Salt + Charcoal Reviews

So delicious. It is a lot of food and takes a long time (2 hours minimum) but a truly awesome culinary experience. Everything from soup to sushi to wagyu beef... To excellent dessert (try and save a little room). If you like Japanese food you need to try this gem.

A filet mignon topped with tons of torched sea urchins and salmon roe for $162. A smoked duck breast that literally came out smoking. Lotus root chips. All for a very satisfying lunch!

Looking for romantic this place has the lights dimed perfectly -you got it. Looking for great food, (fell in love with the Robata concept) -they got it. Looking for a good time with a small group of friends and some great drinks, this place has it. Our waitress was kind enough to explain the menu and give us a run down of their star dishes. The host and hostess although look intimidating and stushy were very kind and accommodating. We came to this place by accident looking for another bar ....right off the street no reservations, in jeans and tennis shoes and they treated us 100. I love when I run into places like this. Must try the Chicken Meatball and Wagyu Beef Rib Eye, its like butter just melts with each bite.

Lovely Japanese food served with funky flavours, tangy dips and firey wasabi dust. Try the fried cheese with honey and wasabi. Amazing!

We were visiting from Texas and had dinner with my son and his girlfriend. All of our food selections tasted excellent. Well worth the visit, but I did think the prices were a little high - ex: one crab cake appetizer was $26. The atmosphere is very nice. Our waitress, Kristina, was wonderful.

We found the quiet ambience of this restaurant soothing on a weeknight. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. My wagyu beef rolls were succulent rolls of thinly sliced beef skewered on double skewers and cooked so they were still juicy. They came with fresh grated wasabi and ponzu sauce. We drank their beer and enjoyed the experience. Definitely worth a visit.

Went here on a Saturday night. Sat downstairs in a quieter room out the way. Good cocktails. Food is tapas style. All tasted great. Sushi, tempura and even bacon.

Friendly and polite staff is always appreciated. The menu is a little dear but the quality of food you receive represents what you pay. Very interesting blends of flavours in the rolls, with uniquely curated menu choices. Drinks menu also appears well researched and the blurbs for each item are interesting and educational and help you to not feel like you are stabbing in the dark.

Amazing food, impecable and friendly service by Kristina, wonderful Thelonius Monk jazz music and beautiful deco. Thanks!!

Took them 40 minutes to bring the drinks. Also the food wasn't as good as expected. I have had way better Japanese food for less money.

After traveling so many times to japan I was not expecting the beef to be only fat but in this place Wagyu is only fat . Worst is when you ask the manager of the restaurant to fix the pb he kept on arguing he had the best wagyu in NYC .There is no Customer service at this place and food quality is so low that it is scary for a Japanese restaurant .

Really Great food , is a very nice experience for those that are open mind. You’ll get contemporary Japanese cosine, American steak with QUALITY. People super friendly and open minded, very clean restaurant and not expensive.

The best steak in NYC! Japanese style appetizers are delicious. Good selection of Wine and Sake. Highly recommend this place.

We visited this restaurant with a small group in the evening on a Tuesday. The menu selection was small, but will offer something for everyone, at modest prices. We had a variety of food incl seafood, sushi, sashimi, vegetables, steak & fries. Generally the food quality was good, although the consensus from our group was that the quality of the steak was average & was a little on the bland side. It was disappointing, as there was clearly good effort applied to the presentation. The accompanying condiments were fabulous however! We think this is worth trying however, as others may have different experiences & believe the overall experience could be better overall.

I wanted to like this place, I really did. And I guess I should've known by the fact that they have one of those hipster names that utilizes a + sign to bring two otherwise unrelated words together that it was going to be all kinds of pretentious. Don't get me wrong, the food was good even though I'm not crazy about overpriced tapas, but it wasn't good enough to excuse our servers condescending attitude. Every time she was asked to explain something on the very vague menu, she acted as if she were a bit better than everyone at the table. With each question came a heavier sigh and a bigger attitude. She used the word "traditional" about a hundred times in the most smug manner possible, even when handing us a cup to put our skewers in. Another downside was just how long it took to get the food despite the fact that the restaurant was nearly empty. The chicken thigh skewers were really good and had a delightful flavor, but I've certainly had much better and much more "traditional" Japanese food with a whole lot less attitude and for far less money. Pass.

Tripped on this place on the 4th looking for a place to eat on such a busy night and they had a spot for the three of us. a bit lucky it seems. But we gave it a try and were not disappointed. The starters, drinks and main were all top notch, service good and location, well the middle of Williamsburg so easy to get to.

