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Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse Cafe
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants American (Traditional) Bars, American (Traditional) [Edit]
392 Cabot StBeverly, MA 01915
(978) 922-6868
- Nearest Transit:
-
Cabot St Opp Colon St (451)
Cabot St @ Rantoul St (451)
Rantoul St @ Cabot St (451)
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
91 reviews for Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Full page martini list if your into that." In 13 reviews -
"The Girl Scout Cookie and Cake Batter martini are amazing." In 7 reviews -
"oh and the cheese fondue is ridiculously good as well." In 6 reviews
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91 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah F.
Minneapolis, MN
2/21/2012
Just returned from a fun and relaxing girls night out.
Atmosphere: very comfortable and homey - fireplace, couches, love seats, candlelight. Sometimes the music selection was a little odd and it was hard to read the menus because it was a little too dark.
Beverages: great martini list, my friend tried the Hollywood martini.
Food: to sum it up, we all cleaned our plates. I had the Caesar salad and Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli. Both were great, the ravioli was a little sweeter than expected, even with the apples and crumbled blue cheese. My friends had a Garden Salad topped with the Crab Cake and the Wood Grilled Chicken Sandwich.
Nice neighborhood restaurant, spacious bar area if looking for something more casual. FYI: live music on Mondays. -
Review from Anony M.
Marblehead, MA
5/20/2012
Wild Horse gets and A+ for atmosphere ... as cozy as it gets, couches, love seats, fireplace, candlelight ... it's perfect.
The food is typically delicious, (although if you're in the mood for a burger, there are much better on the North Shore; City Grill, 15 Walnut, Scratch Kitchen). They have fantastic menu, great bar menu, excellent martini list.... overall it should be a five star...
But ... the staff, including the manager, are far from accommodating. For years I find myself frustrated with the attitude of most staff there, there is no warm, no fuzzy, and lacks professionalism. You shouldn't feel like they are doing you a favor by waiting on you. Last week I think I just went there for a last time.
The staff, including the manager, should go to Blue Ox in Lynn and 62 on the Wharf in Salem and pay attention - see how service is done right.
If you're in Beverly and looking for a wonderful place to dine, head to Soma...Comment from Milissa O. of Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse Cafe 5/23/2012
Thank you for your review of our restaurant. I appreciate… More » -
Review from Dan F.
Newburyport, MA
1/10/2012
I am writing this review from past experiences, and it has been a while, but given the other reviews I don't think they've lost menu innovation or motivation as the years have gone by. Most of the times I have visited the Wild Horse Cafe I have ordered the duck offering (if there was one on on the menu at the time) and I have had pork and beef there as well. Brendan Crockers cooking style, sides and sauces compliment the meats very well and I have always been satisfied if not blown away. One of my favorite meals of all time was eaten at this very restaurant, it was a plum duck dish that was rich and tasty, soft and crispy, without being gamey or overly oily.
I plan on writing a more comprehensive review after my next visit which I hope to make in the near future. I give this restaurant four out of five stars because of it's strange location for such a nice place and I have not been in so long I feel wrong handing out a five until I let the food blow me away once more.
I also wanted to comment about something pointed out about the service in a previous review. I am a fan of micro brews or small breweries and uncommon beer styles, but many people are not. Including waitstaff, and often even bartenders. I also happen to be a bartender during the summer and know that not all of my coworkers drink beer at all, even though they pour them all day. It is important for the staff of a restaurant to familiarize themselves with products, but because we aren't allowed to drink on the job, the management of the restaurant should set up tastings when bringing in new stock. Waiters should offer tastings, but it is unfair to expect a waiter to do something and then not ask them to perform it. If I were a customer and expected the waiter to offer a taste, I would ask for a taste. Ommegang is also not super well-known to most people, and Belgian beer styles (as Ommegang is actually from NY) are strong and unappealing to people who don't often drink beer (my wife). So for anyone reading this, just ask the waiter or bartender for a taste if they don't know how to describe the beer. It's too bad if they don't but they shouldn't refuse you a taste. If they refuse, then complain. -
Review from Joe B.
Salem, MA
5/23/2012
One of my favorite places to eat on the North Shore. menu changes often and the specials are always a surprise. Really good vibe coming form the waitstaff and I always leave there with the sense that the chairs were really comfortable. Easy parking across the street from the place.
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Review from Sarah M.
Beverly, MA
3/10/2012
Great atmosphere, pleasant and professional service. Food? Meh. Drinks are yummy. Some items on their menu are excellent but it's kind of a crap shoot which for the price is a bummer. I had a wild mushroom soup once that was delicious upon first spoonful but became saltier and saltier until I couldn't eat it anymore. The pub menu is better because it is cheaper so I can justify the fact that the food isn't the greatest. I will go back though which is more than I can say for their sister restaurant The Old Spot (Salem).
