The bit bar is a really cool place. Unfortunately I did not try the food but looks great. Stop in for a drink played some arcade classics from 70,80, and 90s great spot. read more

Really crappy customer service I'm really disappointed because the games and the idea was pretty cool

I wish Yelp had half stars. 3 Stars feels kind of harsh, but 4 is off the mark. I've been to Bit Bar now a couple times, it's the kind of place you want to like and see succeed in Salem. Bit Bar has taken over the space that A&B Burgers had and they've brought in video games and a few long tables. It still has a similar set up with the bar cramped a bit on the far corner and an odd flow to the restaurant. This is as much a function of the space than anything else. The menu for Bit Bar is a mix of bar food and fusion options. There's also a burger which comes either pretty standard or as an Elk Burger with a Cronut bun. There's a "happy hour" menu which adds things like chorizo bon mi. The tough thing about the menu is it feels like there are more 'cleaver' options than standbys and my experience with things like the chorizo bon mi weren't that great. The biggest issue I've had with bit bar is the food. The first time I came in, I ordered the poke tacos. They came out horridly, under filled with tuna that just didn't look fresh, along with grossly underripe mango and picked jicama. The tacos were dry, unappealing, and I should have sent them back. I paid for that fact the next day with notable digestion issues. I really wanted to give Bit Bar another go, so I went back with my son. I ordered off the happy hour menu and got the chorizo bon mi, and my son got the burger. The chorizo bon mi wasn't great, not only did not not work as a dish, but the amount of chorizo really didn't fit the bun. It wasn't as bad as the poke tacos, but it was a solid Meh. My son enjoyed the burger, which he felt was better than A&B's burgers. Unfortunately, again the next day I had digestion issues, which makes me wonder if there's an issue in the kitchen or prep area. We also had one of the Bit Bar's scratch made beef stick (slim jim) which was well done. Overall the food is a bit pricey for what you're getting, especially the poke tacos at $15, I felt like I really wasn't getting what I paid for. I didn't order beer, but Bit Bar does have a solid selection of microbrews both on draft and in can. They also hire very competent bartenders and many of the drinks I've seen served look good. The staff is good, friendly, and competent. The bar draws a nice crowd and the long tables fit the vibe well. Outside the food, 3 stars feels a bit too harsh, but the food issues aren't trivial and there's clearly a need for some real attention to the cold prep area as it's clearly not getting properly cleaned. It's still early for Bit Bar, they haven't been open long, and so I'm hopeful they'll fix some of their issues. I think if they stopped being cute with fusion dishes that don't work and really nail some good pub food, this place could really be a great part of the Salem scene. read more

Marvelous! Ate here today with my wife for lunch. Great vibe and concept. Awesome food, and terrific, local, beer list. Had the elk burger (served on a croissant donut!) and it was soooo good. Juicy and filled with flavor. It came with flat French fry wedges that were excellent. For an app, we got the seared jalapeño tuna, not on the menu, but recommend by one of the bartenders. Great! Staff and management were super friendly and helpful. Oh, we had a blast playing the old school video games as well! Really fun spot, with quality food! read more

This is my favorite restaurant and I was so excited to bring my husband and family. First I want to say our waitress and the bartender were AMAZING! The food was somewhat good deff over priced tho, 8 dollars for a legit Ellio's pizza. What upsets me the worst was the host was beyond RUDE and one of the workers was very nasty to our children on MULTIPLE occasions. Sadly I know Covid is a difficult time but doesn't look like we'll ever be back :( read more

I really wanted to like this place. Fun concept, but the food really was god-awful. We were there on Sunday for brunch, so maybe the regular menu is different. Everything was from a giant prepared foods company like SysCo and fried in stale grease thay was not drained. Every dish had components that were straight out of the freezer. Only time I ever left bacon uneaten anywhere. Otherwise, though, nice atmosphere and fun to see the old game machines. I'd suggest you go for a beer and games, but not order food. read more