We came upon this restaurant by chance. The menu offers many options with dishes that are meant to be shared. Each dish that we ordered offered fresh ingredients and unique flavors. The dishes are described as "Japanese Tapas", but the "tapas" are generously portioned so don't think that you need to order many dishes. The service was prompt and courteous, and at the same time, we were not rushed, so we could take our time to enjoy your meal. There is an option to sit on the bench in front of the kitchen. If you want to be able to carry a conversation, see if you can be seated downstairs. That space offers a more intimidate quiet setting.

Such a lovely surprise!! The meat was perfect, very quality food and lovely Japanese lady from the restaurant! Loved everything. For sure one of the best restaurants in Williamsburg. Worth it !

A nice selection of food, very good for sharing! Small dishes where you can choose a lot of order a lot. The sashimi was very fresh! Great place for conversation since food is prepared fresh. Ordered skewers & a few entrees. They have a window that shows the kitchen. Everything looks very clean & organize. Service was wonderful. Desserts were amazing! Will definitely be back for more. (not a place to eat & go... it's good for company & sit down meal & good conversation.)

We made a reservation at this place, which is recommended, and as soon as I entered the place, it looked very uniform. The restaurant had a nice staff, the menu had many items to choose from, but the “famous” dish there was the Uni Steak, which we went to go try. We ordered a few and OMG, it was so good! I went home knowing that even if I swallowed a dictionary, I would never find the word to describe that meal.

A fantastic find in Williamsburg. We were seated at the bar and was very entertained watching the chefs prepare the meals. Their knife and presentation skill is amazing. The food centres around their charcoal fire stove but they also have other items on their menu. We had their house made warm tofu - delicious. You can really tell when something is made fresh. We had a selection of charcoal grilled vegetables and meats. Their food is seasoned minimally, so you can really enjoy the produce itself. It came with a side of truffle salt, enough said. The pastry chef was out of town when we were there but the black sesame pudding was amazing, we can imagine how good the pastry desserts would be. Great ambiance, a nice place to relax and enjoy a few drinks and great authentic food.

We have just been dining in Salt + Charcoal, it was perfect. Seating in front of the kitchen, we‘ve seen the full preparation while waiting. The mainly japanese team prepare a large variety of meat on the BBQ and all of them looked delicious. The chef, japanese as well, has been working several years in one of Robuchon’s 3 star restaurant in Tokyo. Very Kind and simple, he goes through the table to collect feedback and share a bit of his history.

Very high quality Japanese tapas. Get the bench next to the kitchen if you don't mind the heat - you can see your food being prepared and bbq'd the traditional way.

We had to sit down in the heat, and we found this place while strolling around in Brooklyn. I love the atmosphere. Really good service and good food. We ordered salad. Great place to eat lunch.

Stumbled across this on our first night in Brooklyn and had a great meal. Our faves were the edemame, the wagyu roll and the pumpkin cheesecake. The meat was so delicious, although the accompanying mushroom/rice arrangement was a bit flavorless. Wonderful service made this a night to remember. Best service we've encountered in NY so far. Thanks, Salt + Charcoal!

Here’s how my experience went. It was the middle of the day and I was craving a bar snack and Bloody Mary. I consider myself a nice and bubbly person and was eager to try this fresh seeming Japanese cuisine. I sat at the bar and the bartender seemed extremely monotone and careless. I asked him politely for a Bloody Mary and he handed me what tasted like a saw and wood infested cocktail. When I kindly told him I wasn’t into it he seemed visibly annoyed. He was so rude and terrible at his job I stormed out of the bar. Why would I want to give some rude individual my money? I can get a fresh poke bowl anywhere. If you’re the manager reading this please fire this person because you will continue to lose customers.

We walked about looking for something that appealed to us. Early, so nothing was too crowded. We entered and were greeted well and seated immediately, right in front of the kitchen. That was the best part. Got to see our 50-day dry-aged steak grilled medium-rare and totally appropriately. The potatoes and everything else were so darned delicious, we did not even care what it cost! Service was excellent. Next time we visit we will come again, even if we cannot really afford it.!

Food excellence! Presentation and taste; beyond my expectation! Service was first class; but you better have a reservation!

Went to the theatre for the night in Brooklyn and found this place by chance. Food and atmosphere was great even if the service was a little slow and confused - we seemed to know more about items on the menu than the servers!! Still would definitely recommend for an evening out

I had dinner at Salt + Charcoal with my sister and brother in law over this past weekend, and found it really good (if not a little too expensive). We started with a few appetizers - local greens in sesame dressing, tuna sashimi, warm tofu, and wagyu carpaccio. While the carpaccio was not actually carpaccio, it was delicious. The warm tofu is better at En Japanese Brasserie in the West Village (in my opinion), but it was definitely tasty. Then we had the miso black cod. I enjoyed it, but my sister did not. There were a few bones still left in the filet and while that didn't bother me too much, she wasn't thrilled. The drinks were also great. Personally, I think the prices are a little high for what you get, but all in all, this was a very nice experience. FYI: If you want to eat with a little less noise, request to eat downstairs. The main floor of the restaurant is quite small and noisy.

