My husband and I arrived in Salem after a long day of traveling and just needed food. It was 10:00…read moreand their kitchen was still open. I had the Straw-brie sandwich (or something to that effect), but it was toasted, had strawberry compote and melted brie with arugula and it was fantastic. The service was great. The atmosphere was great!

Recommended to us by some locals as a great place for "tourists" to go. I can't agree, since the…read moretwo bartenders on duty were slinging drinks to their buddies while ignoring us. (They clearly saw me there; we made eye contact and the one guy wasn't even doing anything.) After about 10 to 15 minutes of waiting with no service, we were about to leave when a server finally came to our table. Since they were obviously busy and weren't keeping up with the crowd that night, we tried to order two drinks each so they could save a little of their time and we could relax without worrying about if a server was going to take our order again before the end of the week. The server very sharply said that he was NOT going to give us two drinks at a time, CERTAINLY not with drinks of this high alcohol content. We ordered one drink each, cashed out and bounced. The cocktail I got was fine; I could make a slightly worse version at home at a fraction of the price (or even two at once!). We we were told later by a friendlier Salemite at a bar with a better vibe that there is a Massachusetts state law that prohibits having two drinks at once at a bar. Fair enough. Had our server told us that, unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to give us two drinks at once -- instead of making us feel like idiots/degenerates for daring to ask -- we probably would have dropped a lot of vacation money there that night. Oh well; we had a great time at the other places we went.

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.

Not really a speak easy. Kinda disappointing. Definitely shouldn't have the sign outside the…read morealleyway lol. Was a bit busy but also isn't that big. Only have certain drinks and they were really weird. No one in Salem has even heard of it really and never been there. Definitely would not go again. Also shares a bathroom with Dire wolf tavern. When u walk in the door u also can go straight into DW.

What an unknown gem in Salem! It's not on a beaten path, but the food has got to be one of the…read morebest in town. We've been in before for their superior steak tips and burgers. We just went in and dropped a worthy $80 on lunch - 2 tequila mules, a special of buffalo bites (if u are lucky and these are on special again - order them!). Chicken kabob sandwich - juicy, perfectly grilled chicken and my husband got the mouth-watering pastrami sandwich. We packed half of it up for dinner tonight. I only gave 4 stars due to the lousy, noisy, raunchy bar flies. They couldn't care less about other customers as they were shouting and cussing away. Having a conversation with my husband was impossible. The bartender, who was 5 stars in her service to us, attempted to remind these people to stop yelling. I understand being a local, as I am one, and it makes me want to keep my favorite places in business. However, disruptive and rude bar flies should be shut out ff earlier and asked to leave or at the very least pipe down. Ultimately, I highly recommend anyone local or out of town to try The Tin Whistle for the food and service. Maybe try one of the tall comfy wooden booths would make for a better atmosphere.

I would give 5 stars but they don't answer the phone for take- out…read more My new favorite dish is their Cajun chicken pasta. OUTSTANDING.. and a special shout out to Lydia who is on lunch shift. BRAVO

Brunch was really great here! The French toast reminded us of a fried dough, so crunchy and yummy…read more I was hesitant about ordering a cold brew, if you are picky about your coffee you know it can be a hit or miss, but it was great as well! Service was fast. We were surprisingly satisfied overall.

After having it on my list for months, I came to The Babe during Restaurant Week in Salem in…read moreJanuary 2026. Restaurant Week, as per the Salem Chamber of Commerce's website, is summed up as: "Participating restaurants offered special two- and three-course prix-fixe menus, giving locals and visitors alike a chance to explore, support, and celebrate Salem's vibrant dining scene." For $45 I got cheddar jalapeño fritters, a poutine burger (hamburger with fries cheese and gravy on top, kale Caesar salad with freshly grated cheese, and fresh, piping hot apple cider donuts. The burger was hearty, the fritters popped, and the donuts hit the spot but by far the standout was the kale caesar salad with the creamy dressing over crispy and crunchy kale topped with the tangy grated cheese. A Downeast cider washed it all down and was refreshing. I went on a weekday so there were a few people sitting at the bar with me but overall the place wasn't packed. What I really appreciated was the general manager came to talk to me specifically about their Restaurant Week food selection and to get my feedback. She was super friendly and I told her about the kale caesar salad. Parking is on the street and can be hit or miss because The Babe is right on Washington Street where it starts to curve around the corner. It's worth it to keep circling though. The Babe has different events each night of the week, including Jazz Tuesdays and karaoke Fridays. I had a great time at The Babe and I appreciate how much they support the local Salem community. I am looking forward to going back!

