After a year-and-a-half delay, The Salt Line in Ballston is finally set to open a week from today.
The seafood spot was originally supposed to start serving in spring 2020. The pandemic pushed it to 2021 while construction delays shifted the opening from the summer to the fall.
A PR rep says The Salt Line will open on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Construction on the restaurant at 4040 Wilson Blvd — including its permanent outdoor bar, which was approved by the County Board in 2019 — appears to have largely wrapped up.
Ahead of the public opening, The Salt Line is hosting some private preview events this week. It has also been training staff.
“Any activity in the restaurant at this point is part of staff training” the rep said.
The Salt Line is located in the tallest building in Ballston and is the restaurant’s second location. The other is in Navy Yard and was the Washington Nationals’ unofficial party spot during their World Series run in 2019, perhaps related to possibly-soon-to-retire Ryan Zimmerman being an investor and part-owner.
The new 3,800-square foot space in Ballston will include “ample seating” with both indoor and “al fresco” (outdoor) dining. It will have a similar menu as the Navy Yard location, including lobster rolls, clam chowder, rockfish, and oysters. Also, according to a press release, there will be “house-made pastas, an expanded selection of crudos, and daily lunch service.”
The kitchen will be led by executive chef Matt Singer and Long Shot Hospitality chef/partner Kyle Bailey, who once was the executive at the Alexandria-based Neighborhood Restaurant Group.