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Hours
Sun
7:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Mon
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tue
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wed
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thu
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Fri
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sat
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
$0.00 – $8.00
CUISINES
American, Diner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Details
About
Located in the Old London Coffee House, which dates back to the 1700s, Red’s Sandwich Shop has been visited by many Celebrities, Congressman, Senators and even First Lady Barbara Bush. A relaxed, friendlly atmosphere in a historic building is the perfect place to join Salem locals for the BEST breafkast and lunch menu in town. The food is delicious, all home-style cooking at pricing so reasonable you almost feel guilty. Having visited numerous restaurants in Salem that charge outrageous pricing for mediocre food, Red's Sandwich Shop is the crown jewel of the city in terms of excellent food, great prices, and a lovely environment with a friendly staff. They offer an extensive breakfast and lunch menu, Dinner Specials, and a daily $6.95 Special.. And when they say roasted turkey, they mean roasted turkey -- whole turkeys are roasted on the premises and carved for your order. In a tribute to Thanksgiving, their Home Style Turkey Sandwich (roasted turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and gravy) is out of this world! Wonderful specialty items from Chicken Marsala and Chicken Piccata to Chicken Pot Pie are made to order. Soups and chowders made fresh daily. For a variety of sandwiches from open-faced, to club, to roll-ups -- they cannot be beat. Red's is an award-winning restaurant that received the "BEST BREAKFAST ON THE NORTH SHORE" award for 24 years in a row! I cannot rave enough about this restaurant. If you have only one restaruant to visit in Salem, make it Red's.
PRICE RANGE
$0.00 – $8.00
CUISINES
American, Diner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Wine and Beer, Table Service, Non-smoking restaurants, Gift Cards Available
Contribute
4.5
1,811 reviews
Excellent
1,226
Very good
375
Average
133
Poor
51
Terrible
26
Jen Maresca
Bronx26 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
My husband and I were worried as we got to salem close to 10am Friday morning and saw how busy the breakfast restaurants were already but we were able to be seated quickly at Reds outside, as they have a large outdoor seating area- which is great. Service was great, we were immediately brought coffee. It was hard to choose what to get because the menu is huge, and the specials menu looked even better. I ordered the Irish Benedict and my husband got the Roman holiday Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was delicious and eggs cooked perfectly. His came with pesto, tomato and turkey sausage and mine with 2 sausage patties. Now the home fries...omg were they AMAZING. We are still talking about them lol. If you’re in the area I’d highly recommend eating here!!
Written October 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyager52562598459
89 contributions
Oct 2021 • friends
Came for Halloween based on the reviews. There was a crowd but moved very fast. The counters where you sit are very crammed which was unexpected and exasperated by all the Halloween costumes. Don’t come here if you are avoiding Covid crowds because it’s definitely not a place to social distance. The waitress was excellent at her job (wearing snowboarder goggles) and had the biggest smile and loved her job. The food was pretty good. I got the steak and it wasn’t consistently cooked and I didn’t care for the sweet seasoning but it was ok. Based on this experience the food was overrated but I’ll give them a pass due to it being slammed.
Written November 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher S
Bristol25 contributions
Aug 2020 • family
Stopped for a late breakfast / early lunch on a Saturday. It was busy but not overly crowded. The pancakes are huge, and the steak bomb omelet and home fries are killer, but the service left a little to be desired. Will definitely go back again though.
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maui-ME2
Salem28 contributions
Jan 2023 • none
Red’s likes to boast about being voted the best breakfast for 35+ consecutive years. I’m thinking those years were 1945-1980 because today it’s a shell of its former self. Red’s entry is a mess ….a jumble of magazine racks with old circulars, tourist brochures and snow shovels. My server was pleasant, promptly came with coffee and took my order( that’s why I gave 2 stars not 1).
While waiting for my breakfast, I noticed a musty smell and I observed the precooked bacon put on my plate by a line cook with her BARE HANDS. Why did she not use tongs? ….UGH! Unsanitary!
My plate arrived with the hand plated bacon ( which I should’nt have eaten)….toast slapped with gobs of gooey butter substitute, and home fries. Most of the home fries were burnt and not edible so I asked the waitress for a decent serving. Once again, the waitress was pleasant and obliged with a better serving.
In general, the restaurant is dumpy and depressing. It needs a good cleaning…better yet a renovation! Maybe that’s why the interior stunk. I have frequented Red’s in the past and liked it. It’s not a place would currently recommend. There are other good spots for breakfast. Check them out.
Perhaps the owner has placed all his/her attention on the newer Red’s in Seabrook and Peabody. Red’s in Salem is the original and deserves your respect! Come On Owners…..pay attention! Clean up your act!
