Salem Cross Inn

Choosing the Salem Cross Inn was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! From our first visit, Nancy made us feel so welcome and informed. Planning was seamless thanks to Nancy and Donna’s responsiveness and helpful suggestions. The venue is stunning, the staff was kind and attentive, and the food—especially the prime rib—was unforgettable. Our guests are still raving about it! Watching it cook in the fireplace was such a unique touch. We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony, dinner in the barn, and dancing in the cozy downstairs tavern. Everything flowed perfectly, and we truly couldn’t have imagined a better place to celebrate. We can’t wait to return! Side note - on an earlier visit to Salem Cross Inn, we had the chocolate coconut pie for dessert and it was quite possibly the best dessert we've ever had!

I had the steak tips with the noodles and spinach and cheese and my wife had the roasted salmon. Both were delicious. The atmosphere was fantastic. The white staff was excellent. We definitely come back and try the prime rib on a weekend unfortunately they didn’t have it on a Thursday, one of my friends had the pot roast dinner, which was exceptional lots of parking and very rustic atmosphere

The Fireplace Feast Event was amazing. You watch them cook the prime rib in the fire place and also making the seafood chowder after. Its seasonal and it gets sold out fairly quickly. Highly recommend trying it. If not the regular restaurant is great, too. Its far depending on where you're driving from, but we'll worth it. Great friendly service and great food. Can't go wrong.

We did the fireplace feast. It’s an absolute blast. The experience itself isn’t earth shattering, but the food is amazing and overall you’ll have a great time. You are welcomed into the “tap room” where the meat is roaring by the fire and cheese and crackers are set out for you to eat. Here you have the option of getting a glass of mulled wine or mulled cider. While this is happening, you can opt to take a horse drawn carriage ride around the beautiful grounds. At some point, the meat is moved and you watch as they make their signature seafood chowder (delicious). From there, you move upstairs and are seated at a dining table. The food is seriously so good. The chowder is delicious, the meat is delicious, and the dessert is crazy. They have a tub of homemade whipped cream where a gentleman asks “do you like it or do you love it?” And proceed to slap a huge serving of the cream on your apple pie. Overall a great time and well worth the price.

We did the fireplace feast. Fantastic time all around. From checking in to the horse 🐎 drawn ride. The hot 🔥 wine is also hot 🔥 cider. Then, onto the making of the very fresh chowder. Then, the main entry prime rib. Fantastic. Next, the apple 🍎 pie 🥧 with fresh made whip cream. The one and only complaint. Is the steak knives could be alot sharper. Did hear that from other people at the table.

First time doing a feast. Clam fritters were awesome. As well all of the food. You guys did a great job. Next feast we want to try is prime tib.

What an amazing experience the fire place feast. I cannot put in words what an amazing time this was. From the comodirary talking with strangers watching the food being cooked by fire watching the chowda being prepared on an open fire in a pot from a recipe that took 2 years to prefect. Also the horse and carriage rides they offered. This is a must see the inn is absolutely beautiful the history behind it makes this one place in mass that tourists,locals,and traveling folks need to see. Amazing the food was some of the best food I've ever had the prime rib was cooked prefect

What an absolute gem of a place. I was scrolling Instagram one night back in October and I saw the Fireside Feast ad come across my reels. It looked absolutely stunning so I decided to purchase 2 tickets for Valentine's Day. What a treat that was. The event lasted about 3.5 hours and was entertaining from start to finish. The food was absolutely delicious and well worth the wait. Something about Prime Rib cooked over the open flame just hit home. I'd love to come back for their regular dinner to check out how it compares, but that Fireside Feast set the bar really high. If you can get tickets, I highly recommend doing so. They were $89 a ticket, $178 for 2 guests. You got appetizers, a mulled cider or wine, cheese and crackers, seafood chowder (made with the guests), the prime rib dinner, and then a piece of apple pie. 11 out of 10, would recommend. Do yourselves a favor and try to get tickets.

