“There are no strangers here, only friends you haven’t yet met.”
This quote by William Butler Yeats is displayed above the bar inside the Olde Main Street Pub, right in the middle of downtown Salem. The Olde Main Street Pub brings Irish charm, great food and amazing seasonal outdoor dining to the witch city.
The Irish charm and history begins with the Pub’s extensive window displays. Don’t let the bright red exterior of the building distract you! The windows were each thought out carefully and decorated with individual themes.
The first window is dedicated to traditional Irish music which features a concertina (squeeze box), a fiddle, a bodhran drum and a banjo. Taking center stage in this window is Limerick’s own music legend Sammy Benson Sr., the founder and band leader of the award winning Sammy Benson Marching Band, a youth band that delighted audiences for over 40 years.
Following music is tea, which is a tradition deeply ingrained in Irish culture.
The next window is dedicated to beer and spirits. Guinness, often referred to as the official drink of Ireland, is a traditional Irish stout beer.
Also central to Irish history is Irish needlework. Irish linen, lace and wool were, for many years, Ireland’s biggest industries. Limerick lace became well known from the 1830’s onward after the establishment of Ireland’s first lace making factory in Limerick City.
The next window acknowledges the plight of the Irish immigrants coming to America during the 1800’s. Featured items in this window include a letter of reference from a former Irish employer, 1902 citizenship papers for Irish immigrant Patrick Kelly, Irish passports and various tools of Irish servants such as a butter churn.
The final bit of Irish history in the windows of the Olde Main Street Pub is literature. Here you will find a first edition copy of the book “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, written by popular playwright and poet, Oscar Wilde.
All of this amazing history comes before you have even entered the Olde Main Street Pub. Once you step inside the door you’re greeted by friendly and welcoming staff, decor that is on theme with an Irish pub, traditional Irish food and more. The Pub is split into two sections with a bar in between. The inside is cozy and rustic, featuring a warm atmosphere and welcoming ambiance. It is an excellent mix of classic pub vibes, Irish history and contemporary dining.
The main entrance leads into a room with dark wood tables, high tops and more history on the walls. The other side of the restaurant offers a long row of tables and bench seating along the perimeter which all have a great view of the historic Hawthorne Hotel. If you are planning a fall visit to Salem, these seats would offer great views of everyone walking about in their costumes.
The menu at the Olde Main Street Pub features classics such as burgers and fish and chips as well as traditional Irish fare including Guinness mushroom stew, bangers and mashed and shepherd’s pie. The Pub also boasts an impressive selection of scotch and whiskey.
The Olde Main Street Pub is a little slice of the emerald isle in the witch city and is a must do for classic food and atmosphere. The historic charm of the Pub is complemented by the historic charm of Salem which makes it a great spot for both a relaxed meal or a social gathering.
