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    The Ugly Mug Diner

    4.0 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed Closed

    The Ugly Mug Diner Photos

    THE UGLY MUG DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Ugly Mug Diner

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    Steak & Eggs
    Josh H.

    The Ugly Mug Diner is a creatively inspired, upscale diner in the heart of Salem that specializes in breakfast and brunch. It's open every day from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. My friends and I stopped in early one afternoon last month during our second day in Salem. Although there was a short wait when we arrived, it moved quickly and well worth it. The food was delicious, and our server was friendly and attentive. I ordered the steak & eggs, which came with two eggs, marinated skirt steak, toast, and home fries. The steak was juicy, and the marinade added a pleasant touch of sweetness. The presentation wasn't perfect because the steak was precut, but that wasn't a big deal.

    Interior
    Courtney O.

    We checked out The Ugly Mug Diner for breakfast on our last day in Salem. We waited in line outside for about 15 minutes before they seated us. The inside is fairly small and it definitely lives up to that diner feel - with only a few tables and a counter area. We ordered the Breakfast Burrito, This Ain't No Chicken & Waffles and the Breakfast Poutine. For drinks, we ordered the Salted Caramel Mocha and the Apple Cider Mimosa. I really enjoyed my Breakfast Poutine - the gravy had nice flavor and it was loaded with cheese. My husband liked this Chicken and Waffles - he said the chicken was great, but unfortunately my friend said the Breakfast Burrito and salsa that came on the side lacked a lot of flavor. Staff were very friendly and welcoming and the food came out quick and hot though. Overall, I really liked The Ugly Mug Diner - the food was good overall and the ambiance felt cozy. I would definitely come back and try some other dishes next time I get the chance to visit! Check them out!

    Patrick W.

    Super cute breakfast place. We made it to Salem during the craziest time of all, Halloween. As we were looking for places to eat, we found this lovely place close to Essex street. The spot was cozy the moment we walked in. Highly decorative and friendly. Also the crab cake Benedict was spilling out with deliciousness. The sweet potatoes absolutely immaculate. And my wife and I agreed it was a super awesome experience overall. Come check it out next time!

    This Ain't No Chicken & Waffles, Huevos Rancheros
    Christina B.

    Cute local spot for breakfast in Salem! There was a line outside (it was a Saturday morning in November), but they kept it moving efficiently. Our service was friendly, and the food was about what you'd expect from a little diner! I feel like the interior could benefit from a little bit of an update, but it's a great place for a breakfast stop.

    Steak & Eggs
    Erika V.

    I was in Salem some months back and one of my best friends found this spot with good reviews for breakfast so we walked in and luckily got a table right away. It was around 10.45am on a Friday and the place was pretty packed. I ordered some tea and my friends some coffee and juice, we were 4 people in total. For breakfast 3 of us ordered their Steak and Eggs which came with 2 eggs, marinated skirt steak, toast, and home fries. The steak was good, and the marinade they used really gave the steak a good flavor. It was a very fulfilling dish full of protein and carbs. My other friend ordered the Eggs Florentine with sauteed spinach and portobello mushrooms, she really enjoyed it. The ambiance is loud, it's a diner but decent and the food was greasy but yummy.

    Western Omelet with toast and homefries
    Kristi B.

    We had an exceptional experience at the Ugly Mug for a late breakfast on Saturday. While there is tons of street parking around, we actually found it easier to park in the parking garage behind the witches small area so that we could just freely walk around without having to worry about metered parking. My husband got the Western omelette and a pancake as well as two pieces of bacon. The food was delicious with the exception of the home fries. They tasted old and like they've been sitting for a while. I got the breakfast burrito and was very impressed with the flavor although the eggs could've used a little bit more seasoning. Overall, the location is quite busy, but the service was exceptional and probably one of the one spots during our vacation that we've had undeniably great hospitality.

    Huevos Rancheros
    Krystyn P.

    Solid breakfast offerings... like the dishes other restaurants don't typically make but are classics. I watched my husband be genuinely elated to order toad in a hole- he hasn't seen toad in a hole for years on a menu. The inside has super creative decor and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend but it's super popular- be prepared for a wait!

    Scotch Egg Breakfast and Corn Cakes with Candied Pecans
    Paul D.

    My wife and I tried The Ugly Mug Diner during our trip to Salem. It DID NOT disappoint. I had the scotch egg breakfast and a mocha latte both of which were great. My wife, who is vegan and gluten-free, had corn cakes with candied pecans which she said was awesome. We will return the next time we are visiting. The server was great. The whole dining room is decorated in breakfast decor. I love this place.

    Egg in a basket
    Marah H.

    I'm not sure why this place has such rave reviews. Aside from the stellar interior decor, some friends and I found this place to be mediocre at best. Bacon was overcooked, eggs were undercooked (runny & clear whites), and the home fries were awful. Service was kind and friendly but again, the food was not very good. The one thing I'd recommend is the sweet potato home fries, they're far better than the regular ones. Respectfully, I would not come here again.

