Rhythm & Booze

One of our occasional contributors, Forrest Frazier, has been working on a fun website that mashes up social networking and social drinking, SeeMyDrink.com. And if you know him you know that he used to be a DJ in both Boston and New York.  Well he is blending these two passions by once again jumping behind the turn tables.  Forrest has teamed up with our friends over at The Lobster Shanty to bring you a “make your own Bloody Mary bar”.

Here is the low down. You get the basic Bloody Mary (vodka and tomato juice) then you can spice it up and garnish the hell out of it. There will be different types of vodka to choose and all sorts of things to garnish with.  You can even get a super duper top shelf with lobster or bacon wrapped scollops, mmmm delish.

Music is going to be a mix of Rat Pack, Blues, Rockabilly and whatever else flows. This kicks off at 11AM Sunday morning and the rumor is that if its a success it will be a regular Salem event.  I couldn’t think of anything better to do when I roll out of bed or walk out of church Sunday morning.  See you there!

There is plenty of competition for breakfast in Salem, we went to Leslie’s Retreat so you don’t have to.

The first thing you notice about Leslie’s is that you just walked into a piece of history. Named after the famed Redcoat retreat of Colonel Alexander Leslie this rustic dining establishment looks like could be a tavern / pub from the late 1700′s with classy 1960′s accent pieces like the the Strohs beer lights. The dark woods, tin lamps, historical paintings, and portraits all lend to the colonial feel.

It was a slow Sunday when we checked out Leslie’s, we went in the back door which leads to a long dimly lit bar. The elderly bartendress who appeared to be a “lifer” pleasantly greeted us and told us to sit anywhere we liked. No sooner had we slid into a booth than our server presented us with menus, specials and took our drink order; OJ, coffee and a chocolate milk. Turn around time was quick and we were impressed with the pint size OJ until we tasted it and realized it was straight out of the freezer from concentrate just add Salem tap water OJ. Coffee was weak and luke warm. Chocolate milk was the easy winner here.

Our order of blueberry pancakes and the Double Barrel breakfast special (2 bacon, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, home fries and 2 toast) was taken promptly and delivered in no time. Unfortunately the pancakes were tough to cut through and slightly crunchy. The sausage and bacon were super greasy. The home fries were strangely similar to those you get in your grocers freezer with a helping of super greasy. Standout of the meal was the rye toast, which isn’t saying that much.

Our waitress started out strong but had a lackluster finish. After receiving our meal we were not attended to again until we had both finished our meals. Only after we had asked for the check were we offered another cup of coffee, and even then it was a different server who made the offer.

Prices were inline with the portion sizes with most breakfast items coming in under $5 and specials just a few dollars more.

Atmosphere: C
Portions: B
Service: C
Food: C-
Price: C
Overall: C

]]> http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/05/07/leslies-retreat-reviewed/feed/ 1 http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/03/26/nicks-firehouse-coffee-shop/ http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/03/26/nicks-firehouse-coffee-shop/#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:04:48 +0000 Mr. Salem http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/03/26/nicks-firehouse-coffee-shop/ Nick’s Firehouse Coffee Shop
30 Church St
(978) 745-9432

The photo is a bit out of date but a new one is on the way @%*# digital camera

Calling themselves a “coffee shop” is an understatement. Nick’s serves up an affordable breakfast and lunch in a quaint atmosphere. The restaurant seats about 40 people but I’ve never seen it full. That means there is no lines and no waiting. The staff is pleasant and doesn’t rush you (or themselves).

I tried a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, grilled banana nut muffin and coffee. The eggs and coffee didn’t knock my socks off but the bacon was thick and crispy and muffin was hot buttered and perfectly golden brown. One of the best things about my trip to Nick’s was the affordable price. Their most expensive breakfast plate (loaded with pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast and juice) is just about $6 everything else is $4 or under. All lunch sandwiches are under priced under $6 .

Located on Church St. across from the Lyceum, Nick’s is centrally located. They keep unique hours 6am – 3pm Monday through Friday and 7am – 1pm Saturday and Sunday, so keep your focus on breakfast. This is a great spot for the frugal local or tourist that doesn’t have time to wait around and still wants a solid meal.

Portions: B
Service: C
Atmosphere: C
Price: A
Overall: B-

Salem has a host of breakfast nooks today we revisited Fountain Place, diagonally across from the Samantha statue on the corner of Essex and Washington.

It had been over a year since we last reviewed Fountain Place and with that information long gone the time had come again to try it out. Nothing much had changed. They still have a stellar location on the corner of the block with big windows so patrons can look out on the morning hustle and bustle. The interior is bland and could use a makeover, its not bad just somewhat worn. The waitress was very friendly and had a surly diner waitress air about her.

We ordered the eggs Benedict (with home fries), eggs Florentine, and French toast. Coffee, OJ and chocolate milk rounded out our order. Service was quick with the food being served up nice and hot. Everything was good but none of it was inspired. The hollandaise was fine but unremarkable, Florentine also was satisfactory but nothing to write home about.

Unlike other breakfast joints in town there is nothing bad about this place, on the other hand nothing stands out either. Bland.

