Witchside Tavern — Restaurant in Salem

So bad that it’s funny. This place was the biggest tourist trap I’ve been to. Me and my rural family were visiting from WAY out of state for my birthday and for my graduation and we were going to various restaurants to get truly experience Boston.

Atmosphere: We wanted to see if there is a wait, and so we made our way into the building after passing some people outside of the building who we thought were just chilling, as we’ve never been to a restaurant where people wait in a line outside. We’re used to putting our name and number on a list, or waiting in a booth near the front. Well as you probably guessed: that was a line, and a server stopped us. When we explained that we wanted to see if there was a wait, the server very rudely stated that “The line is RIGHT there.”

I understand that may have been obvious to Boston/Massachusetts natives, but it was truly just a cultural shock situation. As a tourist location, I think it should be very standard to understand that there are going to be confusions surrounding the dining culture in Salem. If the waiter had just simply directed us toward the line, that would have been perfect, but instead he chose to immediately greet us with hostility.

Service:

So the line went by fairly quickly, and we got seared on this cure outside porch in front of the restaurant. We unfortunately got the same server who approached us with hostility when we arrived. Anyways, the service progresses pretty normally, we order our food and drinks, and the waiter warns us that the food will likely be around 30-40 minutes. We say that’s alright — our family are big talkers so we pass the time quickly. And then not even 5 minutes later, the waiter comes back with our Tartar sauce and sets it on the table and says “Just for when the food gets here”. Mind you, it is sunny and we’re baking under the umbrella. Why on earth would you give the tartar sauce 25-35 minutes early, especially outside?? The sauce is going to go bad! I’m pretty sure we ended up just not using the sauce by the time the food got to us.

I’m not sure how long it was until we got our food, but a different server brought us our food. When she set my nachos down in front of me, my food was lukewarm on the brink of getting cold. And then at the end of our meal our server passed us multiple times when we were clearly finished, and we ended up having to wave him down for the check.

Overall horrible service at least from that specific waiter. We never treated him with disrespect, at least that I noticed — though my badass stepmom probably gave him a nasty side eye. I don’t know if there were cultural expectations that we were expected to adhere to that we didn’t — and maybe that just came off as impolite, but the overall vibe of the place was just super judgey. It was hard to relax.

Food:

So not worth it. My girlfriend got some shrimp pasta, and the shrimp wasn’t even de-tailed. And there was a hair in it. My brother got something fried, and the texture of the meat was good but there was like no flavor in it. My nachos were literally cold the moment another waiter put it down. Which also, I think our original server forgot about our food. Or maybe it’s just standard for another waiter to bring food, I’m not entirely sure. Anyways the food, service, and atmosphere was just awful for us, and there are definitely better places to eat.

PLACES TO GO INSTEAD:

For tourists wanting to get the best experience out of your trip, I’d recommend Maddie’s Sail Loft in Marblehead. It’s about 14 minutes away from Salem. The food is AMAZING, as is the service. The atmosphere — at least when we went — was very loud, but in a comforting way. I truly fell in love with the place. You have to go in and get on the list an hour or so before you want to eat though. While you wait you can tour the town!...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ First time at Witchside Tavern—and already planning my return.

Nestled on Derby Street in Salem, Witchside Tavern feels like a portal tucked between timelines: part cozy brunch haven, part art-strewn observatory for local lore. From the moment I stepped in, the atmosphere struck me as both intimate and alive. It’s the kind of place where conversation flows easily, whether you’re catching up with family or quietly people-watching over coffee.

The brunch menu is a delight—thoughtfully curated, with options that feel both comforting and elevated. I tried the Belgian waffles and a savory omelette that somehow tasted like it had been conjured by a kitchen familiar with both flavor and ritual. The portions were generous, the ingredients fresh, and the plating had a kind of quiet charm that matched the space.

What really sets Witchside apart is the scene. It’s family-oriented without being noisy, stylish without being pretentious. The layout encourages connection: tables spaced just right for conversation, with enough visual intrigue to spark dialogue even among strangers. The artwork lining the walls is eclectic and expressive—pieces that feel like they belong to Salem’s mythic heartbeat. There’s a sense that every painting has a story, and every corner of the tavern is listening.

It’s also a fantastic spot for people-watching. Locals, tourists, artists, families—everyone seems to pass through Witchside at some point, and the energy is warm and welcoming. Staff were attentive and kind, striking that perfect balance between professionalism and genuine friendliness. You get the sense they care about the experience, not just the transaction.

Whether you’re here for brunch, a quiet drink, or just to soak in the ambiance, Witchside Tavern offers something rare: a space that feels both grounded and enchanted. It’s not just a restaurant—it’s a mood, a moment, a little spell cast in...

hello, I wanted to notify you about an unpleasant experience that we just had with one of your servers. we understand it is October and that it is busy, we were informed VERY rudely it would be an hour wait for food AFTER we were seated (something that should have been mentioned prior at the door)... we would have been fine with waiting that hour but after being spoken to with a condescending tone we decided not spend our money on this waitress. we were told "that it was an hour wait for food, we could stay or go and that it is October and that will be what it is everywhere 'just so we know'" before we could even get a word in edgewise. just because you servers get that 20% automatic gratuity gives no excuse to treat your customers like that. I informed her that we would have been fine waiting an hour if we were spoken to with more respect and more welcoming manor to the restaurant. please remind your waitresses and waiters to be RESPECTFUL. they choose to work in a job that has a busy couple months during this season.... no reason to speak to your customers like they dont matter. we decided to go next door the bit bar and were treated very kindly and received a table and food without issue. I unfortunately did not get her name but she was an older lady and we were seated in the front left corner booth. It was absolutely unneeded. We've had a pleasant experience with everything else this trip and was very much looking forward to trying the food at this restaurant and experiencing the atmosphere so this...