At Salem Cross Inn during Select Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from November through April, a special dining event called the Fireplace Feast is held. Friday Feasts are held at 6:00pm, Saturday Feasts are held at 5:30pm, and Sunday Feasts are held at 12:30pm. The Fireplace Feast is an advanced ticket only dining event and tickets can be purchased on their website: https://www.salemcrossinn.com/events/dining-events/fireplace-feast/. When I first heard about the Fireplace Feasts in 2023, I tried to make a reservation but it was all sold out. I knew better for 2024 so on October 21, 2024, I purchased tickets for the Fireplace Feast on Sunday, 02/02/2025 at 12:30pm. Surprisingly, but not so surprising, many of the dates were already sold out. Each Adult Ticket is $89.00 and Child Ticket is $30.00. All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferrable. The long-awaited day arrived! My husband and I arrived at Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, MA a few minutes before 12:30pm. There is a huge parking lot and a lot of people were arriving at the same time. We walked in and a hostess was telling us to go downstairs for the Fireplace Feast. We checked in with the hostess and were informed to enjoy some crackers, fruit, and spread, to see the prime rib roasting on an authentic Roasting Jack as it rotates slowly over a crackling fire of wild cherry logs, to go for a horse drawn wagon through the valley on the Inn's pristine 600 acres, gave us a ticket for a glass of warm mulled wine or cider, to later watch chowder being made in a cast iron cauldron over a crackling fire, and then gave us a piece of paper with our table number for when we go upstairs. We first enjoyed watching the prime rib roast while having some crackers, fruit, and Salem Cross Inn's famous cheese spread. This was a delicious spread and very addictive. The fireplace was very warm and perfect for the cold weather. We saw the horse drawn wagon was waiting outside so we went and got on. The ride was about 10-20 minutes and we saw some cows on the acre. Just coming from the outside, a glass of warm mulled wine was perfect. Soon after, the staff grabbed our attention to watch them make chowder and add in all the ingredients. Guests were invited to stir the chowder as it bubbles in the cast iron cauldron over a crackling fire. Next, we were all invited to go upstairs to the barn & loft. The barn and loft is very spacious and had many long tables. Each table had a table number so it was easy to find which table we were seated at (felt like we were at a wedding.) We first had a cup of the Chowder of the Sea straight from the cauldron that we saw downstairs. The chowder was filled with seafood and creamy. Next, homemade rolls and muffins were brought to the table. Then, the prime rib that we saw roasting downstairs was served. The portion was huge and it came with herbed roasted potatoes and fresh butternut squash. Next, a staff member came around to show us this huge bowl of freshly whipped cream. Then, we all sang Happy Birthday and a few guests received a plate of dessert for their birthday or anniversary. The staff called us up by table to get a piece of apple pie with freshly whipped cream. The staff member serving the whip cream asked if you like it or love it. Depending on your answer, that would be how big your dollop of fresh whipped cream was. The whip cream was so light and fluffy and smooth. WOW. This whole experience was really fun and totally worth it. Some guests came with their family and some with their partner; it's great for small groups or big groups. After each item was served once, the staff asked if anyone wanted seconds, which was very generous. I promise that you will not be leaving hungry. Though all the food was cooked at a large quantity, I mean the event is sold out, it was really good and good quality. The Fireplace Feast at Salem Cross Inn is definitely worth checking out!

From: "Lisa Turpin" To: "info@salemcrossinn.com" info@salemcrossinn.com Sent: Sun, Feb 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM Subject: Complaint Good afternoon, I want to seriously complain about the hostess today and owner. I was there at noon for lunch. I have been there many times with mostly great experiences, but today I was so disgusted by the way we were treated by the hostess and owner. I was going to leave, but we love the waitress Amy and also didn't want their behavior to ruin a day I have planned a long time ago. I know I will never go back. You won't care about my business , but so sad that I was looking so forward to today and was basically treated as like unwanted patrons just because clearly the hostess I believe screwed up and put us in a private room we didn't even ask for and because 2 out of the 7 people weren't there yet (had a family issue which I told the hostess and waitress upon 5 of us arrived and were there early and we weren't waiting for them to order ). Apparently we were told ,right before my friends arrived within 30 minutes , when the hostess and owner came in that there was another party reserved for the same 3 hours later ..and they thought that our 2 friends that were literally walking in the door would somehow mess with their reservations. Just the rude tones and faces and attitudes of them (the hostes and staff) were so unacceptable!! This was after we ordered drinks and our food and I knew our friends would order quickly. It's not a fast food restaurant.....the timing of the restaurant is not based on the customers...especially upon arrival , but the timing of the kitchen and service staff!!! We had to wait upon arrival because the hostess rudely told us too "not ready yet"....so she would just say that to each customer waiting for their table to be ready. I havent been there as a patron for any occassion in like 5 years since before the pandemic, but when I worked for the Diocese of Worcester have emailed and spoken to the owner in regards to the annual charitable event for donations of gift certificates and advertising space the event program. Always had a great experience and interaction. So I am beside myself with what occurred today. Never in my life have been treated that way. Especially by an experienced and mature owner and hostess. I will never go back to this establishment and also be given bad reviews on all social platforms as well. Shameful. Lisa Turpin