UPDATE: Had an absolutely top notch, deelicious meal with excellent service. Have to add a star otherwise I'll feel guilty -
Review from Simone S.
Danvers, MA
5/2/2012
Amazing food. Amazing martinis (fave is girlscout cookie). Amazing atmosphere. Enough said.
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Review from Gregory P.
Danvers, MA
1/10/2012
The best restaurant on the North Shore of Boston in my opinion. Martini list is the best I've ever seen (anywhere) and food is excellent to boot! I usually get the tenderloin tips, but I've tried many of the other things as well (duck, lamb, etc.). I really, really like this place all-around. It's also one of the best places for a date in the area.
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Review from L. G.
Boston, MA
1/31/2012
I've never been to the actual restaurant, but I frequent the bar side and it is fantastic! It's a great low-key bar to relax with a few drinks and some apps. They have an exceptional martini list and the BEST nachos I've ever had. What else do you need, really? Well the bartenders really bring it over the top. They are super friendly and knowledgeable. Always have a great time here!
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Review from Bob C.
Gloucester, MA
1/14/2012
I have eaten here many time and have never been disappointed. The beer list is phenomenal and the fried banana dessert awesome.
At various times I've had the chicken, duck, pork... It's all good.
The pub menu is now available in the dining room. This is a good thing -- we can now afford to eat there more often as opposed to just special occasions. -
Review from Amber L.
5/16/2011
The food was fantastic! The service was average with some bumps along the way.
My bf and I split the crunchy oysters and they were pretty good. I wish they were less spongy but the sauce was tasty.
For dinners we got the pulled pork and the duck two ways with root vegetables. Both of them were VERY tasty but my dish had a bit too much oil on it...1/8" covering the entire plate. Not attractive. My dessert was the wood grilled banana. It was interesting but didn't knock my socks off. I think I was expecting too much of a banana and wood.
My main issue is this, and to some this may seem small but as a person of spirts and beer, it's a big one. There was an Ommegang beer that neither my bf nor I had heard of and when we asked what style it was, we were just told a "dark" beer....with high abv%. When we pressed more, she went to ask the bartender and came back saying pretty much the same thing. We named several Belgian styles and she said, "No...but like those." And all the styles are completely different. In events like this, where you may have an awesome beer list but know NOTHING about beer, I'd offer the diner a taste. I've been to restaurants where they know their stuff re: beers and they still offer tastes even if they can describe it really well to you. -
Review from Guy M.
Boston, MA
5/14/2011
This is a very nice spot outside of the hub of restaurants further down on Cabot St.
The bar, while busy on weekends, is a great place to have lite fare & quick access to drinks. The nachos and salads are perfect for a quick
bite and drinks if you don't want a full meal.
The dinner menu, while it seldom changes and may be a few bucks more than it should be, is delicious and everything is always served quickly, hot and with great presentation.
The wait staff here is very polite and always accommodating. -
Review from Kathy C.
South Hamilton, MA
2/18/2012
classy bar with great food and beer, yay! i'm a fan. this is a nice place for a date. not that i have one, haha.
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Review from Laura H.
Lynn, MA
12/2/2010
After staring at my computer screen for about fourty-five minutes I finally made a decision on where I wanted to eat and wild horse was the winner. The menu was appealing and it wasn't too far from my house. The husband wasn't sure what he was craving and the menu was broad enough where he could find something but not overwhelming (like the cheesecake factory). We sat in the bar at a booth in the back and I liked the ambiance of the place, dim lighting so it could be a little romantic but definitely comfortable and relaxed.
I was feeling frisky and ordered a martini, which I never drink by the way. It was called the Boston Tea Party and it was tea flavored vodka (I think) with some other alcohol I can't recall, but it was delish! I had two that night :)
We ordred their artichoke and roasted shallot dip, which he loved but I was not a fan of. The dip reminded me of old cheese (taste and look-wise), gag. We also ordered the squash ravioli which was mediocre, it was really squash-y so unless your a lover of this orange veggie, I'd steer clear from it. They even have it as an entree option which was crazy to me. The apples they had cooked in with the two ravioli apps did compliment the dish, and made its offensiveness go down a few pegs.
For dinner he ordered the twelve hour roasted pork shoulder, which we both loved. I've never had pork shoulder and it was so tender and borderline melting in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were yummy, but how you can mess up the beautiful starch that is potato is beyond me, haha.
