There are so many wonderful places to eat in Salem, why in the world anyone would go here..Just your everyday, standard chain restaurant. .I had a burger which was ok, no better than any other burger, but the hubby had 1/2 of sandwich which he said was the worst he'd ever eaten. Go eat someplace that has all 4 to 5 stars. But I will say the waitress was sweet as could be.
(1)
Google U.
Why must you keep changing the menu???? They use to have a steak soup, and a turkey noodle soup- not anymore. These are sad days for me.
(5)
Sara L.
It's not fancy, but it's delicious and what you need it to be for an easy breakfast. We passed through Salem and stopped here for coffee, omelets, and pancakes. Quick and cheap!
(4)
Stefani P.
For my money - the best, most consistent breakfast in town. Farmer's Omelet, Mr Elmer's Omelet - WONDERFUL. German Pancakes - excellent. Chicken Fried Steak - good. We've had lunch and dinner here, as well - and they do a good job with both ... but breakfast is the star here. They have some career servers here who are amazing - service is usually always excellent. The one time we had an issue (we've been eating here for 30+ years), I wrote to the management and they sent me a very nice apology and a $25 gift card. This is a "go-to" place for us. We love it!
(3)
Lindsay L.
Just left Elmer's and I have to say I'm very unhappy with the quality of food and the amount of time it took to get to my table. Mine and my boyfriend plates were both hardy warm. I feel like I just flushed thirty dollars down the toilet. There is a place on silverton rd called breakfast and burgers it's a little yellow building close to the fairgrounds spend your money there don't throw it away at Elmer's.
(1)
Beth A.
Disappointed. Canned industrial gravy and half hearted service. Side veggies not fresh. Missed request for dressing on the side. This should have been a much experience for the price.
(2)
James M.
Elmer's Restaurant is a fixture in Salem. We like eating in the bar, where is is far quieter and away from the noisy families in the dining rooms. I always go for something that includes Chicken Fried Steak and gravy, and my wife likes the omelets very much. We enjoy playing the Oregon Lottery Video Poker machines, when we can get a seat -- this place seems busy all the time.
(3)
Ground Z.
Great food, huge selection .. and Tilliamook BLT.s yes! Prices were very reasonable and the service was nice and friendly.
(4)
Kelly B.
Our experience here was fine, but the one star is because we came in when a free birthday meal was sent to us via email (from elders corporate after registering on their website), they refused to take it even though the fine print indicated nothing of the sort, and they refused to honor it. So use coupons / special offers with caution
(1)
Karin H.
Ok, I have eaten at this restaurant WAY too many times. Growing up it was our neighborhood pancake house so we went there at least once a week. My dad continues to keep this tradition even though he no longer lives anywhere near the neighborhood. I, on the other hand, have gone back more occasionally but have never been disappointed in my meal. A few years ago our local Rotary clubs needed to find a new place to hold its monthly presidents meeting and after trying out a few other locations we settled on Elmers. They have been more than accommodating for our group. As it is an early morning breakfast meeting and we are serious about not going over time and keeping people from getting on with their days, service is of the utmost importance and they are always very efficient in getting our orders, serving us and getting our checks without us having to stop the flow of the business meeting. They even open a little early for us in the winter months when they alter their hours. The food is always consistent and not over priced. There aren't a lot of frills, but we since that is not we are there for, they are the perfect place for our group to meet.
(3)
Crystal S.
I really love Elmer's! I took my family here for breakfast last weekend for the first time. It was a saturday and even though they were busy we didn't have to wait that long to get a table. Also, the waitress was really friendly and we had no problem getting our orders. The prices are a little high but totally worth it because the food is so GOOD! My son just loved the Big Foot breakfast and my daughter ate all her Cub Cake. I had the pancakes and they were AWESOME! I can't remember what my husband had but he was happy with his order. I recommend everyone to come here. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Mark P.
Great food and service however the place could use a facelift. Came to Elmer's for a late breakfast. Really late. 1pm. The establishment was a quarter full, we were seated by Beverly almost immediately. The waitress didn't waste anytime, drinks came fast and our order was placed. We both had ordered an omelet. The food came out fast and fresh! They tasted wonderful and I'll be back again for sure. :-) My only suggestion would be is to give this place a facelift. The carpet was old and overall decor was dated. Like 1970's dated.
(4)
Yvonne C.
Im a very healthy person but when I crave that POW breakfast with all the goods this is defintely one of my favorites spots! Staff is friendly,Big portions and has that cabin feel to it.
(5)
Joseph B.
Stopped here recently while driving through Salem. Food was great but the service was HORRIBLE. We waited at least 10-15 minutes just to get a cup of coffee. Our waitress kept apologizing for her old-lady memory or something, but it didn't help the service one bit. I had to get up 3 different times and ask our hostess to track down the server for us to get things (maple syrup, ketchup etc) that she said she would bring. By the time they came, our food was cold. That said, I had the Omelet with avocado and chipotle bacon....it was delicious! I'll have to get that at my local Elmers and hope it's as good. The service certainly couldn't be any worse.
(2)
Tommy H.
This place is pretty ok. Friendly staff, decent food. The chicken fried steak is fairly good. They do force you to tip when in a large group. I always tip, but hate being forced to do so. over all it's good and i will be back.
(3)
Jovar T.
