Really enjoyed! Started with their crimson 75 gin cocktail. Delicious and not too sweet. French…read moreonion dip was also delicious and a bit lighter than other places, which was nice. Vegetarian tagliatelle bolognese with eggplant and mushrooms was outstanding. Pasta was cooked a perfect al dente, better than most Italian restaurants. And there are several other vegetarian options available too. Service was helpful, friendly, and fast. Sat outdoors which had some nice shade on a hot day from table umbrellas and a nearby large tree. This was our first time going and we can't wait to try it again!

Came here for lunch today. The staff is amazing and def know what they're doing! We started with…read morethe pork belly special appetizer. Melt in your mouth goodness and great flavors. With the staffs help and managers coin flip I settled on the vegetable korma as my main. Intense and complex flavors melded in my mouth. Too much for one lunch so yay me lunch for tomorrow. Hubs had the steak frites. Med rare. Perfectly seared The au ju was delicious! What was supposed to be quick lunched ended up being few hours of meeting new peeps and having a blast. Can't wait to return!

First time in Salem and we needed a spot for some dinner before heading back to the city. Weather…read morewas hot and the idea of a lobster roll was heavenly. After walking by earlier, we decided on the Shanty for dinner. We ordered some of the fried cheese curds for an appetizer with a couple drinks and each got the lobster roll. The cheese curds were delicious and did not last long. The lobster roll came with fries. The lobster was great! Everything tasted fresh and I really enjoyed the softness of the bread with the lobster. The fries were not as great. Just something about them didn't hit like I hoped. Our server was great and the restaurant was busy but not packed so it felt nice and relaxed for our meal. The lobster roll is listed at market price so make sure you take note of that when you order. I think they were around $40 each which is a little pricey. We would definitely come back whenever we have a craving for lobster in Salem.

Place loons nice from outside. It's a tourist trap that pretends to look like a local bar. Food…read morequality is poor. Staff is very rude (esp the big old dude at the door). They have a "rule" that you should walk outside the building to get to the restrooms, and the dude is policing this rule since he has nothing to do. Need an extra bowl to split the soup? No worries, the dude will lecture your elderly parents his unsolicited opinions on how the soup will spill everywhere, so you shouldn't do it. Funny enough, the same dude spilled the soup all over the place when he was bringing them to us. Aside from the rude dude, prices are insane. We are not even in peak season, so they are serving the locals but their prices have a 50% or so markup from industry average. ($40 for a small and $60 for a large lobster roll). They have an automatic 20% gratuity on parties of 3 or more, so they get rewarded on their bad service no matter what. I highly recommend avoiding this dump.

Great seafood restaurant with a great view of the wharf…read more Food was tasty! Definitely recommend the lobster roll on warm butter bread with a side of fried potatoes chips. The calamari dish was cooked and seasoned very well. Service was great. We were seated quickly during mid afternoon, on a weekday. I love that there was free parking available right next to the restaurant. It is limited to 2 hours, which gives you plenty of time to walk around the wharf after you eat. I recommend trying it out if you're in the area.

Glad to have snagged a corner booth table on a busy saturday evening. Far into the restaurant it…read morecan get loud but this spot near the front desk was great. Our server, Reda, made helpful recommendations, corrected a sushi order with a smile, way to go! In addition to standard steak and seafood, the place is a hidden gem for sushi. Crispy spicy tuna is exactly as described while the booster shot maki was gorgeous to look at and eat with the assorted pipettes of house sauce. Crispy veggie mango maki is an interesting cross of mexican and asian flavors. If you are going with kids, one of the dessert choices on the kids menu is simple but effective for a coastal city--blue jello studded with gummy sharks and topped with whipped cream.

I went to Sea Level on the 4th of July with two friends. I shared a fried seafood plate and it was…read moredelightful. But moreover, one of my friends had stomach issues and the chef went above and beyond to make sure her food was exactly how she needed it. Our server was attentive, kind and understanding. The manager even came out to make sure we were all doing okay. He gave my friend a few tea bags to calm her stomach and was also very kind. The staff did wonderfully on a busy holiday. All in all, a great experience!

Have been here 4 times now and have yet and I have nothing but nice things to say. The service is…read moregood, the oysters are always delicious and shucked cleanly. The cold lobster roll is in my top 3 favorite lobster rolls and I eat a lot of them! The toasted brioche is really nice and the lobster portion is generous and filled with fresh, large, & tender claw meat. Very light on the mayo which I love. Tried the steamers for the first time today and they were some of the best steamers I've had. The broth is quite lovely. The view of course is very picturesque with the Friendship of Salem ship right across the way. Also adding a photo of the truffle parm salad & clam pizza from a previous trip. The clam pizza was fantastic as was the salad. This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants right now!!

Really liked the ambiance of this place. It's a fun rooftop overlooking Salem. Prices are expensive…read morebut you're in the middle of everything in town. Drinks and food were nothing spectacular but not bad either. I would still recommend if you're looking to hang out with friends on a nice day/evening.

