We stopped in on a busy October weekend. We slide into a booth with no wait though a steady stream of people followed in behind us! The service was fast and friendly. The potatoes were delicious and the coffee was strong. This is a local place, a short drive from the train station. Street parking only. Did I mention it was cheap?? $17 for two full plates of food and a cup of coffee is definitely a value. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a break from the Essex Street hubbub. read more

Stopped here for breakfast as we were leaving. Food was great and service was better. Three breakfast specials and blue berry pancakes. Eggs were cooked perfectly. Neighborhood dinner at its best. read more

Staff is amazing. They created items for family that were not on the menu because of picky eaters. They literally prevented a family feud. AND, the food was delicious! read more

This mom and pop restaurant is quaint and homey and has served many locals for more than 40 years. I had an enjoyable dining experience with my family and would largely recommend this diner to anyone looking for a nice home cooked meal. The staff was patient and kind and the establishment was overall very nice. Best clam chowder I've ever had! read more

Great place!! Great food (try the paninis there)!!! Stuff are very friendly. Will definitely go back there.

Amazing people and amazing food! Fisherman's platter was so good and their beef stew is to die for

I can't believe it took me this long to stumble upon this place. Great food! Great Service! Great prices! I'll definitely be back!

Dot and Ray's has been here forever. Good food at inexpensive prices .diner style restaurant. I like chicken kabob salad. Also fried haddock is always good. read more

The lobster roll is fantastic. Big pieces of lobster in every bite! Also the haddock sandwich was nice and fresh. Melts in your mouth like butter. Would definitely recommend the onion rings, crispy and fantastic flavor. The perfect amount of batter! The service was fantastic! Will definitely come again when I'm back in the area! read more

This restaurant was awesome! Especially during this time they were so welcoming and accommodating. The new owner, Gennaro, was a very nice gentleman and I can tell he excited about this new endeavor. My family and I tried many different things on the menu and was very satisfied with with everything we got; the hash especially. Will definitely be back for more. read more

After reading so many good things about the lobster roll here, we had to try it. We arrived just as the shop had closed, but they took our order anyway without a complaint. Such nice people! The lobster roll was stuffed with meat and the price was reasonable. Cole slaw was excellent as well, creamy and crunchy with a touch of sweetness. I'm going to try the fried seafood combo next time. Stop in when you are in the area, you won't be sorry. read more

I order breakfast here multiple times every week. I'm a big breakfast guy, and have tried every place in Salem. THIS is THE best breakfast place in Salem, period. Before the new owner took over in March, it was alright, but nothing special. This new owner KNOWS what makes a good breakfast. Quality hash browns, cut into small pieces and deep fried, then seasoned perfectly. Not those nasty burned or smushed hash browns you get at other places. Eggs are ALWAYS on point. Grilled English is perfectly grilled with butter, not burned, or dry and tasteless like others. Seriously can't hype this place up enough. I will keep ordering here every Friday Saturday and Sunday. We need to keep places like this in business. Keep up the good work guys. read more

Great little find while in Salem today. Lobster roll was delicious. Home made french fries cooked to perfection. Service & chef were wonderful. Gave us excellent directions back to highway. Definitely worth the trip if you're in the area. read more

Just had lunch ... will try again today was not a good day ... there fish chowder was actually potato chowder and it was cold ... and the lobster roll had a huge hair in it .. the only pleasant part of the experience was the wait staff .. all the ladies were very pleasant ... read more

This is a small diner. Found it to be very clean and staff is super friendly & outgoing. Tried the Lobster Roll. It's made with mayo and lemon and put on a bed of lettuce on a bun. Not bad. Mayo wasn't too heavy and meat was very tasty and fresh. Onions rings were also a winner. Service was quick, too. I recommend this place for a quick and tasty lunch downtown read more

Colloquial north shore. Friendly, honest food, honest prices. Keep going, and they'll call you by name.

