What a great find. Weary from a day of sailing we were in…read moresearch of dinner and happened upon 5 corners. Had no idea the vibe, but were quite out of place when we walked in in our seafaring duds. Everyone looked as if they were meeting with their book agents or stock broker. Definitely the hot spot for locals...nevertheless, we were treated like everyone else in spite of our appearance. My skate wing entree was to die for and our cocktails were delicious. Don't miss this restaurant if you're in Marblehead, just dress better than we did.

Where do I begin, each visit is better than the last! We have had the mixed greens salad, with a…read morefantastic vinaigrette dressing perfect for summer! The duck was absolutely beautiful, juicy flavorful cook perfection. Tuna Tartare was positively scrumptious served with house made chips that you want a bag to take home, mmmm! The 5 Corners Burger is Smokey and cooked to perfection, and bacon for a bit more delight to the taste buds xtra cheese if your feelin daring! If there is a specialty FISH on the menu I HIGHLY RECOMMEND having that as well. We had Bronzini that was cooked in lemon, olive oil, s&p, it was so delicious & clean tasting. Out of this world! Don't skip dessert! Always something delicious or a great after dinner drink! The service is crazy wonderful, friendly, and fun. The ambiance in 5 Corners is casual elegant, you can go in jeans and a nice shirt, or you can dress up. It has a really nice atmosphere... love it there, and the staff. Thank you all

Breakfast burrito, ok but microwaved eggs, you know the round flavorless you get a fast food…read moreplaces. Coffee was horrible!!! Two sips, and just got worst. Tried adding sugar and did not help. Left and walked 5 min to find a good coffee. Long time coffee drinker this place coffee has poor highway gas station quality coffee. Had not walked in this place since it was Atomic.

My two favorite foods sound boring to some, but I can't help it -- I'm a savory food kind of…read moreperson. I love nachos and I love BLTs, and it's amazing how many places have managed to not do these two things well. I have never been able to find a place that can make a good BLT, until now! I needed a quick lunch today and went here on a whim because it was close by. I saw they were closing soon, but there were people inside so I headed in. Sometimes small, local coffee shops can feel drafty or unkempt or just lifeless. As soon as I walked in, I felt like I'd want to sit there for hours. The temperature was just right, and the ambiance felt friendly and warm. I acknowledged that they were closing soon and asked if I could still order a sandwich. They replied in a way that felt welcoming, and not like I was imposing on them (which some places, 15 minutes prior to closing, would have). I ordered the BLT and used the restroom while I waited. Even the restroom was pleasant! I sat in one of the two window bays on a comfortable stool (again, perfect! sometimes they're way too high for a 4'10" to get up on, or off), with a complimentary cup of water (I love when cafes have serve yourself water). One of the servers brought my sandwich over and even on first glance I could tell it was going to be good. No wilted lettuce, no weird bread, perfect amount of mayo and bacon. It was the best BLT I've had at a restaurant, even better than I make at home. So, 5 stars for great ambiance, friendly, unrushed service, and a great BLT! I have no doubt that their other food is just as good.

So here we are 12 years later and we heard the restaurant had been sold. Nothing has changed from…read morewhat we experienced on our visit on a Friday morning. You still have to wait outside and wait to be called in. Two groups in front of us and we still had wait about 20 minutes before we entered. We sat at the bar and service was friendly but very slow. It appears they complete orders one table at a time and not a mass production line like other establishments. My wife and I still enjoyed our French toast and pancakes. Still not the cleanest establishment and can still use a good renovation. As for my comment last time about the upstairs bathroom, I did not venture upstairs to find out. This is all part of their charm and mystique. The Driftwood will be still there after I am long gone. Don't be in a rush if you come here and remember...Cash only!

What a fun place. Stopped for breakfast and it was perfect. Authentic small town diner with…read moregood food and friendly staff. I live in the south and the north gets a bad rap for bad attitudes. Have not encountered that yet.

