Culinary Culture Episode 6: Getting salty
Hey, guys. Today’s episode brings us to the saltbox, one of the most prominent seafood places in the bull city. Originating in downtown Durham a decade ago, it has since opened a second location in Rockwood but, in a twist of fate, closed its flagship store (not sure why). However, the other location remains & is still going strong as evidenced by the fact that the line was well-nigh out the door not long after I arrived. I’ve been talking about checking the place out for years but today I finally got the opportunity. So let’s break it all down for you.
There were only a few people in front of me when I arrived & it took a bit longer than it should have to get to the front (presumably on account of understaffing) but thankfully not too long. Placing my order, I found the cashier to be respectful & friendly as she had the cooks prepare my food. It gives you two options: you can either have your food served in a plate format or on a roll. I opted for the catfish roll & took a seat to await my order. Despite being relatively busy, I didn’t have to wait long for it arrive. I wasn’t keeping track of time but it couldn’t have been more than ten minutes.
I didn’t eat it when it first came off the skillet because it’s too hot but once it cooled down a bit, I had the time of my life. Let me explain how it works; they put your fish on a roll alongside some coleslaw & give you your choice of sauces. It’s unconventional, it’s unorthodox & I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whatever they did to that catfish, you can’t argue with the results as it was just bursting with flavor. I don’t know if I’d go as far as saying it’s the best fish I’ve ever had but I definitely did not leave that restaurant disappointed. I would say it’s at least in the top five.
The founder/owner, Ricky Moore, was recently awarded best chef by the James Beard foundation & I can see why. It seems no matter what you order, you‘re guaranteed a good meal. For this venture, the saltbox gets a solid 9/10. My sole gripe would be the prices tend to be a bit steep (which I think is due, at least in part, to inflation) but if you can afford it, it is definitely worth every single penny. So if you’re in the neighborhood & are feeling a bit peckish, you can’t go wrong with the saltbox.