The Salty Otter | Sports Grill

After reading an article about a bunch of whining locals trashing a new business over a logo, I had to come here. I scrolled through tons of comments left by grown men and women, crying because they can't stand the idea of change. None of you can accept the fact that 99 bottles is gone, because it was perfect right? And since locals all think they know best, they should remember that 99 bottles had several health code violations over the years, a disgusting wet dog smell that was constantly complained about, inconsistent service where you'd sometimes be ignored or wait for a long time even when it wasn't busy. The menu wasn't updated for over a decade and they lost their craft beer edge and got beat by 515 and the red. And don't blame them closing on the pandemic either, because thy were losing money way before that which is why, unlike many other thriving businesses they couldn't make it through. Maybe if you almighty locals would have remained loyal to this establishment and held them to the same standards you're trying to use with the salty otter, 99 would have had enough money to stay open. This isn't a dig on 99 bottles either, I'm just stating facts because these negative reviews have nothing to do with salty fries, 40 minutes for a burger, lack of vibrance or staff attitudes. These negative reviews are a result of those with the inability to accept and embrace change. You're all going into this restraunt looking for reasons to hate it because it's not 99. And to the owner because I know you'll see this, don't change anything for these stuck up people. You have worked hard to get to where you are and to the people who say they understand because they've "been in the service industry", waiting tables or running a register does not equate to running a business. 6 months, even a year is still the "everythings new" phase for a restraunt and is indeed a time to figure out what works and what doesnt, which is being done. And the fact that I have seen you respond to every comment in a respectfull, honest way proves that you do care. You're not 99 bottles, you're the salty otter and that is okay, you don't need to try to fulfill others nostalgic, delusional fantasies. Good luck to you and hope this serves as a warning for people to think twice before recklessly leaving bad reviews.

I had a really great experience here. I ordered the Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwich with fries, and it absolutely hit the spot. The fries were battered and perfectly crispy, exactly how fries should be. One thing I really appreciated is their mocktail and cocktail menu. I don’t drink alcohol, but they still have great options so I could enjoy something fun while my girlfriend had a drink. It was nice not feeling left out of the experience. She ordered the Dark N' Stormy burger, which uses Gosling’s Black Seal Rum in the recipe, and she absolutely loved it. She also insists they make the best espresso martinis in town. Service was excellent. John, our server, was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was taken care of. The bartender Jess was a great time as well, cracking some classic New York jokes that had us laughing. Great food, great atmosphere, and a fun staff. We’ll definitely be back next time we are in town.

Great food, great atmosphere, and clearly a lot of heart behind this place. I saw some people leaving bad reviews because the logo was made with AI. So in the spirit of fairness, I used AI to help write this review. My phone used AI to autocorrect it, Google used AI to help me find the restaurant, and the internet used AI to show me the drama about it. Somehow the world kept spinning. What actually matters is the restaurant itself.. the food is great, the vibe is welcoming, and it’s exactly the kind of creative local spot Santa Cruz should be supporting. Here’s the thing: restaurants should be judged on their food, service, and vibe.. and The Salty Otter delivers on all three. Support creative small businesses, ignore the internet drama, and let the otters cook. 🦦

Loved this place! Atmosphere was nice, service was great. It's really unfortunate that this spot has gained negative attention. After my visit, I saw all this talk about the logo. Who cares? I had a great experience. One of the best nights I had this year. I will be coming back again!

We've been in a half dozen times over the last few months since rediscovering this location and have always enjoyed it. We (wife and two kids) find the food pretty good overall, though as vegetarians the options aren't quite as extensive as we'd like. The service, even when they were short staffed, has been great for the most part. Admittedly we visit a bit outside of rush hour (typically eat around 5:30 because of small kids) but the atmosphere is sometimes a bit...dreary. I imagine things pick up later on and the overal vibe is pretty solid.