What can you say about this place, it is a classic colonial type restaurant with very good but simple fare. On a recent visit I had the strip steak and to be honest I was not expecting to have a great steak and I was wrong. It was a perfectly prepared and seasoned strip steak. My fiancé had the seafood chowder for her entree she had the chicken pot pie, she loved It and we split the cheese board as an appie. Very cool vibe for a place that has bus parking.

Just returned for a Fireplace Feast. This is not to be missed. You begin with a leisurely hors d'oeuvres hour in their downstairs lounge with a lovely spread of cheese and crackers, mulled wine and cider, and a bar if you'd like another drink. A roaring fire displaying the various components of the meal to come was awesome. Then upstairs to the elegant barn where the meal was unendingly good. Worth a trip if you can snag a slot -- they are hard to come by and understandably so!

Historic setting makes meals more enjoyable. Food and service are very good. In good weather, the grounds provide lovely views and trails.

Took a group of 11 there for early dinner tonight and everything was outstanding! Food, service, ambiance and hospitality were all top notch! Not my first time there and certainly won't be my last.

Our first time dining here.. Our friends asked us to join them for the Fire Place Feast. The Ambience is a classic New England feel. Antiques throughout, gorgeous hardwood floors, live edge tables downstairs. The service was terrific. The waitstaff is super friendly, engaging with patrons asking for participants to help stir the seafood chowder in the big cauldron. We enjoyed a very short horse & carriage ride, which overlooked their beautiful property. Perhaps on a warmer day the ride is longer. The horses were beautiful & exceptionally groomed. The food was good, Prime Rib was rare to medium with an option for those who wanted well done. Roasted potatoes & butternut squash, rolls & finish it off with coffee & apple pie with homemade whipped cream. The appetizer portion of the fireplace feast was crackers & cheese, with mulled cider or wine. Which was located downstairs, the only downside was their wasn't enough seating for all the patrons, we ended up standing for the hour before going upstairs to our table to eat the meal.

We were there after going to the Brimfield Antique Show. The place is very nice and has a lot of charm. Our waitress was fabulous not rushing us and telling us to enjoy our dinner. We started with the spinach artichoke dip and the chips were awesome (multi grain). And we're surprised with blueberry muffins before dinner. Our group had the prime rib, maple jack chicken and the surf and turf. All these entrees were delicious and cooked perfectly. We ended with the chocolate chip cookie sundae YUM! We also enjoyed cocktails from huckleberry lemonade, huckleberry pomegranate martini, and orange manhattan. This was one of our best meals of the weekend

Great atmosphere, quintessential new england charm. Food is great, never had a bad meal!

For a classic New England experience, this is the place. The food is quite good and the ambiance is divine. You get the same general vibes here as you would at the Publick House in Sturbridge, but the food is, in my opinion, superior. From burgers to fancy entrees, there's something for everyone here. Also, the french onion soup is really really good.

What a beautiful dining experience! My boyfriend and I along with his parents dined here Saturday night. The ambiance is brilliant with the white accent lights and the Christmas flare. The drinks were good, the zucchini muffins were delicious, our meals came out hot and delicious as well. Plentiful portions and a magnificent dessert menu filled with house made treats. I can't believe we don't visit here more often, what a gem of a place!

