While the ambiance is modern American bar / sports bar, the food was excellent and cocktails fantastic. Service team were all entertaining and enthusiastic. Best cocktail here (if not in MA!!) is the burlesque. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Gunner's daughter milk stout and bar ambiance. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Loved the ambiance in here! It really did give like an escalated tavern vibe. ANNDDD they have a downstairs bar?! How cool is that. My crispy fish sandwich was perfectly flaky. I haven't had a properly fried fish in a sandwich in quite some time, and I can say this fish was most literally perfectly cooked. The bartender was very attentive to my needs, and it was a quick dinner for me. She also suggested me a True North Shear Hoppiness IPA that paired so well with my own personal flavor profile and meal. read more

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t took a while for a server to greet our table and take our drink order. She was friendly though so not a big deal. Just seems like we had been forgotten about. I ordered a sushi roll and Szechuan green beans. Both were good. Cool atmosphere. One of my friends sushi roll had some crunchy pieces of rice in it but it wasn't a big deal. She ate it and didn't say anything because it wasn't a big enough deal. I will say the last time I ate there 2 years ago was much better. This time was good but not mind-blowing like the time before. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

The food was good, but not necessarily great. I think the ambiance may have been nice, but we were hidden behind a partition, so felt really separated. There were some snafus in the service, and when I complained, I was treated like dirt afterwards. Really colored the who experience (in a bad way). Just felt like it could've been better. read more

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Came in for a bite and beverage while walking around Salem. We sat at the bar. Service was great. Drinks were great. Good was great. We split the loaded fries and calamari. Always love sitting at the bar. Fun chatting with the bar tenders. They let us know about the speakeasy downstairs read more

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The inside is dark and dingy. My burger was meh and the truffle fries were very strongly flavored. Prices were decent. I bet this place is better at night for drinks than for lunch read more

We stopped into this place for a quick break while sightseeing and shopping last week in Salem. I think I ended up only ordering a water, but my husband and friend both ordered a drink. I remember being confused by this place because it is a tavern that offers sushi...I didn't get the vibe that the fish would be fresh here. My husband went downstairs to the restroom and saw a mouse running up the stairs...another lady saw it too. They also messed up the bill when my friend and I were splitting it - they charged me for half of the bill and then charged my friend for the full amount. The bartender corrected it with help from his Manager, but I feel like the Manager should have came over and apologized for what happened. Dire Wolf Tavern was definitely not my favorite place we visited and I don't think I would come back if given the chance unfortunately. read more

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OMG seriously? Everything was great, from the service, ambiance, decor, drinks, and food. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Artwork - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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We had reservations but we came an hour early and they were able to accommodate us with ease. The hostess and waiter were all too kind. They were pretty busy and running around a lot but were able to check in on us frequently. The food was a bit disappointing and took a while to come out. I can speak for the burger and tacos and say that it was okay. Nothing too special or mind blowing.. the table next to us got the fish and chips and that looked amazing and by the looks of the customers they enjoyed it. I can't say I trust the sushi but I took a shot at it and got the California roll because how can you mess that up. They in fact did mess it up. Unfortunately the rice was hard and the portions were small. The prices for it were also pretty high.... Nonetheless the hidden bar downstairs was fun and the drinks were great. The food upstairs not so much. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Old time tavern with brick walls, black wood bar and counters, it's 'wait to be seated' and luckily we got a table right away. Salem in fall is beautifully witchy and 'kooky', the Essex Street area has lots of shops, psychics and street actors dressed up in a variety of costumes. Service at the table was a bit yes/no, our server forgot a drink order and wasn't very interactive, nonetheless the food came and the meal was enjoyable. I had the Dire Wolf Burger with fries - sorry, I ate half before taking a pic ooops! The fries were super crispy, the burger cooked medium-rare exactly as I like it. The tacos one of us had looked good and tasty, and the clam chowder was average; I couldn't taste the firecracker brussel sprouts because of chili but they looked very nice and crispy. Try the Monster Mash cocktail with bourbon, unfiltered cider, and cinnamon ..yum! Downstairs has a lounge and bar too but it seemed closed while we were there. Definitely a place to check out for the fun interior and good food! read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Dire Wolf inside - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I'm a bit puzzled by the low ratings because we had an awesome visit. Our tour guide mentioned their burgers, so we thought to stop in regardless of ratings. We were not disappointed. This restaurant is very busy, but we have an enormous bar and are good about keeping drinks refilled and food orders moving. Sit at the bar; you will be waiting forever for a table. We both had the smash burger. So good! The double burger patty was unexpected but delicious (I wasn't reading closely). Such good flavor in the patty! Also, the truffle fries are divine with a light sprinkling of cheese. Yum!! This is worth a quick stop while you're in downtown Salem. read more

Food, service, and ambience is beyond compare! Truly appreciate the gluten-free fried options and the attention to detail.

