Allow me to commend to our Minneaopolitan readers the Sea Salt Eatery. 

For those unacquainted with this refreshing destination, Sea Salt inhabits a quarter of the public pavilion in Minnehaha Park, a literal stone’s throw away from locally famous Minnehaha Falls.

I discovered the Sea Salt quite by accident early last summer, but it has been thusly ensconced for 4 years and has a devoted — nay, religious — patronage.  Plan to arrive 20 minutes prior to eating which will allow for enough time to figure out the stubborn parking ticket dispenser and make it through a slow-moving order line.  NOTE:  Parking is dispensed in hourly increments.  Make sure check your watch and replenish your ticket 60 minutes after arrival or the ambitious park police will leave you a lovely parting gift. 

To call Sea Salt “fast food” would be slanderous but once you do manage to place your order you can expect a fairly timely delivery of your food to your outside table.  If you’re lucky, you can lay claim to one of the tables that directly faces Minnehaha Falls which makes for a serene summer evening dining experience in the heart of the city.

Despite the ideal surroundings, Sea Salt’s real attraction is the light but ample portions of fish flesh.  I can rarely be dissuaded from ordering other than the simple “Fried Fish Basket” which is composed by 5-6 exquisite, lightly-battered fish fillets accompanied by coleslaw and a slice of melon.  No fries available or needed.  The fried fillets are not at all like the heavily-battered Cod one might encounter in a northern Wisconsin supper club on a Friday night.  The emphasis is on the flaky fish, not the batter.  You will leave sated but not saturated. 

The Oysters on the half-shell are as good as any in the area and I have been known to order an oil pan’s worth.  The Marlin tacos are also extraordinary.  You can read the entire menu here. 

The wine menu has some fun choices and there are several beers available both on tap and in the bottle — though the labels may not be overly familiar.  There is always a keg of Surly on tap.

The Sea Salt is open for business from spring to fall. C’mon get happy.