A buzzy New England seafood spot is officially swimming its way to South Florida. Saltie Girl, the Boston-born restaurant famous for its cult lobster rolls and tinned fish obsession, plans to open a Miami location at Bal Harbour Shops in 2028.
The restaurant will anchor the luxury destination’s upcoming third-floor expansion. China Grill is still in the works to open in the next year or so. It marks Saltie Girl’s first Florida outpost and its third location overall. After opening in Boston’s Back Bay in 2016, the brand expanded to West Hollywood in 2022, where it quickly became a celebrity hangout and social-media magnet.
How a Tiny Boston Seafood Bar Became a National Obsession
Founded by restaurateur Kathy Sidell, Saltie Girl debuted in 2016 with a clear vision: serious seafood, a lively dining room, and a bar scene that matters just as much as what’s on the plate. Long before conservas became trendy, the restaurant was championing imported tinned fish and turning them into full-on dining rituals.
What began as a 30-seat seafood bar quickly grew into a national name. This was thanks to its seafood platters, caviar service, and a menu that moves easily from pristine raw bar selections to indulgent comfort dishes. In Los Angeles, that formula evolved into a martini-fueled late-night scene, complete with a now-viral caviar-topped dirty martini.
What to Order at Saltie Girl
At Saltie Girl, the order practically builds itself. The restaurant is best known for its overflowing lobster rolls, stacked high with buttery meat and served warm or chilled New England–style, alongside dramatic seafood towers loaded with oysters, shrimp, and chilled shellfish…