The Salt Line

What The Salt Line does

The Salt Line is a multi-location, full-service oyster bar and seafood restaurant chain operating three locations in the Washington DC metropolitan area — Navy Yard (79 Potomac Ave SE, opened 2017), Ballston VA (4040 Wilson Blvd, opened 2021), and Bethesda MD (7284 Woodmont Ave, opened 2023). The restaurants specialize in New England-inspired seafood with a Chesapeake Bay focus, anchored by a raw bar, signature seafood towers, classic lobster rolls, and a full cocktail and craft beer program. The company is owned by Long Shot Hospitality, which also operates sister restaurant Dauphine's, and was awarded RAMW Restaurateur of the Year in 2024.

The Salt Line's core product differentiators are proprietary sourcing relationships rather than technology. The signature Dancing Molly oyster is co-developed with Harris Creek Oyster Co. and is exclusive to The Salt Line and Dauphine's. The restaurant is a member of the Dock to Dish Community Supported Fishery, which delivers wild seafood from small-scale fishermen within 24 hours and drives a supply-driven menu. Additional partnerships include Old Line Fish Company, the Oyster Recovery Partnership (shell recycling), and DC Brau (co-branded 'Sea You at The Bottom' Farmhouse Oyster Ale). The technology stack is built entirely on commodity hospitality SaaS — Toast Tab for online ordering, BentoBox for the website, Tripleseat for private events, GiftRocker for gift cards, and DoorDash for delivery — with no proprietary software or AI/ML capabilities.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer dine-in model with per-item pricing across raw bar, sandwiches, entrees, and happy hour specials (half-priced oysters Monday-Friday 3-6pm). Revenue streams span dine-in food and beverage, online ordering and delivery, private events and catering (including a Traveling Raw Bar off-premise service), branded merchandise ($25-$75 apparel), and gift cards. Customer segments are diversified across seafood enthusiasts, casual local diners, Nationals Park sports fans, and private-event/corporate groups. Pricing at the DC location carries a 4% operational surcharge; market-price items like the lobster roll ($42) reflect seafood commodity exposure. The company has earned sustained regional recognition, including a Tom Sietsema 3-star Washington Post review (2017), a Rammy Award for Favorite Gathering Place (2020), and multiple Northern Virginia Magazine best-of listings.

Name

The Salt Line

Legal name

The Salt Line

Website

https://thesaltline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Salt Line is a multi-location, full-service oyster bar and seafood restaurant chain operating three locations in the Washington DC metro area (DC Navy Yard, Ballston VA, Bethesda MD), serving New England and Chesapeake-inspired seafood with proprietary Dancing Molly oysters and Dock to Dish-sourced wild seafood.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Full-Service Seafood Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)

Keywords

• Seafood restaurant chain
• Oyster bar dining
• Raw bar catering
• Coastal cuisine restaurant
• Private event dining

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dine-in Food & Beverage Sales: Traditional restaurant revenue from full menu including raw bar, entrees, cocktails, beer, and wine at three locations
2. Online Ordering & Delivery: Takeout and delivery orders via Toast Tab and DoorDash integration
3. Private Events & Catering: Revenue from private dining room rentals, outdoor bar buyouts, and traveling raw bar catering services
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweaters, hats, and blankets sold through company storefront
5. Gift Cards: Gift card sales through GiftRocker platform

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Salt Line is a multi-location New England- and Chesapeake-inspired oyster bar and seafood restaurant chain operating three dine-in locations in the Washington DC metro area (Navy Yard, Ballston VA, and Bethesda MD). Its core offering centers on a raw bar program featuring Chesapeake and New England oysters (including its proprietary Dancing Molly oyster), classic seafood entrees, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch, complemented by private event hosting, off-site raw bar catering, branded merchandise, and gift cards.

