Ugly Mug Diner

Got to this wonderful joint bright and early in the morning so had no need to wait. Was second through the door. Loved the atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. Started with the speedy turtle latte which was just what I needed to start the day(carmel mocha latte very well presented). Then I had the blue plate special. 3 large blueberry pancakes with a mound of bacon and american fries. I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing the pancakes were! They weren't over fluffy and dry. I was so happy 😊. I will definitely be back next time I visit the area.

Visited on the morning of 1/1/2026 while on a trip to Salem, MA from Florida. Was craving good ole American breakfast Diner fare and this place satisfied that craving! Super cute place, love the decor and vibe. Thankfully we got there just in time for no wait but seemed there was quite a wait time after we got there around 1 hour wait for some people coming in. Didn't get a picture of the food was too hungry LOL but the breakfast plate with eggs, pancakes, homefries and meat of your choice, very good!

Went in early october so it was getting crowded with the salem crowd. Doesn't take reservations or take your name and number after waiting on line so you can still walk around till they call you. So you have to stand on line and wait, first come first served. Small restaurant too. Staff was friendly. Food was good. They did mess up my eggs benny. I told them over medium or over hard bc I hate runny eggs and asked for extra hollandaise. They made the eggs over easy with regular amount of sauce. The spinach was supposed to be sautéed but it wasnt. The coffee drinks were delicious. I didnt like that the utensils were already on the table in a silver utensils cup. Anyone can touch them and do whatever they want to the clean utensils. Its also a huge allergy red flag.

I loved this place! It's so cute and the food was delicious. We got the scotch eggs and the breakfast poutine and they were delicious! They have so many different ugly mugs spread throughout the diner that really gave this place a unique charm. We came in September and it was pretty busy. I wish they accepted reservations, but we had to wait maybe 10-15 minutes for a table. They do allow you to put your name in and get a text when your table is ready so you don't have to wait inside the restaurant. It was worth the wait. Would come again.

My wife and I tried The Ugly Mug Diner during our trip to Salem. It DID NOT disappoint. I had the scotch egg breakfast and a mocha latte both of which were great. My wife, who is vegan and gluten-free, had corn cakes with candied pecans which she said was awesome. We will return the next time we are visiting. The server was great. The whole dining room is decorated in breakfast decor. I love this place.

The Ugly Mug Diner is a creatively inspired, upscale diner in the heart of Salem that specializes in breakfast and brunch. It's open every day from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. My friends and I stopped in early one afternoon last month during our second day in Salem. Although there was a short wait when we arrived, it moved quickly and well worth it. The food was delicious, and our server was friendly and attentive. I ordered the steak & eggs, which came with two eggs, marinated skirt steak, toast, and home fries. The steak was juicy, and the marinade added a pleasant touch of sweetness. The presentation wasn't perfect because the steak was precut, but that wasn't a big deal.

Just a slight step above diner style. The food was tasty. The atmosphere was great! Especially the wall mural pictured in my review. I think the staff were especially great. I watched them handle a couple harder situations with ease and empathy.

Not good. I ordered an omelette, stuffed French toast with berries and cream cheese, soda and a mimosa. I never received the mimosa. The english muffin was burnt. Potatoes were great. My biggest problem was that the “stuffed” French toast was indeed not stuffed. Also the soda had a weird plastic taste. Complete waste of $4 because I could barely finish it.

The atmosphere and decor is like walking in to a page from cloudy with a chance of meatballs! It is so thoughtful and imaginative. I was seated quickly at the counter. May quickly brought me water and took my order. Made suggestions and even described some of the options. When I asked for a substitution you kindly accosted and sent in my order. I ordered the hash Benny 2 ways with gravy instead of hollandaise. While I waited for my food May was attentive checking in to see if I needed more coffee or anything else. I ordered coffee, and an apple cider mimosa. Both were very good! The hash benny was great, I definitely preferred the corned beef over the sweet potato side. The gravy was very flavorful and the entire meal made for a great start to my day exploring Salem.