A place in heaven in on of my favorite quarter in NY. Very subtil food, a mix of Asian cooking and western food. Even if you are not lucky and end up in the basement (what happened to us) the food is so great and staff so attentive you will quickly forget the environment. A bit expensive anyhow

Been here twice and both times I thought the food was just okay. First time was during September and they had outdoor seating which was nice. I came with the bf and we ordered the 50 day porterhouse steak for two and shared to appetizers- the uni & wagyu beef roll and the crunchy red shrimp croquette. The steak overall was really good. Cooked just the way we asked and came with 2 sauces on the side. FYI any additional sauce you request will be additional charge. For appetizers, the uni and wagyu beef had a great presentation. I took a million photos before taking a bite. It's looks better than it taste in my opinion. The beef was super rare and chewy, not easy to eat. And the taste wasn't what we expected. The croquettes on the other hand was decent. Crispy and has a lot of flavor in ever bite. My second time here I decided to try the sushi. I must say, the salmon roll was bomb. There was so much flavor and the combination of all the ingredients in the roll complements one another so well. But the other two - Tuna and kampachi was just okay. The kampachi had too much going on, and the taste was not very pleasant.

Good and fresh sushi with an interesting twist and presentation and a wide range of sake. The kitchen is partly open and the groceries brought out and prepared looked really fresh and of good quality. The staff was a bit unattentive but otherwise good. Clean restrooms.

This place had really good sushi, and excellent steak. Good beer and wine selection, as well as quality cocktails. They also have A5 wagyu!!! Best beer on earth. Very good restaurant in Williamsburg.

Stopped in to have people watch, drink and a small bite to eat!! We had the wagyu tartare, cheese fries, and some drinks!! The presentation was fine, but the wagyu tartare was VERY AVERAGE!! The meat was not up to tartare quality....and bland to say the least!! And it was EXTREMELY overpriced!!

Went in for lunch and found it to be so lovely. Had the chicken and the pork cutlet. Delicious. Service fabulous. Prices great. Cocktails yummy.

When we arrived on time for our reservation, we noticed that the table they were giving to us was really close to the entrance, crowded and extremely cold since the place was very busy and the door constantly open! We kindly asked if it was possible to have a different table and the maitre literally reply to us "plenty of people is waiting for a table if you are not happy with this you can leave I will let others taking the table"!!!!!!!!!!! This is extremely rude and not customer friendly. We kept the table since it is not easy to find a place without reservation on a Saturday evening but we had a terrible experience, we could not even take out the coat and we were freezing all evening. We were looking forward to finish and leave!!!! And we paid (too much) as the people having a good table. That table should not be offered to anyone, eventually in summer only! I will never go back there.

Walked in here on a Saturday night. Got seating at bar. The three of us ordered salmon (42 dollars) with fries (12 dollars ) and grilled vegetables. Generous portions . Cocktails were gorgeous especially a smoky rosemary one.

Enjoyed an excellent dinner here with my family. Delicious food, some beautiful wines and above all, very professional, dedicated and kind staff who give great advices as to what to pick and combine from their menu-selection. Highly recommended! 🏆

The last thing we expected when we dropped into this Williamsburg restaurant was Japanese. But the food was fabulous and well worth the visit. One of the best meals we've ever had, with some unusual ingredients cooked to perfection. Recommended.

Wonderful Japanese restaurant with great steak. Must try the charcoaled edamame as an appetizer. Crab cakes are delicious as is the steak. Attentive and friendly staff. Highly recommended in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The food was decent and not too expensive. However, the service was horrendous. We waited over an hour to get a beer that we ordered prior to food, way after our food was finished.

I love Japanese food and I came for a dinner date. Easy to make a reservation but ended up sitting at the bar instead. It was happy hour. $3 sake and $5 sake cocktail. The sake was what you expect for $3. The cocktail was like sweet lemonade. I ordered a carafe of sake that was better. The food was fine. Nothing special. Had grilled vegetables. The chicken skewers were ok, I liked the thigh one. The wagging marinated in ponzu was pretty good. I probably wouldn't visit again as I wasn't wowed. Service was good and the place is nice. You can see them cooking if you sit in the back half of the restaurant.

I don't know what took me so long to make it to Brooklyn. Superb service. Well prepared food. Beautiful presentation. Cozy atmosphere. Perfect place for date night. The steak here was beyond amazing. I was so tempted to come back again the following day before leaving NYC just to get it again. We order the Lamb Chops and the 50 Day Jyukusei New York Strip Steak and the broccolini. This was one of the best meals I had in New York.