My bf and I stayed here in March. I found the website online and was convinced it would be…read morewonderful because of the gorgeous pictures of the place and the stellar reviews I found all over the internet. When we got there, we found the owner and his girlfriend cooking dinner. They were very nice and welcoming. I knew to expect the owners living quarters to be really close to the guest rooms because of some of the reviews I read but since the room we were in had a private entrance we weren't worried, we figured we could come and go and have the privacy we were looking for with no problem. We told Ted that we were late sleepers and not to worry about providing breakfast for us (the website says breakfast is served between 8:30-9:30). We would much rather sleep in and then grab brunch somewhere and we didn't want to hold him up from whatever he may have had planned for the day. He seemed somewhat resistant to the idea of not providing sustenance for us so after a little discussion, J and I told him "okay, how about 10:30?" He said he would leave certain items out for us. The house and our room really were gorgeous! Ted is an architect and he has done a really great job on the house and grounds. We stayed in the pond room which had cathedral ceilings, a two person jacuzzi, a gas fireplace, double glass doors, lighted double sinks that automatically turned on when you walked into the room, a whole wall of windows, decks, and heated floors. We were really happy with the room. It was very clean and decorated with a subtle nautical theme. From the moment we got there, we kind of felt like we had to whisper in our room. Probably because there wasn't any other guests there that weekend and the owner was having dinner 20 ft from our door. I know they probably couldn't have heard us but it did make me feel more uncomfortable than I thought it would. In the morning, we were woken up bright and early by the sun coming through the large, high windows in our room. No wonder breakfast is so early, how can anyone sleep through that? However, I do have to say that if I wasn't a cranky morning person, this would be a really enjoyable way to wake up, sun and beautiful blue sky and trees to look at while lying in bed. We pulled ourselves together and quietly went to the kitchen for breakfast. Ted said he would leave things out for us so we assumed we'd be alone. He immediately came around the corner when we got to the kitchen so it felt like he may have been waiting for us. He served us cantaloupe slices with yogurt, granola and berries and a tomato and basil quiche, which was all very good. What wasn't good was that he talked to us from the kitchen the whole time we were eating, so we had to keep turning around in our chairs to respond to him. It was uncomfortable and awkward (if he had sat down with us, it wouldn't have been as bad). During our weird breakfast conversation, it comes up that J is a software engineer and next thing you know, Ted is asking for help with a website he is working on. I have no problem with J helping someone out, but DUDE we're on vacation and we are paying you good money, don't ask for business help while we are trying to relax. It just wasn't appropriate. I said "Maybe when we are on our way out on Sunday he can help you for a bit". After that, we pretty much chose to use our private entrance to the room when we came and went from the house. We didn't feel like discussing in great detail every time we came back from somewhere, what we had done and where we had gone. I think Ted meant well, he had a lot of advice and suggestions for things to do and he was a really nice guy but it just didn't mesh with our style. For the most part, we like to be left alone when we go away and Ted didn't seem to pick up on the signals we gave him. I think this B&B would be really great for an older couple, for some reason I feel like older people are more open to this type of attention. On Sunday when we packed up, J was heading out to take some things to the car and Ted followed him outside for help on his website. He spent more than an hour working on something with him, while I sat in our room waiting. We probably won't go back. Gorgeous place, beautiful backyard and pond, and nice trails that lead to a running path and the harbor. I really liked the physical surroundings but didn't really feel relaxed because Ted was overly available and obviously in closer earshot than we would have liked. A week later, Ted called and asked BF to go on trip advisor and write a positive review of our stay!! No wonder I found so many good reviews online. 5 stars for aesthetics and 1 star for invasiveness! It wasn't horrible but it was not our style. **Updating this review in March '09: Ted called J a month or so ago and said he found this review and apologized and offered us a free night at the B&B. Not sure if we'll take him up on it but nice that he tried to make amends.**

Two weekends ago my friend and I spent a lovely weekend in Marblehead at the Fox Pond Bed and…read moreBreakfast. This gem is nestled in a quiet neighborhood bordering a 37 acre sanctuary with trails that lead down to Salem Harbor. I looked at a number of B & Bs before finding this obvious and rare jewel of a home. Ted and Sophie, our hosts, were flexible as we arrived early and left a bit late since the off season is easier on everyone. This home has been meticulously redone, as have the beautiful grounds. Indeed, this property is featured in a number of architectural, gardening, and home magazines. The obvious care and attention to detail is very very unique. Our host, Ted, and his lovely dog, Sophie, made us feel right at home. Ted has an easy way about him that makes one feel like family the second you walk through the door. As is common with Bed and Breakfasts, you are a part of the family while in residence - that's the charm. The breakfasts were lovely and we invited Ted to join us as we learned about the house, its history, and received numerous tips about local attractions, restaurants, shops, and some of the local North Shore news. All in all our stay was wonderful. Ted opened his home to us and helped make our stay a memorable and relaxing time. I most enthusiastically recommend the Fox Pond B&B; we'll be back!