It was a fun place that got us out of the touristy area. Food was tasty pub food, and games were a cool diversion. It was so nice to find something different in Salem. read more

Bait and Switch pricing. They up charge $1 for for getting anything other than fries and they up charge $1 for Cheddar Cheese that's advertised on the burgers! An Elk Burger gets up charged to $17 though it claims to come with cheddar and the regular burger gets up charged to $15. All the orders were wrong except for the simple chix fingers and fries. We were not advised of the up charge for the items considered "substitutions", simply asked if we wanted fries, tots, or waffle. No napkins were given, we ended up getting our own. All the fries, tater tots, and waffle fries were cold. Speaking of waffle fries, you get less than 10 and considering there's a $1 up charge... Captain Coke is well liquor at $10 and we left more than half unconsumed. How are you charging $10 for a well (cheap) rum when even at expensive clubs/bars that's a $6-8 drink. Total: 2 burgers, burnt chix fingers w fries, up charge for 2 advertised cheddar cheese, and up charge for 1 Tater Tots and 1 Waffle Fries, plus 3 adult drinks = $97. FREAKIN EXPENSIVE lame food. The wait was a little long. There were only 4 people at the bar and 2 people eating (who seemed like they were waiting a long time to pay). We spent $5 on coins. Half the machines weren't working right. I wouldn't recommend coming here for anything other than craft beer (they have NOTHING for typical cheap beer, NO Corona, Bud, Blue Moon, etc... Waitress didn't know the beer menu AT ALL) and some fighting games. Most def the most expensive and disappointing barcade experience in the New England area. They get 1 star for having Marvel vs Capcom 2, which my local barcade (Freeplay Arcade, it's SOOOOO much cheaper and better) also has. read more

What a great hidden gem! Food is delicious and fun. The craft beer selection is on point and the games...you can't not have fun here!

Everything about this place is awesome. the drinks are great and so many arcade and pinball machines! pricing is very reasonable

If you've never been to an arcade bar, you should definitely try coming here and playing some old games! That beig said, Bit Bar was not as great as this other arcade bar I've been to, BUT I wouldn't say this was a terrible experience. There were a few good games and the outdoor patio was nice at night. However, I had the pork belly tacos and it wasn't that great...it was a bunch of nacho chips with sauce, slices of avocado, onions, and chunks of pork belly over it. Wish I tried the burger other reviewers recommended. read more

Food was average. Menu sounds fun but is inaccurate as 2 of the things we wanted are no longer available so a little disappointed. Very average bar food with fun twists. Must try the Tetris tots. Service was nice and attentive. read more

Go for the experience, I guess? The arcade machines(Ms. Pacman, Burgertime, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, etc.) are pretty cool, as are the pinball machines in the back. I would save your money on your food though. When our party of three got there, we were told that some of the menu wasn't available - "some of it" being basically everything. Since the grilled cheese, vegan nachos, stir fry and more were a no go, my boyfriend and I got the regular nachos for the table. They were depressing, even for bar nachos. The chips were stone cold, what little cheese was sprinkled on it wasn't even really melted - just little piles of sad shredded cheese - it was just a mound of sadness. Our friend ordered the s'mores lava cake and I stole a bite to try to drown the taste of bitter disappointment. Unfortunately, the cake was so dry I could use it as a dishrag. It too was stone cold - even the "lava", of which there was only about a spoonful. Our friend, who eats everything and anything, tried his best to finish it but ended up leaving it half-eaten. read more

Bit Bar Salem - Looked good, but there was hardly any lava in this lava cake. soooo darn dry - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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The Dude is a fan of the 80's, and all of its what-have-you. Lots of 80's tunes over the speakers and walls lined with vintage arcade machines make the place look and feel like that episode of Black Mirror called San Junipero. Without the whole cyberpunk thing, though. The food is really decent, with lots of in-house stuff like Mac and cheese bites coated in crushed Cheezits. The oat soda selection is great, with lots of Night Shift, Notch and other local beers. Plus, it's on the outskirts of all the tourist stuff. One of the best places to hang out in Salem. read more

