Restaurant: Seasalt Fish Grill
Location: 9901 Washington Blvd #101, Culver City, CA 90232. (424) 361-5222
Date: December 12, 2016
Cuisine: Poke
Rating: Very flat
I was excited (apparently prematurely) by the opening of this new Poke place just a block from Ramen Roll. By the time I got there it had been open a whole week or two.
Well, actually it was a tempered mix of feelings, on one hand having another quick tasty spot nearby would be convenient, on the other, poke is vaguely competitive with our concept — although after trying, I’m not at all worried.
Seasalt is very much a QSR (Quick Service Restaurant). You order at the counter and sit. The menu is a mix of poke and (mostly fried) fish. It’s actually a slightly odd mix.
The poke is sitting in tubs in that display counter. It looks non too fresh.
The decor is nice enough, although sloppy in style. Kinda says not much of anything.
Ahi Poke Salad. Fresh Ahi Poke, mixed greens, romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, edamame, sesame, avocado, carrots, green onion and a lemon ginger dressing.
Kitchen sink!
California Poke Salad. Fresh Ahi Poke, sweet shrimp and surimi crabmeat, mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, carrots and lemon ginger dressing.
When I read something like sweet shrimp and surimi crabmeat I think real seafood. Do you see any shrimp? I just see imitation crab. In any case, this bowl had the typical muddle of flavors that is typical of why I don’t like poke. The rice was limp and flavorless, and then there is just a bunch of mush on top of it that tastes like dressing and mediocre fish. Just so sloppy both visually and in terms of flavor balance.
Because of its proximity, I’ll come back and try something else — maybe. I’m not really keen too, but I feel I should give it a second chance with a different type of item. Although farm raised Tilapia is not going to lure me in!