When people discuss restaurants in Salem Massachusetts a few rise above the rest as true standouts of fine dining, the Grapevine is one such restaurant.

A few steps away from the main drag of Derby Street and Hawthorne Blvd. in Salem sits the diminutive Grapevine restaurant.  A small “L” shaped bar greets you and a hostess will seat you either in their richly colored old world styled dining room or if the weather is cooperative, outside in the Tuscan inspired 8 table garden. The Grapevine has long been a favorite spot to celebrate special occasions or impress your date.

Grapevine Restaurant

My dinner date and I were seated promptly and attended to by Oscar, a polite and knowledgeable server.  We started off with cocktails ($10).  My date opted for the X-Rated martini  featured as the days special martini and I went with the tried and true extra dry Sapphire martini.

Cocktails

For an appetizer we chose the grilled calamari ($12).  Unlike typical fried calamari, grilled calamari is unbreaded and usually of higher quality. This did not disappoint.  The large calamari was grilled to perfection with not a chewy piece to be found. Served on a bed of greens with a light lemon dressing and two large blue cheese topped croutons this is a perfect starter.

Grilled Calamari

Dinner choices were difficult as so many items looked great. As a general rule I try to go for a daily special and a featured item from the menu.  Unfortunately the my first choice of a special was sold out so on the recommendation of our server I went with the dry rubbed baby back ribs, finished on the grill with a chipotle BBQ sauce, served with a side of mac ‘n cheese  ($22).  From the specials menu my date ordered the pan seared swordfish  with veggies and roasted potato’s ($23).  Knowing the grapevine has a celebrated wine list we each ordered a glass of Argentinian Syrah.

The swordfish was cooked to perfection although the flavor was somewhat bland.

Swordfish

The ribs were quite meaty and the dry rub made them easy to eat with utensils or by hand without too much mess.  I was pleasantly surprised to find large rigatoni with a rich blue cheese sauce as a fun twist on the traditional mac n’ cheese.

Dry ribs with Mac n Cheese

Although we were both stuffed the dessert looked too good to pass up.  We tried the chocolate mousse and fall favorite, bread pudding ($8).  Both were delicious and hit the spot topping off our meal without putting us in a diabetic coma.

Bread Pudding

You probably won’t get out of the Grapevine for under $100, add a few cocktails and a good tip and you are well over $100 however you do get what you pay for, and in our opinion it’s money well spent.

Price: $$$
Atmosphere: B
Drinks & wine selection: A
Food: A
Service: B+
Overall: A

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/2008/05/05/cilantro-restaurant-review/ http://www.thesaleminsider.com/2008/05/05/cilantro-restaurant-review/#comments Mon, 05 May 2008 14:16:55 +0000 Mr. Salem http://www.thesaleminsider.com/?p=230 On this Cinco de Mayo I felt it only fitting to treat you to some true Mexican food in Salem.

Cilantro
282 Derby Street
978.745.9436

Take your existing notion of what a Mexican restaurant is and pitch it out the window. Cilantro is a great dining experience in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Upon walking in to this Derby St. eaterie, you are usually greeted either by a friendly hostess or the owner. There isn’t a bad seat in the house and usually if you are a party of 2 you will be seated by the large windows overlooking the street. If your party is larger the tables in the main dining area along the brick wall is where you will find yourself. There is a small bar area which is perfect for single diners or couples.

The menu here has so many great choices it’s hard to make up your mind. Don’t waste your time with typical cheezy Mexican food you can get elseware, go for the real deal here.

Insiders know the home made sangria is fantastic. Cilantro also boasts quite a tequila selection. The Margarita de la Casa or “house margarita” is fine for the uninitiated but those with a refined pallet opt for the Cabo Wabo or Patron.

Many regulars have multiple favorite entrees, it’s tough to nail down their best dish. Meat lovers will love the selection with, Filete Miñón con Salsa de Chipotle y Chorizo and Cilantro de Invierno Al Chipotle being my personal favorites. You can’t go wrong with Chile Relleno or the Sea Bass al Naranjo.

Deserts are also scrumptious. I try to get whatever is seasonal although the churros and flan are always tempting.

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

The Salem Beer Works
278 Derby Street
978.745.BEER

Every once in a while for a variety of reasons we may go back to a place previously reviewed. Today we hit Salem Beer Works again. They were great in accommodating a large party that wanted both food and drinks somewhere they could watch the game – all with just a few minutes notice.

