Nestled in the heart of Renton, Anchovies and Salt boasts a stunning location with breathtaking views that could easily steal the spotlight. Situated against a picturesque backdrop, this restaurant offers a promising setting for a memorable dining experience. However, while the grandeur of the location sets high expectations, the food quality falls slightly short.The ambiance at Anchovies and Salt is undeniably charming, with a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere. The interior décor complements the natural beauty outside, creating an inviting space for patrons to unwind and enjoy their meal. The service provided by the staff is impeccable, with attentive and friendly waitstaff ensuring that every need is met promptly.Despite the positive aspects, the food quality doesn't quite measure up to the restaurant's grandeur. While the menu boasts an array of enticing options, the execution falls short of expectations. Dishes lack the finesse and flavor one would anticipate, leaving room for improvement in terms of taste and presentation.Another aspect that may disappoint diners is the portion sizes relative to the price. The servings are notably small for the cost, leaving some guests feeling unsatisfied. While quality often justifies price, in this case, the disparity between portion size and price may leave patrons wanting more value for their money.Furthermore, parking can pose a challenge for those visiting Anchovies and Salt. Finding a spot nearby can be somewhat difficult, especially without opting for paid parking. This inconvenience may deter some potential customers, particularly those unwilling to navigate the search for parking.On a positive note, the ordering system is user-friendly, making the dining experience hassle-free. Guests can easily navigate the menu and place their orders without any confusion, streamlining the process and ensuring efficiency.In conclusion, Anchovies and Salt offers a satisfying dining experience with its beautiful location, good ambiance, and attentive service. However, there is room for improvement, particularly in the realms of food quality, portion sizes, and parking accessibility. Despite these shortcomings, the overall experience remains enjoyable, making it a worthwhile destination for those seeking a pleasant meal with a view.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Troy Anderson
This place was amazing! Life altering. The kind of place you just have to bring all your friends to show them. Good work you guys.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Tai
Hải Hao Nguyễn
The service staff is good and enthusiastic. The surrounding scenery was beautiful and the manager gave me a delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
S Pham
We enjoyed the drinks, food and view at Happy Hour. Bar staff were friendly. Nice happy hour menu: lemongrass clams, bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in grape leaves).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ivy L.
Very neat new Vietnamese restaurant across from Coulon Park on Lake Washington Blvd, which means the restaurant is nice, pretty upscale, and there's a fantastic view of the lake. Now it's upscale but still a family friendly establishment. We brought 3 kids and felt a bit bad cause they were running around but the staff was very nice about it. The kiddos loved the robots that helped deliver your food and pick up dirty dishes. They have large tables that accommodate large parties, as well as a bar. Now the food, I see there's mixed reviews on here but I found the food fairly authentic with some dishes that had a nice twist. Now I agree with some of the reviews that say some dishes are overpriced and small, I.e the shaking beef lacked flavor and didn't contain more than a few cubes or beef. The water spinach was rolled up into balls and was more bite sized appetizers than a shared veggie dish to go with your rice/meal. My favorites of the night are the pho pillows - unique but full of flavor and delish! Basically pho noodles in little crispy noodles with beef and onions flavored so well. The beef was tender and fantastic. The crispy pork belly comes next and my favorite of the night was the clay pot fish. It had a bit of a kick with the Thai chili on top but flavors were amazing! The canh chua aka sour soup was also fantastic and reminded me of something my grandma would make as a kid. Great food, great ambiance. I loved it and looking forward to coming back to try other dishes as well!
JSJ SanBrothers
Just being honest. Ambience was amazing with a beautiful view. They also claim to be the world’s largest Vietnamese restaurant; however, they may have the world’s smallest Vietnamese portions. The taste was full of flavors and presentation was well thought out. May be a tad too much sugar and MSG. Staff may be short as it took a long time for each item to arrive. Robotics servers were helpful but tend to be stuck a number of times. I know they are trying to go for higher end vibe. I would say they are close but not quite there yet. I would want to come back and try some of their appetizers but probably would not be a place I would come repeatedly. For this, I will leave a 3 star review.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Jenny N.
Really wanted to like this place as we were in the area and the good reviews. Extremely disappointed in service, food quality, portion size and price! Their family portion size wouldn't feed a family of 1 in a Saigon hem. Food lacked flavor. Food quality wasn't up to par either. Their shaking beef used wagyu tri tip which really isn't a good cut of meat for this dish. None of the dishes were worth the price point at all. At the end of the meal, the owner or manager approached our table to encourage us to order more. We don't mind paying for a higher price point for food but it wasn't worth paying for more food when none of the dishes we ordered were satisfying at all. We had to go to a real Vietnamese restaurant afterwards to feel satisfied. Save your money and go somewhere else!