Recently visited and was pretty disappointed. My host was great & the Tetris tots was pretty good but the place just had a very strange smell. Because of covid not all the games are playable so it doesn't leave many options. Definitely room to improve. read more

I brought my nephews who are teenagers and they had a lot of fun playing the retro arcade games (quarter per play). Their favorites were Tempest and Tekken 2. The food and drinks were very good as well. The elk burger was tasty and juicy. The pastrami chicken wings were ok; the flavor is only on the outside. A brine would help adding flavor inside. The bacon flavored popcorn was ok. Service was very good from host to waitress, Jennakasue. The place is small so expect a lot of squeezing by people. read more

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Great concept that works in the space perfectly. Outside seating was really nice. Food was very mediocre. Mac and cheese bites, mandarin chicken salad and Asian noodle salad, all disappointing and not a lot of flavor. Best thing was the Mexican corn. We may be back for a beer and video game but not for the food. read more

This is my favorite place to go! I planned a trip with my family to Massachusetts just to come back here again.

I was there on march 4 on a sunday night. They had a karaoke session going on. It was hilarious! The old school games made feel very nostalgic. They have super mario and old skool donkey kong! Also xmen vs capcom and mortal kombat!!! It is insane! I played tons of games. The people there were nice to me and i will be back if i am in the area again. read more

Went here a cpl weeks ago as a surprise for my boyfriend. We really loved the game selection,it was very nostaligic! Some of our favorites they offered? Tekken, Spiderman & Pacman. Service was friendly too. In order to give him the full experience I ordered us food as well. I found that although it was okay, the prices were far too high for what was being offered. For instance, I paid $8 for fried dough bites that were a little larger than a quarter each and came with 8 total: basically $1 for each bite. I would suggest simply getting drinks here & playing the games. I'll be back to do so! read more

Bit Bar Salem - My bf enjoying the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game at BitBar. - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Honestly, I did not have high hopes for the food, expecting it to be simply bar food. However, I ordered the Grilled Cheese Royale with Havarti dill along with a cup of tomato soup. The grilled cheese sandwich was amazing and the soup was very good as well. What really blew my mind was the cocktail I got called "Spirited Away". First of all, it was gorgeous. The bartender made this intricate design on top of the foamy drink with what I assume were the cranberry bitters. It was a very unique and memorable drink. The hubs and I then wandered around for a bit and played some pinball and other games. It was fun! On the night we went, it was bitter cold outside, but the Bit Bar was hopping with warmth and good humor. read more

I had fun here. They have a decent beer selection and a fair amount of arcade machines. I'd like to see more pinball machines, and I think they should have blinds or shades in the windows during the day (the glare from the sun made certain machines impossible to enjoy). But, no complaints other than that. Great spot to hang, if you're into arcade gaming, beer and/or cocktails. read more

This was awesome!!! When you walk in the worker is right on your left and you can see a bar, tables, games and more!! When I got my food it was very very good! One of my friends ordered their food. It was steak, mash potatoes and carrots she wanted more sauce for the steak but she said other then that it was good my other friend ordered chicken fingers with French fries and she didn't like the chicken that much but again other then that she like it. I ordered chicken fingers with French fries and I liked it I got Pepsi it was awesome!! I went to the bathroom and there was only 1 sink! So I don't like the bath that much but yeah. Totally recommend it! read more

We love Bit Bar! Great rainy day hang out with or without the kids! The food is consistently very good with lots of vegetarian and vegan options! Very good selection of local rotating beers on draft. We all love the games! The waitstaff is always very friendly and professional! read more

