We finally tried the Black Water Grill. Went on a Friday night and it was very busy. We ended up sitting in the bar area . The bartender was friendly however stressed out as 2 taps just ran out. We had the Wachusett blueberry on draft. There was live music playing which was nice. Not to loud. The 2 TVs had golf amd Fox News (WTF?) on. Not sure why Fox News was on as it so political and divisive. We ordered the fish and chips which came out fairly quickly. 2 nice pieces of haddock and a good amount of fries. Homemade tarter sauce too which was really good. The fish was cooked perfectly. service was pleasant. THe mens bathroom walls could use a good scrubbing. read more

What we liked about the Black Water Grill is there is a good variety of sandwiches and entrées to choose from. What we found to be a bit uninspiring where the suggestions offered as their most popular dishes. Often times you ask the server for suggestions. Though I wasn't planning on getting a burger it did come highly recommended. So I went with the Shed burger. The burger is pretty large and it comes loaded with toppings. It comes with red pastrami, caramelized onions cheese, and mustard on a roll. What it seemed to be was a frozen patty that was thrown on the grill. I might not be so critical if they didn't make that big of a deal out of it. Fairly tasteless and not juicy at all. Other recommendations we tried as well none of which were highly liked. read more

Black Water Grill - shed burger - American Near Me - Salem, New Hampshire

The food is amazing. The service is speedy and pleasant. The ambiance is very appealing. I had my baby shower here in July of 2025. It was an amazing. The space fit 50 people perfectly and the food was outstanding! read more

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Good food, friendly staff, and I love the dining areas. Steak tips are to die for! I highly recommend visiting for a great dining experience!! read more

Consistently good service, food & drinks. Go on a Saturday night and there's entertainment, went last night and all was great as usual! Price is reasonable too. FOOD: berry & goat cheese salad good although I do miss the buratta peach salad! We split the appetizer platter with buffalo chicken wontons, pretzel sticks, fries and BWG's incredible chicken tenders. Great app! DRINKS: LI Iced tea & blood orange martini both excellent as usual. ATMOSPHERE: Great hostess when entering restaurant, casual definitely above average lounge with live acoustic music, playing everything from Led Zep, to Cat's in the Cradle & newer hits. Great singer & guitar player. Bathrooms clean and stocked (always a plus!). Overall a great birthday dinner for hubby! read more

Black Water Grill - Blood orange martini & LI Iced tea...both perfect! - American Near Me - Salem, New Hampshire

My wife and I stopped by for dinner today after I picked her up from the nearby Boston Express park and ride bus depot. Admittedly its been a few years since our last visit. Living just a few miles away we again had a terrific meal, with equally terrific service, leading us to question why we don't come here more often. Neither of us had an answer. I started with their soup special, corn and bacon chowder. It was thick, creamy, and delicious. For an entree my wife had their Pistachio Alfredo with sautéed shrimp. It was a large hearty dish and she loved it. I had their lobster ravioli. It was outstanding with plenty of shucked lobster meat spread through the dish along with the stuffed ravioli in a nice tomato cream sauce with spinach and Parmesan cheese. It was easily one of the best lobster ravioli dishes I've ever had. Late in our dinner I asked our server, Ashley, for some bread to sop up the sauce. She quickly accommodated and brought a basket of freshly baked bread. We've never had anything short of a 5 star experience at the Black Water Grill. That includes food and service. We will make our next visit happen much sooner. read more

Service was not good. Environment is nice but, the waitress not good. Music was great , open mic, top notch.

The appetizers (BLT nachos and captain crunch chicken) and desserts (Carmel torte) were really good but the main entree was not good at all. We had hamburgers, steak frites, and salads and everyone agreed the texture in the meat was off, mushy. There was no flavor and it tasted unseasoned. Could not finish that but fortunately filled up on apps. The ambiance was weird too, it looked like a house from outside. Inside was dated and boring. Service was fine, my order was missing the sweet potato fries but was remedied with a big order brought out soon after. read more

Attended a bridal shower here and the staff was friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. We were in the downstairs function room and it was very quaint. read more

We had tried to go here several times. Always busy. I can see why !Went for dinner. Sat at hightop in bar area. Service was great. Started with a squash soup that was delicious. Creamy and hints of nutmeg. So good. Southwestern salad was amazing. Added chicken that was tender and great flavor. Ranch dressing is could eat all day. Burger was amazing. Super juicy and cooked to perfection. The bar area is cozy. Has a home decor that was reminiscent of sitting at my moms. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area. read more

I have been going here for years, and always order their crab cake appetizer which has in the past been stellar. I am from Maryland, where crab cakes are king, and this was the real thing, almost solid crab meat and delicious. Wow was I disappointed this last time! The crab cakes were at least 75% breading; very hard to spot actual pieces of crab. To the chef: just take them off the menu! If you know how to make them and can't justify making them the way you know due to costs, either raise the price to make it workable, or take them off. You should warn people that they're basically a pan fried lump of bread. read more

