Former head chef sues Salt North Tap Room over unpaid wages

A former head chef says he is owed nearly $50,000 after Salt North Tap Room in downtown Bangor allegedly failed to pay agreed wages and issued irregular, smaller paychecks. The complaint, filed Feb. 6, names the restaurant owner, Dane Morgan, and accuses the operation of a pattern of delayed and shorted payroll that several former employees say left them without expected earnings.

The plaintiff is identified as Jonathan Williams in some materials and as Johnathan Williams in others; court records should be consulted to confirm the correct spelling. Williams believes he is owed nearly $50,000 in unpaid wages, and multiple former employees describe a broader problem, saying the owner owed “tens of thousands of dollars” and frequently shorted them on wages and delayed their paychecks for weeks on end. Williams said, “This is not right, what he’s doing to people.”

The lawsuit and statements from former staff come less than a year after Salt North Tap Room opened at 16 Union St., in the space where Carolina’s Sports and Spirits used to operate. The venue marketed itself as “a hip nightlife spot and Caribbean fusion eatery with live music and DJs.” Former employees provided payroll records, text messages and other materials to the reporting process that appear to document disputes over promised versus paid wages.

Compounding operational concerns, a state health inspection on Nov. 18 found multiple violations at the restaurant. Inspectors noted that the kitchen “lacked clean food-contact surfaces and kitchen utensils, proper reheating and food temperature procedures, and date marking on food. The inspector also observed rat droppings in a store room and in the basement.” The state temporarily closed the restaurant weeks after that inspection; the exact closure dates and current health status should be confirmed with the health department.

Salt North posted a public response on its Instagram account, writing, “We’re aware of a recent social media post referencing Salt North TapRoom. We dispute the claims being made and are addressing all employment-related matters through the appropriate private and legal channels,” attributing that statement to the business. No additional public comment from Dane Morgan or legal counsel has been provided in the materials reviewed.

For restaurant workers, the case underscores the importance of keeping detailed pay stubs, time records and communications about wages. Line cooks, servers and other staff who experience shorted or late pay should preserve payroll documents and consider filing complaints with the Maine Department of Labor or consulting an attorney. For Salt North, the combination of wage allegations and a failed health inspection raises questions about management practices, staffing stability and regulatory compliance as the lawsuit proceeds and court filings are finalized.