Hung Tran
Anchovies & Salt Vietnamese restaurant has truly won our hearts as one of the best Vietnamese spots in the area. However, scoring a parking spot can be a bit of a challenge. While free street parking is available if you arrive early, it fills up quickly. There's also a paid parking garage option for those who prefer convenience.Once inside, you're greeted with a stunning lake view and ample seating. A sign proudly boasts that this is the largest Vietnamese restaurant outside of Vietnam, adding to the allure. We visited for brunch shortly after opening and were promptly seated, although most of the tables with a view were already taken.Ordering is a breeze thanks to the iPad on each table, making the process fast and convenient. The waitress kindly walked us through how to use it and offered her recommendations. For our meal, we opted for the Braised short rib, dodging steak and eggs, egg coffee, and fish sauce coffee. We had hoped to try the golden Pho pillow, but sadly, it wasn't on the menu.The coffee arrived first, with the egg coffee being decent but the fish sauce coffee stealing the show with its surprising caramel-like flavor. The lack of a hot option for the fish sauce coffee was a bit disappointing for me, as I prefer warm drinks.Next up was the dodging steak and eggs, featuring tender steak and delicious sauce accompanied by bread and butter. We loved it so much that we ordered more bread and butter to enjoy with the short ribs, which turned out to be the highlight of the meal. The texture and flavor were impeccable, especially when paired with the dipping sauce and pickled veggies.Overall, it was a satisfying experience, albeit a pricey one. While I don't see us dining here regularly, it's definitely a top choice for special occasions. Just be sure to reserve ahead of time, as wait times can vary depending on the time of day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Ribs, Steak Eggs, Banh MI Bo NE, Beef Short Rib, Garlic Bread
Vickie Prukop
My boyfriend and I just got done dining here. I will say, the appetizers and all the drinks we ordered were delicious. My main dish was also delicious. It was 15 minutes after I got my main dish and we were still waiting on the wagyu pho for my boyfriend and we had to call the wait staff on tablet. It was then minutes after and someone (not our server) checked on us and told her the situation. At first, we were thinking the dishes came out after the other, but no. Apparently, the kitchen forgot about his order from what the server told us. By the time his food came out, mine was almost finished. The pho was nothing special at all; loaded with MSG and barely any meat. We were pretty disappointed. Will only be back for happy hour.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Hung T.
Anchovies & Salt Vietnamese restaurant has truly won our hearts as one of the best Vietnamese spots in the area. However, scoring a parking spot can be a bit of a challenge. While free street parking is available if you arrive early, it fills up quickly. There's also a paid parking garage option for those who prefer convenience. Once inside, you're greeted with a stunning lake view and ample seating. A sign proudly boasts that this is the largest Vietnamese restaurant outside of Vietnam, adding to the allure. We visited for brunch shortly after opening and were promptly seated, although most of the tables with a view were already taken. Ordering is a breeze thanks to the iPad on each table, making the process fast and convenient. The waitress kindly walked us through how to use it and offered her recommendations. For our meal, we opted for the Braised short rib, dodging steak and eggs, egg coffee, and fish sauce coffee. We had hoped to try the golden Pho pillow, but sadly, it wasn't on the menu. The coffee arrived first, with the egg coffee being decent but the fish sauce coffee stealing the show with its surprising caramel-like flavor. The lack of a hot option for the fish sauce coffee was a bit disappointing for me, as I prefer warm drinks. Next up was the dodging steak and eggs, featuring tender steak and delicious sauce accompanied by bread and butter. We loved it so much that we ordered more bread and butter to enjoy with the short ribs, which turned out to be the highlight of the meal. The texture and flavor were impeccable, especially when paired with the dipping sauce and pickled veggies. Overall, it was a satisfying experience, albeit a pricey one. While I don't see us dining here regularly, it's definitely a top choice for special occasions. Just be sure to reserve ahead of time, as wait times can vary depending on the time of day.
Glad we have a place that strays away from your typical Vietnamese cuisine. Their northern region style Pho was a nice change up…. Loves the small chillies you get ! Grilled Geoduck and the pillow rolls?? Amazing ! Great views
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Melanie Meyer
Loved every item!! Definitely order the fried rice, black cod, and the lemongrass pork belly!!Vegetarian options: Tofu and tomatoes. Garlic broccoli.
Recommended dishes: Lemongrass Pork, Clay Pot Fish, Garlic Bread
Satanik Royalty Records
Great EVERYTHING!! Coming back many times! Recommend the black cod and the egg fried rice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
marrico gordon
Fire! Best fried rice and garlic broccoli. State of the art bathroom. Cutting edge technology, and they have robots that carry dishes!Vegetarian options: Mushroom pho, fried rice and garlic broccoli.