I got married in 2011 at the Black Water Grill. 11/11/11 to be precise. I have to say that the food quality and service are not the same...... They are much better!!!!! Love the Ambience and service at this wonderful restaurant. Every time my wife and I dine there we always remark at how excellent the food and service are. Highly recommended. read more

Hubs and I have been here a few times over the years. We decided Friday to meet a friend for lunch. Low key ambiance, its like a home broken up into different dining rooms. Upstairs is more open like a tavern or bar. Friday we were sat in a cozy small dining room area. We opted to start with the combo platter and crab cakes. Everything was crispy, hot, and seasoned well. It came with many dipping sauces plated cutely on a beer flight board. The crab cakes were fat and sweet with the delicious crab. Hubs had the Reuben sandwich, which was packed with meat. My friend and I opted for the special cheeseburger salad. When described, it sounded terrific. What was served could have been much better. While it was huge, it lacked ease of eating and flavor. It was served in a massive bowl with large pieces of lettuce, and on top was a cheeseburger patty layered with onions and cheese and a smidge of aioli. It made it extremely hard to eat. Even though the salad was disappointing, the other food service and ambiance will surely bring us back! read more

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Ok my first review of this place however I've been about 20 times... amazing food and drinks.. the tarragon muscles are off the chart good. The Maryland crab cakes are excellent. Chicken tender ( captain crunch coating ) are tops notch ( get the buffalo ceaser salad ). Steak tips are very good. read more

Atmosphere was great. It's a cute little place with a nice patio. We ate in the tavern side, it had a cozy feel. The drink special sounded good - an apple sangria and pumpkin martini. We stuck with beer, of which they had a decent selection. We ordered burgers and they were good. Just what you'd expect. The fries were crispy and tasty - I love fries and these didn't disappoint. Everything is as great until the end when we had to wait for the check. Our waitress who had been attentive previous totally ghosted us. Even after going up to the bar and asking for our check said "ya I'll be with you in a few minutes." So we waited as she made drink, waited on others and ignored us. Anyway there's no reason not to recommend this place. read more

I've tried it 4 times. Normally twice you're out but I was reading some good reviews so I thought I'd give them more of a chance. After four tries and disappointment I'm done. I found the food just average. It's one of those restaurants where the next day you can't remember what you had. The drinks were horrible. Each time I tried a different martini as that is my drink of choice and one time I tried the rum drink that they served in a plastic bucket or something along those lines. Each time they were pretty bad. Service was just okay. Nothing special. The outside deck is small but nice. Inside has smallish rooms. read more

Went in here on a weeknight and the bartender with the tattoos (I forgot her name) was super friendly and charismatic. She balanced her time pouring drinks and engaging with all. The chicken tender appetizer was to die for, and the drinks washed them down perfectly! They were also very accommodating in substituting with Buffalo dressed grilled chicken on the salad with no up charge. Will be back for sure! read more

Had her 50th high School reunion there the food was plentiful and really delicious they had from shrimp to steak pasta beautiful salads desserts if they made it it was excellent read more

Base on the name Black Water Grill we should've known, but there are so many good reviews on here that we ignore it.On a Thursday night we had a reservation as we celebrated Babushka's birthday. The restaurant is spacious inside out. There's plenty of on-site parking. Honestly this was the best part of the restaurant. The menu was tiny and the food was mediocre. There was no vegan options. Go at you own risk. read more

The nachos were burned and looked like they were made in the microwave. And the service was very slow.

Fist time here. Excellent food, great service and love that they have entertainment on Friday's and Saturday's in the lounge. When I couldn't put any sugar in my glass the bartender spruced my vodka/water up to look so pretty. The food was all cooked perfectly. I loved the potatoes with grilled onions in the rosemary potato. Ranch dressing a must try. It's homemade and has a small amount of kick. read more

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Great find. Live music. Mussels are delicious. The burgers are to die for. I had the salmon with spinach it was fresh and cooked just right. Ashley the bartender/server was great. Definitely will be back. Oh the key lime pie what can I say but OMG !!! read more

Black Water Grill - Key Lime Pie Amazing - American Near Me - Salem, New Hampshire

Good food small but intimate bar. Convenient location. Can get very crowded though. We like the appetizers and a beer

The calamari, burger, and truffle fries were all excellent. Our server Julie was awesome. It was busy but the noise level was never too much. We will definitely be back! read more

I went to The Blackwater Grille in Salem NH last night for the first time, and it was very good. The service fantastic. The freshly made bread and lemon butter, delicious. There were 4 of us and we each ordered something different. I had the steak and Frites. Large steak tips over crispy truffle Fries. The Asian Salad, Chicken Saute and Butternut Squash Ravioli were ordered by the others in the party, and all said equally as delicious. I will definitely go back. read more

Food has always been prompt and delicious- cocktails are amazing and desserts memorable!

