Monday, September 20 marks the soft opening of the much anticipated Great Escape Restaurant in what was formerly the Salem Jail at 50 Saint Peter Street. This is the first real opportunity for curious locals to stop by and take a peak and sample their fare.
This past week was the official grand opening and ribbon cutting at Adriatic Restaurant & Bar at 155 Washington 
St. Adriatic has emerged in the location which was previously Edgewater Restaurant. Patrons of Edgewater will not recognize the refurbished interior with stone walls and a granite and wood bar. It has had a lovely makeover. A polished wait staff greats you in crisp white shirts. They describe themselves as “a casual dining restaurant featuring the cuisine of the regions surrounding the Adriatic Sea. Fresh fish and seasonal vegetables together with pizza baked in a wood burning brick oven create the main menu. In addition to that a nice Cocktail List, a Great Wine program and well informed staff assist guests enjoying lunch or dinner with their family and friends.”
This week Howling Wolf Taqueria will also hold its ribbon cutting Sept. 23 at 1:00 at on New Derby St. Their grand opening follows on September 24 from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. They describe themselves as “an authentic Mexican and Southwestern taqueria serving New Mexican inspired cuisine on the corner of Derby Street and Lafayette Street, across Derby Street from the Salem Fire
Department. The freshness, flavor and value of the food are our restaurant’s highest priorities. The Burritos are HERE! So are the tacos and other delicious, affordable New Mexican food and drink! For the thirsty wolves… the Wolf’s bar specializes in Spanish, Central and South American white and red wines, sangrias, and Mexican and local beers.”
Check back as in the next couple of weeks we hope to highlight the opening of Comida and Cafe Polonia also downtown Salem.
SALEM’S PAST (History Press, ISBN 9781609490171, $19.99, September 2010). An influential maritime port during the colonial and federal periods and the long-ago home of noted author Nathaniel Hawthorne, this quaint New England city is widely popular today for its unique contribution to witch history and culture. Salem has many stories—famous architect Samuel McIntire’s reshaping of the city, T.S. Eliot’s deep roots in the community and, of course, séances and mystic healers from the psychic past. In this collection of intriguing tales based on her column, “Naumkeag Notations,” featured in the Salem Gazette, historian Maggi Smith-Dalton offers a melodic journey through the many cobbled avenues of Salem’s history.