Written January 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NyRachelE
Big Flats36 contributions
Aug 2021 • friends
A friend and I grabbed a bite here while we waited for our hotel to be ready. I had the chicken fingers with fries and she had the Hawaiian chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. Both chickens were cooked too long and dry. The top bun was soaked on the Top side in the sauce so it was not edible as an actual sandwich. The honey mustard that is served with the chicken fingers is all mustard and very little honey. Both sets of fries were not fresh from the fryer. I ordered a side of Buffalo sauce and that was just Red Hot. Overall it was editable because we were hungry, and the service was prompt, but we won’t be back.
Written August 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ilove2travel1960
Leesburg64 contributions
Oct 2021 • friends
We were in Salem for Halloween. Reds was in our list of restaurants to try because of the reviews we had read on here but every time we went there the line was crazy long. Finally on Halloween we made a finally pass by and there was only a 10 minute wait. Definitely worth it. We shared the pumpkin French toast w this awesome crumble on top and pumpkin pancakes. Very yummy. Although they were extremely busy our the wait staff were pleasant and very accommodating. Now we know why it’s a must on the breakfast/lunch itinerary.
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe A
Salem289 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
This is a favorite place for locals and I often meet friends, colleagues or parishioners there for lunch. It's the best in town for comfort food and fresh fish but they also have fun specials. One of my favorites is their twist on jumbalaya. Love their stir frys as well. Sometimes I'm in the mood for breakfast which they are famous for including their omelettes and many versions of eggs benedict.
Written March 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SweetDee11
130 contributions
Sep 2023 • friends
Went to Reds for breakfast after reading so many great reviews. Unfortunately met with massive disappointment. The waiter was great but everything else was subpar. Home fries we’re cold and dry, Turkey sausage tasted like a few day told stale dry meatloaf, food was barely warm and coffee was hot mud water. To boot, the bill for 3 of us (3 meals plus one side pancake and 2 coffees) came to about $75. FOR BREAKFAST. For bad, cold, dry bland breakfast. Definitely hyped up and charge as a tourist trap. Stay away.
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sfrdrunner
San Francisco229 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
...was what we were seeking after a tour of one the "Witch Museums". On an earlier Trolley Tour of Salem, our guide recommended Red's for an "awesome breakfast". Sadly, it wasn't what we expected, living in CA, where great Breakfast Joints and Cafes are everywhere. Maybe, it was an hour before closing, as they were out of Blueberry Pancakes and Belgian Waffles, what we had planned to otder. Settled for the Shrimp and Scallop Pie, which it's not and the Turkey Sausage Omelette, which we've had better. Coffee was not what you expect at a breakfast spot, yet, it's what Romans do in Rome and is an OK "3".
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bricknick
Baltimore177 contributions
Oct 2020 • family
We went here with a large party and the food was awesome and the staff was amazing. I had the The Highnoon breakfast dish of homefires with peppers and onions covered in chilli, covered in cheese and topped with two eggs of your choice. We actually got the drink special of a apple cider mimosa that was interesting and refreshing. One of the only highlights of our trip to Salem.
Written October 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon D
399 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
So we were on the early side for lunch and walked past this old (and historic) building on the way to the waterfront. Red's serves GREAT old school breakfasts at a very reasonable price (for a tourist town!).
The server was really nice and one of the veteran, experienced waitresses who can do 5 things at one time with no problem.
They have a huge menu, you will have no problem finding something you like. Highly recommended for a "locals" meal.
Written August 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Honest Reviewer
Boston766 contributions
May 2024 • family
First observation, lots of waitstaff, standing around, sitting, unengaged. Bad look.
Oh please don’t refer to your “Irish” breakfast as such, to an Irish person. Zero effort made here, and in my life of dining have I ever seen a “split” Irish sausage? delivered with a sliced tomato across the plate and inedible bacon, we won’t even talk about the beans. The food was as lackluster as the waitress who appeared bothered to do her job. Still wondering why we left her 20%.
Written May 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather Y
Brookville11 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
Delicious as usual. We visited twice within a few days, both occasions were great experiences. There was a line to or out the door both mornings but wait was less than 10 mins both days. Wait staff is always friendly and attentive. Breakfast is amazingly delicious, always. My favorites are any kind of French toast and the home fries made with red skin potatoes.
Written October 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Krista H
Montpelier43 contributions
Jul 2020 • none
Delicious homemade food and huge menu with great prices. Large portions are a little out of control, otherwise this is a “win win” and a highly recommend. A local told us this is the best as well.
Written July 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hedgepig
61 contributions
Oct 2019 • friends
A group of us visited Red's around Halloween time and all of us were blown away by the outstanding service. Our waitress was so helpful and friendly and couldn't do enough for us. Nice decor, central location in Salem and a pleasant atmosphere. Good selection of food and drinks and big portions too. But the service is what sets this place apart from the crowd. Seems to be popular with locals and tourists alike. We had heard great things about it before our visit, and even our taxi driver that dropped us off was singing its praises.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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