I love a no frills diner experience. We made our trip to Salem slightly post season and left NY at 7am. This put us in Salem a little before noon. My friend arrived a little earlier and was able to snag us a table right away. We finished parking and walked over. Immediately knew we had the coolest waitress! I noticed her "Leatheface" tattoo and I was sold! And then.....drum roll please, she showed me her leg! I am obsessed! Horror movie fanatic central, took me after we left to figure out it was from the tattoo artist I love, STEGA! She also gave us tons of great Salem tips! I truly felt so at home in Salem in this trip! I was in the mood for lunch! And the crab sandwich sounded perfect with some fries. And how could I resist a Nutella Latte. It was just what I wanted. I ordered my meal so fast that I didn't realize it came with bacon, had to pull that right out and my boyfriend was more than happy to assist. The food came out super fast and was the perfect base for running around Salem. I was tempted by the huevos rancheros and the eggs Benedict's. Until next time! And I hear there's pentagrams on the Gimme S'more! I'm here for all the gimmicks! No shame in my game!

Service: Staggered. I arrived before the diner was open and it was off putting when there are people outside while there are empty tables inside. I understand why they only allow one table in at a time within 10 minute increments. They do it to allow the kitchen staff to not be overwhelmed by the huge rush of orders all coming in at once. People in line don't understand this and they get frustrated with the wait staff. Food: Huevos Rancheros - Mid. I wanted something that was carb heavy and this was the only thing i was okay with getting. The salsa was fine and the chips got soggy while sitting in it. The eggs were poached beautifully. Wished that it had more of a kick. Speedy Turtle Latte - Not overly sweet. With the description of caramel and toffee syrup in the mocha coffee, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not overly sweet. I would get this again. On to my next adventure...

Our first breakfast spot in Salem. I dont know if there is always a line out the door or if it's just October in Salem but waited about 45 minutes before we got seated and we lined up before the diner opened. Got seated by the only table in the house..right by the window so got to peek out at the line of people waiting to get in. May was our sever and she was so sweet! She made some great suggestions on things to see and do around Salem so thank you May! Food was OK. Ordered OJ and a veggie omelette. You get to choose all the veggies that goes in. Huge portions and asked for a side of fruits. I had to ask May..why is the diner called the Ugly mug? She told us many customers started bringing and leaving their own mugs here thus creating a huge collection that the diner now uses to serve coffee. Interesting right? An a-ok spot to stop at in Salem.

Our waitress was busy with her boyfriend the entire time . She didn't even offer another cup of coffee. Only got one cup . Also the sugar canister had a dead fly in it . To expensive. Poor service.

We waited in line for about 45 minutes for a table, and to be honest, our server who was extremely friendly and attentive, the food was just "OK" so I'm not sure what the attraction and popularity is over this place. Very basic diner style food, and other than the friendly service, I'm not sure what the big deal about this place is all about. It's not bad, but nothing I'll be dreaming about. Maybe there's just limited breakfast options in this area?

Party of 6. Got in pretty quick even though it was the day before Halloween. Sat at 2 tables. Service was good and food was ok. Nothing really wowed me. Tried to order Scotch eggs but told they were out but 20 mins later someone else got one who was sat after us. Maybe they had to make more but I feel we should have been offered it once they were available. My S'mores Latte was blah. Chicken and Waffles was the best thing I had.

It's a cute place with quirky decor. The staff were super friendly and efficient. The food was not that great. Waffles were soggy, bacon was grossly undercooked. Very disappointed in the frozen chicken tenders used for chicken/waffle dish. Home fries were a cold, gloppy mess. Wish it was better.

Cute little breakfast spot right near the Bewitched statue. It was busy but the service was quick. I wanted to try the seasonal fried green tomato Benedict but they were out so went with the eggs florentine. They also had the choice of regular and sweet potato home fries or mixed. I could have used more hollandaise, maybe because other restaurants don't have the egg cooked as long so you get the yolk mixed in too.

Great food and good service! My husband said it was the best bacon he's ever had and he's a bacon snob!

Food was good. I had an egg sammich with cheese and bacon and a mocha au lait. Service was ok, and the ambiance was great. I love the vibes! We didn't experience a wait, but we also went off season and it was about 9:15 in the morning on a weekday.

Such a cute spot to grab breakfast! I got the western omelet. The potato's were definitely the star of the show. The seasonings on them were delicious. My omelet was just okay, nothing amazing but not bad either- just average. I also got the wheat toast which was fantastic.