Wow! What a wonderful gem! Our tour group stopped here for lunch and got treated to a pre-season version of the Fireplace Feast with homemade muffins, prime rib and vegetables, and deep dish apple pie with fresh whipped cream. We also got a tour of the museum, fresh cider, and an apple pie demo with recipe! I would love to come back this fall to experience the chowder making and hayride.

Beautiful dining room with gorgeous floors and well placed decor. A step back in time. Our waitress was very kind and prompt with order taking and checking on us. We started with the roasted asparagus drizzled with Caesar dressing, not what I would usually choose but I enjoy trying new items. WOW IT WAS AMAZING! My main was super yummy, crispy chicken breast with hot honey coating. Yummy pickles and a creamy claw on the side. We all were happy with our meal, I bought a Hexmark coffee mug and we'll def be back

Old School restaurant that serves old style American tavern food. Absolutely awesome menu and service. How many places actually specialize in prime rib now a days!

We drove from Boston to try out their prime rib after seeing how they make it over the fireplace online.. Ambiance: rustic, woody, homey feel with the fireplace going. Very causal and vert comfortable. The paintings on the wall were a little creepy if I were to be honest. Food: very amazing spread and lots of choices. Pasta was a little salty but flavor was amazing. The primer rib was amazing with a side of horseradish, although a little gravy with it would make it even better. Chowder was loaded with fish and clams. Perfect texture and thickness. Everything was very good and will definitely be back. Service: our server Jess was itching short of amazing. Very attentive, very considerate and very helpful. She's the best! Parking: large private free parking Overall, it was worth the drive. Our reservation was at 5:30 and it was already busy when we got there and only got busier as the night progressed. The prime rib is a Saturday special and they serve it till the run out. I wanted to make sure we made it for that so 5:30 worked out for us. They also have a large venue on the other side of the restaurant that's great for events like weddings and showers.

Special thanks for a beautiful small wedding! Donna and Nancy at Salem Cross Inn were fantastic in helping me plan our small wedding. And the cake they made was amazing! Exceeded my expectations and was really delicious. I couldn't have designed it better! Our friends and family enjoyed the unique country ambiance, beautiful grounds, fantastic waitstaff service and amazing wedding meal. Highly recommend!

The food was excellent! Cheesecake shooter just the right size! if I had to say anything that could be better than mashed potatoes, could've been a little bit better they tasted sort of the box.

We attended last night's Fireside Feast and had an absolutely wonderful time! We took our two elementary-age children and weren't sure what to expect in terms of formality, structure of the night, etc. Salem Cross Inn clearly has perfected this event. When we arrived, we were pointed downstairs where we checked in and told what to expect for the flow of the night. We watched the cider and wine get mulled, took a wagon ride (which was totally optional) through the snow covered fields around the inn, and our kids helped to stir the chowder over the fire (again, voluntarily). We appreciated that there were snacks to munch on while we waited for dinner, and enjoyed the interactive nature of cooking over the fire. Upstairs for dinner, seating is at long tables. It could have been random but it seemed that Salem Cross Inn pre-planned the table groups, as we were placed at a table with other families with children, and enjoyed chatting together. The staff were absolutely wonderful - clearly showing enthusiasm for cooking and hosting. They made the whole event fun and inviting. The food was delicious and plentiful, with servers coming around to see who needed more (although the first portions were hearty!). We are not necessarily a family that seeks out socializing with others and weren't sure how we'd fare with the communal nature of the event, but the Salem Cross Inn truly made it a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere for the introverts and extroverts alike!While we live over an hour away, we hope to be back next winter!

Fireside feast was a special treat. Horse drawn rides start the night off. Watching mulled wine and cider being made and then tasting them was a special treat. Best fish chowder on the planet. And you get to watch them make it so you have the recipe if you are making 5 gallons of it. Prime rib dinner was worth the wait. We got seconds on the rib and the chowder. Apple pie and cream was an entertaining and tasty finish.

It has been a couple of years since we dined at the Salem Cross Inn. Out for a Friday drive to see where we might end up, we stopped in. Well, that was a great choice. The service is excellent. The staff is friendly and attentive. But the fish chowder was DE-licious! My wife got the prime rib special, and it was one of the best, most tender prime ribs we have had in years. I had the surf (grilled jumbo shrimp) and turf (petite filet, cooked perfectly) and the presentation itself was worth the trip. But the taste! Just wonderful. For dessert we shared the house made Key Lime pie. It was another pleasant surprise. They have so many other great menu options, we won't wait so long for our next visit!

