Brian Kennett
Amateur Chef and Boozy Traveling Foodie Extraordinaire
Sea Fire Salt Restaurant Review: Desaru's Finest Steakhouse? Read on, folks...
Sea Fire Salt Restaurant: A review of Desaru, Malaysia’s top restaurants. So close to the sea that a rogue wave might season your soup (and likely it would need it), Sea.Fire.Salt at Anantara Desaru Coast looked so good online. This beachfront restaurant looked so promising to not just offer a meal, but where the ocean breeze and wafting cool toonz (we had to ask for them to turn on some music) would compete with the aroma of grilled seafood and sizzlin’ steaks.
As you know we don’t post bad reviews, there’s no point, we tend to promote only our recommendations. But, I feel the need to for this one: The name is Sea (given), Fire (I witnessed the open-kitchen), Salt: of the latter there was a complete lack of Salt, or seasoning in all dishes apart from the smoked Carpaccio. We even had to ask THREE times for salt, at a restaurant that has that very seasoning in it’s very own name…
I really thought this restaurant meant business when it’s got punctuation in its name — Sea.Fire.Salt. But no, this is the rather swish beachfront restaurant at Anantara Desaru Coast, was a little disappointing and to be honest I couldn’t wait to finish up and get back to our hotel.
Nonetheless, it was beautiful. The kind of place where you can sip wine or an icy cold beer, watching the sun set like it’s trying to impress you. Sadly, the sunset was unlike the food: apart from one dish which was outstanding. The Apple Smoked Beef Carpaccio. I’d come back just for that, a stunner of a dish.
Sea.Fire.Salt Desaru Review: Table of Contents
Setting the Scene: Beachfront Bliss at Sea Fire Salt Restaurant
The ambiance here is one of tropical seaside and coastal elegance: it really is beautiful. With open-air seating that allows the sea breeze to mingle with the scent of sizzling seafood and steaks, it’s the kind of place where you can kick off your flip flops and let the sand tickle your toes as you sip on chilled libations. The view? Absolutely Instagram-worthy, especially during sunset when the sky tends to turn into a canvas of oranges and pinks. But, the house flies, man alive the house flies: shocking!!!
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Menu: what did we eat today...?
This is why I feel the need to blog this negative blog. It is stated that one of the unique features of Sea.Fire.Salt is their selection of flavoured salts: as stated I asked THREE times for salt to actually season my dishes myself. Where was this mythical selection I was expecting? What turned up was the little white salt cellar you get at breakfast. Even then I had to take bottom off to get the table salt out, and then use a fork to push away all the dry rice that was stopping it going damp. Disappointing.
Apparently they have garlic thyme to coconut, sriracha to blue cheese, which would mean these salts are more than just seasoning. Like imagine some blue cheese salt on a medium-rare steak… But, sadly, the only salt we were getting delivered was by the beautiful sea breeze that also wafted in swarms of flies (like continuous swarms), and we had to ask for one those spinning things to keep those at bay.
Tuna & Caviar @ RM 78: Sea Fire Salt Menu
Tuna & Caviar: Tuna Tartar | Avruga Caviar | Japanese Cucumber | Shallots | Creme Fraiche | Baby Cress | Mashed Avocado | Spring Onion. Wifey’s choice. She gave this an OK on the taste. I’ll give it a big thumbs up on the plating. Great job on that.
Foie Gras & Truffle Brule, served with Brioche Toast. I love foie gras, but this has no taste. I could not make out any truffle flavour in there, and, again, no seasoning. It just didn’t do it for me: severe disappoint, having spotted this on the menu which dragged us to the restaurant in the first place.
Wagyu Beef Tartare: Table Side Service wih Gherkin | Shallot | Quail Egg Yolk | Parsley | Dijon Mustard | Rye Bread. Oh dear, tasteless, and no seasoning. I reflect back now to the Tartares of Griglia and Skirt, and then back to this version which would not even make it on the same short list. Oh yeah, and no table-side service, so can’t even comment on what is supposed to be either.
Apple Wood Smoke Beef Carpaccio @ RM 88: Sea Fire Salt Desaru Menu Cost
Apple Wood Smoke Beef Carpaccio: Marinated Beef | Petit Salad | Black Olive Grains | Olive Oil Powder | Mustard Ice Cream. This bad boy, however, was killer. Whoever made this in the kitchen be super-proud because this was truly and absolutely heavenly. I’ll come back just for this. This was totally killer!!! If you took a bite of all the ingredients together listed above it was magical. Flavour pops and textures going off all over the place.
A little food theatre too, as it arrived covered in a dome with all that lovely apple wood smoke, and then the server lifts and wafts and you can’t help but get excited about what you’re going to now eat. Totally amazing dish, which make me even more confused about why all the others were so sub-standard in comparison… I loved this so much I will rate this dish alone, as above… Delicious!!! One of, if not the, best I have ever had!!!
Beef Wellington @ RM 308: Sea Fire Salt Desaru Menu Cost
Beef Wellington, Chef recommendation: Honey Root Vegetable | Jus (allow 45-minute for cooking). Just so very average, again devoid of salt and seasoning, and a price that is CRAZY… A slice at Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen is SGD $68 and is totally gorgeous, this version at Sea.Fire.Salt. Desaru is SGD $98. All I can say is, I liked the pastry, flaky and gooey chewy all in one: awesome, and that’s that.