Great service and delicious food! A variety of choices and some fun new drinks to try.

This restaurant was really cute. It seemed very busy, but thankfully we were seated within five minutes. Our hostess was really kind and made sure to give us extra room between the table next to us so we would have a little more space. The table itself was pretty small, we didn't have a TON of room, but that was okay. Our waiter was really nice and chill and made sure we had everything we needed. I ordered the Nutella iced latte. It was good, but not my favorite (it fell a little short). I also ordered the sausage egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a bagel. It was good, but I ordered the egg over easy (since that's what seemed to be the standard) but it was hard to eat (since I'm used to eggs being fried or scrambled). However, that's my fault for not changing the order. Regardless, the food was good and the decorations were cute (with an adorable crotched griddle and eggs on the wall!)

Sooooo...Ugly Mug was recommended by a friend who works at the university. We get there before it opens, line is already formed up outside. Good sign, right? The diner opens now. Well...waitstaff took about 4 or 5 people inside. The rest of us remained outside, wondering when we were going to be called. They would only take one of two people at a time despite other tables being open. I get it, you don't want to overwhelm the kitchen staff with an onslaught of orders. But maybe communicate that to the rest of the folks in line who've never worked the food industry. They were looking perplexed. Once inside, when I decided to order, was told the scotch eggs were all sold out. Ok. No worries. I took the recommendation of an eggs Benedict special, with two different types of meat, pulled pork and a brisket deal I think it was. Wife had the steak and eggs. We waited for quite a bit. Watched as other food orders came out. Finally ours made it out and I tucked in. I tried the home fries first; cold. I sampled one of the bennies; cold. I was so looking forward to this, I dismissed it and took a sip of my coffee then sampled the second benny. Cold. I was sooo disappointed. From the poached eggs, meat and home fries. Nothing was even slightly warm. Wife was expecting a savory steak and egg dish, her steak was cooked in a very sweet seasoning which wasn't expected. The pumpkin pancakes helped save the meal at least. Our waiter asked if everything was satisfactory and I had to tell him how disappointed I was pointing out the cold dish and oddly prepared steak and eggs dish. He thanked us for being honest and we asked for our bill. Ugly mug left a bad taste in our mouths. Maybe next time.

During my weekend trip to Boston, I decided to drive up to Salem for the day to explore the city. I mean, it was October and Friday the 13th - could the setting be any more perfect? Anyway, part of my planning was to find places to eat in addition to the historic sites. The Ugly Mug Diner came up as a popular breakfast spot, and since I like to sit for breakfast whenever I travel - I thought it was a ideal spot to start my day. UMD sits close to Essex St, which is the main touristy hub of Salem. I arrived in the city around 7:30am to be sure I could beat the traffic and walk around before the crowds started; I got to the diner at opening and was seated right away. The interior isn't too large but has a decent amount of tables and stool seating at the bar. Decor is simple with accents throughout the space - a standout are crocheted bacon and eggs hanging on the wall. True to the name, all the mugs are random, or "ugly" - seemingly collected from wherever they could find them. They had a good selection of breakfast items, including a section dedicated to benedicts. The Blue Plate special stood out to me, which consisted of blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon and hash browns. I was given the choice of regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, or a mix (I chose a mix) and regular or cinnamon butter (I chose cinnamon). The dish was fine - I think there could have been more blueberries in the pancakes, and the hash browns weren't really hash browns - they were more like roasted potatoes. Service was good, the staff was friendly and kept things moving. Overall, I think the Ugly Mug Diner is fine for a basic breakfast, but there is nothing too outstanding about it. Due to its location in Salem, it's consistently busy - there was a long line waiting to get in by the time I left. I wouldn't be against returning here, but would want to explore other eateries in the city first.

The food was delicious! My husband had great homemade hash and I had crab cake Benedict! It was very busy but the service was very good. It's such a cute, cozy place.

The food was good, decor was cool. Service was good. We waited like 45-60 minutes in a line outside, which was wild but also a holiday weekend in October. I had the eggs florentine Benedict with no English muffin and it was good. My husband had the crab cake Benedict and said the crab cake was a little overdone and more filler than crab and the English muffin was hard. But overall we had a good experience.