We just returned home from another wonderful dinner at Salem's. We have been quite a few times and we've never had a bad experience. The food is amazing (I highly recommend the prime rib), the staff is phenomenal. Our waitress Hailey A. just started her career there and she hit it out of the park! She was aware, sociable, attentive, polite, humble and really made us feel "seen." As always, we are looking forward to our next visit! Thank you Hailey for joining the Salem's staff.

We attended a wedding reception here and I must say, this place does a beautiful job. We definitely want to return to this venue for dinner. The reception was originally to be hosted in the historic barn. Sadly, two weeks before the event, someone decided driving their vehicle into said historic barn would be a super idea. The damage was such, that all events planned for this location had to be moved. The owners did not cancel any booked events. Instead they closed their restaurants and moved the events into the main building. Wow! Your wedding day is so much stress to plan and to have to move the reception at the last minute would have been a disaster. (I have been at such a wedding - it took a lot of work by a lot of people to find a new space and alert everyone to the changes.) The family that own this space honored their reservations and closed another source of income to accommodate their clients. This says a lot about the family that own and run this event space. There is a good sized parking lot in front of the building with plenty of handicapped spaces. We did not see any sign directing us to an event space (there were two large 'tents' set up on the grounds) so we wandered into the main entrance. This is a very cute spot, decorated in period décor with a hostess stand to the left. As we walked toward the restaurant, a woman came out and asked if we were here for the wedding. She directed us down a flight of steps to a large, open room with an enormous wood burning fireplace and a bar. This is were the cocktail hour was held. A DJ was playing appropriate music, a photographer taking pics of everyone, smiling waitstaff carrying a variety of hors devourers and two friendly bartenders. (Hey Ken and Joe!) That fireplace throws a *lot of heat! The room offered a variety of seating including many old benches lining the walls. A very cozy spot. The restrooms are on this level as well as a coat rack. When the DJ announced dinner, we all wandered back upstairs to the dining room. The ceiling was lined with fairy lights giving it a festive ambiance. Ten or eleven tables were dressed in a pretty china including coffee cup and saucer, bread plate, silverware, clothe napkin, champagne filled flute, water goblet, bread basket and of course, flowers. The presentation was lovely. After a few traditional wedding moments (speeches and so on) dinner was served by the same smiling staff. The prime rib was absolutely phenomenal. I mean really. Yes, I've had prime rib before, and yes, it was good, and yes, this was better. It was so tender. Just amazing. Served with whole roasted baby potatoes and winter squash, the meal was delicious and to top it off, a waitress came by with a platter of seconds on the prime rib. I had never seen this before and am fully on board with offering seconds. Dessert was served by the bride and groom. Apple pie was placed in bowls by a staff member and the bride and groom added a dollop of fresh whipped cream from an absolutely ginormous bowl full of the fluffy stuff. They were given full aprons with Mr. X and Mrs. X written on them to protect their wedding clothes. After dinner it was back downstairs for dancing. I cannot stress enough how much fun we had at this reception due to the location, staff and food offerings. The staff really were all lovely individuals (looking at you Autumn) and I like the family atmosphere throughout the event. The grounds are pastural. Literally, there is a pasture out the back door where you can admire the cows. As I was enjoying our friends wedding, no photos of the space were taken. Sorry about that. If you are looking for a space to host an event I do recommend checking this location. There is a good amount of information on the website and I look forward to returning for dinner in the restaurant or tavern one day.

I confess...I love the Salem Cross Inn so much, I have signed up for trips just because our group will be stopping at the inn for lunch. From the moment you walk in, you feel enveloped in the cozy, warm atmosphere and like you have traveled back in time. The family of owners and staff always make our group feel so welcomed. The food is consistently delicious and plentiful. We always have a wonderful prime rib meal served with chowder, the best squash muffins in the entire world, fresh veggies, and scrumptious apple pie with a massive dollop of fresh whipped cream. Heaven on a plate from start to finish! I love that the owners talk with us about the history of the inn and invite us to explore the many rooms. I look forward to many more visits (and purchasing more wonderful books).

