Nat’s

My wife and I had our wedding reception at the Hawthorne Hotel 28 years ago and come back occasionally on our anniversary. Tonight I am glad we came back to the Hawthorne and had a wonderful dinner at Nathaniels. The service and meals were great. The beautiful dining room with fresh flowers and candel in each table was very nice. The piano player is so great. He seems to know every song and is happy to play requests. This is an experience like you might expect in Manhattan.

recently had dinner here, as we had a gift certificate. i have to say, it was solidly underwhelming, even for a hotel restaurant. even with the gift cert, it felt like we paid way too much for mediocre food. the staff was lovely, and the setting is nice. but they were out of a surprising number of items, given how small their menu is. my husband’s fries were far too salty. the «bearnaise» sauce, while tasty, was chalk white — which is odd for a sauce that should be made with egg yolks and butter. the menu claims to offer cappuccino, but the server said that they don’t have the machine to make that. and the «mousse» i got for dessert was fine, if you wanted cheesecake.
outside of the fries, all of the food was serviceable, but i’ve had far better food for much less money.

We hadn’t been to Nathaniel’s for dinner for a few years although we have been to the Hawthorne for several functions. The dining room has been recently re-​done and is beautiful. Very elegant. The new menu was also wonderful. We shared a cheese selection for an appetizer. Very nice. For dinner, we both had the short ribs. Sooo good. The crème brûlée for dessert. Yum.
The piano player was also a nice classy touch.
We will definitely go back!

Excellent food and reasonably priced wine menu. The dishes were conventional but with just the right amount of creativity and tasty. With good portions, did not have room to eat desert.
We live in Salem and go to the Tavern all the time, but had a friend’s birthday party and wanted fine dining for dinner. All three of us had excellent appetizers and main courses.
Our waitress, Judy, did an excellent job. We will definitely return.

Went for Jazz Brunch, here are the thoughts
The good:
Coffee was delicious. As were the smoked salmon salad and bloody mary. Jazz band was also really good and gave the room a great ambiance.
The OK:
Meal was tasty, but there was more space on my plate for the roasted potatoes than the corned beef hash, which I found odd since the hash also has potatoes in them.
Service was friendly but overworked. They did do the right thing and give us a discount for our wait.
The Bad:
Reservation was for 1PM but we didn’t get seated until 1:15, even when we arrived a little early. The check came out before my dessert, which would have been fine if we asked for it. But we didn’t. Also, the dessert was terrible. I love Churros. They are really hard to screw up. Yet they did. The churros were cold and hard, which is the opposite of how they should be.
The Weird:
There was an old man in jorts who would randomly wander into the dining room. He had a goofy look on his face like he was already drunk. Didn’t seem to bother anyone but he was a little out of place. He really seemed to like the band.

Food was great! Highly recommend the vegetable fritata. Definitely make reservations for breakfast or they will not seat you. The service was above average but not spectacular. They were setting up brunch service as we were finishing breakfast & it was very loud & disruptive.

Came here for a visit from Boston and found this little treasure. They have a live jazz band playing and serve a 3 course prix fixe meal. I started with the smoked salmon salad, my wife had the mandarin orange raspberry vinagrette salad, and her brother had the fresh fruit plate.
For our second course the tenderloin medallions were delicious and cooked perfectly and my wife enjoyed the corned beef hash and her brother had the eggs benedict. Both were very tasty. The hash was crispy as we had ordered it that way and the benedict was classic and delicious.
For our third course we all shared the churro, coconut ice cream truffle, and the warm apple blossom. Excellent desserts. The coconut ice cream truffle was essentially a scoop of coconut ice cream with a hard chocolate shell all around it. The apple blossom was like a little apple cobbler with whipped cream, and the churro is essentially a churro stick with whipped cream. I never would have guessed such a small town had such good eats. The place is small and tends to fill up quickly, so if you are serious about coming out here, make a reservation and have no worries.

Great fresh food and service! I went just so I could say that I had been inside the building (for paranormal reasons) but actually enjoyed being the dining area and the waitress was very talkative. There was even a elderly man playing the piano. Not overly expensive either!

