress was always close at hand for drink top ups.

My snapper was quite possibly the tastiest that I have ever eaten and my lamb salad entree was the perfect starter to wet my appetite. For dessert I also had one hell of a Thai style Margerita, Hats off to Carl for showing us Shire folk the best feed for the best price. Two thumbs up

Dec 09, 2008 

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  1      Value  5     

We have been to this restaurant three times. Generally, it is, in my opinion, an excellent restaurant with a sensational view over Wanda Beach, however, the service can be very erratic. We took friends there once and had to wait almost 2 hours for our main course! We subsequently returned to find the service outstanding. The manager should ensure continuity of outstanding service to warrant the higher charges. I don't mind paying extra if the service is good.

Nov 25, 2008 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  8     

Dined here yesterday, Sunday for lunch. Had read reviews before hand and I was surprised to see so many negatives. We had a very enjoyable lunch and could not fault the food or the service. This was my first time at Summer Salt and in my opinion some people must be extremely hard to please.

Firstly the staff, could not be more attentive. Nothing was a problem and when some minor things went awry they were more than accommodating, and made what could have been very disappointing, a minor hicup. Nobody is infallible.
The food was sensational, and as it is a top end restaurant with fabulous views over one of the best beaches in Sydney we expected that the prices would be at the high end of the scale.

To those who have given negative reviews stay away, the place was packed and everyone appeared to be having a wonderful time. The restaurant was setting up for an evening wedding, however, staff did not rush anyone out and were quite happy for you to dawdle over last drinks. All in all a very pleasant experience and I for one will definitely return. Thankyou.

Nov 03, 2008 

3.8 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  7      Service  5      Value  1     

Gosh we were told that this was one of the better restaurants in cronulla, I feel sorry for the people of the shire if this is regarded as fine dining and I now understand why the good food guide doesn't venture anywhere near here, we dined here last sunday. We enter a large room with beautiful views over cronulla beach and beyond and are seen to our table, we order some oysters and scallops, we receive the wrong ones, the topping on the oysters lacks any flavour and is let down by poor knife skills with large chunks of chilli roughly strewn over them.

We order salmon and are asked if we would like it seared or cooked through, seared please, both salmon arrive cooked through, if you can't do it why ask? One other main has large blocks of ginger on the side it is supposed to be pickled, I don't think so, rice is dry and boring, 3 other mains on the table are picked over with little or no excitement, we decide to skip desserts, and just have coffee, they arrive luke warm, our wine was delicious.

Overall an expensive and forgettable dining experience, what a shame, I'll be buying some cooked prawns and sitting on the sand next time.

Oct 17, 2008 

5.8 Average

Food  5      Ambience  8      Service  5      Value  5     

Expected more from this restaurant. I ordered the Dory which was favourless. My wife ordered the chicken and was equally unimpressed and to top off the evening, they gave our sides to another table. I would not recommend this restaurant. The price does not match the quality.

Sep 21, 2008 

6.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  4     

Spectacular view and hence the place was packed for Sunday lunch but………

Good wine list but we had to serve our own wine they were so understaffed.

Good cafe food at city restaurant prices.

The bread however was not even cafe standard - white, processed, almost stale.

The chef's special dory $36 consisted of small broken pieces of fish. Why are we still doing the “big white plate but still so hungry I have to go to Macca's on the way home” thing in Sydney?

The one advantage of my fish however was that it was only one of the four fish dishes on the menu that was deboned.

No specials.

Good coffee, some of the desserts were also v. good.

Overall, at $80 for 2 courses and a glass of wine, poor value. We will not be back.

Sep 16, 2008 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  9     

Best food and service in the Shire. A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for.

Sep 06, 2008 

4.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  7      Service  4      Value  4     

I can't explain how disappointing this restaurant is, because the location and set up points to such great potential as a real opportunity to establish something quite special on Sydney's southern beaches.

To start with the positive points: absolutely unobstructed views of Elouera Beach - this venue has quite possibly the best view of any restaurant in Sydney's south to date. We arrived at the restaurant just in time for front row seats to a most spectacular sunset.

The restaurant's frontage and interior blend nicely with the surroundings - laid back luxe, minimalist, clean lines; the perfect backdrop to let the view do its work.

Unfortunately it's mostly down hill from here. Whilst the atmosphere was relaxed, unfortunately so was the staff. How 'pinot' could be misconstrued as 'mojito', I will never know. Also - sommelier? Anyone? No?

The menu seemed overly contrived 'liquid infused Murray River pork cutlet with fig jam, radicchio, fennel and parmesan salad ' - in my opinion, one's mouth should be full of food, not words. This kind of overly decorated menu is so 5 years ago.

Also on the menu, wok-tossed prawns in red curry with snake beans and water chestnuts. I have no problem with restaurants that 'fuse Asian flavours with Modern Australian cooking' (even if it is so very dated). But if it's going to be done, at least do it well. *yawn*

I'll stop here because I could go on about the price vs experience (not justified), the dramatic wait or the too-dim lighting but I won’t. In one word - disappointing.

Jul 21, 2008