ACME Cafe

•$$$

Tastefully decorated restaurant. Cocktails & wine selection were very good. The much recognized…read morehummus & tortilla chips appetizer was good. Beet salad is even better. My entree was Oh My Cod ... the jalapeño corn chowder sauce and Israeli couscous were excellent complements to the fish. Large selection of desserts, many unique.

Not the first time here. It never disappoints. Super professional service and well made food in…read morejust right amounts. You don't feel stuffed but you feel full. You can hear each other across the table without a lot of background noise. Food was absolutely delish!

View of bar

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Cocktails

Magnolia On The Green

4.0(56 reviews)

1.3 mi

Delicious. Great service! Nice dining…read more There was 5 of us, wine and beer excellent choices. Great chicken pasta cooked perfect. Hubby had hamburger it was good with fries

I love this place. Big fireplaces and nice view of the golf course! The lunch and breakfast options…read moreare great! Dinner really wasn't anything special... would definetly go back for breakfast or lunch!

Dining room

Cucumber jalapeño margarita

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Lavender Lemon Drop

Half Penny Public House

3.8(183 reviews)

0.8 mi

We eat here at least twice each month. Tonight, I tried their fish and chips. The fish was perfect…read more- flaky but not dry, with a flavorful breading. The house-made tartar and fry sauces were very good. A full house kept the staff busy, but they were still attentive and friendly. A band was about four songs into their set when I left. The house sound system does a great job of making sure everyone can hear the band, but the overall noise level was such that folks had to shout to have a conversation. They do post an entertainment schedule, so if you go there to visit with friends, do it when there are no bands playing. From prior experience, I highly recommend the "Dave's Insane" sandwich.

We have heard so many good things about half penny and finally decided to give it a try. We were…read morenot disappointed. We went on a Sunday off hours time so they were very slow. We were going to sit outside but due to it being their slow time they said they didn't have enough staff for that right now so we opted to sit at the bar. It was clean and not sticky. Through out our stay we were checked on multiple times which was nice. The food was really good. We didn't even finish the tots because the burgers filled us up. They have tons of live music through out the week. It's definitely a great place to relax and catch up with friends

Stage area before the band started

Ragin Ragin' Cajun Burger

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White Claw and football what more do you need?

Venti's Cafe + Basement Bar

3.8(313 reviews)

Our first time here. And I'll preface my review by saying I'm not vegan, nor am I vegetarian. I'm…read morenot opposed to vegan or vegetarian (or we wouldn't have come here). I just traditionally like meat. That said, my wife and mother and I came to Venti's for dinner while in Salem. They each ordered the more traditional meat hamburgers and fries. I decided since it was a vegan-forward restaurant, I'd try a vegan dish. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you, so it's a little more like a diner than a "fine dining" restaurant. Our service was good, quick and friendly. The atmosphere is a bit cold, but not off-putting. I ordered the Red Curry Pasta with a Side Salad. Other reviewers seemed to be raving about the red curry, so I thought it was worth a try. I can see why they rave about it. It was excellent! And the side salad had a variety of ingredients, so it wasn't "just a side salad". I tried the avocado ranch dressing and it was fine. Not stellar, but good. The pasta had just the right amount of sauce and was very flavorful. Now to the meat. You might expect a vegan-forward restaurant to have meat dishes as kind of an afterthought. But both my wife and mother raved about their burgers. My wife got the Rooster Burger and mom got the traditional House Burger. With meat. And cheese. And fries. They LOVED the burgers. All of us want to go back next time we're in Salem and the biggest problem will be deciding what to order. Well done, Venti's!

We found ourselves driving through Salem, OR earlier and thus, in need of a spot for a good vegan…read moremeal! Well, the vegan gods rained plant based blessings upon us by guiding (some might say .. delivering lol) us to Venti's Cafe & Beer Vault in the charming downtown area of Salem. Upon entering, I first took notice of the whimsical welcoming ambiance inside, sort of reminded me of Chickpea in Vancouver, BC. Also, I had to fight back a smirk when reading about the upcharge for anyone ordering meat based options, I mean it's about time eateries started being vegan by default and adding an upcharge "meat tax" lol instead of the typical vegan-tax we vegans all too often have to incur. It's no wonder the vegan gods delivered us :) to Venti .. given that everything they had to offer was truly divine, which I offer without hyperbole of any kind, just complete sincerity!! The Grilled Cheese consisted of a parmesan crusted sourdough bread with not one but *two* melted vegan cheeses (cheddar and smoked provolone), the Truffle Fries were bold and unapologetic in their truffle-y goodness, the Tomato Basil Soup was rich and loaded with flavor and last but certainly not least, the Vegan Red Curry Mac was really delicious and brought the punch. For the latter, the individual bites didn't feel hot in and of themselves but rather it was the accumulated effect that really left a lasting impression. I think the dish could maybe benefit from a side of vegan yogurt, to add a freshness and help balance the heat but that's not to imply this dish was lacking in any way, it was sooo good! As if that wasn't enough, they also offer a raw vegan cake dessert. Sadly, we didn't get the chance to try as we didn't take notice until after we had already ordered our food. Between the decadence of the food and joyful ambiance, coupled with a charming location in downtown Salem, this will definitely be a place for use to revisit many time over!