Excellent Meal and fantastic Service! We enjoyed everything we ordered, and left feeling stuffed! Would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a classy, quiet evening, in a historical area!

The Legendary Nathaniel’s Sunday Jazz Brunch does not disappoint. Ever. I moved to Salem 14 years ago, and this was one of my first fabulous dining experiences. Nothing has changed; it’s still a brunch by which all others can be measured. The dining scene in Salem has evolved quite a bit in 14 years, but some things can and should be left alone. The dining room is elegant and I’ve always loved browsing the memorabilia on the walls that tells some of the delightful history of the Hawthorne Hotel. Today we had the Caesar salad, the seafood Benedict, and a couple of different desserts. The seafood Benedict especially was to die for. The coffee cake starter was very nice, just the right thing when you’re sitting down to peruse the menu. The staff was very attentive and also very young. There were a couple of very minor glitches that only two old farts like my husband and me would have even noticed. Ah, the young! Otherwise they were very sweet, friendly and prompt. Quick to refill the coffee, I might say. The jazz was lovely and unobtrusive; the volume was quite perfect. They had a piano player and a bass player and I was having a true Broadway Geek moment. They were playing selections from My Fair Lady – heavenly! A good crowd surrounded us on a cold winter morning, and we could also see the parade of party-​goers as they proceeded to set up some kind of amusing affair in the private room. Make a reservation for Sunday brunch; you will probably need one. All in all, a brunch experience.

We had brunch: Seafood Eggs Benedict (great!) and Harvest Frittata (good). The free coffee-​cake is very good!

Stayed at Hawthorne so was in the restaurant for breakfast. not dinner. The breakfast was good. the service was slow. Very slow. I hate waiting for my coffee.

The corned beef hash is the best I’ve ever had. The eggs florentine is excellent too. The bartender had a great personality, and she made a fantastic spicy grey goose Bloody Mary. This is my favorite place to go for breakfast on the north shore. I also prefer sitting in the tavern. It’s very relaxing. Can’t wait to go back!

I came for Sunday brunch as advertised until 2 pm. I arrived at 1 o’clock and after standing at the desk waiting to be seated for a few minutes and being ignored by the wait staff, I was informed that they stopped seating. Not sure why they advertise brunch until 2 if they really mean 1. I very put off by the bad customer service and extremely rude way I was treated. There were several tables open, and several tables full of people who hadn’t been served yet. I would not recommend going to a place that doesn’t value business and makes a customer feel disrespected.

I was at Nathaniel’s earlier this week for dinner with a friend. It was Restaurant Week in Salem and Nathaniel’s is one of the best places to go to because they allow you to select from the whole menu.
The chef sent over an amuse bouche upon arrival which was a lovely surprise. While simple, it was a wonderful start as it was a slice of tomato and a slice of mozzarella topped some fresh basil. We began our dinner with an appetizer. My friend had the scallops and I had the risotto and both were phenomenal. Bread was also brought and I have a very strict rule with bread — if it isn’t warm it isn’t worth eating. This bread basket was warm and filled with great artisanal breads. Infused olive oil was served instead of butter which is always a good thing.
My friend and I both had the short ribs for dinner along with garlic mashed potatoes. While the plates are called demi portions, they are more than enough food. The short rib was cooked perfectly — no knife needed. The meat simply tears apart with the fork and is so flavorful. The potatoes had just a hint of garlic and were perfect with the meat and sauce.
For dessert it was chocolate roulade and this was simply decadent. We each paired it with a glass of Cava and it made the meal absolutely perfect.
Our waitress was lovely. She was friendly and attentive and yet at the same time provided my friend and I enough time to chat. We never felt like the waitress was hovering or trying to move us along. Nathaniel’s is fine dining and the setting is rich with color and designed in a style that reflects the history of Salem. This is not a meal to be rushed. Having the opportunity to sit and relax and enjoy good food, good drink and good conversation is wonderful.
I have long been a fan of the Hawthorne Hotel. I have also dined in the Tavern and it is equally as good and yet a bit less formal. I have always found it a great place to sit at the bar, have a drink and chat with whoever is there — often a mix of locals and visitors.
While never having stayed at the hotel I have attended several of their special events and the service at the hotel is of the highest quality. Staff is helpful and accommodating and making sure their guests enjoy their time at the hotel is their highest priority. I often judge service based on the «Disney experience» and I can safely say that the Hawthorne Hotel and specifically Nathaniel’s meets my expectations of exceptional service and quality.

