In the cutthroat world of campus dining, finding a restaurant that breaks the monotonous chain-restaurant mold is rarer than a student’s perfect attendance.
Summer Salt, located at 30 East 23rd St., is the most ambitious ‘Bites with Ali’ journey yet. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., this spot is worth every extra step.
“Very California-style meets New York coffee shop,” Hannah McKaley, a Baruch College junior majoring in journalism, said.
This Flatiron District gem is the furthest spot from campus featured in ‘Bites with Ali’ so far, but it’s worth every extra block.
Summer Salt brings Southern California surf culture cuisine to New York with the kind of swagger that makes your standard campus lunch look like cafeteria leftovers.
The restaurant isn’t just a meal spot; it’s a culinary postcard from the Baja coast that lands right in the middle of Manhattan.
With about 30 seats, the spot offers a comfortable dining experience that begs you to eat-in rather than take out.
The true draw? Their fried fish tacos that are simply spectacular. Sure, the tacos are $6 a piece, but they’re huge and filling, served fresh off the frying basket.
McKaley has introduced the restaurant to her notoriously picky friends, and now they’ve made it their go-to hangout that rivals Chipotle. She recommends customers who are fluent in Spanish speak to the staff in the language; they become even friendlier and kinder in the portion size.
“Damn good fish burrito,” Dillian Henry, a Baruch student, said while offering his pro tips. “Try the Baja sauce. My preference is mission style with rice, not California with fries.”
For pescatarian students, this spot is a safe haven. Stacy Mendoza, a human biology major, raves about the seafood options.
“I love that there are plenty of non-meat protein options,” she said. “They have crispy fish, seared fish, and shrimp. The selection is so fire, all taste super fresh, and the salsas and Baja sauce make me cry but, like, out of love.” Her go-to is the Baja fish burrito, complemented by the flavorful salsa verde sauce and addictive chips.
A burrito or bowl will set you back $15.95 pre-tax, while tacos are $5.75 pre-tax per burrito. But here’s the thing: this is an investment in discovering more delicious spots around campus, not just another lunch.
The menu is a love letter to Baja cuisine featuring traditional corn tortillas, California-style burritos with tater tots, and flavors so fresh they’ll make you forget you’re in the middle of Manhattan.
Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch between classes or looking to impress a study group, Summer Salt delivers. Some students note that the portions are so large, you might just get two meals out of one order.
“That’s some economics for you,” Mendoza said, highlighting the generous portions.
Summer Salt isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a reminder that your lunch break can be an adventure. Your taste buds will thank you, and you’ll finally have a lunch spot worth the extra walk.