I was craving a simple burger so that's exactly what I ordered and it was huge and hit the spot. I love the "sauce" they give, ketchup and mayo: mmmmm. I do this on my own when I eat burgers, mix up that yummy sauce and dip the burger, and here they did it for me!
By the time we were paying the bill the bar was packed, I definitely want to go back for a few drinks, they are pretty pricey in my opinion so I wouldn't go to get tipsy, or at least not without pre-gaming a bit. -
Review from Rose F.
Beverly, MA
1/1/2011
Serious martini menu. I've been coming here for a few years and think the Wild Horse is a one of the best for their martini menu. The Girl Scout Cookie and Cake Batter martini are amazing. They rim the glass with frozen chocolate. Awesome.
Went for drinks with a few friends and split the Nachos ($14) and a plate piled high with chips, fresh tomatoes, guac, sour cream. Also got the oyster special ($12) for 6 beautiful oysters. Artichoke and spinach dip with homemade pita chips and a mushroom medley over pollenta.
4 stars - great service, good value, delicious drinks and food. -
Review from Erik K.
Boston, MA
5/10/2011
Beverly is not known for its fine dinning. Well, that changes with the Wild Horse. I had heard about this cook. He and his restuarant lve up to the billing.
So what if it is squeezed right in the middle of the downtown ciaso. They have the best fried calamari you'll ever have! I had pork shoulder for my meal which fell apart because it was cooked to perfection. Nothing completes with it. The food was nothing short amazing.
Place has atmosphere and class. And is easliy a 5star restaurant. You will not find better in the Salem/Beverly area. I'd drive hours for the calamari. -
Review from Mike S.
Wild Horse Cafe on Route 1A in Beverly is a hidden gem buried in the corner of bustling downtown Beverly.
The entrees are a bit pricey and the service appears to be busy and rushed but normally with a smile. Your friendly, and occasionally not so friendly bartenders, have a wonderful selection of select European and local brews. The selection of beer ranges from Lindeman's Framboise to Sam Adams and Budweiser. They also boast an impressive selection of martinis. The list appears to be over 20 different selections from a traditional dirty martini to a girl scout cookie martini.
Beverly residents and patrons alike rave about the bar menu. The prices are a bit more reasonable to the student, bar hopper and one interested in catching the Sox at the bar and a few beverages. The 1/2 Rack of Ribs melt right of the bone and the Chicken Nachos are unparalleled.
The atmosphere at the Wild Horse Cafe is relaxed with contemporary jazz, blues, rock and the occasional live band during the evening hours. The weekends bring in the crowds and the bar area can be hard to find a place to relax on a Friday or Saturday evening
This swanky bar and restaurant are a prize to the North Shore and a must experience for anyone in the area.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Chris M.
Salem, MA
Updated - 1/27/2009 2 Check-ins Here
I had to knock off a star. While I still love this restaurant, my beloved ribs are not as good as they once were. I had to spit discreetly into my napkin a few times the last time I ate them while my boyfriend pretended not to notice or judge me. This is coming from a pansy that eats her ribs with a fork and is vigilant about looking for bad pieces. I can't imagine if I had just torn in with my teeth, I would probably still be in the ladies room rocking back and forth. This happened to me the second to last time I was here also and I was hoping it was a fluke. Also the marinade doesn't seem as tasty as it used to be and in place of the red cabbage slaw I like they served a regular cole slaw with mayo.
Positive notes, the burger is awesome. The Caesar salad is great and they throw in a few yummy gigantic green olives, which is heaven to an olive tramp like me. They still have a fantastically long martini list with a lot of yummy choices. Good amount of beers on tap and in bottles. Reasonably priced glasses of wine with generous pours. The staff is very personable. It gets pretty packed on the weekends so if you are dining at the bar tables your drink might run dry for a few minutes and you may wait a little while for the bill, but overall they are pretty good about it. I saw a truffled mac and cheese on the menu now which I am dying to go back and try. I am also dying to dive headfirst into their pork sandwich. Washed down by a dirty Sicilian martini. Yum.Listed in: Lets do the local thaaang, My liver kind of hurts..., Helping me bulk up for the…, I have to pee
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/29/2007
I love this restaurant. I also really love the bar. It is my go to place for cocktails near my home.… Read more »
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Review from Josh L.
Beverly, MA
2/15/2012
Ok. So I went here because people talked about the bar. That I can say lived up to the hype. The beer and drink selection was great. The bartenders really knew their stuff. As far as the food. I felt it was just sub-par. The price was on the higher side. I found it rather bland and not exciting. Maybe I was just so over excited about the bar... that I was hoping the food would live up to it was well. Ah well, we will go there for drinks after work.
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Review from George B.
Charlotte, NC
11/19/2008
Wild horses could keep me away...