    Campfire Delight, Gimme S'mores & Nutella Latte
    Isabella C.

    Coffee was delicious and the inside vibe/decor was cool! Food was pricey for how average it was

    Wall
    Alice P.

    The food and customer service is really good. Nice stop in Salem MA. Excellent people that work there!! Very focused on great customer service!!

    Tahs L.

    I actually really enjoyed this spot. The waffle was good and didn't taste like a gross box of mix. It was very sweet though (I got the Elvis waffle). The service was friendly and the space was a cute decorated vibe for sure.

    Carolina S.

    I love a no frills diner experience. We made our trip to Salem slightly post season and left NY at 7am. This put us in Salem a little before noon. My friend arrived a little earlier and was able to snag us a table right away. We finished parking and walked over. Immediately knew we had the coolest waitress! I noticed her "Leatheface" tattoo and I was sold! And then.....drum roll please, she showed me her leg! I am obsessed! Horror movie fanatic central, took me after we left to figure out it was from the tattoo artist I love, STEGA! She also gave us tons of great Salem tips! I truly felt so at home in Salem in this trip! I was in the mood for lunch! And the crab sandwich sounded perfect with some fries. And how could I resist a Nutella Latte. It was just what I wanted. I ordered my meal so fast that I didn't realize it came with bacon, had to pull that right out and my boyfriend was more than happy to assist. The food came out super fast and was the perfect base for running around Salem. I was tempted by the huevos rancheros and the eggs Benedict's. Until next time! And I hear there's pentagrams on the Gimme S'more! I'm here for all the gimmicks! No shame in my game!

    Great selection of collected coffee mugs

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    13 days ago

    fave breakfast in this area! the food and portion sizes are great and the quality is very consistent

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    8 months ago

    Food was great. Staff was very friendly, atmosphere was fun and clean. A little pricy. They charged $3 just to add pumpkin to my pancakes.

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    Page 1 of 28

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    Mercy Tavern - Skillet Nachos. Fries

    Mercy Tavern

    4.5(387 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Tiny place, absolutely delicious! I don't have one bad thing to say about the place, food, or…read morestaff. The menu doesn't look particularly amazing, standard-ish pub fare (steak tips, fish&chips, mac&cheese) but they do them EXTREMELY well. The tips were tender and flavorful, the sneaky star of the entree was the salad with feta though. I'm pretty sure the feta was marinated in whatever outstanding salad dressing they use. The havarti grilled cheese with avocado, garlic aioli and fried egg...C'mon. You have to spend the extra $2 for the bacon jam, you will not regret it. I'm sure we've all seen truffle fries right? Some bullshit frozen garbage either drowned in cheap truffle oil, or "dusted" with truffle salt. Well, they don't do that crap here, however they do garlic fries. Hand cut, with whole cloves of roasted garlic all over. Not one or two cloves, like several heads worth of glorious, slow-roasted garlic. I managed to scrounge a couple spoonfuls of the kids mac&cheese from my son, almost lost a finger in the attempt and I found out why. They put just as much effort into the kids food as the adults. If you need a break from your witchy business in Salem, definitely stop in here.

    Mac and cheese was just ehhhh, but the havarti grilled cheese was a YES. The clam chowder was cold,…read moreso I'd skip. cocktails are super unique. Definitely order the sun damage! I got the mocktail version and it was so tasty. The live music they had this night started at 9 and was super funky. You can't really have conversations during it, it's very loud, so don't go there if you're trying to have deep conversations instead of vibing to some music lol. Overall I would go back for drinks and music again!

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    Mercy Tavern - Vibe

    Vibe

    Mercy Tavern - Whole roasted garlic!! DELICIOUS!

    Whole roasted garlic!! DELICIOUS!

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    Outside

    The Babe - Apple cider donuts

    The Babe

    4.5(61 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    Just had an amazing lunch at the Babe! Literally everything we ate was amazing. Starting with the…read moresteak and cheese that included fried mozzarella in the sandwich. The fries and side salad were excellent, and all of the veggies were crispy and fresh. The atmosphere and service were exceptional and the price was right! I highly recommend

    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!

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    The Babe
    The Babe
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    Strawberry fields

    The Tin Whistle

    The Tin Whistle

    4.2(109 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    I wrote this review back in August of 2013, we lived up the street from the whistle for 7 years,…read moreAugust 2021 we moved to South Carolina, and man do I miss this place, it's changed owners in the time we went there, and was hit hard by covid. But the Whistle keeps going. We miss the crew there, the staff and the regulars. When we go back up north to visit, this is on the top of the list of places we have to go. Miss you guys!

    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.

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    The Tin Whistle
    The Tin Whistle - Egg roll of the day, carnita!

    Egg roll of the day, carnita!

    The Tin Whistle - Jack Honey. Shots. What else would you expect from the Whistle?

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    Jack Honey. Shots. What else would you expect from the Whistle?

    The Ugly Mug Diner - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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