What happened, Bit Bar? I came here a few times when you first opened and the staff and food was great, I've been telling people how fun it is. Came here on a date a few weekends ago, 5pm. Stood in the doorway of a virtually empty restaurant for a few moments, waiting for the four/five staff people congregated at the bar to notice us and seat us. Wandered in, asked if we just sit anywhere? We were told yes, just sit anywhere. We sat... and sat... we were literally ten feet away from everyone ignoring us at the bar. Finally I called over if I should just come order at the bar, and was told someone would come help us momentarily but they were switching shifts (they were counting money at register drawers so this seems fair) and it would be just a minute. My friend and I decided on drinks, no one came over. Then we figured out our food, no one came over. I went to the bathroom and there was toilet paper all over the floors and draped over the bowls. The bowls were filthy, urine on the floors, etc. so I quickly washed my hands and did not use the facilities. I thought I should mention it to the staff, but when I sat back down at my table, no one had come for our drink order and there were three people behind the bar. A male and a female were chatting, and the (possibly?) bartender was on her phone. I stared. We stared, and waited. ...and walked out. All in all, a half hour of nonexistent service. SO disappointing. The bathroom was appalling, all it needed was some cigarette butts and a discarded syringe and it would've been on par with The Rat. read more

This is a fun place! You walk in and immediately see arcade cabinets lined up against the back wall with everything from NBA Jam to Galaga to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In the back room, there are more arcade cabinets but also several pinball machines. The goal here isn't to win tickets to redeem for prizes, but to enjoy a bit of nostalgia. There's so much character in those old machines and they all work very well. My one criticism is that the place is very cramped. There's not a lot of room to move around, and the place was packed. I went last night with my wife and a mutual friend of ours, and the food was very good and well-priced for the area. The cocktails and food are mostly video game-themed. I had a drink called the "Wednesday," which had bourbon, apple cordial from the nearby Deacon Giles distillery, maple syrup, and lemon juice. It was smooth and went down real easy. For apps we ordered the walking taco and the pretzels with beer cheese dip. As a meal, I got two "loaded" hot dogs which came in pretzel buns. The hot dogs had beer cheese, fried onions, and spicy mustard -- I personally could have done without the mustard, as it was simply too hot. Think the type of mustard you would get at Chinese restaurants. Everything was well seasoned and was the epitome of comfort food. The beer cheese was amazing on the crispy, well salted french fries. If you're a fan of mac & cheese, the mac and cheese bytes (hah) will not dissapoint. They've got a crust made from Cheez-its and parmesan cheese that makes them so flavorful. We will definitely be back, if not for any other reason than to play their extensive collection of arcade games. read more

Just happened to drive by this place when we were visiting salem. It was a quiet weeknight, which gave us more time to chitchat with the bartender. Unfortunately I can't remember her name but she gave us a lot of great information about both the bar and what to do while we were in town. Didn't get a chance to try out the food but the drinks were really good. I love all the gaming themed cocktails, the atmosphere, and all the games you can play. I also thought the coins for the games with the Bit Bar logo was a nice touch! Will be back when we can get back up to Salem. read more

Stopped at Bit Bar after dinner for a drink and some games. Game selection was good- galaga, donkey kong, ms. pac-man, etc. Enough pinball but missing some of the older classics. Drinks are overpriced. Had a live band playing 80s classics - they were pretty cool. The experience was good. read more

Ventured to this bar on a Wednesday night because I heard the games were fun and the food was original. Bartender was cranky, but helpful because I originally ordered a drink with matcha and she warned me that it was strange and I may not like it. The cheesy tater tots were shaped like Tetris cubes which was so cool, but the cheese sauce was a little gross and chunky. I got the Tsamma Castro drink, basically a watermelon mojito, which was good and sweet. Got a lava cake for dessert, really dry. Games were cool, decorations were cooler, but the food and staff were only okay. I'd go back for the ambiance and see if it's more fun on a weekend read more