Went there for my birthday today. Looking forward to a special meal. The hostess sat us at our table. 20 minutes later no one had come to take our orders so we left. Disappointing service.

The Salem Cross Inn is a nice place to stop for a meal. Ww have come to dine several times. We come from California so when we are in town we enjoy coming here. The French Onion Soup is something I look forward to. This time I tried one of the specials watermelon and berry salad and I added grilled scallops. Perfect on a warm simmers day. Our server was very nice and attentive. They recently opened up Hexmark Tacern downstairs so we asked to be seated there. It has a nice ambiance downstairs. I highly recommend trying this restaurant out.

The downstairs tavern is excellent and seems like a hidden gem for this area! The food is impeccable - the menu is extensive enough to meet any craving but not overwhelming. It's clear that much care has gone into the recipes and their execution. The service is wonderful, especially in the tavern. The servers are friendly and responsive, even when very busy. My husband and I love the ambiance for a date night. It's a rustic, cozy, unique location.

This is a lovely interesting menu. They cook everything there, no frozen tv dinners. They raise much or all their beef and veggies in season. It is family run and operated. You will never be disappointed. Enjoy

Food is always superb. Great drinks, and awesome service. Can't wait to go back. Made reservations twice in the Winter. Had a table next to a beautiful fireplace. Thawed right out sitting there!

Had not been to Salem Cross for several years. We returned to an experience we had not recalled prior. Upon arrival there was limited parking due to the weddings they host. Walking to the entrance included a gauntlet of wedding guests smoking. Entering the facility you encounter wedding guests coming and going as you make your way to the host. The greeter/ host is less greeter and more annoyed as you are made to feel as though you are mothering her. After being seated it seems chaotic as servers move around. Our server appeared after a short wait and the experience from that point was average. While we received the short version of the specials, other tables received more extensive information- I guess it depends on party size or server. Food was average, not great but not bad. Nothing that I would want to return for by any means. The server was so rushed she failed to bring an ordered drink and when the bill arrived it was not outs but rather another guests that had paid and included cash attached. We flagged the server down and made her aware then finally received the correct check. Overall the atmosphere is loud and busy making the dinner experience exhausting. There is a lot of traffic back and forth to the bathroom from the wedding events, assume there are only a few bathrooms. I recommend going on a night with no event as i assume it may be less active. We tried a few more times afterwards and the experience did not improve and on the last visit we decided that we would probably not return again.

we were made reservations and were seated right away . the Broiled brussels' sprouts with home made chips . we ate it all the almond crusted salmon was a hit i enjoyed the scallops in cream sauce

Two stars: one for ambiance and one for service. ZERO for food quality. I cannot imagine that four people who visited your restaurant on Friday august 18th all shared a similar terrible food experience, and yet your restaurant somehow has managed a four star rating. Duck, prime rib and just a basic French onion soup: all terrible. You should really consider offering a refund for serving crap.

Everything about this place is wonderful the service the food the staff. My brothers both have worked for salems in the past for years and years and Also the owners always treated them so good

Always love it at Salem's Cross. Beautiful place on a Sunday afternoon. Excellent service and delicious meal. We both had duck and it was delicious. Loved the zucchini muffins too. Everything was excellent.

Great food , Great ambience but getting to be on the expensive side. But still love going there.

I want to encourage anyone looking for an amazing, "foodie" New England rich tasty meal, run, don't walk to the beautiful Salem Cross Inn. We had the honor of celebrating a special Birthday for my Mom today. As soon as you enter you feel the weight of history, the fireplace and warm hospitality the staff provide. Our server "Amy" was so friendly, knowledgeable and professional as she served our rather large party. Took pictures and made us feel so comfortable and welcome. Thank you Salem Cross In.

The food was great, and their outdoor buffets were fantastic. My mother loved me, taking her there.

Great restaurant! Delicious food, hearty portions, and strong drinks. Everything was very reasonably priced too! The haddock was flavorful and fell apart. My friends got the prime rib and scallop casserole which were equally as delicious. Highly recommend if you're in the area and looking for a good meal.