We went back the next day to get more! Same server, Julianna, was amazing again! This time we got the nachos and truffle fries. My husband got the Ohana roll. Super yummy! read more

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Ryan is the best.. we were a big crowd and not so quiet and he handled us with a smile... Ode to Dolores was fab!

I'd like to start with .... there is an upstairs restaurant and a downstairs speakeasy that serves from the same menu. This review is for the speakeasy. The food was ok. I had the pulled pork and it wasn't as good as mine since the taste of bbq was very strong and there was no hint of smoky. The drinks were extremely good. Problem is there is no table service at all so you have to stand in line to order both food and drinks and there is only one line. There are two bartenders but one is assigned to the bar and the other prepares drinks and takes orders at the same time. They let a lot of people in, I guess, optimizing since it is October in Salem. The line was so long, it would take 30 minutes just to order. When you try to flag the bartender to just reorder your drink, and she's got your card cause you started a tab, she tells you, you have to get in line. Makes you just want to leave - not worth the hastle and the food is not that great. read more

Super cool. Feels like a secretive, hip basement. Craft cocktails and chill music. Couches and bar service. I do wish there was a cocktail waitress walking around to alleviate the bar but, besides that, it was enjoyable and everyone was friendly about sharing seating and common spaces. read more

After walking around for a bit, the decision was made to eat at the Dire Wolf Tavern. The first thing I would love to say is the service was amazing and everyone was so kind and tentative to us and David our server was great! The tavern is very nice for a quick bite to eat. It was nice and quiet and we were sat next to the window which we got to watch the rain fall. The food was pretty good as well and came out quickly. My favorite were the fried pickles. The jam out smash burger was okay I think it just needed more flavor. The chicken pot pie was good and came out really hot. read more

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We got lucky to get bar seats on halloween as it was packed! The wings were good and crispy and the special drinks were gas! read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

My wife and I have been going there since it opened up. The food is always amazing and the staff is even better. We live three blocks away and feel lucky. read more

Stopped in on a freezing snowy day. Enjoyed a hot cup of tea, yucca fries, and a side of sauteed chili pepper spinach. The spinach was really delicious. Almost got the poke bowl, but wasn't super hungry. The waiter was very kind. Hope to stop in again in the future and try more items. read more

Nice place to sit for great food and fun themed drinks. We both enjoyed the menu and what we ordered, our drinks, the service and the building. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Fun drink menu. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Cute little drop in bar in the heart of downtown Salem. Decent food menu and great bar drinks. Super friendly. If you love Halloween, you'll love the wolf decor. Calamari wasn't great as it was very small pieces. Flatbread was superior. read more

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Eh. This place sounded really cool and definitely liked the vibe when we entered and were excited for good pub food and to plan out the rest of our day in Salem. Sadly, we didn't get that. We sat down and had someone tell us our server would be right with us and gave us some water which was nice. We took a look and decided we actually wanted the same thing. We got the crispy chicken sandwich and I got the fries it came with and my husband got the truffle fries. As an app we got the BBQ flat bread. Let's start with drinks the non alcoholic drinks weren't listed anywhere on the menu that we could see. I've noticed that at a few places I just dont understand why they aren't listed. When our server returned with our drinks he took our food order. We gave him all the food at once and his response to everything was "yeah totally" im not sure why that bothered me, but It did haha. The same person who brought the water brought our flatbread out and was very friendly the entire time. The flat bread was OK but the pork on it was dry. We had been out in the 94 degree heat for hours and were very thirsty and our actual server never brought a refill or asked if we wanted one, but the food runner came over without us asking and refilled our waters. Our chicken sandwiches were soo dry my husband said it was "cooked 4 times before I got it" and I agree. The breading had no flavor either. The tables are quite close so you cant help but over hear interactions at the table next to you. There was a family next to us who asked a few questions about the menu and our server (we had the same one) had to get a menu that was missing and when asked if something could be gluten free said "yeah totally" and then 2 minutes later came back and said it couldn't. He didnt really know the menu. That same table was asking him about the different witch museums and what the difference was and which one was better . His response was "oh I dont know. I dont live in Salem and I haven't been to any or even anything around here". I jumped in to help as we had just done this research ourselves. I know his job is a server but in a tourist town you need to know things about it. I worked in one for many years and you can take an ok experience to a good one with some knowledge and good customer service. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - The flat bread. Should have photographed the dry chicken but was just so unimpressed. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Great food and atmosphere. Our bartender, Ryan made us fabulous cocktails. Thanks for a great time.

