Hallowed Ground is an amazing little spot for the ambiance alone. However Sarah was like a booze…read morespirit guide. She leads you to the best cocktail choices with the authority of a scholar and the insight of a shaman. I would return back again just for her expertise and delightful personality.

Really nice bar, great drinks, delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. (Skip the tomato soup tho.)…read moreService was very good. I'll definitely be back!

I wrote this review back in August of 2013, we lived up the street from the whistle for 7 years,…read moreAugust 2021 we moved to South Carolina, and man do I miss this place, it's changed owners in the time we went there, and was hit hard by covid. But the Whistle keeps going. We miss the crew there, the staff and the regulars. When we go back up north to visit, this is on the top of the list of places we have to go. Miss you guys!

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.

All Souls Lounge is an absolute gem. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is warm,…read morewelcoming, and unlike anywhere else around. The space has an incredible vibe--comfortable, stylish, and perfect whether you're meeting friends or just looking to relax for a while. The staff is genuinely friendly and attentive, and you can tell they really care about creating a great experience. Every interaction felt personal and authentic, which is rare these days. The drinks were excellent, the music was on point, and the whole place had a laid-back energy that made it hard to leave. It's the kind of spot you find yourself recommending to everyone after your first visit. Can't wait to come back. Easily one of my favorite places in the area.

Recommended to us by some locals as a great place for "tourists" to go. I can't agree, since the…read moretwo bartenders on duty were slinging drinks to their buddies while ignoring us. (They clearly saw me there; we made eye contact and the one guy wasn't even doing anything.) After about 10 to 15 minutes of waiting with no service, we were about to leave when a server finally came to our table. Since they were obviously busy and weren't keeping up with the crowd that night, we tried to order two drinks each so they could save a little of their time and we could relax without worrying about if a server was going to take our order again before the end of the week. The server very sharply said that he was NOT going to give us two drinks at a time, CERTAINLY not with drinks of this high alcohol content. We ordered one drink each, cashed out and bounced. The cocktail I got was fine; I could make a slightly worse version at home at a fraction of the price (or even two at once!). We we were told later by a friendlier Salemite at a bar with a better vibe that there is a Massachusetts state law that prohibits having two drinks at once at a bar. Fair enough. Had our server told us that, unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to give us two drinks at once -- instead of making us feel like idiots/degenerates for daring to ask -- we probably would have dropped a lot of vacation money there that night. Oh well; we had a great time at the other places we went.

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.

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!

This could be the best bar staff in the area. Absolutely personable, friendly, and cranks out…read moredrinks like no one's business. It's the drinker's bar. If you're looking for some classy shit, go to, um, anywhere else. Not to say this place isn't clean. A dive bar doesn't mean dirty. It means local, comfortable and a place to get together over some stiff drinks. But I would disagree (previous review) that it isn't for outsiders. I would say outsiders are welcome, as long as you know what you're getting into. No food (aside from popcorn!), but a serious alcohol selection, Keno, a jukebox, and good atmosphere. Don't be a bar snob coming here. As far as the year ago negative review by Robyn: Let's point out some things to anyone that goes anywhere on the North Shore: there are three large colleges within a 15 or less mile radius, with a serious fake ID epidemic and out-of-states are much more of a liability than they are profitable. Bars implement strict policies to avoid this. Good job to the bartender for doing his job. It sucks that it killed your night, but hopefully this will shed some light.

The bartender was horrible to me and very rude. I had one drink and when was half gone he ripped it…read moreout of my hand. I asked him why he did that. And he said I'm in charge and I don't have to serve you. Then why did he serve me in the first place to just rip my drink out of my hand. This happened Friday August 1st.

Amazing spot. I ordered the soft lobster roll along with a side of clam chowder, and both were…read moreexcellent. The employees were very friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better--especially since I was visiting from San Francisco. Overall, a great place with great service and food.

Meghan was not happy that we showed up to eat. Felt like an inconvenience to her. Was rude with the…read morelargest attitude. No management there... we just wanted breakfast. Ordered coffee and waters and she proceeded to go outside and talk Sh*t with her coworkers about us. We were sitting right there!!! But when she wasn't on her phone and texting... she seemed very nice to locals! So don't go if you aren't from here!!!!! Horrible experience! Shelly however was sweet, nice, polite and caring, wish we had gotten her!!

"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!