Sea.Fire.Salt Desaru Photos
It is beautiful here at the Anantara. We might come for a staycation, have some fun on the beach, and have a Sea.Fire.Salt. Brunch. But, maybe ordering three portions of the Apple Wood-Smoked Beef Carpaccio only…
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Review: Voice of the customers...
Our experience was just OK, so it’s worth noting that some other patrons have had mixed feelings as well. One reviewer mentioned, “Food are mediocre, with stale fish dish, soft mushy scallops and way overpriced lobsters which i had bigger prawns than. Servers try their best but are severely undertrained. Get ready for battle royale with flies. No signs of blue lights for flies in dining area, only in kitchen. Asked for table fly swatter but gave it another table instead and told us no more. Seems like only 2 were available for a restaurant that is infested with flies..”
However, another guest raved about the ambiance, stating, “Good food, great service, and happy smiles! Watch our guest rave about the veg and non-veg delights at Sea Fire Salt — where every meal is first-class.”
It seems that experiences here massively vary, and I totally get that. This review is only our perspective on this day. Who knows if we went back the next day it would be different: maybe even the flies would have gone on vacation?
So, I suggest, it’s best to go with an open mind and perhaps a backup plan: our back up plan was to exit back to our hotel as quickly as possible, the Four Points Sheraton, and get some much better priced food and drinks, and food with seasoning, like their infamous fourteen hour braised beef cheeks: WOOF!!!
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Menu
Voice of the Restaurant (or, rather, the voice of GenAI): Sea Fire Salt Desaru Review
Embark on a refined culinary journey (GenAI) at Sea Fire Salt, where the art of grilling meets the finest ingredients and the rich flavors of gourmet salts. Delight in perfectly seared specialties, premium cuts, and bold, expertly crafted flavors that awaken the senses. Whether you’re indulging (GenAI) in a signature dish or discovering a new favorite, every bite is designed to elevate your dining experience into something truly unforgettable.
Sincerity of messaging is now dangling by a thread… I asked GenAI: “Give me two lines on Sea.Fire.Salt. Desaru restaurant that just sums it up…” And here it comes, do you now feel the same lack of belief in any written messaging in their menus and promotional social media: “Sea.Fire.Salt. takes you on a bold culinary journey by the beach, serving up an irresistible array of seafood and steaks kissed by flame and sea breeze. It’s the kind of place where indulging isn’t a choice—it’s beautifully inevitable.”… SIGH!!!
They can’t even write honestly about themselves, they have to rely on GenAI to create their content = perhaps that is why our experience was just so damned poor this evening!!! Yeap, GenAI has ZERO TASTE BUDS!!!
- SEA – INSPIRED DELIGHTS
- Savor the essence of the ocean with the freshest seafood, expertly prepared to highlight its natural flavors.
- FIRE – GRILLED PERFECTION
- Experience the mastery of the grill, where premium meats and seafood are seared to perfection, locking in bold, smoky flavors.
- SALT – KISSED FLAVORS
- Elevate every bite with the finest selection of gourmet salts, enhancing textures and tastes in perfect harmony. At Sea Fire Salt, every dish is a celebration of craftsmanship, passion, and the art of extraordinary dining
PINCH OF PASSION | HANDFUL OF HEART | TOUCH OF SOUL
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Review: Final Thoughts
Sea.Fire.Salt a tribute to the sea, and dining with a view. My only vague memory now is MEH! Apart from the Apple-Smoked Beef Carpaccio: funnily enough the cheapest of our dining options for the dinnwer as well. I hope which ever sous Chef that made this, gets to read this: that dish was exceptional and I thank you for creating it. Simply stunning and one of the very best I have ever eaten.
So, what’s the final verdict on Sea.Fire.Salt.? If Poseidon ran a sea grill and steakhouse and had a thing for using Himalayan salt slabs to add delicious seasoning to his dishes, this wouldn’t be it. The menu alone deserves a standing ovation, it was what enticed us to travel there in the first place, but execution again those promises within fell far short, sadly…
Where was the blue cheese salt? Where were the salt-kissed flavours? Where were the finest selection of gourmet salts, enhancing textures and tastes in perfect harmony? Perhaps Angelina Jolie is doing a sequel to “that” film, and they were all on-set filming?
And, yes, you’ll need to brace your wallet for the experience. Back to Four Points Sheraton Desaru Mesh Restaurant for fourteen-hour braised beef cheeks please!
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Opening Hours
| Sunday | 12–10:30 pm |
| Monday | 12–10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12–10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12–10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12–10:30 pm |
| Friday | 12–10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12–10:30 pm |
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Restaurant Address
Is Sea Fire Salt Desaru Halal?
Despite it being located in Malaysia and the fact of having quite a good selection of ‘zero’ alcohol offerings, including wine: it is categorically not halal. Booze galore and no halal certificates.
What is the Sea Fire Salt Desaru Dress Code?
Smart casual I’d say, hey it’s within an island hotel. We had dinner and I rocked up in a nice shirt, shorts and flip flops. It seemed OK, and all around were dressed the same.
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Reservations
Sea Fire Salt Desaru Contact Details
- Sea Fire Salt Desaru Telephone: +60 7 828 0888
- Sea Fire Salt Desaru eMail: fb.ades@anantara.com