My husband and I went to Bit Bar for Valentine's Day and we loved our experience! I had made a…read morereservation and I'm glad I did they got busy quickly! We decided to just have appetizers and they were amazing. The star was by far the grilled cheese appetizer. It was amazing!! I did expect more game options but we still had a blast playing and I discovered I'm pretty good at pinball! The biggest highlight however was our waitress. I could have heard her wrong but I believe she said her name was Story. She was very personable, polite, and attentive. She was getting us a second round of drinks and accidentally took my husband beer that was still 1/4 full. As an apology she brought us more game tokens. Most servers wouldn't even acknowledge it happened. As if we weren't already having a great time she offered us a Valentine's Day fondue box on the house! This was an outstanding experience and really made our Valentine's Day special! Thank you Bit Bar, we will definitely be back!! * I'd also like to add their prices are really decent too!

Very cool arcade bar!…read more We had a blast playing some Classic games. The drinks were lovely, and the service was great. This a great place for kids as well. We went during Halloween season, so there were tons of spooky things going on. Great place to make a spot when in the area

The bartender was horrible to me and very rude. I had one drink and when was half gone he ripped it…read moreout of my hand. I asked him why he did that. And he said I'm in charge and I don't have to serve you. Then why did he serve me in the first place to just rip my drink out of my hand. This happened Friday August 1st.

A Great vibe, interesting people, amazing bourbon selection, and experienced staff make this a must…read morevisit on the N.Shore... the Five Star Dive Bar.

We were in the area for the Salem Witch trials tours. We spotted this place to eat. The inside is…read moresuper cool and a great place to come have drinks and relax with an amazing meal. My wife ordered their award winning espresso martini. She said it was perfect! One of the best, so give it another award lol! The clam chowder is probably one of the best things on the menu!! The warm fresh bread is delicious!! The hamburgers are pretty good. And they have variety of fries (sweet potato as well). I recommend coming here. Chowder is a must!!

The Tavern is located inside of the haunted Hawthorne Hotel. We stopped in for lunch during a break…read morefrom some sightseeing. We ordered an Espresso Martini, a Pumpkin-tini and a beer. For food, we shared the Nachos, Clam Chowder and Whipped Feta. Everything was really good including the drinks. I wish we would have either ordered more food to try or came back for another meal. I loved the vibe and interior of The Tavern - it was spooky and old timey. You could see and feel the history of this hotel and it was awesome to experience. The dining room had a bunch of tables, but did not feel overcrowded. The Tavern is a great place to grab a drink and relax. It would also make great for a romantic date night. I also loved that the lobby was decorated with a bunch of pumpkins. Staff were also very friendly and attentive! I would absolutely come back here the next time we are in town! Check them out - you won't be disappointed!

Comfortable place to stop for lunch on a sunny day in later April (2026). We had the grilled, herby…read morechicken sandwich (large, moist and tender) which came on a toasted brioche roll accompanied by a mound of fries. Everything was fresh and hot. A bowl of clam chowder was based on a flavorful (without being fishy) creamy broth. Much better than the kind that can be like a bowl of wallpaper paste. The clam was minced so finely that it was hard to discern that there was any in the bowl. Very filling and tasty just the same. Staff were very attentive and friendly. We asked how much the market price for a lobster roll would be: $40. Music was in the style of hipster cocktail hour, so very enjoyable. Art work was kitschy lobster and bar- based. We enjoyed our lunch here while exploring the lovely town of 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.