This was a 5 min. Walk from our inn, we didn't know there was so much more behind us. We had to use…read morethe derby laundry mat and this was on the way there. So we made sure to try it out for dinner. We didn't make reservations and you need to. So we sat at the bar. The bartender- Sean was friendly! He made our last dinner night in Salem great. My daughter and I ordered a salad with salmon. We wanted something light and fresh and this hit the spot. The salad was perfectly dressed and salmon perfectly cooked and crispy skin on! I wasn't a fan of the sangria but I'm not a drinker, but he made my daughter a virgin cactus margarita and she loved it. We sat with 2 others at the bar and they were a pleasure to talk to as well. Definitely recommend!! We will be back next year!

Far and away the best meal I've had since moving to Boston! We ordered the Mediterranean mezze and…read morethe Italian sandwich. The mezze was so flavorful, fresh, fun, and filling! We didn't even have room for the sandwich by the time we finished. Everything was perfect and I couldn't stop smiling while eating it! We had the sandwich later for dinner and it was also very flavorful, perhaps slightly too garlicy for my taste, but still one of the best I've ever had. So so so good. Try the pickles!!!

I went yesterday for a late lunch and can say this place knows its purpose. They have fantastic…read morefood choices sourced from reliable sources that are organic and fresh. The staff are so friendly and welcome in anyone from the outside.

Smoothies are amazing but theres this young girl who works there who is incredibly rude. I walked…read morein and said good morning.... She rolled her eyes and stood by the register. Instead of working, she proceeded to spend the next 5 min finding music on youtube for the TV's. Then she decided to make my smoothie, finished it, then placed it on the counter. Did not call out what it was. There were multiple customers there so I asked, is this one mine? She goes "well yeah....". Really great customer service

Amazing hole in the wall! The little store is deserving of its name with its comfy and cozy…read moreambiance. This is an absolute gem hidden in Marblehead with excellent food. Flavors pop without over saturation on any spices and portions are perfect. The chicken in various dishes are tender and moist. The mushroom dishes are cooked el dente and you have a choice of home made pasta! Yum! Another plus for BYOB. Must try is the Chicken Parmesan! 5/5!

Amazing little gem of a neighborhood place in the heart of historic Marblehead. Seats about 22…read morepeople total inside, so get your reservation locked down and bring your favorite bottle of wine to complement the meal. Some of the occasional negative reviews of this place are shameful and totally unworthy from my experience. The gnocchi in "the Little Store Gnocchi" dish was melt in your mouth perfection. Best I ever had in the USA (I have been to Italy 40+ times). The mushrooms, truffle oil and Alfredo-like sauce (it's better than classic Alfredo ... smoother, less sticky, less fatty, more garlicky - and scrumptious... it was so tasty, I could drink the remnants like a divine soup -- and frankly, I did! The Veal Marsala was tender and seasoned perfectly, coated in tasty mushrooms and a dark Marsala sauce that was done with just the right balance of sweet and savory. My wife had the Seafood Di Mare that was piled high in a skillet full of calamari, shrimp, mussels and scallops on top of homemade fettuccine. The white wine sauce this was bathing in was a little tame for the magnitude of the dish - good, just not spectacular. All in all, we loved our food so much that we ordered a Haddock Francese "to go" so we can have it the following night and expand our Little Store palate. The ambiance is cute and quaint, old school pictures on the wall in unmatched frames that you would find at a garage sale. I felt like I was in a neighborhood ristorante in Tuscany. We saw only 1 employee all night and she was a hustler (in a great way). She did everything ... never stopped buzzing around to take care of a full restaurant-- not to mention a thriving takeout business (folks ... please tip this gal even when ordering takeout - she is busting her tail for you!). I love the BYOB approach because I always have lots of wine at the house - I don't need to spend an additional $100 on a $40 bottle of wine when I go out. One last comment - this is an adorable romantic place - unless the guests who visit make it otherwise. I was there with my wife, as were several other husbands enjoying a relatively quiet night out with their significant others. One younger group of 5 friends took the center table, and as the alcohol consumption rose, the volume crescendoed to the point of shouting just to be heard. A neighboring gentleman intervened and asked one particular girl to please stop shouting. He was right to do this - and to the girl's credit, she apologized and the rest of the evening was so pleasant. I say this just to remind people - restaurants are only as pleasant and romantic as the guests who honor them. By all means - celebrate life and friendship ... but be wary of your surroundings when your neighbors are just an arm's length away. God bless the Little Store -- Marbleheaders are sooooo lucky to have her !