The atmosphere here is terrible. No staff remains in the room while you are eating. They pop in to deliver your food and thats about it. This restaurant does not feel welcoming, and is quite odd. I prefer not to be left to fend for myself with the rest of the guests. The service we had was not great. Does anyone have a personality here?! Our water was never refilled, we were never asked if we wanted another beverage, and she rarely came to the table, and when she did come to our table she had absolutely nothing to say. The décor is boring, and doesn’t feel historic or even very nice. It reminded me of a nursing or assisted living home. They do have a piano in the dining room which is probably great when someone is playing it. The guests (the only other couple that was eating there on a Thursday night at 6pm), were very old and very snooty. I heard them making rude remarks about hotel guests. Your in Salem buddy, eating in a hotel that goes for well under $ 200 a night, eating at a shitty restaurant… go home, change your Depends, and realize you are not better than anyone else. (Although I feel mean for those comments, they could not have been any more ignorant)
OK, I feel better now! Onto the food! The food could have been worse. My haddock was dry, flavorless and had a very fishy smell to it (I ended up getting sick that night, but can’t confirm this is what caused it). Their steak looked tasty and prepared well. The sides were bland, and appeared frozen or from boxed mixes. The real highlight of their offerings is the breakfast. The breakfast is very good, and even though we ordered room service from Nathaniel’s, I still think it is worth mentioning. Their orange juice is fresh squeezed and was amazing. Everything was cooked to perfection and completely delicious. I don’t have one bad thing to say about their breakfast. Some may prefer a larger menu, but they offer all of the breakfast basics, so there is something for everyone.
Nathaniel’s will be added to my restaurant blacklist. BUH BYE!
**Update** Juli from Nathaniel’s had contacted me through email about a week ago, and had asked me to contact her regarding my dining experience. I was unable to call her last week due to the fact that I was on spring break. This week she is slamming my review and questioning my Unilocal credibility. Her terrible attitude is a prime example of the environment at Nathaniel’s. I also never spoke negatively about anyone’s medical diagnosis of «dementia», nor should this guest be excused for saying cruel/​hurtful things about guest, loudly, in a public restaurant which made for an embarrassing and unenjoyable experience for anyone that had to listen. Listen Juli, I do not intend on coming back to Nathaniel’s, and no matter how many free meals you offer me, I do not intend on changing my review. This is a true experience and a genuine testament to what others may encounter, and as a proud « Unilocaler», I refuse to let you bully me or anyone else that wants to read my review and use the information to make a decision about their next dining experience.

I won a certificate for brunch for 2 at Nathaniel’s for their Sunday Jazz brunch through a holiday raffle that benefited Rosie’s Place.
My husband & I stopped by for the jazz brunch on Sunday and enjoyed it!
I recommend making a reservation. We didn’t think of that and the only table for 2 that was available was directly in front of the musicians. If my husband shifted in his chair, he probably would have knocked over the guitarist.
The wait staff was attentive, and the 3 course brunch menu had lots of tasty options.
I’d definitely recommend the jazz brunch to a tourist visiting Salem, because it’s a fun experience.
The meal is pricey for brunch ($ 18.95 per person) but it’s worth it.

