After an exhausting late-night summoning ritual, I needed a strong drink, a bite to eat, and a spot…read moreto decompress before heading back into the void. All Souls Lounge in Salem was the perfect sanctuary. It's a small, intimate spot that fills up fast, if you don't get there early, you'll be left haunting the sidewalk waiting for a table. Luckily, they offer outdoor seating, which was great for cooling off after spending two hours surrounded by ceremonial candles. The service was remarkably fast for a packed house. The cocktails were delicious and flavorful, though if you're looking to banish your inner demons in one sip, note that they aren't the absolute strongest in town. What really stole the show, however, was the food menu: they have a massive selection of gourmet grilled cheeses and hot dogs. Speaking of which: after finishing my meal, I went home inspired to attempt another quick ritual. I was trying to summon an ancient Hot Dog Spirit to bless my midnight snack cravings, but I mangled the Latin incantation and accidentally conjured a Grilled Cheese Ghost instead. Now my apartment smells like toasted sourdough, and there is a glowing ectoplasmic slice of melted cheddar hovering over my couch. Overall, a fantastic spot to refuel whether you're a local, a tourist, or just an exhausted practitioner of the dark arts. Highly recommend!

I wish I had a better experience. Feigning for a grilled cheese and hearing the hype, the boss and…read moreI entered this local place (yes we are locals), and was instructed by BOTH bartenders to have a seat anywhere. Over the next 20 minutes (without service or even a "come to the bar to order even though you're sitting at a table") we watched as three more couples walked in, met by the bartender (who passed by us to accomplish ) brought to a table, and then served. When the second bartender came out from around the bar, we perked up, only to find them addressing yet another couple that arrived after us. We got zero drinks, we got zero acknowledgment. For a bar that says "all souls welcome", we certainly did not feel it.

Ah, I completely forgot I had already reviewed this place but here's an updated review! It was just…read moreas good as the first time. We had the nachos (do yourself a favor and buy only a half order because it's HUGE). They were so good and I didn't even have enough room for more food after that. Service was attentive and good! I got the "Summer Fling" cocktail and it was truly one of the best cocktails I've had in quite sometime. I had a couple of them and honestly, could have continued throwing them down if I knew I didn't need to be in decent shape the next day. The live music was fantastic too. All-in-all, still a cozy and great vibe here. I hope to go there again soon!

My family decided to spend the afternoon in Salem and wanted a late lunch. In looking at different…read moreplaces, Mercy Tavern had a good menu so we decided to stop. We arrived around 3:00 on a Thursday. We were able to get an inside seat. Two people were working and both appeared to be fairly attentive. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. My wife and I both had PBR drafts. My youngest son and I both had Steak Tips and garlic fries. My wife had grilled cheese and my oldest son had fish tacos. Everything was good, fries were extremely garlicky. I wish they would have given more steak. Service was good, food was good, and prices were fair. I would recommend and return.

The Babe is an adorable and unique little restaurant and bar in the outskirts of downtown Salem and…read moreit's a little gem! We easily found street parking and were seated quickly. I loved that they have various music nights and on this night, a few people brought in vinyls since it was BYO vinyl night. We had the mozz pockets (yum) and the Carolina gold wings (also yum). For the main meals, I had the Mr. Falafel wrap which was freaking delicious. It was the best thing I had tasted there and I'd return for that wrap alone! My gf had the Culture Fit burger and enjoyed it too. The drinks were top notch and the service was good as well. I'll definitely be back!

Great Gastro Pub. Super wings and cheese steak sandwich! Cool atmosphere and great service.read more

excellent food, but what sold this establishment to me was the talent and skill of the bartenders -…read moreSarah in particular is an absolute chemist when it comes to a quality, multidimensional drink. she was a pleasure and an incredible talent.

I used to go here when it was Opus and they hosted live shows in the location and was initially sad…read morewhen they changed it up. I went here with friends one night and was pleasantly surprised. It had a speakeasy vibe and I loved the drinks and decor. It's definitely a great place to swing by before going out and the service was great. They also had some of the awesome sushi rolls they used to serve there when it was known as Opus. It can be a bit tricky to find but look for the alley to the right of the main restaurant and you should be able to find it!

Just a superb experience here tonight. My wife and I went to see The Return band at Salem Landing…read morethis afternoon and wanted to grab some dinner nearby. We found Trade House (formerly the Witch's Brew) on Derby Street and were so glad we did. We split a mammoth chopped Caesar salad, then chose 2 entrees from their special Oktoberfest menu: a pork Jägerschnitzel and a braised pork shank. They were both amazing! Hannah, our server, was attentive and pleasant, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We will be back! Highly recommended!