Ryan was a very talented bartender and very attentive. The drinks were delicious. Always had a smile

Loved this restaurant that was suggested by a family friend of ours! The food was delicious, especially the Brussels sprouts appetizer; could have eaten this dish all day! And boy oh boy did I strike gold ordering their spicy chili beans with pulled pork; know that it was truly spicy (which I love), and oh so chokeful of meat! Yummy! The ambiance was very clean and relaxing, with a nice trendy bar-restaurant atmosphere. Our server was very polite and attentive. Would definitely recommend this place as a goto spot for lunch or dinner with family and friends! read more

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Been here twice. The Brussels sprouts as an appetizer-YES, do it! I got sushi both times and the first time was better than the second, the first time i ate it so quick you would've thought i hadn't eaten in a few days, the second time i didn't finish it because it tastes off. Drinks are great whether you get a cocktail or a cocktail, they taste as beautiful as they look. Speakeasy downstairs is a total vibe. read more

Sarah was so kind! I'm very sensitive to spicy food and the tuna steak sadly was very spicy, delicious, but spicy. After two bites and not being about to stand the heat, Sarah kindly replaced my plate with a non-seasoned tuna steak. The service was impeccable! Live music upstairs due to downstairs maintenance was a nice change of tune. Sarah recommended the bourbon apple crisps and did not disappoint, so we had seconds! read more

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Restaurant had great vibes but the bathrooms were filthy and smelt like a NY subway. We orders the corn dip for an appetizer but didn't show up until after our main course. I give it a 4 out of 10. It was missing some flavor and the chips were stale. Then we had the fish tocos with truffle fries. They looked great but the fish didn't blend well with the coleslaw. This fish tocos gets a 4 out of 10. The truffle fries get a 0 out of 10. Worst thing I have ever eaten in my life. read more

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Download their app and get a free app-etizer. We enjoyed our lunch at Dire Wolf. The whole restaurant has a Salem vibe to it and we got in and out for lunch on a Sunday. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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If I had to try and find something bad to say about this place, it would be that we had to wait 10 minutes just to find a seat at the bar! Our bartender, Mercedes was great! Giving us locals only tips and directions to navigate our first visit to Salem during spooky season. We had just stopped in for a quick cocktail but ended up getting two, AND a sushi roll too! The vibe is definitely stereotypical Salem, with brickwork and skeletons in abundance, and a no nonsense Boston attitude prevalent throughout. Love it! read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Sean, Zoe, Oz, Morrigan,& Rob are always so awesome. The Bangin 'Shrimp was delectable. Side Caesar with anchovies made it a perfectly light lunch. read more

Food was great! Good sushi! Friendly service, good price. Nice interior. We loved it! read more

Dire indeed I was... of food. Me and Mr. Seabass were getting a little hangry from walking around all day (I of course flew around on my broomstick :-)) A fat goblin recommended this place to us and oh boy it did not disappoint. My chicken sandwich, although oddly proportioned, really hit the spot. read more

The food was excellent and our server Morgan was fast and attentive. The food came out quicker than expected.

Stopped by here on a whim after walking by and deciding to grab dinner. We were seated right away and greeted by our server. I ordered the blackberry margarita which ended up be pretty good, I enjoyed it. They have a variety of options on their menu. My partner went with a burger and fries, while I decided to try out the sushi rolls. I tried the shaggy dog roll (salmon, mango, avocado, crab) and the copper drakken roll (shrimp tempura, eel, cucumber, eel sauce). For it being more of a bar than a sushi place, I thought the rolls were pretty solid. The burger was decent as well. Portion sizes were good - Both sushi rolls were large and the burger came with a ton of fries. I'd recommend checking this place out if you're in the area. read more

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Had the BLTA at Dire Wolf and let me just say - DELICIOUS! Sat at the bar and food came out quick and service was great. Music was playing and they had the Red Sox game on as well, but it wasn't too loud at all! Great place, would highly recommend when visiting the area for a quick bite to eat. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - BLTA - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Decided to drop by Dire Wolf Tavern while waiting for our train back to North Station. Even though it was busy, we were able to find two bar seats right away. The drink was pretty good and the service was very fast. We were able to get our drinks well before our train arrived. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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I came here for dinner on Friday and was pleasantly surprised by the delicious food. The Gyoza was so yummy, and the crisp garlic stuff on top, well, we licked that off our fingers and didn't leave any on the plate! The sushi was inventive and very filling; I could not finish it all with the hubs. Def will be back! Service was top-notch, and on a busy night was able to accommodate a special request I had. read more

Dire Wolf Tavern - Sushi Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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The staff was nice, but that's about it for the positives. We were visiting from FL & excited to try this place out for drinks & apps. They had 2 staff members taking orders at the bar, but only one person making drinks, not just for the busy bar on a Sat night- but for the entire place with packed tables! It took 25 minutes for two drinks. The app came to us in 6 minutes! We got the calamari, which was very poor quality and very small portion for $16+. It's a shame the specialty drinks were good, but only one person making drinks for the entire place is a poor business model. read more