Cajun Bowl

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Archive Coffee & Bar

4.1(488 reviews)

Amazing decor in this place, and friendly service too. When you walk in there are a series of menus…read moreto your right, and the same menus are up at the counter as well. You choose what you want and order at the counter and they give you a number. Then they'll bring it to your table. I enjoyed the rice bowl. The tofu seemed to be fried and the sauce on it was spicy. The miso Moon coffee thankfully did not taste like miso, lol. My friend had an espresso and said it was terrible, very sour. Everyone else at our table seemed to enjoy our food, there were a lot of burgers and fries being ordered at the group. They have my daughter's favorite sort of salad, with blue cheese and steak. Sadly, they were out of salmon the day we visited. Would definitely consider coming back if I'm in Salem again.

This is an update review. Let me be very clear: I like this place. HOWEVER…read more.. the steak is horrifically terrible. I mean, it's worse than any steak I have ever had; even my grandma's. And that's saying a lot. You do not want to know of the torture. Suggestions: 1st: If you want to have a steak on the menu, at least serve the cut that is on the menu. 2nd: if you're worried about food cost, do something pounded, and marinated, OR do a small trimmed cut that is excellent quality, and serve it with a lot of mash and veg, and that bordelaise sauce (which wasn't bad). 3rd: Meatloaf

Specialty coffee by day

Seasonal global fusion dinner menu

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Roasting specialty coffee on site

The Rabbit Cellar Lounge & Eatery

4.0(37 reviews)

Ambiance: funky, eclectic, comfy. Did you know they have a historic jail cell, board games, and…read moretrivia? Covered outdoor seating? I didn't, but I like it. Food: the only place that still offers zucchini sticks to my knowledge! Love it! We only stopped in for a quick bite after a long morning, so our order was light. But the hush puppies were *amazing*, and the sausage-pretzel business was great. Location: close in, on the river side of Edgewater, with lots of parking. Service: more friendly than fast, which was fine with us; we were there at an odd hour and the bartender was on her own and cooking too, but everything came out perfectly. Cocktail: I had the Velveteen Rabbit and it was scrumptious. My husband tried a beer that I wish I could remember; I stole a taste and it reminded me of the golden era of Boulder Brewing (RIP Hazed & Infused). I couldn't get a signal (it is in a cellar) so this review is a week late, but I will definitely be back.

Historic locations always are exciting to visit, especially when they have been converted to a fun…read morewatering hole. Lunch was so good and the vibe was super chill. Staff was super friendly and the owner even has puppy's she's seeking good homes for.

Our shared meal of Flatbread pizza, fried zucchini w/ ranch and aioli sauce. ( I couldn't figure how to flip my pic)

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Bentley's Grill

3.6(268 reviews)

1.8 mi

Mother's Day Brunch - May 2026 ' Party of 2 Adults…read more Perfect setting for adult Brunch without the long lines and craziness. We were seated promptly by the Manager on duty in a cozy booth table. Service was friendly and cordial. I really love the ambiance of the Bentley in the Grand Hotel Salem. The high ceilings make it a very spacious feel without feeling crowded. My wife loved her custard like French Toast and I absolutely devoured my Chicken Fried Chicken with Chorizo gravy. The highlight of the Brunch was our Baked Brie appetizer. A wonderful blend of flavors all in one dish. We hope this Mother's Day Brunch is an annual mark your calendar item for Bentley's. We will definitely be back.

We stopped by here the night before Valentines for two reasons, we were staying at the hotel and…read morewhen we're seeing a show near by. My partner ordered the Pork shank Osso Buco with polenta and it was super flavorful. I ordered the braised mushroom beef with gnocchi. The flavors were balanced and the meat didn't need a knife to come apart. I also got a wedge salad. I would pass on that. My partner got the beet salad and apples and loved it. All and all the meal was wonderful.

Pork belly taco appetizer Delicious and with great flavor, the ingredients complemented each other.