Had the best short rib of my life last night. Trade House in Salem on Derby St. is a must try for…read moreevery foodie on the North Shore. A generous portion larger than my fist and perfectly roasted such that all the fat was rendered out of it. Served on a bed of whipped, not mashed, potato along with a soft yet still crisp red cabbage and onion crisps ! And the gravy !!! This was my second trip there and I am going back this weekend. Great service and atmosphere as well.

My wonderful son and daughter-in-law(this was their third time) invited us to go on a harbor cruise…read moreon Tiki Hut Boats. We were joined by my daughter and son-in-law. Tiki Hut can take groups of up to six on their boats (they have two). As mentioned in previous reviews they open their calendar in January and they book up for the entire season very quickly(days). Captain Scott and his wife Karen are great business people and excellent hosts. They work together as a well oiled team. They offer light snacks and amazing drinks. The drinks are well thought out with tons of personality!! I'll leave the rest to visitors to experience so as to not cheapen their first experience. Our early afternoon cruise was a lightly choppy day in the harbor but they as great hosts made it the best possible experience we could have. Cruises are 90 minutes in duration.

My friends and I had such a fun time on this Tiki Hut boat ride. I think our captain was Judd and…read morethe bartender, Ashley who made very yummy drinks.

Had a good time here. Accepted our dogs. Very diverse clientele. Drinks were great. Service was…read moregood. Talked to cofounder, Ian, for a bit. Talked to Pam, bartender, for a bit. Was impressed with the whole experience. Hole in the wall fun.

My sister and I stopped in for a drink. It's a nice walk from the main area of Salem. The drink…read moremenu has many things to choose from. I like that all the liquor is made on site and the bartender could speak to any allergies to ensure my cocktail was made to my liking. You can sign up distillery tours but we did not during our visit.

Our server was kind and helpful. We weren't sat in the best place on the patio even with plenty of…read morespaces open. The view was still decent and the weather was great. There was a lot of fried food and the pricing wasn't super clear. We had to ask the server for more specifics. I wish there were also a few more options but we found something.

My sister and I stopped here for lunch and previously had made reservations online the night…read morebefore. I do recommend that. They do cram people upstairs so they can accommodate more people. I wasn't a fan of that part or the seats themselves. We started off with the ceviche which was very tasty. I am dairy and gluten free and they could accommodate allergies. They will tag it as well when they prep which was appreciated. I got the swordfish strawberry salad and my sister got one of the swordfish special. Overall excellent food and view.

Tip top of the hotel with a view from the wharf all the way to Essex. Great vibes, low music…read moreplaying in the background. This is a decent place. Second time around first review. Today was the pork belly tacos, the taco salad, and some beeyahs. Delicious tacos once again, crema, pickled radish, and jalapeño makes a delicious bite. Pork belly alone was underseasoned, but the whole bite makes it worth it! The bucket of taco salad was filled with choice of shredded beef. Done well, dressed nicely tourist pricing but that's normal all around town. I like coming here in the afternoons or later lunches for a relaxing time, good food, and a great atmosphere.

This review is specifically for the rooftop bar at The Hotel Salem. It's a cool spot that gave us…read moresomething fun to do while we waited for our EV to charge down the street, but it definitely feels a bit like a tourist trap. The food is nothing spectacular, though it's not bad either--just kinda mid. We had the ceviche, which was decent for $16. The drink menu itself is really cool, but it is very overpriced. Because we had already had a couple of drinks elsewhere and were mostly just buying time, we opted to stick with water. The ambiance is easily the best part of the experience. It's a fun, lively rooftop bar that sits right in the middle of everything in town. It offers some nice views directly over the main pedestrian street in Salem, though honestly, beyond that, you can't see much else. The staff was friendly and welcoming. We didn't have a reservation and weren't thrilled with the seats we were given, but that's fair game for walking in. It's a neat place to stop in for a quick view if you're passing through, but be prepared for typical tourist-heavy prices for drinks.

This place is SO cool! We had several drinks and they were all delicious and garnished so…read moreelegantly. I had a hard time finding out how to get through the bookcase at first (it was actually pretty pathetic watching me try lol) but finally found the handle. The inside was so warm, cozy and had a sexy, cool vibe. Everyone who works there is super nice and helpful and I love the vibe of the bartenders' outfits (one even wore a paperboy hat which just fit with the style). I love this place and will absolutely be back.

Solid solid 5 stars, why isn't this the top bar? Love the Hidden Door, tried the small bites plate…read moreand artichoke dip this visit. The Benton's Old Fashion was smooth & smokey, a great drink. Leather seating, film noir backdrop w a twist of great recorded tunes and lighting, great service.