Victoria Station *****

Located right on the water at Pickering Wharf, Salem, Victoria Station (VS) makes it possible to enjoy a great meal while still being affordable. Whether you decide to eat inside or out on the boardwalk overlooking the water and all the beautiful boats, there is always a good time to be had at Salem's staple restaurant VS.

O'Neill's Authentic Irish Pub & Restaurant **

Yes, I know, two Irish restaurants in a row. I thought this would be slightly more upscale being in downtown Salem, but I was wrong. The waitress was nice, but inexperienced, the wall decorations reminded you of all things Irish, but that's about it. The menu only had a two or three Irish dishes and the best ones, if that's what you call them, were Italian-American or Mexican!

Fibber McGee's Bar & Grill ****

As Irish as it gets, Fibber's offers a noticable step-up in service and quality from its nearby rivals the second you walk through the doors. Like other surrounding restaurants, the fight for local students' patronage is obvious, and were I to choose, this bar & grill is thus far my favorite in the Beverly area as far as bar and grills go.

The Border Cafe *****

From its inception in Harvard Square, Border Cafe has slowly grown to only three local and two out-of-state locations. Other in-state locations include Burlington and Saugus. Food is based on legendary Jose Creole's food from his tiny restaurant in Louisiana during the Great Depression.