Nestled in the heart of Renton, Anchovies and Salt boasts a stunning location with breathtaking views that could easily steal the spotlight. Situated against a picturesque backdrop, this restaurant offers a promising setting for a memorable dining experience. However, while the grandeur of the location sets high expectations, the food quality falls slightly short.The ambiance at Anchovies and Salt is undeniably charming, with a sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere. The interior décor complements the natural beauty outside, creating an inviting space for patrons to unwind and enjoy their meal. The service provided by the staff is impeccable, with attentive and friendly waitstaff ensuring that every need is met promptly.Despite the positive aspects, the food quality doesn't quite measure up to the restaurant's grandeur. While the menu boasts an array of enticing options, the execution falls short of expectations. Dishes lack the finesse and flavor one would anticipate, leaving room for improvement in terms of taste and presentation.Another aspect that may disappoint diners is the portion sizes relative to the price. The servings are notably small for the cost, leaving some guests feeling unsatisfied. While quality often justifies price, in this case, the disparity between portion size and price may leave patrons wanting more value for their money.Furthermore, parking can pose a challenge for those visiting Anchovies and Salt. Finding a spot nearby can be somewhat difficult, especially without opting for paid parking. This inconvenience may deter some potential customers, particularly those unwilling to navigate the search for parking.On a positive note, the ordering system is user-friendly, making the dining experience hassle-free. Guests can easily navigate the menu and place their orders without any confusion, streamlining the process and ensuring efficiency.In conclusion, Anchovies and Salt offers a satisfying dining experience with its beautiful location, good ambiance, and attentive service. However, there is room for improvement, particularly in the realms of food quality, portion sizes, and parking accessibility. Despite these shortcomings, the overall experience remains enjoyable, making it a worthwhile destination for those seeking a pleasant meal with a view.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
This place was amazing! Life altering. The kind of place you just have to bring all your friends to show them. Good work you guys.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Tai
The service staff is good and enthusiastic. The surrounding scenery was beautiful and the manager gave me a delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We enjoyed the drinks, food and view at Happy Hour. Bar staff were friendly. Nice happy hour menu: lemongrass clams, bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in grape leaves).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very neat new Vietnamese restaurant across from Coulon Park on Lake Washington Blvd, which means the restaurant is nice, pretty upscale, and there's a fantastic view of the lake. Now it's upscale but still a family friendly establishment. We brought 3 kids and felt a bit bad cause they were running around but the staff was very nice about it. The kiddos loved the robots that helped deliver your food and pick up dirty dishes. They have large tables that accommodate large parties, as well as a bar. Now the food, I see there's mixed reviews on here but I found the food fairly authentic with some dishes that had a nice twist. Now I agree with some of the reviews that say some dishes are overpriced and small, I.e the shaking beef lacked flavor and didn't contain more than a few cubes or beef. The water spinach was rolled up into balls and was more bite sized appetizers than a shared veggie dish to go with your rice/meal. My favorites of the night are the pho pillows - unique but full of flavor and delish! Basically pho noodles in little crispy noodles with beef and onions flavored so well. The beef was tender and fantastic. The crispy pork belly comes next and my favorite of the night was the clay pot fish. It had a bit of a kick with the Thai chili on top but flavors were amazing! The canh chua aka sour soup was also fantastic and reminded me of something my grandma would make as a kid. Great food, great ambiance. I loved it and looking forward to coming back to try other dishes as well!
Just being honest. Ambience was amazing with a beautiful view. They also claim to be the world’s largest Vietnamese restaurant; however, they may have the world’s smallest Vietnamese portions. The taste was full of flavors and presentation was well thought out. May be a tad too much sugar and MSG. Staff may be short as it took a long time for each item to arrive. Robotics servers were helpful but tend to be stuck a number of times. I know they are trying to go for higher end vibe. I would say they are close but not quite there yet. I would want to come back and try some of their appetizers but probably would not be a place I would come repeatedly. For this, I will leave a 3 star review.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Really wanted to like this place as we were in the area and the good reviews. Extremely disappointed in service, food quality, portion size and price! Their family portion size wouldn't feed a family of 1 in a Saigon hem. Food lacked flavor. Food quality wasn't up to par either. Their shaking beef used wagyu tri tip which really isn't a good cut of meat for this dish. None of the dishes were worth the price point at all. At the end of the meal, the owner or manager approached our table to encourage us to order more. We don't mind paying for a higher price point for food but it wasn't worth paying for more food when none of the dishes we ordered were satisfying at all. We had to go to a real Vietnamese restaurant afterwards to feel satisfied. Save your money and go somewhere else!