Underwhelming! That is how I described my experience here at BCWHC. The staff was fine and the beer was great. Try the Hoegaarden if you get the chance. Tasty! The food was just OK. This was a disappointment. I mean common fellow yelpers I took your word on this one!
I had the Caesar Salad to start. The Greens were fine but the house dressing was forgettable and the croûtons were stale-no crunch whatsoever! I went with the house rib dinner and they were cooked fine but the sauce left no impression with me. I thought wow what bland tasting ribs - were is the baby rays bbq sauce!?
Plus I have a pet peeve most high end and wannabe high end places lump all the food together on the plate. I am a keep it separate low end type of guy. I want my ribs, coleslaw and taters separated not lumped in a pile up. I am just neurotic like that.
The place was cozy which is a buzz word for cramped. The bar keeps were fair. Actually they annoyed me a bit, if I am sitting at the bar my cup better runneth over. I wanted too long for the drink and was never asked how my food was. Dessert wasn't offered either. The final bill was also slow in arriving. BCWHCV was just ok. That is my story and I am sticking to it! -
Review from Erin W.
Beverly, MA
2/19/2009
For the first 2 and a half years that I lived in Beverly, I avoided this restaurant. I had heard some bad things about the place, but I couldn't really be sure who had told me and if it was true. I mean..I had heard some REALLY bad things....things that had nothing to do with food or service.
One night, my husband and I decided to eat in the bar. It was fantastic. They have a great beer list and a nice selection of pub food. I would definately go back there again. In fact, we've been to the pub one other time. The dining room is a whoel different experiece. They really want their dining room to be separate from the pub. That's not my kind of style, in fact, I like eating dinner in the bar area. With that said, I really loved the dining area. The seats are cozy with cushions and they decor is really cozy. Everything from my appetizer to my dessert were fantastic. My husband and I shared the cheese fondue and it could have served a party of 6! I got the salmon and they cooked it to perfection.
I would definately come back here for a special occasion. I reccomend a nice bottle of wine, the cheese fondu, and a seafood dish. YUM! -
Review from Jim S.
Lynnfield, MA
10/29/2006
Wow... I was pretty sure all the previous reviewers we're still intoxicated when they wrote their reviews, but... they were spot on.
Who thought you could find a place like this in the 'burbs? It's underwhelming from the outside, but once you open the door you're swept up in a great scene. We arrived 30 minutes early for a 7:30pm dinner reservation (Sat night) and walked into a bar scene right out of Boston. Cocktails and beer selection are amazing, bar food looked good and the crowd was laid back.
Dinner was great. Four of us split the cheese fondue for two and it was plenty for the group. We also split the panko scallops, which were very tasty. For dinner we went for the specials; a coffee encrusted sirloin was very large and cooked perfectly, the mahi-mahi and haddock were good too (there were about 50 olives with the haddock dish, which seemed like overkill). We finished with a chocolate cake with caramel, which was massive. No really, it was MASSIVE... too much for four people that just enjoyed a nice dinner out on the north shore.
Everyone wants to go back, if even just to have the nachos and a couple of beers on a weeknight. -
Review from Liz P.
Shirley, MA
6/26/2010
We were not impressed by The Wild Horse at all. I'll say right up front the service was fine. It was the food that was quite unremarkable for a place that tries to be upscale and trendy.
The Good. We went with my husband's parents and brother to celebrate a combined Father's Day/Birthday. The low-lit dining room had an open feel that was rather comfortable. I wasn't sold on the old-timey couch that I sat on while eating my meal, but it was different than the norm, so I'm cool with that. Between the five of us, we sampled an array of items on the menu. I have to say the calamari appetizer was probably the best thing I ate all night - served with cold sesame noodles, it had a nice thai flavor to it. Also, the fondue was quite enjoyable - the cheese had a mild flavor and the dippers (bread, apple, and ham) went well together. Aside from not knowing about the menu offerings (apparently they had just changed the menu the night before, and she typically worked at another location), our waitress was very bubbly and attentive. No faults there.
The Bad. Eh, everything else. I am not a picky eater by any means, and when I have difficulty selecting an entree (i.e. "settle on" something), then I know there's trouble. They had mostly standard items like a chicken, lamb, beef, fish, etc, but the sides they were paired with were less to be desired. My husband settled on the lamb, which in itself was good, but the all-barley "risotto" with apricots and raisins was too sweet and really did not compliment the lamb at all. I settled on the salmon, which was on the dry side, but in this case the side dish (mashed potato croquettes) was really good. My father-in-law tried the steak which came smothered in a tomato sauce that did not look appealing. All of the entrees came with the same vegetable medley of carrots and zucchini, which was kind of bland.
