What are your happy hour hours?

Our happy hour is from 3 PM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday.

Do you have a food menu?

Yes, we offer a selection of small plates and snacks to accompany your drinks.

Where are you located?

We are located at 1696 Laurel St.

Can I reserve a table or area for a private event?

Yes, please contact us to discuss options and availability for private events.

Do you have a patio or outdoor seating?

Yes, we have a patio area where you can enjoy your drinks and food.

Reviews (650) 592-7258 Call Website Photos About

Johnston's Saltbox in San Carlos

Is this your business?

4.7 (1027)

Bars New American Restaurants Restaurants Restaurants with Outdoor Seatings

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About

Johnston's Saltbox, a premier New American restaurant, offers an exceptional dining experience in the heart of San Carlos, CA. Located at 1696 Laurel St, CA 94070, our restaurant is a haven for foodies and locals alike. As a Bar and Restaurant, we pride ourselves on serving creative, farm-to-table cuisine that showcases the best of California's fresh produce. Our menu features a range of innovative dishes, from seasonal small plates to craft burgers and artisanal sandwiches. Pair your meal with a selection from our curated wine list or craft cocktail menu, carefully crafted to complement our culinary creations. At Johnston's Saltbox, we're dedicated to providing exceptional service, a warm atmosphere, and an unforgettable dining experience. Whether you're in the mood for a casual night out or a special occasion, our New American restaurant is the perfect destination. Come visit us today and discover why we're a favorite among locals and visitors alike!

Johnston's Saltbox Review Summary

The summary was generated by AI, based on reviews.

Johnston's Saltbox is a popular spot for craft beer enthusiasts, offering an impressive selection of brews and delicious pub fare. Reviewers rave about the friendly staff, cozy atmosphere, and generous pours. While some mention occasional service hiccups, the overall consensus is that Johnston's Saltbox is a must-visit for beer lovers.

Review Rating Chart

Yelp: 4.5/5

Google Reviews: 4.4/5

TripAdvisor: 4.5/5

Facebook Reviews: 4.7/5

Untappd: 4.4/5

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Reviews & Ratings

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4.7

(1027 Reviews)

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Brendan -Local Guide

a year ago

Appearances are deceiving: a killer restaurant with a unassuming outside appearance but opens up to a truly special experience with an abundant indoor and outdoor backyard space. This is absolutely worth the trip to San Carlos to try this tucked away gem of a...Read More

Karen Rosenthal -Local Guide

9 months ago

Delicious. I don't like that they don't take reservations (annoying, get over yourself JS) but their food is freaking amazing. Will someone please give me like 10 of their scones to eat RIGHT NOW?Hakuna Frittata is wonderful; everything is wonderful. Get here EARLY on the...Read More

Jarrad Wilson

7 years ago

Johnston's Saltbox is incredible. We came here on a chilly winter night and it was packed... For good reason. We set up right under a heat lamp on the patio (they have blankets, too!), which was a perfect way to kick off the meal. Friendly...Read More

Virginia Huffman -Local Guide

9 months ago

A favorite place for brunch and lunch.Fun ambiance. Outdoor area is delightful. Service is mahvelous.Sometimes there’s a line. But. It’s. Worth. It!!

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Josh -Local Guide

4 years ago

Yum yum yum. This place is great. Creative food with fresh ingredients, nice people, good drinks, fun atmosphere. Always look forward to coming. I usually go for whatever hash they've made with vegetables and poached eggs and/or sometimes bacon or pork shoulder. Oh yes the...Read More

Randy Li -Local Guide

2 weeks ago

Amazing brunch place with a beautiful patio in the back. The menu changes frequently so it's hard to describe but there's always a unique mix of flavors. The dishes also don't weigh you down like traditional brunch, because they're stuffed with fresh healthy ingredients. The...Read More

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Tee Ponsukcharoen -Local Guide

5 months ago

I was floored by how beautiful the place and the food are. Arguably one of the most beautiful in San Carlos or even the whole Peninsula. Their salad creations look like cluster of gems. The fried chicken sandwich is crispy, juicy, and yet not greasy....Read More

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Jamal Zayyad -Local Guide

5 years ago

Wonderful dinner and weekend brunch. Food is delivered at a very high standard of quality. Always flavorful, fresh, and even plated well. This is one of my new favorite restaurants in the peninsula.For dinner they completely transform a simple chicken and rice dish into something...Read More