Anchovies & Salt Vietnamese restaurant has truly won our hearts as one of the best Vietnamese spots in the area. However, scoring a parking spot can be a bit of a challenge. While free street parking is available if you arrive early, it fills up quickly. There's also a paid parking garage option for those who prefer convenience.Once inside, you're greeted with a stunning lake view and ample seating. A sign proudly boasts that this is the largest Vietnamese restaurant outside of Vietnam, adding to the allure. We visited for brunch shortly after opening and were promptly seated, although most of the tables with a view were already taken.Ordering is a breeze thanks to the iPad on each table, making the process fast and convenient. The waitress kindly walked us through how to use it and offered her recommendations. For our meal, we opted for the Braised short rib, dodging steak and eggs, egg coffee, and fish sauce coffee. We had hoped to try the golden Pho pillow, but sadly, it wasn't on the menu.The coffee arrived first, with the egg coffee being decent but the fish sauce coffee stealing the show with its surprising caramel-like flavor. The lack of a hot option for the fish sauce coffee was a bit disappointing for me, as I prefer warm drinks.Next up was the dodging steak and eggs, featuring tender steak and delicious sauce accompanied by bread and butter. We loved it so much that we ordered more bread and butter to enjoy with the short ribs, which turned out to be the highlight of the meal. The texture and flavor were impeccable, especially when paired with the dipping sauce and pickled veggies.Overall, it was a satisfying experience, albeit a pricey one. While I don't see us dining here regularly, it's definitely a top choice for special occasions. Just be sure to reserve ahead of time, as wait times can vary depending on the time of day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Ribs, Steak Eggs, Banh MI Bo NE, Beef Short Rib, Garlic Bread
My boyfriend and I just got done dining here. I will say, the appetizers and all the drinks we ordered were delicious. My main dish was also delicious. It was 15 minutes after I got my main dish and we were still waiting on the wagyu pho for my boyfriend and we had to call the wait staff on tablet. It was then minutes after and someone (not our server) checked on us and told her the situation. At first, we were thinking the dishes came out after the other, but no. Apparently, the kitchen forgot about his order from what the server told us. By the time his food came out, mine was almost finished. The pho was nothing special at all; loaded with MSG and barely any meat. We were pretty disappointed. Will only be back for happy hour.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Anchovies & Salt Vietnamese restaurant has truly won our hearts as one of the best Vietnamese spots in the area. However, scoring a parking spot can be a bit of a challenge. While free street parking is available if you arrive early, it fills up quickly. There's also a paid parking garage option for those who prefer convenience. Once inside, you're greeted with a stunning lake view and ample seating. A sign proudly boasts that this is the largest Vietnamese restaurant outside of Vietnam, adding to the allure. We visited for brunch shortly after opening and were promptly seated, although most of the tables with a view were already taken. Ordering is a breeze thanks to the iPad on each table, making the process fast and convenient. The waitress kindly walked us through how to use it and offered her recommendations. For our meal, we opted for the Braised short rib, dodging steak and eggs, egg coffee, and fish sauce coffee. We had hoped to try the golden Pho pillow, but sadly, it wasn't on the menu. The coffee arrived first, with the egg coffee being decent but the fish sauce coffee stealing the show with its surprising caramel-like flavor. The lack of a hot option for the fish sauce coffee was a bit disappointing for me, as I prefer warm drinks. Next up was the dodging steak and eggs, featuring tender steak and delicious sauce accompanied by bread and butter. We loved it so much that we ordered more bread and butter to enjoy with the short ribs, which turned out to be the highlight of the meal. The texture and flavor were impeccable, especially when paired with the dipping sauce and pickled veggies. Overall, it was a satisfying experience, albeit a pricey one. While I don't see us dining here regularly, it's definitely a top choice for special occasions. Just be sure to reserve ahead of time, as wait times can vary depending on the time of day.
Restaurantji Recommends
Golden Pho Pillows (Vegan) were AMAZING!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Glad we have a place that strays away from your typical Vietnamese cuisine. Their northern region style Pho was a nice change up…. Loves the small chillies you get ! Grilled Geoduck and the pillow rolls?? Amazing ! Great views
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Loved every item!! Definitely order the fried rice, black cod, and the lemongrass pork belly!!Vegetarian options: Tofu and tomatoes. Garlic broccoli.
Recommended dishes: Lemongrass Pork, Clay Pot Fish, Garlic Bread
Great EVERYTHING!! Coming back many times! Recommend the black cod and the egg fried rice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fire! Best fried rice and garlic broccoli. State of the art bathroom. Cutting edge technology, and they have robots that carry dishes!Vegetarian options: Mushroom pho, fried rice and garlic broccoli.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pho Tai