No reason to ever go back.Listed in: Never Again
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Review from Bryan O.
Salem, MA
1/28/2008
Skip the restaurant.
While I'm sure it's delicious, it more importantly isn't cheap.
But, have no fear!
You're still going to have a knock-out evening at Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse Cafe and it's gonna be a 110% wallet-safe experience.
Are you ready?
Here's what you do...
Walk into the bar and sit down at a table (if you can find one). When the bartender gets to you (and he will, he's just busy), order up an ice cold pint of Woodchuck cider. Ah...isn't that good? Now, once you've chugged that down and ordered another glass, it's time to put in your food order. "Would you like to see a menu?" the bartender will ask. "No, thank you," you will reply, "I'm going to have the meatloaf."
If you still have room left after all that, the chocolate cake will melt your face. Just an FYI for you dessert fiends out there. I know I'm one so I figured I'd divulge.
Do this and you will certainly be thanking me later. -
Review from Emily O.
Lynn, MA
8/3/2009
The service I experienced last night was disgraceful, particularly at an establishment that boasts an eclectic and somewhat elegant dining experience. My dining companions and I selected the Wild Horse to celebrate a dual family birthday because of the positive reviews we heard about the excellent food and drink. Those reviews were spot on because the food was delicious and the drinks were also tasty. It was the customer service and the attitude of the management that was a complete turn off.
One of my dining companions ordered "the quesadilla", she did not specify the kind of quesadilla because from reading the menu she thought it came with chicken AND vegetables. To her chagrin, it was merely chicken and cheese when it arrived. She discreetly asked the waiter why there were no vegetables and he told her it was a choice of chicken and cheese OR sauteed vegetables. Too bad the word "or" was in 8 point font on the menu and clearly difficult to read for anyone over the age of 18. Rather than just saying apologizing for the confusion, the waiter came back to say my companion would have to pay for the additional quesadilla according to the manager. We asked to talk to the manager who essentially mocked my companion and said she could get the menu for us to look at it. Obviously flawless customer service and guaranteed customer satisfaction is not a priority at the Wild Horse.
Her attitude was completely unprofessional and her thought process was severely lacking because the restaurant more or less lost upwards of $100 for splitting hairs about $5? worth of sauteed vegetables. The party of SEVEN of us would have stayed for more drinks, coffee, and dessert but instead we finished up and paid our bill because of that behavior.
In the end, the food was delicious, kudos to the chef, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done in the front of the house. -
Review from Kat H.
Beverly, MA
1/11/2007 1 Check-in Here
Since moving to Beverly, the Wild Horse Cafe is always my husband's and my choice for any occasion at all--birthdays? Of course! A night out with friends?...They have to get in on the Wild Horse scene as well! The Wild Horse bar menu is legendary for crave-able and genuinely high-end food; their ribs and hamburger (who knew a wood grill would make that dramatic of a difference?) are well worth their affordable prices, and the Caesar salads would fill two people easily. Get there early if you want to get a seat---their bar is rather on the small size and is packed to standing room only very quickly.
Their drink menu his quite extensive and eclectic; the beers they rotate on tap are always unique and you can often get a Corsendonk, DogFish Head Raison D'Etre, or Chimay. From a Mojito Martini to a Girl Scout Cookie, there hasn't been one that I haven't raved about the day after.
Their dining room menu is definitely pricey--entrees generally run around upwards of twenty dollars but believe you me that they are worth it. Swordfish, Fillet Mignon, Duck...every culinary creation that has come out of Brendon Crocker's kitchen has been worth every penny and more. The atmosphere is just right for an intimate dinner with a spouse or friends--the low lighting and antique couches and pillows add an atmospheric flair that cannot be matched. But, above all, leave room for their Hunka Hunka Chocolate Love, the most delectable chocolate cake in the world. THAT is what I think of when I think of the definitive chocolate confection and don't let it's 10$ price tag deter you...It's the perfect ending to a perfect meal that you're practically guaranteed to receive.Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Leif H.
Rochester, NY
11/4/2006
Wild Horse Cafe is one of those hidden gems you stumble on or get dragged to one evening by a friend. Their atmosphere is out of place for the town. However, that is what makes their business fit in so great and attract such a diverse yet fun crowd.
Don't expect a meat market, because the crowd is usually a mix of local business folk, down to earth college kids and friends looking for a great time to spend their evening.