Our party consisted of vegans, vegetarians, and carnivores with a large age range. There was something for everyone. The restaurant is well stocked with large screen TVs so you can comfortably watch whichever sporting event is on at the time from pretty much every seat in the house. The layout is comfortable enough to handle parents that have strollers or the mots rotund of tourists looking to eat their weight in wings.

Our waitress was attentive. Great laid back / casual dining experience, especially for large groups and even for families.
I had fun!
-CK

Beer Works changes up both their food and beer menu’s on a seasonal basis. One constant you must try are the fried pickles. Don’t debate the merits of frying a pickle just order it and enjoy. For an entree, I went with the meatloaf sandwich. Perhaps the best meatloaf sandwich I’ve ever had! Big slab of moist loaf with a little sauce on it between two lightly toasted buns, so delicious.

Others chose the garden burger, crunchy chicken sandwich, downtown crossing burger (that should have been called a MONSTER burger it’s more than 1/2 lb), meat loaf dinner with mashed potato’s (this is a crowd pleaser), grilled ceasar salad, and the turkey tips. Everyone was pleased with their meals.

If you have a vegetarian or vegan in your party its a great place to go. Alot of the menu has non-vegetarian friendly items offered vegetarian for a few bucks cheaper than the original price. FRIIIED PICCCKLES!! Also, huuuge portions.
-Sara

Since spring is just about here you can count on some new lighter brews from the Salem Beerworks. Many of the people in our group had never been to Beer Works before and were interested in trying a bunch of beer. Luckily you can get a beer sampler of your choice. We tasted the North Shore Light, nut brown ale, Black Bat stout, Bunker Hill Blueberry ale, Haymarket Hefe Weizen, and Pumpkinhead ale. With microbrews having vastly different flavors you wont please everybody with each beer, but there are always a few standouts.

Food quality belies the typical sports bar layout you get on initially seeing the place. Easily seats a large group which is great. All in all, great place to get some decent food and a good beer.
-T.I.

Unlike our usual reviews the following scores were compiled from a survey given to everyone in our group that day.

Service: A-
Atmosphere: B
Food: B
Beer: A
Menu Choices: A-
Price / Value: B
Overall: B

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-

This Greek style deli gives off a cafeteria vibe but the food is a far cry from school lunch.

Breakfast is served all day for you late risers. And as with any good deli, daily specials are posted up front and change each day. I was impressed with how fresh all the pre-made food (side dishes, chicken drummies, gravies etc.) looked and how clean the kitchen was. I expect any restaurant I eat at to have clean facilities but this kitchen was impeccably spotless.

Whenever I go to a deli my rule of thumb is to try the special, so today I ordered a bowl of beef stew (on special) and a steak, cheese and mushroom sub. My food was served up in a matter of minutes. The stew had a tomato base which I was somewhat skeptical of (I’m used to Irish beef stew) however it tasted delicious and was chock full of beef and veggies. The steak sub was cooked to perfection with the meat being moist and having some crispy parts with the cheese melted on the bottom. In true deli fashion a sour pickle was served with my meal.

The deli was about 1/4 full and well staffed with two cooks, a cashier and one attentive busboy. Three large HDTVs hung on the wall with different programming on each (sports, news, discovery/nature). The dining room was spacious but felt somewhat sterile and lacked any personality. Once again I was impressed with the cleanliness of the dining room.

With close proximity to the Waterfront hotel and many of the tourist attractions, Brother’s Deli is a good bet for quality food at a reasonable price in this area. I look forward to going back and trying their liver & onion dinner.

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

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

One step inside this shop and you understand the difference between a normal bakery and an “Artisan Baker.”

photo by harold schmid

The husband and wife team of A&J King opened up earlier this year (June) on Central Street across from the currently (but not for long) defunct Roosevelt’s. Closed Mondays, their morning to evening (7am to 5pm or 8am to 4pm on weekends) hours are perfect for picking up delicious pastry treats and succulent breads. While you’re in there for your morning sugar high check out the new coffee bar, I suggest a hot chocolate, by far the best in town.

Quality and artistry doesn’t come cheap though with sticky buns, and chocolate bouchon pastries at $2.50 and coffees $2.50 for a tall 12 oz. and $3.oo for a grande 16oz., still a much better deal than Starbucks. Speaking of quality, you can watch all the breads and pastry’s being made right on premises. Let’s hope they start forming relationships with some local restaurants, everyone should get in on this fine local business.