Visited this place for dinner with a friend. Reasonably priced and friendly wait staff but food was very average and cocktails are terrible. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to try this place.

Decided to give it a try with my family. But the bald head manager was first giving rude comments about you have to tip even if you don’t need assistance before we even start to dine. Which is very awkward and strange to have such comment. Food is below average. Steak is… what steak? Below average. Even staff would gossip behind your back after you leave. Worst experience and environment. I say go elsewhere to enjoy real food and service. Because I didn’t paid hundreds just to see your attitudes and below average food. No thank you!

I came to this spot in January and when I came back to NY in February I made sure I was going to come back. The menu is sooooooo good, it's kind of tapas style serving sizes but it's a Japanese cuisine. I just tried the lamb and it was killer. It tasted like a home cooked meal that my mom used to make back in the day. I just love, love, loooovvveee this spot. And my favorite server is Mitsu. He's fabulous and full of energy. This is definitely a must go!!!

Had to give this place a try after drooling over the Uni Filet Mignon photos on Insta! The restaurant is located in Williamsburg and it is very dim and cozy from the moment you walk in. My friend and I shared the Uni & Wagyu beef roll and the Uni Filet Mignon. They both did not disappoint. If you are a lover of Uni, you must try these dishes, especially the filet mignon. They are not cheap with their uni.... lots and lots of uni in this dish and the price was very reasonable for the portion. It was good for two of us to share and still be very full. I also got a Green Tea Hi for drinks but it didn't taste too good. I guess go for the real cocktail instead. Honestly, I thought this place was going to be overrated but it deserves all the high ratings. Definitely worth the experience.

This is a Japanese run steakhouse where the steaks are grilled over open wood flame right in front of you if you have the right seat. The ancillary dishes from the master Japanese chef - including sushi, are unique and outstanding. This is a must visit. Since arriving in Williamsberg we’ve been several times and have concluded the steak here is better than the holiest of holy steakhouses down the road, Peter Lugers. Plus the menu is way more varied. Kale salad is a standout. As is grilled broccoli and everything else. The multi person porterhouse will roll your socks down.

We went there on a date. The place is well designed. You can feel relaxed and spend some quality time with your comrade without trying to talk over the noise and music. It is neither push nor casual. Menu card is long enough to give you some various options, it is equipped with photos which speeds up your decision and eliminate visual disappointment that the food will not look like you expect it will. Best choices? Shrimp spread on a baguette and eggplant in sweet sauce. We will definitely be back for those!

Our waiter made it seem like the chore of all chore when asked to explain the cryptic menu. His vague and dissinterested explanation lead to some of our group ordering as their main course - what was described by the waiter as 'plates large enough to share' but in reality turned out to be just 4 chicken wings on a plate. The females of the group were then ignored when the waiter offered to get us a second round of drinks, too, deciding only to get another round of drinks for the males at the table. When our tip (~15% of the final bill - more than we thought reasonable) reflected the sub-standard service offered, we were confronted in the most embarassing fashion in front of a restaurant full of diners, about how it was unnacceptable that we should tip such a low amount (whilst the maitre'd explained that she did not pay her wait staff and that it was up to the customers to pay the waiters). Utterly dreadful behaviour which ruined an otherwise unremarkable meal.

The meal was great, I came here with my Dad. The food was delicious, but a little pricey. The food is also very rich and heavy. The uni shooter was so fabulous that we had to order another one. And the food came out very fast.

This restaurant really made our trip! The food was fun, innovativ and really, really good. The sushi was out of this world. We sat at the bar, and the service was incredible. Only have love for this place!

I went to this restaurant for the second time this past weekend. I convinced my boyfriend to come here originally last month because he usually goes to the same 1 or 2 places that he knows he likes. But I had read the menu at Salt + Charcoal and was very interested, so I started what is hopefully a cold-weather tradition. The restaurant has a good ambience, dim lighting without being too dark, and quiet enough to enjoy an intimate dinner setting. Both times I went, we shared the unagi rock (eel sushi plate), edamame, and the grilled duck broth with homemade buckwheat noodles. I personally love eel so I think that dish is great, but for cold weather the duck broth is really satisfying. It's warm, the noodles are perfectly made, the broth is salty and delicious, and the duck is so tasty. I recommend getting the egg in the broth as well. I also had their sake cosmopolitan to drink, it was sweet and worth getting again. My only complaint is that they don't fill your cocktail glass. Otherwise the service was quick and efficient. Pricing is good for the quality of the food. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a mildly fancy, but relaxed dinner out and if you want good cocktails.

If you want to have a late lunch on Sunday go to this place . We had a Very good Poke & Tuna!! Nice restaurant