The food is great, we have sampled so far a good selection of their main menu as well as their after hours bar menu. The menus offer a wide range of choices, which are primarily oriented towards a fusion of one or more normal cooking styles. The after hours menu is one of our favorites though. The potato nachos, made with home made kettle cooked potato chips is not to be missed, nor is the wonderful pulled pork sandwich of which both can easily feed two if not three people or more. The bar fair tends to be around $10, which for the presentation and quality of the food is more than reasonable. Watch out as entrees can run your tab up very quickly. However, they are fairly original, very tastey and portioned correctly. -
Review from Lauren F.
10/8/2008
I stopped by Wild Horse Cafe one weeknight around 9:30 to grab some dinner after class with my husband. Although the sign on the front door said the dining room was open until 11 pm, the hostess told us that they were serving their late night menu. That menu has appetizers and a few dinners, so we thought that would be OK.
The decor is very cozy, with dark wood tables and chairs. Some tables have couches or upholstered armchairs for seats. My husband and I were seated at a table with normal wooden chairs, but I noticed that the table was larger than a typical 4-person table.
I had the ribs and my husband had the meatloaf. We both enjoyed our meals, me a little more than my husband. The ribs were spicy and fell off the bone. The mashed potatoes were yummy as well.
The service was unfortunately slow considering the hour and how few people were in the restaurant. We had to wait at the hostess station to be greeted, and our server took a while to bring our drinks and the check. If it wasn't for that and the "late-night" menu at 9:30, I probably would have given another star, since the food was tasty. -
Review from Lyndsay B.
Columbus, OH
7/7/2006
Dining room eating is wonderful!
The chairs are comfy (or couches, depending on your table), and the ambience is really nice.
The food is quite good. We had the cheese fondue appetizer, and it was very impressive. It's always fun to do fondue! ;o) I had the duck for dinner, which was also quite good. They prepared the duck in three different ways.
The service was excellent! We had an attentive waitress and she was very accomodating and down-to-earth. She really gave us the attention we needed without hovering. -
Review from Barbara G.
Rockport, MA
10/14/2008
Bar is fun and that menu is fine.
Dining room - I always *want* to like it and end up disappointed.
Last time I went, as we were driving home, I asked my husband to talk me out of it, next time I suggested Wild Horse. -
Review from Linsey M.
Beverly, MA
10/18/2011
The food is unbelievable and the specials are always really good. The fried oysters are out of this world. I have dinner here occasionally but my friends and I stop into the bar all the time. The martini list is really creative and by far the best in town.. try the Girl Scout Martini.
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Review from Kathleen H.
Beverly, MA
7/13/2007 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place because it is comfortable, reliable, unpretentious, has a great martini list, and I've never had a bad meal there. Sure, some nights have been better than others - but I've been there a lot and I've never been disappointed.
It's a standby for my friends and I - the bar is cozy and non-singles oriented - you'll find everyone in there at one time or another from college students to middle agers and beyond.
You can be dressed up there and not feel weird, but you can also come in jeans and not feel out of place.
Just a great place to go and hang out - not too loud to have good conversations, either.
A sit down meal with drinks, apps, entree can be pretty pricey - but not out of range with the quality. The bar menu is reasonable and can get you out much cheaper (depending on how many martinis you fall prey too!)
My price rating is for the sit down dining room. -
Review from Kniel S.
Danvers, MA
12/21/2007
OK let me start by saying I am a beer geek. The bar at the Wild Horse has twenty or more beers on tap at any one time. I can only complain about two things about the beer service. First, if the keg has kicked, put a bag over the tap handle so nobody orders it. Second, half the beer should be local. I love the Belgians, the Victory, and Brooklyn stuff, but I also love to support local breweries. There are so many awesome local beers it is a shame not to give them more tap lines. Other than that, the bartender(s) were awesome, knowledgeable and attentive. The apps, like the nachos are huge and truly incredible.
The Martini bar is very popular as well but I can't comment on that. I don't know anyone that has anything bad to say about The Wild Horse. -
Review from Matthew S.
Danvers, MA
12/26/2007
Great Restaurant, Great Menu, Great Bar.
I really enjoy sitting in the Bar because I can decide if I would like to dine on the Bar Menu or the Dining Room menu.
Everything I have ever Ordered here has been great!!!
The Service is Fast and Friendly, The Restaurant is Clean, and the Drinks are Stiff!
The only set back I can see here would be the size of the bar, but one might see that as adding to its Charm.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Tom D.
Beverly, MA
12/21/2008
This review is for the bar area only. I have yet to experience the dining room.
Let's start with things I like about the bar:
1) Awesome martini list. The drinks here are creative and tasty.
2) The bar menu has some great items. I especially love the potato chip nachos!
3) Generally a comfortable atmosphere with good service.