Really enjoyed brunch at this cafe!! The food was amazing -- I had the eggs Benedict with salmon and are the whole thing! They also drew this cat on my chai latte. I can tell they really care about their customers and, though the wait outside was long, we were still able to eat at a reasonable time.

Use to be one of our favorite breakfast spots, up until today. Drove out of our way to enjoy breakfast in 32 degree weather and placed our name on the waitlist. In the meantime, found a cool coffee shop up the street and ordered us some coffee to stay warm until our table was ready. However when our table was ready we attempted to be seated with our coffee and were advised we could not bring an outside drink in. Keep in mind we have been here many times with a coffee from elsewhere and never had been advised otherwise. We were told it was a health code violation and there was no accommodation that could be made. So we left and were accommodated else where, where there was no issue and no health code violation (a block away) with our coffee from else where! Ugly mug! You lost a family that was loyal. However that little interaction was all it took! In my opinion it was a good place for breakfast, and great staff! Stupid policy! Especially in a place that attracts people from all over the world and can be BALLS COLD!

Giving this place a 2 because my husband said his French toast was decent. But our coffee as came out after our food so we were not able to enjoy it before hand. I ordered a traditional eggs Benedict....the eggs was way over poached, there was little to no hollandaise sauce but it had no flavor anyhow and the potatoes were cold :(. It's a cute place though...but I would definitely not eat here again

Ate here twice for breakfast. Not sure how to explain the hour wait and long line. Food was just sort of OK. The sausage actually just tasted like ground beef. Pancakes were under cooked. Most of the food was just bland and this is coming from someone who doesn't like overly salted food. The atmosphere is cool. But we were just underwhelmed.

We waited in line over 30 minutes prior to opening as we had researched and found this place to be very popular and busy. (A very cold Boston morning but we made the 30+ minute wait outside with our 3 year old, we're Californian's and 38 degree weather is nearly freezing for us). The hostess outside was friendly and all was great until the entire staff disregarded us for 20+ minutes after we were seated. 20 + minutes without water or even taking our coffee order. My husband had to walk to the counter and complain. When we finally got a server she said "oh I didn't see you all there" - we were sat in the middle of the restaurant not a hidden corner. Everyone else (including guests that came in much after we did had all been served coffee and had their order taken). It was evident that we were ignored as we didn't fit the racial demographic. Sad. The food was actually not bad but we won't be coming back

This place is great if you visited Salem town. Nice and chill vibe inside. Good music. The tables are not too crowded and have good space in between. Staff and service are spot on. Everyone is very enthusiastic, pleasant, and professional. Shout out to our waitress TATIANA, a very sweet lady. Food comes in large portions. Ordered huevos Ranchero, Cubano sandwich, and dueling hash Benedict. For drinks, we had a loud Lisa's sweet insomnia and nutella latte. The place did not disappoint. Highly recommended :)

Super homey vibe! I got the chicken and waffles which was amazing. The chicken was tender and the waffle was buttery. The highlight for sure was the cinnamon butter. The candied pecans were a bit too sweet for my liking, but added a unique twist. Wait time was a bit long, but the diner was busy at the time which makes sense.

Our servers on a Saturday morning were pleasant and our eggs were fine. The lattes are made really well so that was a pleasant surprise. We ordered two more to go and came back the next day to order two more but were turned away. I guess they don't do coffee to go on weekends. If they were jammed, I might be able to understand that but they weren't so why the unpleasant barista shook her head when asked if they'd make the drinks, IDK.

we came because a friend recommended :3 our food was good and our servers were all super nice but i'm confused over the hype? there's consistently a line out the door and I don't get why BUT actually as I write this and the more time I spend in Salem I realize EVERYTHING has a line out the door so maybe makes sense ? anyway it's good nothing outstanding though respectfully

Really excellent food, creative adult beverages, adorable decor! Loved it all! Highly recommend breakfast or brunch here!

The Ugly Mug diner is a delightful spot for breakfast enthusiasts. The menu boasts a variety of hearty breakfast options that cater to all tastes, from classic pancakes and eggs to inventive specials that change regularly. The coffee is exceptional, freshly brewed and robust, making it a perfect complement to the meal. I normally have my iced coffee with milk, but the blend they had can be enjoyed without the dilution! I ordered the crab cake eggs Benedict and couldn't even finish the plate - it was really hearty, generously portioned and flavorful to perfection! The cozy, welcoming atmosphere, combined with friendly service, makes The Ugly Mug a must-visit for anyone seeking a great start to their trip in Salem Massachusetts. Highly recommend!