Product overview

The Salt Line is a multi-location oyster bar and seafood restaurant chain operating three locations in Washington DC (Navy Yard), Ballston VA, and Bethesda MD. The core offering consists of New England-inspired seafood cuisine featuring raw bars, signature Dancing Molly oysters (exclusive partnership with Harris Creek Oyster Co.), classic seafood dishes, and full bar service. The restaurant operates as a unified brand with location-specific private event venues including The Essex and Riverwalk in DC, Chef's Table and outdoor bars, plus catering services through their Traveling Raw Bar. Additional revenue streams include branded merchandise sold through their TSL Merch store. The company partners with sustainable seafood suppliers including Dock to Dish, Old Line Fish Company, and the Oyster Recovery Partnership, and collaborated with DC Brau on a branded oyster ale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Salt Line - Washington DC (Navy Yard) Flagship oyster bar and seafood restaurant located at 79 Potomac Ave SE in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington DC, offering a raw bar, New England-inspired seafood menu, signature oysters, craft cocktails, weekend brunch, and waterfront dining near Nationals Park.
• The Salt Line - Ballston VA Second Salt Line location at 4040 Wilson Blvd in Arlington, VA, offering a full seafood menu with raw bar, private event spaces, and a year-round outdoor bar area.
• The Salt Line - Bethesda MD Third Salt Line location at 7284 Woodmont Ave in Bethesda Row, MD, featuring an oyster bar, spacious patio, full seafood menu, and weekday happy hour specials.
• Dock to Dish Community Supported Fishery Program Membership-based CSF program that delivers fresh wild seafood from small-scale fishermen directly to the restaurant within 24 hours of catch, enabling supply-driven menu items for oyster and seafood enthusiasts.
• Private Event Spaces (The Essex, Riverwalk, Outdoor Bar, Chef's Table) Bookable private and semi-private event venues across locations, including The Essex dining room (up to 30 guests), Riverwalk event space (20-100 guests), the year-round Outdoor Bar (10-200 guests) at Navy Yard, and the Chef's Table at Ballston (up to 12 guests).
• Traveling Raw Bar Catering Off-site catering service that brings a freshly shucked oyster and full raw bar setup directly to client events, available through The Salt Line's Tripleseat-managed private events program.
• TSL Branded Merchandise Store Online storefront selling branded apparel and accessories including t-shirts ($25-28), sweaters ($55-75), hats ($25-35), blankets ($40), and tote bags ($35), shipped within 3-5 business days or available for in-person pickup at Salt Line locations.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harris Creek Oyster CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner100% family-owned oyster farm between St. Michaels and Tilghman Island, Maryland. Partnered since The Salt Line opening, hand-delivering oysters weekly. The Salt Line and sister restaurant Dauphine's are the only places featuring their oysters. Co-developed proprietary Dancing Molly oyster brand.
• Dock to DishcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Supported Fishery (CSF) program started in Montauk, Long Island. Uses traditional methods for harvesting wild seafood. Provides The Salt Line with the freshest fish and shellfish directly from small-scale fishermen within 24 hours, allowing catch to drive the menu.
• Old Line Fish CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2015 by the Oyster Recovery Partnership as the Chesapeake Bay region's first Community Supported Fishery (CSF). Provides access to varied species of fresh seafood from the Bay and Maryland's Atlantic Coast.
• The Oyster Recovery PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit committed to protecting Chesapeake Bay waterways through the Shell Recycling Alliance (SRA). The Salt Line is a proud partner in oyster shell recycling - every half shell collected creates a new home for approximately 10 baby oysters.
• DC BrauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington DC's first brewery since 1950s with distribution in the National Capital Region. Partnered to produce The Salt Line's exclusive 'Sea You at The Bottom' Farmhouse Oyster Ale featuring citrus notes, balanced salinity, and Skipjack oysters from the Chesapeake. Only available at The Salt Line.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eddie V's Prime Seafood: Upscale seafood and steakhouse chain owned by Darden, with locations across major US metros. Comparable premium seafood positioning and experiential dining format.
• The Oceanaire Seafood Room: Upscale seafood-focused restaurant brand with multiple locations across major US cities. Comparable premium fresh-seafood positioning and full-service dining format.
• Legal Sea Foods: Established East Coast seafood restaurant chain with broader national footprint. Comparable seafood-focused casual dining model, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader menu.

Direct peers

• Rappahannock Oyster Bar: DC/MD-based oyster bar and restaurant group with a comparable Chesapeake sourcing story and oyster-forward menu. Operates multiple locations in the same metro as The Salt Line, making it the most direct local competitor.
• BlackSalt: Upscale seafood restaurant and fish market in DC's Palisades neighborhood. Overlaps on seafood-driven menu, raw bar, and fishmonger-style sourcing credibility.
• Pearl Dive Oyster Palace: Washington DC oyster-focused seafood restaurant with raw bar, craft cocktails, and a similar casual-but-polished atmosphere. Directly comparable concept and target demographic.
• Luke's Lobster: Multi-location East Coast seafood shack concept specializing in lobster rolls and shellfish. Comparable casual seafood positioning, regional expansion model, and DTC merchandise component.
• Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab: Upscale seafood and steak concept with locations in major US markets, known for signature crab dishes and a similar polished-but-energetic dining atmosphere.
• Hank's Oyster Bar: DC-based seafood and oyster restaurant with multiple locations and a similar casual upscale positioning. Competes head-to-head for oyster enthusiasts and casual seafood diners in the DC market.

Others

• Dauphine's: Sister concept under Long Shot Hospitality serving New Orleans-inspired cuisine. Useful as a comparable for parent-company operational scale and shared purveyor relationships (including Harris Creek oysters).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thesaltline
• Facebookfacebook.com/thesaltline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-salt-line

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Salt Line