Now, the reason for only 3 stars is that when we walked in the other night and tried to sit at two empty bar stools, we were informed by the bartender that the seats were being saved. Can you do this at a bar? Especially one that is typically very crowded? I don't know. And the bar area is extraordinarily cramped. There are booths lining the walls, and a couple of high tables along the wall and a few more down the center. We were lucky enough to score one of the high tables on the wall, but unless you are 'rexic, there's really not enough room to sit comfortably if the table behind you is occupied. So, three stars for refusing us available bar seats and having tables so close together that I was constantly reminded of how fat I was and that clearly I shouldn't have been there for a drink in the first place. -
Review from Kristan O.
Salem, MA
1/7/2008
Huge selection of beers, great martini's and the best "bar" food I've ever had.
My better half and I are always looking for new hidden gems, and we definately found one with the Wild Horse Cafe.
We both started with pints of Woodchuck on tap (delicious!) Then I ordered the Chicken Quesadillas and my better half ordered the Meatloaf Dinner.
We were very surprised when our food arrived b/c they were both ENORMOUS, plan to share if you aren't starving. My quesadilla was great. It came with a very tasty black bean salsa and a generous dollop of sour cream. The tortilla was crispy and held it together perfectly. It was veryyyyy cheesy (which I like) so that was a plus. I had to box half of it up for a midnight snack :)
The meatloaf dinner was exquisite! (Again enough food for two people!) The meatloaf was tender, juicy, sweet and tangy, a party in my mouth when I tried it. It came with a huge scoop of creamy mashed potatoes (just like your grandma would make) and a side of buttered peas that were tender and, well just like peas are supposed to taste.
Then it was time for desert, even though we shouldn't have we saw someone else order it and couldn't resist. We ordered the chocolate cake that was humongous! It was drizzled with caramel and chocolate syrup and a little whip cream. It was heavenly moist and melted right in your mouth.
We walked out only paying $40.00 bucks for drinks, dinner and desert for two. Pretty decently priced. The martinis though will run you 7-9 bucks, but they are pretty good.
The downside - it's ALWAYS super crowded, so you might have to wait 10-20 minutes for a spot in the bar to sit.
All in all, A+, Bravo! -
Review from Beth G.
Salem, MA
7/21/2009
The food has always been great here, but they have really weird rules about the bar and restaurant.
The nachos, which are ridiculously delicious- *the best I've ever had in a restaurant*- can only be served on the bar side. The bar side fills up quickly so you could be standing for quite a long time for nachos. In spite of their ridiculous goodness, it doesn't really inspire me to return and jam myself into the bar for them. It's not a huge place, so you think they could share menus, but it's a hard and fast rule.
Brings me to my next point, b/c the bar is so small and packed the music is on the restaurant side and can get quite loud. Think about it: You can choose between having a nice meal w/friends, yet the conversation will get drowned out by the music. Or eat on the pub side, but get a pub menu which won't include yummy treats like cream of mushroom soup w/truffle oil.
Then there are the hours. No lunch on the weekends? No food served until 5 any day of the week? Limiting and disappointing.
I just don't get it. I've liked the food, service has been okay, but the layout and the rules that come along w/it keeps me away.
Recommendations:
1. share the menu across both sides of the house;
2. change the layout so the loud music stays on the pub side.
3. Open for lunch on the weekends.
Then I'll be back.Comment from Milissa O. of Brenden Crocker's Wild Horse Cafe 7/21/2009
Thank you for the review, Hope these answers help change… More » -
Review from Rachel P.
Salem, MA
9/10/2011
This place has a great martini list, and a cool atmosphere - you can eat your dinner in oversized armchairs! Not to mention the food is mouthwatering, and I can never wait to try all the seasonal changes to the menu.
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Review from Julian H.
Boston, MA
2/26/2007
Maybe we just went on an off night, but wow, all of our food was really...bad. Like nobody bothered to taste it back in the kitchen there when they were making it. Or maybe they were conducting some sort of strange experiment to see how awful they could make stuff taste before people would complain or something. (We didn't complain. So the experiment continues, I guess.)
We went early on Friday night, and I was looking forward to some quality eats, because the g.f. had had a bunch of good things there some years ago, and she knows from good food. Things started off well enough, with a nice California cabernet, but then the soup came (curried squash) and it was offensively sweet. Like dessert sweet. Kinda gross. There's really not much excuse to screw up curried squash soup--it's not rocket science, especially if you're going to go putting all of that cream in it. But apparently they thought it would be even bettah with a crapload of maple syrup poured in it.
Anyhow, it was downhill from there. I had some turkey cutlets in coconut milk that were just bizarre, and totally unsalted, and the g.f. had salmon with a thick ginger paste on it that tasted a lot like soap.
2 stars instead o' one, because the waiter was nice, the chairs were comfy, and the lighting was good. -
Review from Marguerite M.