Went on a pretty busy day. Had to wait outside for not too long with a party of 5. Seating is pretty small so expect to squeeze if you are a larger group (wasn't a big deal for us but just an FYI). Service was outstanding, however, the food was not very good. Drinks came out right before the food (not the servers fault, she seemed like the only one working as she was serving and getting people from outside and no one else was out working for the majority of the time we were there it seemed). Prices are a little high based on the quality of food we got. But service from our server was fantastic.

Ate here twice. Waited in line both times and it was worth the wait. The crab cake eggs Benedict cannot be beat. Don't miss this spot if you visit Salem.

Great food, great service, great location. We stopped in for breakfast before a day of sightseeing. After a short wait (they grab your number and text you when your table is ready so you can browse neighboring shops while you wait), we were seated at a table in the back. Our server was very attentive and good with our kids. All the food was excellent. I ordered the chipotle brisket Eggs Benedict and it was magical - the seasoning on the meat made the dish really pop. The walls were decorated with huge crochet eggs and bacon, super unusual and very fun. My coffee was served in an ugly mug, as promised.

Food was good one of the best places in Salem went there twice and enjoyed both the service food and environment.

Loved the Eggs in a Basket! The staff were super friendly and helpful. It's not a big place. So, be prepared to wait during the Halloween season.

Arrived here for breakfast mid morning on a Saturday. Added to the waitlist and waited around 20 minutes. I did like that it was a virtual waitlist so we could explore some nearby shops while keeping an eye on our place in line. The restaurant itself is pretty small space- especially navigating around the tables and chairs to reach the restroom in the back. Our waitress Emma(?) was super nice and checked on us regularly. My mom ordered the blueberry pancake meal and I ordered the French toast meal. Both were delicious. I would definitely return next time I am in town to visit.

Stopped by here with my Brother on a quick trip to Salem while I was visiting the East Coast. The Ugly Mug is right in the heart of downtown Salem. Walking in, it really is your typical New England Style Diner. The interior was nice and quaint, but the decor was a little more Salem oriented (spooky/ghost/witch etc.). Also, living up to its name there were plenty of "ugly" mugs on the table. They were actually really cute and funny - there was a mug on one table that looked like a toilet that was used to hold coffee creamer. For food, my brother and I each got a drip coffee (which came in a signature Ugly Mug), my brother got the Scary Uncle Sully Omelette, and I got the Cowboy Breakfast which came with a biscuit, eggs, pulled pork, and home fries. The food was perfect - typical no-frills, diner-style food that tasted great. My meal was excellent - the potatoes were crispy and tasty, the pulled pork was seasoned perfectly and the biscuit was fluffy and rich. Also, to make the meal more fun, the butter that came along with my meal was green (for the holidays of course). Lastly, the staff here were friendly, made nice conversations, and provided great service. Overall, my brother and I enjoyed our meal here a lot and I'd recommend anyone that visits Salem to pop in for some breakfast or lunch. I'm looking forward to visiting again the next time I find myself out here.

The wait is long, once in and sat down they are fast. Food is great, a must when visiting Salem. Everything is on point, tried the jalapeño, cheese omelet and it was great ! Potatoes are good. Coffee was so good and fresh ! We tried the small donuts and they were good. Texture, flavorful breakfast place and really friendly!!!

Must hit stop for breakfast in Salem. Large Breakfast & drink menu. Parking: There are public parking lots and metered parking as well. Quality of Food: I ordered the Lox Sandwich with a Bagel (extra $2 for bagel) and my boyfriend ordered the Classic Eggs Benedict. Both entrees came with a side of mixed potatoes. The egg was perfectly cooked and the potatoes were seasoned to amazing too. The lox sandwich was missing something but I'm not sure what it was. I think when I added the hot sauce it made it a little better. I think it was missing some type of seasoning. Quality of Service: The waitress wasn't really friendly and didn't come to check on us at all. I ask to had multiple times for water and for hot sauces. Wait time: We were looking for a table of two and the wait was about 15 minutes. I would recommend you go early if you have a large party due to it being a small restaurant.