Solid Sandwich Shop! We ordered a Hot Pastrami Sandwich on Marble Rye. Pastrami was very good,…read morebread was tasty but a bit soggy by the time we ate it (about 10 min later(. Better to order on a French roll next time. Save the Marble Rye for the cold Sandwiches. Nice menu of options. Lots of fun sodas to select from, I selected a Marblehead Cream Soda,.very good. Staff waa very friendly and quick to prepare the food. Easy parking with a lot. This is grab and go only. There is no searing (no tables) inside nor any outside (AI Yelp Assistant told me there were a few inside!).

My standards are high--2d Ave deli in NYC or Famous 4th Street in Philly. I know where my $25 for a…read moresammich goes. Not so much here. Marblehead prices for a sammich that was just ok. Service was friendly and kind. Ambiance was that of a take away sammich shop only. If ever in the vicinity again, I'll look forward to eating other items on the menu.

Had a longing for Pizza & Beer And oh we most definitely…read moregot the Pizza but had to BYOB! And that... was totally fine Fresca in the lovely town of Marblehead certainly stands out as one of those local neighborhood gems where all the locals frequent. The place is full of authenticity, character and that wonderful local feel & sense of local pride. The people in Marblehead know Fresca. A casual yet all sorts of awesome pizzeria cooking up a storm in a wood-burning oven & serving a nice list of classic Italian dishes & get this... dessert pizzas. Polenta Frita Did not see this coming!! Certainly did not expect it to be as good as it was! Crispy homemade Parmesan polenta served with house made marinara sauce. I just love these types of local hot spots. A big thank you to Fresca for a great experience. We will certainly be back. Bollo Pizza In my opinion, an interesting spin on a general "meat lover" pizza. Homemade Bolognese sauce topped with pepperoni & melted mozzarella cheese.

Always delicious! I visit Marblehead from South Carolina at least once a year and never miss the…read moreopportunity to get takeout from here. Absolutely love the Franini.

I have been eating pizza since I was kid . I don't care what anyone thinks . They make the best…read morecheese pizza I've ever had . Chicken kabob salad is a must have . I've never had a bad meal at the house . I don't need David Portnoy to tell me what a good pie is . Five stars

Great food! Excellent service and speedy preparation! We get pizza here every time we're in town!read more

Brunch was really great here! The French toast reminded us of a fried dough, so crunchy and yummy…read more I was hesitant about ordering a cold brew, if you are picky about your coffee you know it can be a hit or miss, but it was great as well! Service was fast. We were surprisingly satisfied overall.

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!

I'm not sure you would find this without knowing where to look. It's a favorite among locals for…read moregood reason. Downstairs is a "lively" bar, upstairs is the restaurant portion. Use the outside stairs to joueny up stairs. They don't take reservations and on a Thursday night it was full so plan accordingly. They have a full offering of drinks and I went draft beer, Alagash, a wheat beer from Maine. A good choice to go with a heavy meal. At the recommendation of our local host, I went for the Pan Seared Haddock. This comes with lobster meat in a white sauce served over potatoes and cooked spinach. So tasty, the seafood was tender and delicious, the sauce not overwhelming the flavors. Our server, Casey, was top notch and gave the right amount of earnest attention. When he wished us a good evening, I think he truly meant it. Husband had the seafood platter mixed and I tried one of the shrimp which was excellent. Great spot, though it is dimly lit and noisy(just know before you go type thing). Didn't hamper our enjoyment of a fun evening at all!

Maddie's Sail Loft has been a staple in the community since 2010, and after our recent visit, it's…read moreeasy to see why. A group of lifelong friends and I--scattered across the country and only able to gather once a year--chose Maddie's as the spot for our reunion, and it couldn't have been a better choice. I ordered the grilled salmon (no butter) with steamed asparagus and butternut squash. Everything was cooked to perfection--light, fresh, and full of flavor. Others in our group tried the Fisherman's Platter, haddock, and a few other seafood favorites, and the reviews around the table were unanimous: delicious. We shared a few bottles of wine that paired beautifully with the meal, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming--ideal for long conversations, laughter, and catching up. Maddie's Sail Loft is more than just a restaurant; it's a place that feels like home, especially when you're surrounded by great food, good wine, and even better friends. Highly recommended for locals and visitors alike.