Audrey Kim -Local Guide

3 years ago

Delicious food! Beautiful outdoor seating. Had waitstaff check on us constantly and felt like they were trying to get us to hurry and leave. I think we sat for an hour, maybe 90 minutes total, including waiting for food. One person would check on us...Read More

David L -Local Guide

5 years ago

Great food, creative and thoughtful menu, casual atmosphere with a local, energetic vibe. They're almost always super-crowded and they don't take reservations so be prepared to wait, perhaps with a drink from the bar. A great place to meet up with friends for lunch (or...Read More

Jo V -Local Guide

2 years ago

The food was really really good, we had the pesto sandwich and the cauliflower starter. The only downside is standing in line for a super long time in the freezing cold to place an order. I really think their system does not work well where...Read More

Tommy Renegado -Local Guide

3 years ago

Kind of pricey but the food is original, healthy and good.However I was annoyed with the way they manage things at this restaurant. As soon as they bring you your plate they give you a time limit on how long you should be allowed to...Read More

Yaekyum Lee -Local Guide

3 years ago

Great place for brunchExcellent eggsGreat salads and great choice of sparkling waterI would recommend not ordering more than one dish with ricotta cheese

Anthony B -Local Guide

a year ago

Cute backyard garden seating and fresh rooftop garden-to-table ingredients with a rotating menu based on what ingredients are in season in their rooftop garden. Delicious food, great service, and cute/modern atmosphere. I got the Asian Brisket Bowl, as shown in the picture, and it was...Read More

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Luis Turrubiartes -Local Guide

5 years ago

This place has a very strong local following. The entire time I was there for lunch the line was out the door. Sat at the bar to enjoy a extremely refreshing pint of Guinness with a burger. Both just hit the spot so well for...Read More

Lin Zhang

3 years ago

This place is the BEST. It’s super artsy. The quality and creativity of their food is amazing. The ingredients are seasonal and very fresh. Also LOVE their interior/outdoor design, the serve ware, the vibe and the service. Highly recommend the french toast with fried chicken....Read More

Danny Kassenbrock

a year ago

Found a slug in my dish this morning. Didn't even notice until I started eating but I realized after you can actually see it in the photo I took here (zoom into the middle). Staff were friendly enough and let me order something else but...Read More

Food: 3/5Service: 2/5Atmosphere: 4/5

Kevin M -Local Guide

5 years ago

Probably the nicest place in downtown San Carlos. It is a bit far away from the majority of restaurants but definitely worth it to venture down. There is a beautiful patio covered plants so it is not too hot. Great food and great service. Mostly...Read More

Jennifer Faustino -Local Guide

3 years ago

Amazing food, the atmosphere is lovely, and the service is fantastic. During these crazy times I say Johnston's Saltbox has done a great job doing these smoothly. You order a head of time or before you get seated at a table if you are dining...Read More

Jazz

3 years ago

Wanted to love this place so badly, but had a HORRIBLE experience with the owner, Sean Johnston himself. I never leave bad reviews (this is my first 1-star) but the way Sean treated us was awful! After we were seated and received our food staff wrote down the time we were to depart (12:15) which was 30min after we received our plates. We thought it was odd that it was in bright red letters but understood that this place gets busy and so made sure that we were done eating at that time. At the time listed on the paper we began readying ourselves for our departure, but clearly we were not moving fast enough because as soon 12:18 hit, Sean came rudely through and stuck himself between me and my friend and reached past our significant others, angrily clearing our table. After he grabbed our stuff he said " done right?" And that was it. The guy didn't even have the social skill/manners needed to say "hello" or "thanks for stopping by" or "great to have you. It's getting busy so if you're done I'll go ahead and clear your table." Nada.Now for context, no one at our table was loud. No one was rude. No one was drinking or making a scene. There were just 4 of us who wanted to check out our local restaurant. We all ordered our own plates and all tipped. We also were super low maintenance. We didn't bother our server once between when we received our food and when we were rudely ushered out. We hadn't even gone 3 minutes over our time!It's such a shame that the owner himself is so rude. All of the other staff went out of their way to make sure we had a good experience, so this is not at all a reflection on them.As for the food, the chicken and french toast are a crowd pleaser here. Everything else we ordered was meh but admittedly, we didn't try much (just four entrees from the menu and 4 non alcoholic beverages). I got the frittata. It looks pretty so I'd give it a 5/5 for presentation, but unfortunately the taste does not match its looks. No one at the table liked it. So would avoid it.If you don't interact with the owner you may actually enjoy this place. Has a lot of outdoor space and seems friendly for dogs and children. Was thinking of leaving it a 4 star review but after my interaction with the owner, I'm steering clear of this place.Kindness and respect are importantJohnston's saltbox, looks like you're my first 1-star review :-/ the long wait for this place was so not worth it. Moving on...