Now this is a Classy McNasty type of establishment! Don’t bring your embarrassing uncle that starts cuss and burp when he drinks too much, or your sister’s bratty twins that throw a fit when then can’t get a cheese sandwich and greasy tater tots. No, just leave them at home. Overall, GREAT experience at Nathaniel’s!
I spent a few days in Salem for a work trip a couple weeks ago. One night, our boss made reservations for a group dinner at Nathaniel’s. There were 16 of us. It was a little unfortunate that they had to split us up into 3 separate tables, but it worked out in the end.
First off, service was top notch! Very attentive, friendly, not all stuffy and hoity toity. For a large® group, at no point did we feel like we were waiting too long for anything or like we were being neglected. Nice job training your staff, Nathaniel’s!
The food was delish! Everyone started off with an individually plated little crostini appetizer, compliments of the chef. And compliments TO the chef because that little toasted piece of bread with edamame hummus was tasty! Our table then shared the goat cheese/​prosciutto dates, heirloom tomato medley, and the watermelon sundae (this was SUPER good — savory and refreshing at he same time). All the appetizers were very good.
For my dinner entrée, I had the Pan-​Roasted Mahi Mahi with a Mint Emulsion. I was really hesitant about the mint part. I was afraid it was going to taste like toothpaste or Listerine! To my surprise, it was light and gave a nice subtle but good flavor to the sauce and fish. I ordered the demi-​portion which seemed like a pretty big amount to me, and I was stuffed afterwards. All my other coworkers really liked their meals as well… so much that we were all too stuffed for any dessert. Side note: Not that I usually eat a gluten-​free diet, but I can appreciate that their menu had so many gluten-​free items.
The town of Salem is kinda sleepy if you ask me, so most places are closed by 8 during the week… Nathaniel’s closed at 9pm. I would say that’s the only draw-​back. We were there just past 10 and at no point did the rush us or feel like we were being kicked out. But for a larger party that likely will take a few hours for everyone to eat, the hours may not coincide unless you arrive early for dinner.
I would highly recommend dining here for a nice dinner when in Salem. I doubt realistically I’ll ever be back in the city to enjoy it again, but if I am I’d surely make a pit stop!

This was my second time going to the jazz brunch at the Hawthorne. The atmosphere with the live music is nice. It’s a little formal for my taste but not too stuffy.
The Good:
Warm cranberry loaf that is complimentary with breakfast was warm and delicious.
Coffee — their regular coffee is just right. Not too light and not too dark (for those that don’t enjoy strong coffee).
Bloody Mary’s — just right.
The Not-​So-​Great:
Frittata was just ok. They put a lot of goat cheese on top, and I love goat cheese, but it was a little much. Also the potatoes served as a sad weren’t anything special.
Other dishes also seemed overly fussy — pasta has so many ingredients/​herbs/​etc, the waffles have fruit/​syrup/​compotes — so sweet! The food would be better if it was simply prepared and not over dressed.
Service was good. This is a great place to go for a birthday. They bring out a cake with a candle and the jazz group plays Happy Birthday. It’s fun and it’s not as obnoxious as singing waiters. I recommend just ordering a la carte — 3 courses seems crazy to me for brunch (but what do I know?)…

I was in town, spending time with an old friend and we were in the mood for some fabulous brunch. Asked around some locals, and we were directed to the lovely Hawthorne hotel!
Classic old school New England charm. Sunday brunch buffet, complete with a jazz ensemble in the corner! We were immediately seated (best seats in the house — right by the plentiful buffet!), and coffees and waters were immediately poured. We did a quick once over of the buffet to get a general idea of what to get, and were pleasantly surprised by the selection and variety being served!
To preface — I am a complete brunch snob. I used to work at a Sunday brunch establishment back in my food service days, and I know the ins and outs of the buffet table (word of advice — never fill up on carbs! Always go for the good stuff first!).
I was COMPLETELY impressed by the freshness of the food (which is hard to do at a buffet!), as well as the quality of everything being served!
Some highlights: Eggs Benedict — mmmmmmmmm. I didn’t expect much from this, but the eggs were perfectly poached. The yolk oozed out the minute I cut into it, and the English muffin was perfectly toasted! Yum yum yum. Waffle iron being utilized every 2 minutes by the buffet attendant — providing fresh off the griddle waffles with warm maple syrup. Oh WOW. Prime rib, cooked perfectly and finished with a creamy horseradish sauce. Omelets made to order. Warm banana chocolate bread pudding with fresh whipped cream. MMMM!
One of the best brunches I’ve ever had in a while. Their coffee was also delicious! Please go — it is a bit spendy ($ 28 per person for Sunday brunch) but in my eyes (and belly!), so totally worth it!