Always a great experience with casual eating. Great food & service! Bartender knows how to make some good drinks! Atmosphere is very nice for business guests as well as personal dinners with friends or spouses. Outside porch is great on a warm day. My favorite place for outdoor lunch. Enjoy the quiet area of the black water grill. For small celebrations or a memorial gathering, the service caters to your needs. Very respectful & private from the public eating area. Ive attended 3 or more gatherings in the personal rooms they have for rent. All very nice. read more

I chose this restaurant for a business dinner based on the great Yelp reviews and common meeting location. It turned out even better than I even expected! Our server was very knowledgeable and helped me make the best drink and dinner choices. The food was so delicious! And the lavender martini was outstanding. I really enjoyed it and hope to find myself back in this area again. I highly recommend this place ! Thank you for an enjoyable evening. read more

We had an excellent dinner here. I would highly recommend this restaurant. Very convenient off the highway as well.

We have been here twice and both times we have had an issue with the meal. One might ask themselves how is this possible when they are highly rated with a ton of reviews..... we wonder the same thing. Bread is delicious and brought out to the table warm. Flatbread special which consisted of butternut squash, cheese, salami, balsamic glaze and onions was out of this world!! Lettuce from the salad was very crisp so it was fresh. Always a plus. Here is where the issue lies.... STEAK First time: Ribeye was terrible and sent back. All gristle. Second time: Steak tips had the same issue and you needed a saw to try and get through them. The steaks are not prime meat but are a prime meat price. Nobody seems surprised when you send a meat product back so this might be the norm. read more

Pretty good. The crab cakes are very yummy and worth getting for sure! I would go back for those but I'm also not rushing to get back here either. Calamari is a little chewy for my liking but the sauce on it was yummy. Good portion too. The lettuce wraps were good but a little too saucey, plus barely had much chicken pieces. Atmosphere is nice for family and friends. Decor is a little cheesy, lots of random stuff, but hey some people are into that. Small little bar. Good drinks but nothing like a higher priced place. Nice little place downstairs to rent out space for an event. Dark though, not much light. read more

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Had the muscles with ziti and a cream sauce. Unfortunately it didn't have much flavor in the sauce. I brought it home and added quite a bit of cheese and little garlic. read more

My girlfriends and I stopped in for dinner a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening. The hostess was very accommodating and the food was tasty. I am giving only 2 stars because of the chilly reception of the bartender - and her boyfriend who was sitting the bar. Unfortunately, we would have spent more money at the bar if we were received in a welcoming way. Too bad. I will spend my money at other establishments thst welcome affluent ladies with cash to burn. read more

I've been there several times, each time I was very satisfied with both food service and love the ambience.

Casual atmosphere friendly staff decent food for a lower price point. We've stopped there for lunch and dinner. Would go again.

My wife and I took a neighboring couple out to dinner for their anniversary. Two of us got blackened Mahi. One ordered Surf and Turf. The fourth got Scallops. The one who got surf and turf said that was the best he ever had. We all agreed that the food was excellent. The room was relatively quiet, so we could easily talk. The dining room was clean. There were separate rooms for parties. The waitress etc were terrific. The food was a bit pricey but worth it. We had lots to bring home. The desert, keylime pie was great as well. I have been there several tomes previously and would recommend it if you want a superior meal at a fair price. read more

Service was very good. Polite and attentive. The failure is in the kitchen. They honestly have no clue how to cook a steak--even after multiple attempts. Unfortunate for this cute spot with good wait staff and a nice ambiance. If you want a properly cooked cut of meat, skip it. read more

Haven't been since Pre-Covid so when Estelle retired recently, Martha & I took her out for a nice dinner. PRO-Always cute inside, small bright rooms with tables, fireplace. Great drink menu. I'd heard raves about the mussels, so we ended up all ordering different kinds of them. I got the mussels marina over pasta, they were huge. Estelle got them in a mustardly creme sauce (but bit strong on the mustard flavor she said) & again the mussels were huge. Martha got just mussels steamed in a tasty broth as she wasn't that hungry. We all enjoyed our meals and the warm crusty bread that our kind waitress brought to the table to sop up the sauces. CON- The mustardly creme sauce wasn't the biggest hit. SO- If you are around GO! Get the mussels if you like them. We'll be back soon! read more

I have stopped here several times with co workers for lunch. The staff are professional and friendly, the restaurant is well maintained and very clean. I try some thing new on the menu each time, The meals are outstanding and have to say that I have never left wanting more. In fact when the waitress asked if I wanted anything for dessert I just had to laugh. Maybe one of these times I'll get a dessert to go because they are likely delicious. read more

Excellent service. The food is fresh and delicious. The lobster roll with French fries was amazing. The captain crunch chicken was awesome. read more

Black Water Grill - Lobster Roll with French Fries. - American Near Me - Salem, New Hampshire