My wife and I stopped in on a busy Friday night and did not have reservations. We only had to wait…read more20 minutes or so before we got seated. Maddie's is located on a side street off the main drag of old town Marblehead. The restaurant is located upstairs and the bar is located downstairs. We began our meal with the fried calamari. Cook fresh and served hot. The marinara was ok. Our entrees were the Pasta Fra Diavolo and the baked haddock. The pasta came out with a tasty sauce and a generous amount of seafood. My wife enjoyed her haddock which was something she doesn't usually order. The portion was generous and the veggies on the side were fresh and not canned. The service was very good and friendly. The prices were very reasonable considering the area. There is street parking on the main street but not the street it is located on.

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!

My wife and I had dinner at The Beacon in Marblehead tonight, everything was excellent!…read moreI ordered the ribeye and she had the chicken. Both were well executed and full of flavor. Service was just as good. Rosanna took great care of us. The head chef was out on the floor talking with guests. He was personable, friendly, and clearly proud of the kitchen. That kind of presence goes a long way. Great food, warm service, and a chef who actually comes out to say hello. We'll be back.

An amazing restaurant. The service is outstanding. The servers are fantastic & very accommodating…read more The food is amazing. They also have great entertainment on some evenings. Eating outside is great if the weather permits too. Great service and great food. Ambiance is also a plus.

This time of year if you're visiting Salem Massachusetts, we definitely want to give this place a…read moretry for breakfast. Everything is delicious here. The problem is there's no offstreet pocket so you gotta get there early but it's worth the trip and it's worth the weight. Enjoy your trip to Salem, Massachusetts and enjoy the ugly mug.

I came here on a Tuesday afternoon for lunch. The space is beautiful, adorned with adorable…read morecrocheted eggs and bacon. Our server was prompt and helpful, and our meal came out quickly. I had the vegetarian egg sandwich, which came with a side of sweet potato home fries. The sandwich was delicious and well seasoned on a crispy English muffin. The home fries were good but definitely a bit less to my taste. They didn't quite have the crunchiness I was hoping for and were pretty soft, though well cooked. I enjoyed my meal here and will probably come back!

My family and I ate lunch at 3 Cod on Father's Day. We had reservations for 3 o'clock, but…read moregetting there early( 2 o'clock) we were graciously seated. The food was amazing! My husband and I got the seafood casserole and it was so good! Our daughters got the lobster roll and haddock dinner. We all loved our meals ! Service was outstanding as well! Plan on coming back again soon!

Not off to a great start. Came in the afternoon to grab a bite at the bar and was promptly ignored…read morefor the phone and chatting at the other end of the bar. I suppose if you're not a local in a tourist town, you shouldn't expect customer service, at least here anyway. After a not-quite-awkward amount of silent time watching the bartenders back, we were addressed. Look the long and short was the service struck me wrong from moment one and I no longer felt welcome when sitting down to eat. Beer selection was decent. Sip o sunshine makes for an excellent sauce. The food was excellent. Salty, delicious roast beef on a perfectly toasted roll, Rueben set up perfect with melting cheese catching the light from the high placed windows. Decor is was cool. Old world nautical theme throughout with rich dark wood tables and chairs. Maybe she had a bad day, maybe I did, and this was what was perceived. Wanted a welcoming lunch place to pop in when I'm in the next town and didn't find it today. The sad part is though the food was good, I don't think the wife and I will give it another go. Shame.

Repeat customer here!…read more I love this place for its quintessential New England ambience and great food. We had the following: 1) Reservation for seating outside; worked well we saw the late summer light dim from yellow to pink to purple with all the little boats bobbing in the bay. 2) We ordered all three fish on their dinner menu: - salmon, delicious - swordfish, delectable - crispy haddock, meh (its not a great fish so it needs a lot more flavorful cooking and finesse) 3) the octopus and the mussels, both amazing 4) the tiramisu, v good 5) the service was great as well! Overall, it's a great atmosphere to be in at evening time surrounded by family and friends experiencing a salty New England sea breeze!

so far.... asked to be seated . waited . finally seated. rushed to order. ordered . was insisted…read morethat I order "everything at once. " It was neither dinner nor lunch so not understanding the rush other than the waiters agenda food slammed on the table. food ...mediocre. feel rushed - don't think waiters aused to non-rushed dining. view of the harbor ....good but some seats get the smell of diesel and gasoline - can't be avoided in a harbor but choose carefully abuts a parking lot on the side. rushed out . Bottom Line: 1-10 Food 5 View - 0utside 9 Service : 7 leisurely dining; 5

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