Cambridge, MA
2/7/2007
I am in this bar most Friday or Saturday (or Tuesday or Thursday.....) nights when I'm not down the street at the Pickled Onion.
Most beers for ~$4 (the most delicious Sam Lager around, I swear), $7-9 for Martinis (Pony Espresso, Hot & Dirty, Mocha Martini, Caramel Appletini-- all fantastic). Bartenders and waitresses are friendly and will recognize you after a few times.
Food is good too-- FANTASTIC nachos, great calamari, great chicken fingers, tasty cheese fries-- every greasy thing you might need to soak up that alcohol.
It's low key and not too loud (you can actually hear conversation!!), votives on the high bar tables and booths make it feel cozy, even romantic! On the other side of the bar after the dinner crown clears out, you can sit on comfy chairs and feel more refined while drinking your beer and eating nachos. (They even let you bring in your own cake for a $2 plate charge if it happens to be your birthday :) ). The "real food" is fantastic too if you can afford it. Recommended, just don't take my booth :)Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Rachelle H.
Salem, MA
3/7/2010
OH MYLANTA. taking 4 lactaid pills before eating way too much artichoke dip while sitting in the comfiest chairs of all time is where i'd like to be EVERY saturday night.
as a GIGANTIC fan of the old spot, i finally decided we (i'm a we... my boyfriend and i) needed to go to wild horse. the food at the old spot is excellent, maybe even surprisingly so. i only say surprising because i don't know if you expect 5 star food at a pub-esque place. anyway, i think i found out only recently that the owner/chef(?) of the old spot was brenden crocker of brenden crocker's wild horse cafe fame, so it was just kind of a given to check out the other establishment. i'd heard so many good things before, but when i realized the connection, it sealed the deal.
earlier in the week, we made reservations for 6:30. it was that or 8:00, i think, and this was several days in advance. clearly, everybody knows this place is amazing. we were seated immediately at a table for two in the corner. at the table were two easy chairs instead of dinner table chairs. YES. my type of place already.
service started quickly. one of the first things i noticed on the menu (which, truth be told, i'd obsessed over online beforehand) was the drink list. they make every type of martini known to man. that's not what i noticed, though. i noticed the haffenreffer puzzle caps, pbr, and miller high life. YES! classy establishment selling my dorm beers of choice? bff half-heart pendant necklace time! although i chose a hefeweizen from the draught list, my heart was officially warmed.
we started with the artichoke dip. it's basically every delicious dairy item known to man mixed with huge chunks of artichoke, served with homemade pita chips. SO GOOD. you know how most of the time, when you order artichoke dip, you're lucky to fight over the one visible sliver of artichoke? yeah, not here, kids. every pita chip looked like it had a half cup of dip globbed onto it due to the beast pieces of artichoke. rad rad rad. because we ordered the dip, i only had two pieces (haha, ONLY two pieces!) of the bread. it's delicious and i was kind of bummed i didn't have it in me to eat more. luckily, the courses were spread out far enough that i had time to recoup, but i was never like, "where the eff is my food?"
the entrees. whoa baby. i got the bacon wrapped haddock (two decent-sized pieces of haddock wrapped in bacon with a black peppery corn puree and quartered, perfectly cooked red potatoes). i ended up bringing home one of the pieces of fish because i was so full from the dip, but it was so delicious. there wasn't much to it other than the fish and bacon, but there didn't need to be. the puree was a great compliment to the dish.
my boyfriend got the sea salt and herb half chicken. what a flavorful piece o' meat. it was perfectly moist and i'd absolutely get it myself sometime. it came with vegetables but, truth be told, i didn't pay much attention to them because i was obsessed with my own food. i did have some of his buttered peas (because we wanted to make a joke about the pea-ness. why on earth did they let us in to this nice place?).
we didn't get any dessert or coffee because, truth be told, i was starting to feel uncomfortable in my belly, despite the fact that we were sitting in such a cozy spot. i wanted to, though. next time?
the service was just fine. our server was pleasant and engaging, but believably so and not at all overbearing. he was there when he needed to be and was very sincere. i like not having to a) put on the fake niceness and b) pray that the server will leave me alone. i got to use my real niceness. yay!
i found that the prices were extremely reasonable for the quality/quantity of the food. the two beers, an appetizer, and two entrees were $95 (including tip). this wasn't a typical night out for us in terms of price, as we are poor, but i find that the coziness, the prettiness, the deliciousness, and the courteousness (and the pea-ness?) made this experience worth every penny. i will absolutely be back.
wild horse, you're my new food boyfriend.
p.s. if you like it here, go to the old spot in salem.