Atmosphere: C
Food: C
Service: B+
Price: B+
Overall: C

• Starbucks Coffee
  211 Washington St
  978.825.0824
  Many people gravitate towards this monolith of evil because they enjoy spending up to $8 for a cup of coffee. What a waste. Hold on to your cash and buy yourself 4 better cups at a local establishment.
• Dunkin’ Donuts
  • 152 Washington St
    (978) 744-9888
  • 282 Derby St
    (978) 741-4062
  • 31 Bridge St
    (978) 741-1353
  • 105 North St
    (978) 745-5658
  • 68 Boston St
    (978) 741-8658
  • 272 Highland Ave
    (978) 744-6003

  D&D are everywhere, which is to be expected since this is Massachusetts. They are less evil, easier on the wallet and the Washington Street location across from the Post Office and the Salem News building is open 24 hours for when you get a late night craving.

• Fuel Coffee & Juice Bar
  196 Essex St
  (978) 741-0850
  Not overly impressed with Fuel, the few times I’ve been in there the counter help was not very helpful, but the coffee was adequate. They get bonus points for longevity and being an independent (sort of, they are a sibling to the Front Street Cafe). Outside seating on the pedestrian mall is available in the good weather.
• Front Street Coffeehouse
  20 Front St
  (978) 740-6697
  By far the best of the bunch. Front Street has a great variety of coffees and teas but you can still get a small coffee for $1.25. Service is usually friendly. Of special note, if you pick up a Front Street card (near the register and free) they will stamp it each time you buy something there. When the card is full you get a free coffee. Salem Insiders know about this wonderful bonus and use it to their advantage.
• Honorable Mention
  New Civilitea
  318 Derby St
  978.740.2832
  While not a coffee shop New Civilitea is relatively new in town and is a Tea house. You can have a cup there or buy a wide variety of teas to bring home.
• Honorable Mention II
  Gulu Gulu Cafe
  247 Essex St
  978.740.8882
  I realize that Gulu Gulu is not a coffee shoppe but for anyone who wants a bit of zip in their caffeine these guys have a rather large menu of coffee cordials. I recommend the Barrier Breaker, its just what you need to warm up on a chilly autumn/winter night.

Update

• A&J King Bakery
  48 Central Street
  978.744.4881
  Primarily a bakery recently A&J King have added a coffee bar which serves up a variety of coffee, latte, tea and hot chocolate. While the coffee is okay, their baked goods are to die for.
• Jaho Coffee & Tea
  197 Derby Street
  978.744.4300
  Jaho offers a huge selection of coffee and teas along with some light fare. They remind me of a “starbucks light” with less attitude and more affordable coffees.

With 16 years of history in down town Salem I figured Cafe Graziani had to be doing something right. Boy was I wrong.

Here at theSalemInsider.com we are always looking for a good breakfast. Nobody I talked with ever mentioned Cafe Graziani so I figured it’s time to give it a try. The first thing I noticed when we walked in were a bunch of uncleared tables. I usually take this as a good sign as a sign of a busy restaurant. Unfortunately in this case it was a sign of being understaffed.

The waitress was quite friendly and attempted to make a personal connection with all the patrons and the menu prices were very reasonable. That is where things started to fall flat.

Our coffee was luke warm at best, and tasted horrible. I got the ham and cheese omelet which was paper thin and made with what appeared to be one extra thin slice of ham and one piece of cheese, it too was cold. The side of “homefries” were nothing more than chopped potatoes with a shake of parsley on them, slightly warmed – not cooked through.

There are plenty of great breakfast locations in Salem, this is not one of them.

Atmosphere: D
Service: B
Food: D
Overall: D

Taste of Thyme is worth the trip as long as your not in a hurry. This quaint, bustling diner is easily found right in the middle of downtown. It’s a bit overly lit, always busy on the weekend & offers easy access for baby strollers and people with disabilities. However it’s known by Salem insiders as the “cheap food, slow service diner.” Don’t expect to be acknowledged by the waitstaff until you’ve been waiting for quite a while. You need to be proactive to get noticed and seated.

Once you get to sit and order you’re food, it doesn’t disappoint. We know the blueberry muffins made in-house, are huge and a great bargain. We were a bit disappointed when they ran out of chocolate milk on a Sunday, but forgot about it when our heaping breakfast plates were put down on the table.

The inexpencive prices make Taste of Thyme a hit with the seniors and tourists, their portions make it a hit with us.

Portions: A
Service: D
Value: B
Food: B
Overall Rating: C

Often touted as the best breakfast in town, Red’s is housed inside the Old London Tea House, which was around during the Revolutionary war (but don’t worry the coffee was made 20 minutes ago). This is the place to be for breakfast.

On the weekends Red’s quick-moving line is out the door but you’re seated before you know it. Service is prompt, friendly, and efficient and food magically appears in no time. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced and the atmosphere is family-friendly for locals and tourists alike. Portions are decent sized, except for the pancakes which are huge. Be wary of getting a full stack unless you are a professional competitive eater (Salem insiders always get 2 not the whole stack).

Weekdays its a localpalooza of Salem residents. From 5AM the smell of breakfast wafts though the air and brings residents in to chat about the days events while having their “usual”. If ever there is a big time politician in Salem you will find them at Reds for a photo op and a cup of Joe.

Parking is limited although there is plenty of on-street and lot spaces within a short walk. Don’t sleep in too late, Red’s closes at 1pm on Sunday and 3pm every other day.

Portions: A
Service: A
Overall: A