Sixty2 on Wharf, European dining in Salem
Written by Mr. Salem on March 10th, 2008 3 Comments
Sixty2 on Wharf
62 Wharf Street
978.744.0062
Taking up residence in the former home of Bella Luna, Sixty2 on Wharf adds a European touch to this seafood saturated area.
Sixty2 on Wharf has a prime location which will undoubtedly pay huge dividends in the spring, summer and throughout tourist season. From outside we see an inviting, well-stocked bar and plenty of dining area. Upon entering, we were greeted by a hostess and promptly seated. The back wall of the semi-circular room was painted red with some sort of hand-painted design and built in frames, which couldn’t contain the artists vision.
Our server (not yet fully familiar with the one page menu) was attentive and did her best to be pleasant. The restaurant felt full while less than half of the tables were occupied. We were disenchanted to learn (after ordering) that for an establishment with this much hype, they still did not have their full liquor license and can only serve beer and wine (a growing trend here in Salem).
Forgoing pre-dinner cocktails we focused on our starter, lobster potato gnocchi ($15). Chunky lobster claw pieces in a light cream sauce with a fresh potato gnocchi. This starter was small on portion size but big on taste. The chef should feel confident in the gnocchi and winter lobster and be less heavy-handed with the salt.
Entree was hand-rolled garganelli with braised duck ($21) which was delicious. The al dente pasta absorbed some of the duck flavor, and the adequate portion size complimented this rich dish. Our medium-rare ribeye ($25) arrived well-done but our server promptly brought it back to the kitchen. A few minutes later a new steak arrived (along with the manager) perfectly prepared.
Dessert allowed Sixty2 on Wharf to shine. The warm toffee pudding ($8) was akin to a flowerless chocolate cake and served with home made whipped cream. Cappachino and espresso topped it off.
Once we got what we ordered we were quite happy with it, although everything (except dessert) could do with less salt. We noticed other tables sending back some dishes but are unsure of what their issues were. The staff was always friendly and the restaurant clean and well-maintained. Don’t expect to get out for under $100 for a dinner for two.
Atmosphere: C
Drinks: n/a
Food: A
Value: n/a
Overall: B
Tags: restaurant
I agree with most of your comments. We visited there last week and they now have a full bar license and their drinks are very generous. I ordered lamb and although it was “good” it was not great. Everyone else enjoyed their dinners and agreed all was good but not exceptional. The deserts are to die for though. Overall I would give this place a “B” for food and an “A” for drinks.
We visited about 6 weeks after they opened, happened by and thought why not? Given that we didn’t have a reservation, the hostess was very friendly and said it would only be a 15-20 minute wait….the dining room was a bit noisy, they seem to fit alot of people in a fairly tight space. So we opted for the small tables and couches in the bar. We had appy’s, wine and dinner. The tapas were nice, some different ideas used, all in all, tasty. We both loved our dinners, the scallop dish is particularly delicious. I didn’t find that the food was oversalted, as you had mentioned, but I think everyone’s tastes differ in that department. They had a nice wine list, although I thought $11 for a glass of Napa Valley cabernet was pushing it.
Altogether, we enjoyed the place, the service was slow, but we took it in stride, taking into consideration that they were still new, and the place was packed at 8pm on a Friday night; so we had another glass of wine. I would give the wine list a B+, the food an A-, atmosphere B+, service C.
For us it was a first visit and we have no complaints at all. Since it was during the morning hours on a Sunday we had the brunch. The food and the place were to our liking. As a starter we had the fresh fruit bowl and it was delicious. Never had eggs benedict that tasted better! My husband had the steak and eggs and he especially loved the perfectly cooked steak.
Service was just fine-also liked getting lump sugar instead of the small bags.
Food gets an unequivable A, service B, and atmosphere B.