Harden's says
Paul Foster, previously at Tuddenham Mill and a former Observer Food Monthly young chef of the year award winner, crowdfunded this diminutive Stratford-upon-Avon restaurant with his wife, opening in March 2017.
Harden's survey result
Summary
Paul Foster’s casual but ambitious venue has had a slightly tumultuous year with the loss of its Michelin star in early 2024 and the closure of a short-lived London business that doubtless took up much time and energy. Some diners either found it “not as satisfying or memorable as previously”; or “went to Salt with high expectations, having heard enthusiastic reports from normally reliable friends”, and found food that “at a cheaper and less pretentious place would have seemed OK but which could and should have been more exciting”. On the plus side, though, all diners still award good-or-better food ratings, and there are still encouraging reports (“contrary to some others, my impression is that the restaurant has moved from strength to strength, with the quality of the cooking being extremely good and the frequently locally sourced ingredients working together to deliver excellent and delicious dishes”). As of autumn 2024, the restaurant has moved to a tasting menu only format.
Summary
“Just sit back and enjoy the spectacular cooking that comes from a passionate chef’s imagination… and Paul Foster’s imagination is worth the journey for an evening’s adventure in wonderland!” – This “rather quirky restaurant” in a timbered building is “more comfortable” after a recent renovation, and “the location close to a number of historical Stratford sites also adds to the pleasure of dining there”. “Dinner is tasting-menu only, but at an amazingly good-value price”; and “it’s a testament to the standard of cuisine that despite opening only a few years before Covid it survived and has now expanded to provide a chef’s table and cookery school”.
Summary
“A treasure” – Paul Foster’s “phenomenal, truly inspiring food”, served in the “cosy rustic setting” of a timbered building in Shakespeare’s hometown, “goes from strength to strength”. The “whole team is engaging, knowledgeable and friendly”, and it’s “definitely the place to go for wine buffs – we tried several wines we’d never heard of and food pairings we thought we wouldn’t like but were delighted with”.
Summary
The “excellent and imaginative tasting menus” from chef-patron Paul Foster (ex-French Laundry, Sat Bains, Manoir aux Quat’Saisons) have paid dividends at this ambitious and tightly focused four-year-old. Opened following a successful crowdfunding campaign, it’s housed in a classic, timbered Stratford building with “very simple decor”. “Well worth the 40-minute drive”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Salt?
8 Church St, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6HB
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £89.00 |  |
|
|
|
| Dinner | £105.00 | |
|
|
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £20.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
8 Church St, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6HB
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8:30 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Stratford upon Avon
British, Modern restaurant in Stratford upon Avon
British, Modern restaurant in Stratford upon Avon
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Birmingham
British, Modern restaurant in Mountsorrel
