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.

A lively bar Jamming bands at night…read moreAccommodating bartender Large MENU with gourmet selections (NOT typical bar food) Delicious grass-fed burgers (specialty burgers to choose from) Healthy salads and many other choices for food The food was so good, we ate here 2 days in a row. I really liked the burger without the bun and specialty salad instead of fries (salad was arugula and other amazingly healthy greens). And the barkeep listened very well and got my order just right. If only restaurants had food as good as this fun bar! Way to go Barrelman.

I still think about the French onion burger I had this past summer. We will definitely be going…read moreback - especially for the live music!

This was a really fun place to visit. They have a great craft beer, selection, and a nice outdoor…read morepatio for drinking, eating, and watching people go by. Surface was great, would come here again.

What an excellent experience!! My friends and I had delicious food in a comfy atmosphere…read more I got the Witchy Brew cocktail, delicious and dangerous because it's very tasty and I got the Caesar salad with grilled chicken, refreshing and tasty af. Good prices for being a tourist spot, would totally come back!! Our waitress was very lovely, attentive, and welcoming.

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

We really enjoyed Sea Salt tonight. It is located in the basement and enter via the back. Once you…read moreget to their outdoor patio, you know you've arrived. What a lovely spot. The restaurant is deceptively large with a pleasant atmosphere. Service was prompt even on a busy Saturday evening and our server was enthusiastic about the food. I had the goat burger, which was absolutely loaded with goat cheese. I appreciate that they are generous, so be forewarned it is a delicious and messy situation. I also tried the Brussels sprouts, which were terrific. I snuck bites of my husbands truffle fries, which were also super good. My husband ate every bite of his sea salt burger, which he reported was very good between bites. Also worth noting that the burger patties were gigantic. We finished up dinner with an Irish coffee. Yum! Overall, this is a really good choice for dinner. I'd definitely recommend stopping by here for a meal if you're in the area.

Sea Salt is the kind of place that just feels good to be at. The food is fresh and straightforward…read morein the best way -- easygoing but still packed with flavor. The ahi tuna poke was incredible, one of those dishes you could eat every day and never get tired of. I also tried the black bean burger and was blown away. I don't usually go for veggie burgers, but this one was fantastic -- flavorful, satisfying, and made me forget I wasn't eating meat. The service was excellent, too. Everyone was welcoming, attentive without being over the top, and just genuinely nice to interact with. It's rare to find a spot where both the food and the people hit the mark like this. Highly recommend Sea Salt for anyone who wants a great meal in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Divey gem with really good pub food and great service. I had the smash burger special with…read morepineapple and steak fries and it was exactly what I wanted after an active day on the ocean. The steak fries were hot, perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Burger was juicy with double patties and good topping ratios on a decent bun that held together. Server was also the only bartender - she was attentive and friendly, and did a great job serving tables while tending to a busy bar of locals. Will definitely return to try the steak tips.

What an unknown gem in Salem! It's not on a beaten path, but the food has got to be one of the…read morebest in town. We've been in before for their superior steak tips and burgers. We just went in and dropped a worthy $80 on lunch - 2 tequila mules, a special of buffalo bites (if u are lucky and these are on special again - order them!). Chicken kabob sandwich - juicy, perfectly grilled chicken and my husband got the mouth-watering pastrami sandwich. We packed half of it up for dinner tonight. I only gave 4 stars due to the lousy, noisy, raunchy bar flies. They couldn't care less about other customers as they were shouting and cussing away. Having a conversation with my husband was impossible. The bartender, who was 5 stars in her service to us, attempted to remind these people to stop yelling. I understand being a local, as I am one, and it makes me want to keep my favorite places in business. However, disruptive and rude bar flies should be shut out ff earlier and asked to leave or at the very least pipe down. Ultimately, I highly recommend anyone local or out of town to try The Tin Whistle for the food and service. Maybe try one of the tall comfy wooden booths would make for a better atmosphere.

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!

Not a huge fan, but it's not offensive... I miss the fried chicken fingers and clam chowder from…read moreMajor's. Service is lovely and friendly. Ambiance is good.

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.

"Here lie the roses in the ashes Deep as the barnacles that…read morecling Just like a lace that runs through everyone and everything" (Elvis Costello) This is a tough one to write up. The food was very good, and I thought my Steamed Mussels might have been the very best version of a favorite dish I ever had. The view of the harbor from the back counter was beautiful. But..........there were a lot of buts. First of all, The Barnacle is not a large restaurant, and the dining room was so crowded, with tables and chairs so densely packed into every square inch it's really quite difficult to navigate your way around the room. In fact, after we were seated at that back counter, a server asked us if we could slide over because another patron couldn't maneuver herself into an open seat. We placed our order - a cup of clam chowder ($8), fish tacos ($14.95), and those fabulous Steamed Mussels ($18.95). And then we waited. And then we waited some more. And then the couple who sat next to us hadn't seen a server yet, so the gent walked over to the bar to get his own beer. And then we waited some more. And then our server sheepishly walked over and said she never got around to placing our order with the kitchen, so would we mind reminding her what we ordered? Now look, we had no appointment to keep and didn't mind the view of the scenery. But truthfully, the wait and delay did slice into a big chunk of our metered parking fee. And it sure would have been nice to see their service lapse translate into some tangible consideration. How about a complimentary appetizer, drink, dessert, or a cost reduction or anything. But no, there was no consideration given at all. No attempt to make things right. I'd say forgetting to place an order and not realizing the mistake for half an hour is a fairly serious issue. A waterside restaurant on a hot day really should have done a better job with the crowd, and they clearly weren't up to the task. But... those plump heavenly mussels in a sweet, herb and garlic broth were divine, and influenced my rating decision for a four-star experience.

One of our go to Local spots in Marblehead. Great location with a fabulous view of the Harbor and…read morethe lighthouse. Very friendly staff but the star of the show is the seafood. We ordered an order of steamers to share. Very good! For the main course, Fish and chops for me. As I had remembered from prior visits, the fish are outstanding. Very good cold water white fish /Haddock, cooked with a light breading so it doesn't overwhelm the fish. Fries were fine but again the star is the fish and definitely worth the visit!