The Old Spot is the right spot
The Old Spot
121 Essex Street
978.745.5656
Formerly McSwiggins Pub (a much better name IMO), The Old Spot established in ’06 (that’s 2006) is a legit English pub serving up good food, good beer and good music.
Growing up in an English/Irish family I’m always on the lookout for a restaurant serving up some traditional meals. You can find a bunch of traditional favorites at The Old Spot including bubble and squeak, black pudding, ploughman’s lunch, coddle, meat pie and some pub favorites like fish n’ chips and toad in the hole. The Old Spot doesn’t stop there they always have seasonal fish and fowl dishes alongside burgers, steaks and chops.
Last time I was in for dinner I had the green green salad – mixed greens, caramelized walnuts with a balsamic vinegar and the hog wings – slow roasted pork ribs with a buffalo sauce served up with carrots, celery and blue cheese. I washed it down with a pint of Guinness from there ample drought beer selection. Delicious.
The Old Spot is a traditional pub and the atmosphere does not disappoint. Dark mahogany wood, bright yellow paint and old photographs from the UK compliment the fireplace and textured seat cushions. Live music is scheduled from 8pm to 11 (or midnight) most days, and the kitchen serves up a late night menu available until 12:30.
Food: B
Atmosphere: A
Service: B-
Overall: B
I was at The Old Spot this evening with my wife and had the best time with excellent food, wonderful service.
pork chop gilled over mashed potato and veggies
grilled sea scallops on a field green salad
we will be back -
this is one of the best Irish pub’s in Salem with live music, cold beer and awesome food –
try the clam chowda’ with an ice cold stella on tap!!
12 ounce gilled pork chop with mashed potato was for me and my girlfriend has the grilled shrimp over a fantastic green salad
after moving to salem from boston last year.
the old spot
is now one of my favorite places next to Rockafellas
Much like the Gloucestershire “Old Spot”
breed of pig we take our name from, we are fat, warm, friendly, known by all the locals and unapologetic for an occasional “burp” out loud! We’re an English Pub for goodness sakes. Located across from the Hawthorne Hotel in the heart of the Salem’s Historic Downtown District, surround yourself with our heavily paneled walls, “Guiness” inspired décor, excellent “people watching window” and the friendliest staff and “local colour”
around. That’s fancy talk for regulars.
Live music on Sunday & Monday night with a movie on the tellie and free popcorn on Tuesday night after the Sox. Stop in the Pub for a Pint and a Pasty, Fish and Chips and Ploughman’s Lunch or order more Gourmet Fare (fancy talk for Steak) in our dining room. Bring the ladies in for real sipper like the Thickety Boo, Gobsmack cocktail or Nancy Boy Martini. All very delicious BUT, lets be serious folks- British Pub, “Old Spot”, Publick House…. its got to be about the BEER! (It always is.)
The food is great, but you better be hungry, it is a heavy meal!! The 5 or 6 weekly specials are the way to go, also the mushroom salad and hog “wings” are very good. I constantly go back and the service is always excellent.
My wife and I have been dining at the OLD SPOT in Salem almost every Saturday night for the last few months. When we originally heard that this restaurant was owned and run by the same folks that own and run the Wildhorse Cafe in Beverly (Melissa went to Beverly schools with my wife), we just had to try it. Well, if you like awesome pub food, the largest tap beer menu in the north shore and a great wine list, in an awesome location, you have to get to the Old Spot.
The menu is interesting and fun!!
The tastes are exciting and you have to have the Green Green Salad to start – my wife and I split that most times, if I don’t get the tasty onion soup.
The atmosphere can be quiet or loud depending on the mix of people, but the service is always excellent no matter how crowded. And the dark woods and old English town feel seem to always comfort you during the meal.
Enjoy!!!