Sylwia Lambert -Local Guide

4 years ago

Johnston’s Saltbox is a great local brunch spot, they don’t take reservations so arrive early or expect a wait. They have a nice little patio on the side of the building. The inside ambiance is trendy and the food is wonderful. Since Covid, we’ve ordered...Read More

Mimi Roosli

a year ago

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Courtney Colzie -Local Guide

2 months ago

Love this place!!!!!! Gerardo and hami are amazing! Felt right at home. Everyone was kind patient and really seemed to love it here. Very cute. The food was good but I think it could be seasoned a bit more. I tried the ribeye burger, I...Read More

Food: 3/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Bren Kenny -Local Guide

3 months ago

I loved the service and banter from the staff that served us and spoke with us when we visited. Fun, slightly irreverent, but on point with recommendations.We were early ( < 18:00 or 6pm for the military time challenged people) , so had our choice...Read More

Food: 4/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Steve Diamond

6 months ago

We are regulars here, and consider this to be one of the best restaurants in the area. The staff here is amazing and loyal both to the restaurant and to us customers. Dale has brought consistent levels of fresh creativity to the menu. And Sean...Read More

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Alfonso Perez

6 months ago

I have lived and worked in San Carlos for over 30 years and in all the restaurants in San Carlos - I can confirm this is where you will still be discriminated against in 2024.My wife and I came here last night to enjoy the...Read More

Food: 3/5Service: 1/5Atmosphere: 1/5

Bryce Ivey

7 months ago

My girlfriend and I visit here almost every Sunday morning for brunch. The menu is fairly limited but that just means the chef can really dial in the dishes they are offering. The menu changes pretty frequently which is nice if you go often. Always...Read More

Food: 4/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Ken Tidwell -Local Guide

3 months ago

Go early, hit the patio.Love the salads and the bowls.Dishes with loads of fresh vegetables, tasty sauces, and inventive prep are presented on an airy garden patio.It's a great little lunchtime getaway.

Food: 5/5Service: 5/5Atmosphere: 5/5

Levi Waschmann

8 months ago

TLDR: Don't order the Hash.I highly recommend you do not order the hash. In its current iteration is consists of a bunch of boiled vegetables and a few pieces of corn beef, lacking in any sort of crispiness or to be frank, potato, and covered...Read More

Food: 1/5Service: 4/5Atmosphere: 4/5

Lauren Firestein

a year ago

The line moves quick to order, and they have the brilliant setup of a staff member show you to a table once you order so there’s no stressful jockeying for a table. Lots of heaters so outside was plenty comfortable and very tall high chairs...Read More

Features

Service options

Outdoor seating

Delivery

Takeout

Dine-in

Highlights

Fast service

Great coffee

Great dessert

Popular for

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Solo dining

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible entrance

Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Wheelchair accessible restroom

Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

Alcohol

Beer

Coffee

Comfort food

Healthy options

Organic dishes

Small plates

Vegetarian options

Wine

Dining options

Breakfast

Brunch

Lunch

Dinner

Counter service

Dessert

Seating

Amenities

Bar onsite

Gender-neutral restroom

Restroom

Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

Casual

Cozy

Trendy

Upscale

Crowd

Family-friendly

LGBTQ+ friendly

Transgender safespace

Planning

Usually a wait

Accepts reservations

Payments

Credit cards

Debit cards

NFC mobile payments

Children

Good for kids

Has changing table(s)

High chairs

Kids' menu

Parking

Free street parking

Parking

Pets

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed outside

Other

LGBTQ+ friendly

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Johnston's Saltbox in San Carlos

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About

Johnston's Saltbox Review Summary

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Reviews & Ratings

Leave a Review

Features

Service options

Highlights

Popular for

Accessibility

Offerings

Dining options

Amenities

Atmosphere

Crowd

Planning

Payments

Children

Parking

Pets

Other

People Also Search

Contact

Johnston's Saltbox in San Carlos

Contact

About

Johnston's Saltbox Review Summary

Review Rating Chart

Reviews & Ratings

Leave a Review

Features

Service options

Highlights

Popular for

Accessibility

Offerings

Dining options

Amenities

Atmosphere

Crowd

Planning

Payments

Children

Parking

Pets

Other

People Also Search

Contact

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