This is a good American diner. Ate breakfast here a couple of times. Traditional eggs, omelets etc. prices are very good and staff is friendly. Can't really ask for more. read more

This is not the Dot and Ray's of the past that had the best food at a great price and many regular customers. It is under new ownership. The menu is fancy now. It is pretentious and pricey. I just want to warn folks. Go to Peabody Diner if you don't want to spend $30.00 for breakfast or $60,00 for 2 people for fried plates. Nobody wants pancakes covered in fresh fruit for $10.99. The tea, juices and milk side orders are pricey too. Dot and Ray's is no more. read more

Local place that we bumped into driving from Logan heading North. Split a Lobster roll with my son for breakfast (hahaha), which was really tasty along with the hot crispy fries. It was breakfast, so we had to also order pancakes which were incredible as well. Bottomless mug of hot coffee too!! read more

Great neighborhood spot, since 1958. Salem is a charming city/town but I feel many of the restaurants are overpriced and touristy. Treating you as if they're never going to see you again! And, for me with that attitude they won't. However, here we were greeted so warmly and sincerely it made my day! Yes no frills atmosphere, but clean and accommodating. The food was SUPER and so fairly priced compared to other restaurants. We ordered the turkey club, with fresh roasted turkey and it was enormous as well as the fried clam platter and friend clam roll. Both were enormous portions of both the whole belly and clam strips with the best onion rings I've ever had. Could easily have been shared but was so good had to keep eating! The interesting thing to me was all the fried food was so light and clean, not a drop of grease. Didn't feel so guilty! Also understand the breakfast menu, and omelette a are outstanding. Our server was so sweet and sincerely interested in our enjoying the food. Street parking is readily available and the famous lobster rolls are only 12.95 vs the other places of $25 plus! Hurry and check it out-you won't be disappointed! read more

I decided to give this another try, but I was definitely disappointed, again! Food is never cooked the same so it's not consistent, and the fried rings and seafood are always soggy. Unfortunately I'm done trying this place, I mentioned it to the owner but no change was made or noticable. Not sure they mind losing local business. read more

I probably walked by this place 50 times before one hungry day working from home I decided to venture in-- I am now hooked. Every dish they serve reminds me of something my grandmother would make. Their prices are great and they have fresh brewed iced tea which is always a big win. I recommend whatever is on the board. Today I had baked mac-n-cheese and fish cakes. read more

Awesome food and great prices!! Don't hesitate! Steak tips and eggs awesome. Pancakes awesome!! Buffalo chicken sandwich awesome!! Lobster rolls awesome!!! Haddock sandwich for 7.95 with fries totally awesome!!!!! read more

Great bang for the buck. Phenomenal fried seafood. Can't stop thinking about the clams. Mmmmm.

Service was great, food was okay. My sister and I had the haddock sandwich so I'm basing the rating on one dish since we both had the same thing. It did seem to be a local favorite and the other dishes being served looked yummy. If I ever go back to Salem I would try it again. read more

I have been coming to this place for over twenty years. The menu has remained consistent, but lately, under new management, they have EXCELLENT HOME-CUT FRENCH FRIES (to die for) - - and their burger is STILL the best in town. read more

Wonderful, friendly service, clean and inviting. Great variety and the seafood was the Best Buy in town. Terrific fries!

After reading the other great reviews here, I decided to check out Dotty & Ray's. Well, it got off to a real bad start. No decaf coffee!! Even the smallest hole in the wall breakfast joint has a pot of decaf ready these days. They also did not have any egg substitutes like EggBeaters available, so I ordered two eggs scrambled with the home fries and wheat toast. The eggs were cooked perfectly, but the home fries were under cooked (hard) and some of the pieces were huge. The toast was overdone and very dry, almost to the point of being burnt. It may be I just hit this place on a bad day, but I have been to a lot of small breakfast places like this and Dotty & Ray's definitely missed the mark. read more

Awesome, standard diner fare. Food prices from 1994. Friendly staff, friendly regulars and a television. My only complaint is that they don't open earlier! The atmosphere might be a wee bit senior oriented, but who cares? It's quiet and calm and there aren't families with a bunch of kids running around. Your best bet is to crawl from bed at six thirty, wander down the street and settle in for a while. read more