Chicken Fried Chicken with Brioche toast. Home style potatoes and over easy eggs - Mother's Day Brunch 2026

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Braised Short Rib

Clink

4.0(41 reviews)

2.1 mi

Amazing experience! The ambiance is beautiful sk unique. Every single dish we got was outstanding!…read moreCauliflower and brioche are a must! Got a champagne shot for my birthday! Make sure to check out the ladies room! Will be back again for sure! It's on the second floor, you enter on the side off liberty. It's French theme for sure, they just need French music playing

I think this place is relatively new. It is beautiful inside and really makes you feel like you…read morecould be in paris. the food was great! we enjoyed the raclette, steak au poivre, steamed clams, the sliced potatoes, barramundi, chicken and creme brûlée and the poached pears! the entire table was satisfied!! my only complaint was the slowness of service. They were relatively busy but seemed to be somewhat understaffed. everyone was nice and pleasant, but at times we felt ignored. I'm sure they're just working out the kinks. overall, i would recommend!

Decor downstairs

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Super Yummy drink at Clink! in Salem- (sorry forgot the name)

Ritter's Housemade Foods

3.7(335 reviews)

It's always busy here but definitely a downtown hotspot. I've taken several friends there. They've…read morenever had complaints.

My wife has a view Ritter's is overrated; still, I brought her last night for a "pre-theater"…read moredinner date. Because of the time window we had before the show, I called early in the day to see about a reservation. I was told that the restaurant only makes reservations for parties of four or more--okay, that's reasonable. We show up a little before 6 pm in hopes of securing a table. After waiting a few moments to be greeted at the host stand--two employees were having a conversation while we approached, the first question I was asked was "do you have a reservation?". I explained that I'd tried but was told they didn't do that for a party of just two--we were told "oh, that's not what we do". There were three tables near the window, and we were brought to the small, two-top in between two larger tables that could accommodate 3 or 4. I thought about asking for one of the others as it would afford us a bit more room, but decided to just hold my tongue. Again I thought, okay, it's reasonable--they may get other patrons to accommodate. (As it turned out, neither of the other tables got occupied in the whole time we were there.) Our server greeted us about 5 minutes later and brought water to the table and asked if we'd like to see a drink menu. He came back with one about 5 minutes later. I ordered black tea, and my wife ordered a mocktail. The tea came out with honey; before I could ask for milk and Splenda, our server took off. (My wife flagged him over a couple minutes later when he reappeared.) We ordered our meals--a bowl of chicken gnocchi soup and the flatbread platter for my wife. I ordered the butternut squash and goat cheese salad and asked to have chicken added. About 10 minutes later, our server brought my wife's soup--her intention was not to have it an appetizer, but --oh well. The rest of our food arrived via another staff member probably 15 minutes later--not an outlandish amount of time. However after spending a minute looking at my salad (which was very pretty) I realized the chicken breast I'd ordered wasn't included in the salad. Again, our waiter was not to be found so I went over to the host station and asked after it. I was told "sometime the kitchen makes it later"--which seemed a little odd but again, okay--maybe they were searing it and the timing didn't work. About 3 minutes later I was brought a small plate with around 4 oz of sliced chicken on it. It was lovely looking and clearly moist, although the meat was cold--clearly not meant to be hot. We were never offered more water at our table, nor was I offered a refill on the hot water for my $3.50 tea. We realized around 7 that we needed to leave and could not see our server so I again went to the host station and asked if I could just pay the bill. I was told that our server was on the phone with the restaurant manager and they could have him come over in a bit. I repeated my request to simply pay the bill (and not have to wait for our server to be free). Another server came over and accommodated me at a register begins the host station, which was appreciated. Despite relatively mediocre service I tipped a bit over 20 percent--I understand the importance of tips on restaurant staff--il even if I'd prefer that they didn't rely on them for a fair compensation. The quality of our food was decent--but it's unlikely we will be back in the near future together. I know it's a popular meeting place and I may return to socialize with work colleagues--but we will find other places for our next dates.

Dining area with brick pizza oven

Brussels

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Chicken sandwich

Best Little Roadhouse

3.6(449 reviews)

1.2 mi

My family and I came here last night, and they were able to accommodate my grandfather, who's in a…read morewheelchair, very easily, which I really appreciated. The rolls were very good. We didn't get appetizers, but everyone in my family (except me) ordered the prime rib and loved it. I went with the grilled chicken topped with a parmesan sauce and a loaded baked potato on the side. The seasoning and sauce were great, but the chicken itself was pretty dry. It reminded me of cutting into a well done steak where it takes way too long to get through. It wasn't terrible overall, but I was definitely a little disappointed with how overcooked the chicken was.

Friendly staff, generous portions of good food! T Table had…read morethe French dip, BBQ chicken salad, chicken dinner and steak sandwich. Lunch was,enough food for the day!