Saltie Girl is a compact seafood bar at 279 Dartmouth Street in Boston’s Back Bay, just off Newbury Street. Restaurateur Kathy Sidell opened it in 2016, and it built its reputation on pristine raw bar offerings, rich coastal plates, and one of the country’s most extensive tinned-fish lists. That following has since carried the brand to London and Los Angeles.
The narrow dining room puts guests close to the marble bar, where shuckers work through New England oysters and assemble towering seafood platters. Regulars order the lobster roll, served warm with butter or cold with mayo, along with the fried lobster and waffles and the creamy clam chowder that OpenTable reviewers repeatedly call a must. The tinned-fish menu draws heavily from Spain and Portugal and features sardines, octopus, and smoked trout served with bread and butter. Crudo, toasts, and sustainably sourced dinner plates complete the menu.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Seating is limited, so book through OpenTable well ahead, especially for weekend dinners. For walk-in seats at the bar, arrive early in the evening or on a weekday afternoon. Weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The kitchen politely declines modifications. Take the Green Line to Copley or the Orange Line to Back Bay. Afterward, walk to Copley Square, Trinity Church, and the Boston Public Library.
