UPDATED 25JAN24
Since we started as a pop-up and supper club many moons ago, we've learned that there is not always a perfect answer for every guest who joins us. Many of you have had questions for us about menus, dining with us, etc. This FAQ isn't exhaustive and we'll try to keep things updated regularly. Some answers may vary slightly depending on the menu we are running and staffing. To jump to a particular section, follow the links below:
Bookings & Reservations
I am having problems making a booking online, who can I speak to? Drop an e-mail through to manager@smokeandsalt.com or give us a call. We work hard to give our customers the quickest and easiest way of booking their tables, that is why we use Opentable to manage our bookings.
How long do I have for my table? Please read our full booking policy on our homepage for the most up to date timings depending on the number of guests in your party. Above all, please arrive on time for your booking, order promptly and adhere to your booking timeslot. We allow ample time to eat and be social, and aren't just trying to get you out of the room for another table.
How long ahead can I book? Tables are available to book two months ahead of time. We will only consider taking earlier bookings for groups larger than 7 guests.
Why do you need my card details? Simply put, some people just don't show up for their booking or cancel their table at the last minute. As a business, it is only reasonable that we recoup some of the cost of a no-show or cancellation within a reasonable cancellation timeframe. If you are unable to make your booking and have a genuine reason for cancelling, we'll firstly try to accommodate this by allowing you to to re-book with us at a later date.
Can I book a private event? We take bookings for large groups in our Bar Lounge area with enough notice. Fill out the enquiry form on our website or get in touch with us on manager@smokeandsalt.com to get a quote and make a booking.
Do you sell gift cards? Yes, we do: https://www.smokeandsalt.com/giftcards. Please note that gift cards cannot be redeemed for one-off menus or special events such as our Christmas or Valentine's Day menu. They can be redeemed all year round otherwise.
Food in General
Where can I see your menu? A sample of both our food and drinks menus are always available to view on our website. Scroll to "The Restaurant" section for all of our up to date menus. Because our menu changes regularly, please treat these as 'sample menus', the menu could be different to that posted on the website, on the day.
Who writes the menu? The menu is written and developed by each and every member of the kitchen team, rather than about just one individual. This keeps the dishes varied and balanced...in our humble opinion.
Do you have a kids menu? At the time of writing, we don't currently have a "kids only" menu. While not every child is the same, we are able to cater for most children with items taken from our current menu.
Sharing Menu
Do you offer a tasting menu? Yes and No. We offer a "Seasonal Sharing Menu" which is a selection of dishes we think best represents the season at the time. The dishes chosen will be at our discretion. We make sure that the price of the menu is reflected in the dishes we've chosen for you. The price is fixed, and the dishes are to be shared by everyone on the table.
Why do I have to share? Our restaurant and concept has always been about sharing, because we humbly feel that this is the best way to eat. It allows us to maintain an affordable offering, and it removes the faff of making too many decisions.
What if I/one of my guests has a dietary requirement/allergy? In this instance, we will tailor the menu to suit the person with dietary requirement/allergy as long as we know ahead of time. All others on the table will receive the menu as normal. We do try to take as many allergies and dietary requirements into consideration when writing our menus, and the earlier we are notified of any potentially challenging requirements, the better. We may not be able to serve you or a member of your group if you haven't notified us of a dietary requirement/allergy.
Do you change the price of the menu if there is a dietary requirement/allergy? The menu price in this case will reflect the food items served. We have the ability to cater to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, pescatarian and halal diets and do so to a high-level. We put just as much work and effort into these preparations as the regular sharing menus, and feel our pricing should reflect this.
Can I make substitutions to the Sharing Menu? No. Changes or substitutions are generally not allowed, unless as a result of a dietary requirement or an allergy if we have been notified in advance (see above).
Do you offer a wine pairing? Yes. We offer a wine-pairing menu for the sharing menu, which will vary depending on the menu at the time. Again, no changes allowed here.
Can you send me a copy of the Sharing Menu ahead of time? No. As the menu is seasonal, things may change accordingly and we wouldn't want to disappoint you if something you expected wasn't there. We do hope our sample menu on the website can whet your appetite in the meantime!
How many dishes do I get with the Sharing Menu? Our menu format is pretty simple. For the five course sharing menu, we offer: bread, two snacks each, one mid-course, a main & side to share, then dessert and finally sweet table treats at the end. For the seven course menu, we offer bread, three snacks each, two mid-courses, a main & side to share, a pre-dessert, a main dessert and finally sweet table treats. We hope you arrive hungry!
Feedback & Complaints
I don't like the style of service or the music, can you make any changes for my visit? While we would like to hope that we've created our own genre of restaurant we realise that, in some cases, expectation may not meet reality. We describe ourselves as casual fine-dining....all the consideration of fine dining melded with the fun and energetic environment of a more casual space. Our music is varied, and we want the experience to be enjoyable whether you choose to dress up or dress down. We will try to accommodate any reasonable requests where possible, however this may not always be the case.
Who do I talk to if there is an issue? Any member of the team. All feedback is appreciated and will be received judgement-free. We know that there are always things to be improved upon, and have regular team meetings to discuss what we may have done to have affected your experience. Please do open up... we'd much rather hear about an issue directly and immediately. Google and TripAdvisor are wonderful resources, although they preclude us from being able to offer to make amends at the time.
I'd rather call or e-mail to talk about my experience? Best to e-mail our manager on manager@smokeandsalt.com or visit the "Contact" section on our homepage for our phone number.