By far the coolest bar I've been to in a long time. Great drink selection. The food is a little more upscale than you'd expect at a bar. The old school games are awesome and the pinball room is my personal favorite. The games are cheap and the drinks are affordable. Staff was excellent. I felt incredibly comfortable in such a fun environment. Can't wait to go back. read more

That place remind me my childhood. Mostly time, I do not have a time for drink and food. I just play game all day

I had a blast! It wasn't terribly busy for a Monday night with a few groups of people but that meant I could play any machine I wanted. 25 cents for everything but pinball, which was 50. The atmosphere is so neat with community style tables. Lots of fun named cocktails. I tried the Kappa Collins, Pooka, Ecto Chaser and the Ghost Eater. They were all well balanced drinks and properly made. They're not kidding when they say the Ghost Eater is spicy but it was delicious! You have to try the buffalo tetris tots! That were testing the fall menu and I tried the fried chicken blt, not a big fan. There's a change machine and atm on site. Lots of coat hooks and outdoor seating with a heat lamp tower thing. 10/10 can't wait to come back! read more

Food is okay. I've only experienced helpfulness from the servers. The atmosphere is also really chill.

This place hits trifecta of food, fun and service. That's a corny into but it's true. I was attracted to the barcade aspect. Nice selection of 80'90's and pinball machines and games. Full bar with local selections of beer. Food is great. Unique themed arcade menu with an attention to quality and detail. After 4th visit it dawned on me the Tetris tots were actually shaped like Tetris pieces. Menu changes a lot so keeps it fresh. Staff are amazing. Always welcoming and friendly. A must stop in Salem. read more

The Bit Bar in Salem is such a fun spot. The variety of local beers was amazing as were the well-made cocktails that they have for the theme of the bar. The atmosphere is light and fun. Their beer garden is certainly nice outdoors and if it's a nice sunny day I recommend starting your time out there. Once you go inside though it's time to play. They give. Lot of coins for just $5. There games are old school classics that were always fun to play, Galaga and Street Fighter being my favorites. The only complaint I have is the amount of space there is once it gets packed indoors, but even that is manageable. A must-go in Salem! read more

Bit Bar is a lot of fun. Local craft beer, cider, and spirits. Great food at a quality you might not expect to find at a Bar Restaurant Arcade. Retro Arcade games from my childhood. The Ecto Chaser cocktail reminds me of the Ecto Cooled Hi-C drink with slimer on it. So good. I had the shrimp po boy with the spicy remoulade sauce and kept dunking my fries in it as well. Yum. Its 21+ after 8pm which is awesome so I can come in with my husband and not have to worry about kiddos and enjoy a more adult atmosphere. My favorite game is dig dug and I got to play a lot because it was only 25 cents to play. There was also a ton of pinball and other cabinets. I'll be coming back soon and bringing some friends. read more

This place is so fun. The food is enjoyable as well. I recommend the chorizo corn dog and the tetris tots. Only negative, it gets a little crowded. read more

Went to Bit Bar on a sunny Sunday afternoon with the family. Had the best time. Drinks were named after video game characters and delicious to boot! Food was yummy and service was excellent. Great outdoor space in the beer garden. A good selection and variety of arcade games. All around a really fun place for adults and little ones read more

I really wanted to like this bar - it looks amazing from the outside- but had a terrible experience. About 25% of the machines were out of service. Worst of all was the bar. the beer selection was poor with only a small sampling of craft beers. The service was much worse with both rude bartenders that served us. Of the two, a bartender named Susie was particularly terse and even snatched up my change before I had a chance to count it and leave a tip. If would advise anyone to avoid this spot. read more

I love this place but the staff needs a complete overhaul. We were sitting at the tables the other night when a server came over and asked if we had a tab at the bar. We told her we did and would gladly close out and order through her. Except she didn't want that. She then went on to say , "are you going to be here all night? Because I don't want to get stuck here". She was insanely rude so we just stuck with the bartenders who were great. What kind of waitress doesn't want to make money?? It was one of the weirdest experiences I've had in a while. read more