Excellent prime rib!! Wait staff very pleasant! Came with a bus tour. Gary P Lundgren on the piano. Awesome.

The Salem Cross Inn was a stop on a seasonal bus tour of Central Massachusetts. There were about 40 of us and we had a choice of baked Haddock or chicken pot pie. I opted for the fish expecting a mediocre offering as bus tours are often served. WRONG! I can't speak for the chicken pot pie except to say it looked tempting and I was momentarily unsure of my choice. The fish portion was large, crusted with cracker crumbs, moist and just delicious. It was served with a cup of flavorful vegetable soup (minestrone?) that was perfect for a cold winter day. The side dishes were generous as well: mashed potatoes with skins and a simple yet flavorful portion of butternut squash. We had a choice of muffins or rolls, warm from the oven? The group dessert was peppermint stick ice cream with whipped topping and fudge sauce. No way to go wrong with that! Our wait staff were attentive and pleasant. The room we were in was part of the original house with wide pumpkin pine wall paneling and a massive fireplace (that was not lit although others in the inn were.) As we finished our meals, the owner told us about the long history of the Inn. Fascinating. We will return.

Always a Pleasure, food is consistently good. And they always try to accommodate our request to sit near the fireplace in the winter. We've been going here for 30 years or more and in itself should be a testament to their establishment!!

All star for a traditional dining experience. Food is solid and consistent. Expect things like great steaks cooked properly, baked haddock, as well as some more inventive dishes. The "inn" (you can't stay there as much as you'd like too) is beautiful and historic.

Everything was great! The food was so good. The onion soup and mussels for appetizers were spot on as was the surf and turf (perfectly cooked) and the hot fudge sundae! The service was excellent. Beautiful setting. Such a gem of a restaurant not to be missed!! Can't wait to go back!

Lamb lollipops with mint reduction and pomegranate were delicious. Classic holiday decorations create a warm and inviting atmosphere to dine.

The prime rib is excellent as well as the stuffed chicken! We've been here for several events and every time we have left happy!

Came here with a party of 8 people. Nice atmosphere, excellent service. All food was good except for the STEAK TIPS, tasted like chewing a rubber boot! Not Recommended.

Rustic extravagant are the words I would choose to describe my experience at Salem Cross Inn. I had no idea what I was walking into. Came because a friend had extra tickets to the Fireplace Feast. What I thought would be a steep $65 meal ended up exceeding any and all of my expectations. Let me set the stage for you. You enter this rustic building and head downstairs for registration, where there is a roaring fire by which you can see 6+ prime ribs cooking. You grab some crackers and cheese and watch the fire. You also watch people line up for a hot mulled wine or hot cider, which is warmed literally by a metal rod that has been heated in the fire. Then you realize that outside there are sleigh rides with real horses, and that there are really cute cows grazing outside too, with which you can take pictures. How is this even real?! When you come back inside, they are taking away the prime ribs and setting up a literal cauldron that we are all going to cook clam chowder in. And I mean all of us. They go thru the entire process of cooking clam chowder, and the crowd can volunteer to add in certain things, like the fish or hot sauce or the clams. As someone who eagerly wanted to participate in the clam chowder making process, I can vouch for how hot that fire is! It is blazing but so incredibly fun to participate. After the clam chowder is made, you head upstairs to eat. You are seated with your party at one of the long tables. The lights in the barn-like loft are absolutely enchanting. The meal starts out with various bread rolls, which are pretty standard but yummy. The next part of the meal is the clam chowder - the best part of the whole meal. It tastes incredibly fresh and light and not at all weighed down by the cream. Get two bowls! The prime rib is next, which I would give 4/5 for taste and quality. The crusted edges were my favorite. The meal comes with sides of spinach pie, potatoes, and sweet potato mash. It ends with good old, heartwarming apple pie, accompanied by copious amounts of whipped cream. The best part is that you can get seconds of everything, and - PRO TIP - you can actually bring to-go boxes home! What a New England treasure. I left this place feeling full, content, and quite happy. I'm going to be honest - for the food alone, I would give a 4 (except the clam chowder which warrants a 5). What really makes this place special is the experience. The whole Fireplace Feast experience was a 5 without a doubt. It is a truly magical experience I would recommend doing with a group of family or friends. I really left this place feeling like I experienced New England.