Food was delicious and came out fast for how steady they were. Nice spot to grab breakfast. Nothing too fancy and I'm okay with that.

The decor of this place is amazing! Definitely the best part. The service was really good and our waitress was really nice. My favorite part about the food was definitely the names! Most of them had a really cool name that just sounded really interesting before even reading the description. The berry soda was amazing and the regular waffle with whip cream was delicious.

If you're looking for a traditional American breakfast in Salem, I highly recommend the spot. The staff were so accommodating to us having all our luggage and were able to help us take our things to a safe location. The restrooms were extremely clean and super cute with a lot of art just a very cozy restaurant the staff are friendly and attentive to our needs, I recommend waffles and pancakes. Everything else is just regular shmegular eggs and sausage but very delicious.

This was my first time here and I definitely will be coming back and I highly recommend this place to any visitors that come to the downtown Salem area

The food is adequate (if there was nowhere else to eat on earth) and excessively overpriced. The service is horrible. Waitresses were rude, nasty and argumentative. Ambiance was like a freak show circus. Would rate the place as a negative 5 stars if yelp allowed. Worst restaurant ever.

What a great place. Definitely a line, and I appreciate the hostess going through the line to see if anyone was alone... as I was. So I skipped the line, sat at the bar, next to a super friendly local who wanted to answer any questions for me about Salem. I loved the whole experience. The ambiance, the amazingly perfect eggs on my Benedicts, the super friendly people... couldn't have asked for a better start to a completely rainy day in Salem. :) Highly recommend this place. Good luck deciding on the menu because you will want at least 4 things.

Just took a trip to Salem and this spot was one of our favs. Very quaint dinette with super cute decor. The wait was 40 minutes. During an October visit we didn't think it was too bad and shopped around while we waited. Everything we ordered was perfection! My daughter got eggs with home fries and a side of bacon and they offered her biscuits instead of toast. Delish!!!! Def try the biscuits. I got their special Benedict of the day with sweet potato home fries and that was so filling. I couldn't finish it all. My other daughter got the pancakes with a side of ham and they were great! Would definitely recommend if you're in the area. Service was just okay. I understand they were busy but our server, Olivia, never even came back to check on us or refill our waters. Then she just abruptly dropped the check without even seeing if we wanted anything else. I would give a 4-4.5 but was really happy with our food so 5 it is!

"I had forgotten all about you" Were the words one of the waiters said when we were waiting for 48 minutes for them to call us and sit us. We went in and asked if we missed the call when the waiter said "oh, I had forgotten all about you" and cleaned up a table for us to sit. The whole time we were looking at the menus the staff was awkwardly cleaning up shop, we weren't called in until about 1:30 (the place closes at 2pm) food was served and when the chicken and waffles came out, a waiter then comes back quickly and says "I'm going to take this back, they didn't inspect it well" and took the plate back to the kitchen. Shortly after came back and served the plate. The ambience is cool, the food looks good, however it isn't anything to rave about. The service was pretty crappy from that one specific waiter, the employee were in a hurry to leave. getting in while the employees are awkwardly cleaning up and getting certain faces because we were the last customers there was awkward.

So the hype is just that hype! Seating was crowded, I expected that - didn't expect to wait 15 plus minutes for waitress to approach or another 40 mins for food. And when it finally showed the eggs in the center of the omelet were uncooked, more than just runny this was raw! Party of four one bad breakfast. But the waitress giving us a hard time about returning at first was not needed - had to wait another 10 mins for a remake, the rest were nearly done. Coffee so hot it curdled the milk and the coffee was definitely watered down. Buy a mug at a thrift store and make your own.

I actually walked out of this place and didn't eat here because the hostess was so nasty and unfriendly! She was so rude, didn't smile and was not at all nice. AND this was Mother's Day, and I was with my mother (83 years old) and my special needs daughter. Yeah- we left and went over to Rockafeller's and had a lovely brunch!

The worse service ever. The sign in girl was rude and was overwhelmed with her job. They were super busy but that is no excuse. Food took forever eggs over cooked bacon cold Don't go