This review is specifically for the rooftop bar at The Hotel Salem. It's a cool spot that gave us…read moresomething fun to do while we waited for our EV to charge down the street, but it definitely feels a bit like a tourist trap. The food is nothing spectacular, though it's not bad either--just kinda mid. We had the ceviche, which was decent for $16. The drink menu itself is really cool, but it is very overpriced. Because we had already had a couple of drinks elsewhere and were mostly just buying time, we opted to stick with water. The ambiance is easily the best part of the experience. It's a fun, lively rooftop bar that sits right in the middle of everything in town. It offers some nice views directly over the main pedestrian street in Salem, though honestly, beyond that, you can't see much else. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We didn't have a reservation and weren't thrilled with the seats we were given, but that's fair game for walking in. It's a neat place to stop in for a quick view if you're passing through, but be prepared for typical tourist-heavy prices for drinks.

This place is SO cool! We had several drinks and they were all delicious and garnished so…read moreelegantly. I had a hard time finding out how to get through the bookcase at first (it was actually pretty pathetic watching me try lol) but finally found the handle. The inside was so warm, cozy and had a sexy, cool vibe. Everyone who works there is super nice and helpful and I love the vibe of the bartenders' outfits (one even wore a paperboy hat which just fit with the style). I love this place and will absolutely be back.

Solid solid 5 stars, why isn't this the top bar? Love the Hidden Door, tried the small bites plate…read moreand artichoke dip this visit. The Benton's Old Fashion was smooth & smokey, a great drink. Leather seating, film noir backdrop w a twist of great recorded tunes and lighting, great service.

One of my very favourite spots in town. Sean, Sara, and Ryan are a dream - they make incredible…read moredrinks and, provided it's not too busy, are always willing to share about the thought process that goes into them and the new, unusual ingredients they feature. Creative, talented, and can handle the hell out of a rush. I am torn about writing this because I always want to be able to find a seat at that bar, but credit where credit is due.

The photos of this "speakeasy" spot and its beautifully lit up bar made me absolutely have to try…read moreit! It's not a true hidden speakeasy since the sister restaurant upstairs, the Dire Wolf Tavern, has signage on the street for it, but I didn't care - the drinks just looked beautiful, and the moody decor was so on trend for Salem without hitting you over the head in a touristy way. We walked down some pretty steep steps after having dinner at the DWT - not sure if there's another entrance or not, but seems a little accessibility challenged. We sat in some of the low down, trendy looking, cushy chairs, and had to order drinks at the bar. Table service would have been nicer, especially for what they're charging for a cocktail. I asked for a pretty drink I'd seen online in a coupe glass with foam and purple and yellow almost flower shapes in the foam, but was told it was from an old menu. No big deal, I figured as such since it was an older photo online. I ordered the Midsommar cocktail without egg white (was very excited to see Creme de Violette on a menu, but the flavor was more mild than I hoped). It was pretty good, and quite strong. I wasn't over the moon in love with it - I actually liked the drink options upstairs better lol - but it was quite good and made quickly. This spot would be great for a photoshoot, I'm dying to get a spot at the unique lit up circular bar they have. It started getting busier and louder later into the night, but when we first arrived it was nice and calm and relatively quiet. I'd go back to try more specialty cocktails, but for $20 including tip for 1 drink that was honestly quite small, it feels a bit like an overpriced tourist spot. Very fun to visit but not great if you want to be having multiple drinks. I'm glad we went and would try it out again for sure.

Food Review: Paddy Kelly's - Peabody, MA…read more If you're looking for classic bar food done right, Paddy Kelly's at 154 Washington St, Peabody, MA, is a must-visit. From giant margarita towers to loaded nachos and hearty burgers, this spot delivers on both flavor and value. Whether you're out with friends or family, it's the kind of place where you can kick back, indulge, and enjoy some solid comfort food in a no-frills setting. The Must-Have Dishes Kitchen Sink Nacho Tray ($17.95) - An absolute steal! This massive tray of nachos is loaded with grilled chicken, chili, tomatoes, onions, black olives, and jalapeños, served with salsa and sour cream. Easily feeds four people and is hands-down worth coming back for. 9/10 Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($14.95) - Crispy buffalo chicken with just the right amount of heat, paired with cool bleu cheese. If you're hunting for a great Buffalo chicken sandwich near Medford or Boston (seriously, where are the good ones?), this is a solid contender. 9/10 Smokehouse Burger ($14.95) - Stacked with BBQ sauce, bacon, an onion ring, and pepper jack cheese, it was a good burger, but honestly, the onion rings stole the show. Cooked perfectly crisp-- which so many places mess up! 7/10 Hit or Miss Steak & Cheese Egg Rolls ($14.95) - Filled with shaved steak and served with buffalo ranch for dipping, these had great flavor but were just way too greasy. 6/10 Pizza - Undercooked, but decent for the price. If you're looking for a great pizza, this isn't the spot. 5/10 Drinks: The Real Star Margarita Tower - Absolutely massive and perfect for sharing. You can't go wrong with this one! Giant Espresso Martinis - If you're a fan of espresso martinis, they go big here--definitely worth trying. Final Verdict If you want a true Boston dive bar experience, this is it. No frills, just solid food and strong drinks at a great price. Come for the drinks and nachos! - Food: 7/10 on the bar food scale. - Affordability: 8/10 - Ambiance: 5/10 (It's a dive bar--if you want a true Boston experience, come here!) - Overall: 7/10

Great local watering hole. People were friendly and staff accommodating. If you like nachos this…read moreis your place! The onion rings and Buffalo chicken sandwich were winners as well.