Came for The Fireplace Feast. A Christmas celebration with the family. Party of 10. Told to arrive at 12:30 for 2:00 pm dinner. There really wasn't enough to entertain us ft1-12 hours. And there was not enough seating for the 100+ guests in attendance. I guess there may be pep who think it's fun to watch apple pie being made. Or get their jollies by stirring a pot of chowder. But I'm not one of those pro. We sat around for 1-1/2 hours munching on cheese and crackers. We were all given a token for a glass of mulled cider. Rum cost another $4, and you had to go buy a rum token. Dinner was upstairs. The chowder was a cloying mess. No fish. No potato. Just a bowl of pastelike "broth". Refills were offered. Bread was brought to the table. Pecan rolls (lacking in sugar and in pecans), cloverleaf rolls (good!), and some indescript flavor of muffin. Maybe Apple or pumpkin or carrot or cinnamon? Nobody could quite place it. Dinner was plated prime rib. With 2 potatoes. The prime rib was awful. Like shoe leather. My jaw got tired trying to chew it. Refills of prime rib were offered. Squash and spinach was served family style. It was restaurant quality. Edible. Nothing special. Dessert was the apple pie. We had to walk through a buffet line pick up our pie. And some old woman rudely plopped a glop of whipped cream on top. The pie was horrible. Sour. Too much nutmeg. And a crust so thick and dry I'm lucky I didn't break a tooth. My chair was broken - the bottom runner - and I was afraid I would fall to the floor at any time. I feel bad for my dad that he paid $620 for this. Bad food. Boring. Rude service. Not one redeeming quality.

I am giving this review on Thanksgiving dinner only. I have only experienced Salem Cross Inn on this one occasion. We had 12 noon reservations, which was their second seating. We arrived to a long line out the door of people checking in, but it moved very quickly and we were soon seated in the dining room at a very tiny table for 2 with diners sitting so close next to us we really felt like we were sitting together. It took 20 minutes before we were acknowledged by the waitstaff and were able to order our drinks, appetizer and dinner all at once. The waiter brought us crackers and some kind of corn and pepper relish to put on it. Then we were served some breads/rolls, one was a cranberry bread and a pumpkin bread that were good and pecan rolls that were not good at all. Then we were served the saddest looking little salad. We both ordered the New England chowder of the sea (which was 5$ and in a very little bowl only 3/4 full), the chowder was excellent and we enjoyed it very much. ( but, I need to mention the chowder came 54 minutes after we were seated) Finally our dinner arrived! But, to say our waiter was slow is an understatement. At this point we noticed that people that arrived well after us are being served dessert already! We both picked the traditional turkey dinner and fixings. Our dinner consisted of a couple slices of turkey on top of stuffing. A scoop of mashed potatoes, a spoonful of butternut squash, peas, and a piece of sweet potato. There was gravy and some kind of orange/cranberry sauce. Everything was okay. Nothing exceptional, but that orange/cranberry sauce was horrible...tasted like orange peels! But, I do need to mention it was not hearty portions, my partner could have eaten another dinner! We ordered dessert. My partner got the apple pie which he said was good and I picked the pecan pie which was good but it was very runny (like the filling was very thin). Gratuity was included in the Thanksgiving meals. We didn't order drinks and our total bill was $111.

An awesome place!! I want to thank Nancy and Donna for all their help with my daughter's wedding on Sunday April 23rd. The atmosphere was incredible and the food unbelievably awesome. This place is the perfect place for a party, wedding or just having dinner. It is worth the drive from Boston or anywhere and better than any hotel in the Boston area for a wedding. I promise you you will not be disappointed. The wait staff are so professional and friendly. Honestly it is the best place around for a 500 miles. Try the fire roasted prime rib, the have perfected how to cook it in the fire place for all to watch. Once again, if you need a great place for dinner then the Salem Cross Inn is the place! If you need a place for a wedding, the Salem Cross Inn should be your first choice if you live in Mass, NH, Conn or RI. If you need a place for a family or company party then the Salem Cross Inn is your place, look no further. We will be back there for family reunions over and over.