Classic diner atmosphere, local charm. My family roots run deep here. I am a multi generational diner. Great for fried seafood. Reminds me of home and family. read more

A small neighborhood diner. 6.50$ breakfast special gets you coffee, a tiny orange juice, 2 eggs, your choice of meat, home fries, and toast. Rest of the menu is similarly priced. A cheap no frills no BS breakfast. Does the trick and then some. Cash only. read more

Amazing lobster rolls, awesome owner, very funny and sets a great mood for the restaurant.

good value, good food (especially breakfast), very townie, which I like a lot, make sure to tip well as your bill will be about 15 bucks, I always leave at least a 5 read more

Four of us came into Salem for the Halloween events on the weekend of 10/28. One of us had to use a restroom and ran into Dotty & Ray's. But we couldn't just use the restroom it wouldn't be right so we ordered two lobster rolls - WOW they were so danged delicious!! My husband was telling me how he was talking to the guy behind the counter and how friendly he was. The place was immaculate (big kudos for that!!) One thing is for sure, if we ever come down in that area again we will definitely go to Dotty and Ray's. We were all happy someone had to stop to tinkle lol because it turned out to be the best find. My husband and I have been in the restaurant business for many many years and they nailed it. Great service, great dining room and the BEST lobster rolls you'll ever have. Thanks so much and keep up the great work! read more

I LOVE Dotty and Ray's! The food is excellent, prices are more than reasonable and the staff is extremely attentive and friendly. Yesterday I thoroughly enjoyed the apple french toast and I have to say it is the best I have ever had. Their fish and chips is also amazing and one time, I ordered chicken salad and they made it fresh on the spot--scrumptious!! If you are hungry and in the area, GO THERE!! You will be so glad you did! read more

I have often driven by and wanted to stop after seeing the sign "Best Lobster Rolls in Salem, but yesterday was the day it happened. I was prepared to be disappointed, but was not. The small restaurant was very clean, including the restrooms, the staff was friendly and attentive and in my opinion the food was really good. We didn't eat much but the french fries were great, the onion rings were awesome (light and crispy with no excessive batter and sweet onions), and the lobster roll was very good. I don't know if it is the best in Salem, as I haven't tried every restaurant, but it was a good sized hot dog roll with lots of fresh lobster. A sold 4 out of 5 on lobster rolls in my lifetime experience. My only real criticism was that they put lettuce unter the lobster on the bun....who does that? Anyway we will be returning to Dotty & Rays to try out more food choices, and will let you know. Fred & Marla read more

A hidden gem. Terrific breakfasts, impeccable fried seafood, and prices that reflect its location off the tourist track. True family atmosphere and solid short order cooking. Feta, spinach tomato omelet is always excellent, the home fries are perfectly cooked and they offer sides of Greek sausage. Smaller and quieter than Red's, but just as tasty, this is the place to bring your finest hangover for breakfast. read more

Love this place!! Just great diner food, and super fried fish plates - - cash only, very casual, a real treasure!!

The service was horrible, the worst I have ever had. I went with my fiance and 2 year old daughter. We were first in line for a table, the waitstaff allowed a couple to cut in front of us and took the booth we had been waiting on. Then we weren't served our food until that couple had already eaten and left (not to mention another couple that was seated after us also got served 1st.) The space shot waitress took 15 mins to bring us our drinks. This was the worst experience i have ever had, we will never return to this disgusting establshment they should be ashamed to have women like that serving customers food. I can't say enough how terrible my dining experience was. We should've gotten it all for free. And they're was no apology for any of it. THIS PLACE IS A DISGRACE! read more

OMG!!! Don't miss this place, especially for the fried clams or the most succulent Lobster Roll. I am still dreaming about my lobster. I was just driving out of town and I saw the sign and went in. It's a great local place with friendly locals. I was with a friend who had never been to New England and she won't stop raving about her delicious fried clams and onion rings. What a happy accident to come across Dotty and Ray's. read more