My daughter is obsessed with this totally forgettable diner and insists on eating breakfast here when I visit grandkids (might need to reduce frequency of visits). The corned beef hash is BBQ flavor ... someone should tell you before you mix it with eggs and take a bite. Coffee is weak, tastes like the water heater. Poor seating, ok service. Menu is an inviting fiction... I'm usually dissappointed with my meal, while daughter enjoys hers. I usually spend a great deal of time in the bathroom following one these breakfasts. So I dunno - I've had better ...
(2)
Chris D.
VERY friendly wait staff and they are on top of it. What is not advertised but good to know...they have a full bar and...well, a full bar in the back. The decor is diner-ish as expected...nothing to write home about either way. The food...well, I hate to use Denny's as a benchmark but it suits this I guess... You will have better food at Denny's. The menu is more ambitious than Denny's but that doesn't mean Elmer's hits the mark...most dishes were neat in concept but substandard in execution. There are better breakfast options in Salem.
(2)
Emma W.
After a long day of driving I showed up at this Elmer's very close to closing. The staff was very welcoming and didn't make us feel like an inconvenience. Despite the late time we were treated well, the food was fresh tasting and our server was attentive while tending to her closing duties. I enjoyed the German Pancake with Marion Berry Syrup while my dining partner had the chowder and beef dip. This is a quick on and off for the I-5 and I will consider stopping here again.
(4)
Roy T.
Elmer's what can I say, you think you can go to a "nice place" to eat and you end up regretting it. I have had two bad experiences worth mentioning I went here once for breakfast with my wife, her omelet came out fine and looked good. However mine, had been garnished with a huge gob of hair! Least to say I had them take it back and had a fresh one made. The dining experience was very mediocre and if not for past experiences I would not have gone back. Another episode I had, myself and my wife went to the bar section and ordered the prime rib dinner for both of us. It came out after 20 minutes or so and being experienced in the food industry it was very obvious to me that BOTH of our prime ribs were reheated from the night before. The drinks were okay, but service was lacking. When I'm paying upwards of 15 dollars a plate for prime rib, I expect that it be fresh. I will definitely not be coming back here anytime soon. This Elmer's needs some help with quality.
(2)
Lori E.
The food is great and the service is pretty decent, sometimes really slow, though. I've really liked everything that I have tried from their menu over the past few years.
(4)
Jacqueline R.
Make sure you watch your money in the lounge; played keno at the bar and the bartender "lost" the money I initially put down to choose my numbers and play 10 games. When I was finished gambling she the asked me to PAY when I had winnings. Truthfully I think she pocketed the money because she even went so far as to open her drawer and show me she had no bills in it. -- Food is mediocre. Service is horrible.
(1)
Erin H.
I have been forced to eat here twice. Once by my boyfriend, and once by his daughter. What their obsession is with chain diners, I'll never know, but here goes: Staring at the menu, I had no idea what I wanted to order. Not because everything looked so good, but because everything was weird and not what I wanted. The first time I ate here, I got the fish and shrimp and chips. Terrible. The fish was soggy and they crammed everything in this basket and left no room to seperate the food. I don't even remember what I ordered the second time, but I know it was not good. Don't eat here.
(2)
Billie C.
me and my husband love this place. The food is always great and the wait staff are super. I enjoy this place because I am actually being served by adults and not 16 yrs old little girls who know nothing about service. When you are first seated the same little man always brings us our water and asks if we want coffee. Then our server is always prompt in coming over. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get served. Folks have to remember this place is really busy on the weekends and those older gals are working their tails off and you won't see them standing around chit chatting like other places in town. They are serving HUGE parties at times so you just have to patient. If you like a retro type Aunt Mae's house look this place is for you.
(4)
Kyle R.
went a few weeks ago, after a 10 year absence. food was average, good breakfast variety. place was dead at 4pm on a weekday. one other person came in during our stay. wait staff was excellent, very attentive, except drink refills. why water can't be refilled is beyond me. i got their blueberry pancakes, decent and very large in size. you get 4 big cakes. hash browns were just average. AND if you like Thomas Kinkade, you'll LOVE this place. his paintings decorate the whole place. AND if you like country western (modern), you'll also LOVE this place. they were rockin' out to it. this place beats Denny's any day of the week.
(3)
Brandi J.
Helpful waiters and waitresses, nice atmosphere. A little pricey but u are getting quality!! Delicious!!!
(5)
Sandy K.
Usually a fan of Elmers (Tacoma location) but our visit while in Salem left something to be desired. Service!!! Not only did we have to wait to be seated (no, they were not busy) and they took extra long to take our order and FOREVER to bring the meal. I mean, really, an omelet taking over 1/2 at 4:30pm on Sunday?!?!? When another server came to see if we need more water, I said how about the food, she replied, OH It will be here shortly, but did not offer to go check on the order. Bad service spoils the meal. :(
(2)
Robert G.
Typical American offerings such as pancakes and burgers with a Pacific Northwest accent. I found the flavor to be quite satisfying and the portions to be more than sufficient. I have been here for breakfast in the past and they have a good selection. There's a fireplace and a country vibe to the place. There's a lounge in the back where people used to be able to smoke. Regardless, it's totally removed from the rest of the restaurant. I am wondering if the other reviewers are talking about the same place.
(4)
Xavier I.
Great place inside. There's Thomas Kinkade art hanging on the walls with unique vintage items above on shelving. They even have a good sized fireplace. I've only been here once and the food was great, but I guess it could have been better. If the food was as amazing as the environment, this would be an excellent place to eat all the time.
(4)
Andrea M.
If you like the smell of cigarettes and the taste of mediocre food, then this is the place for you.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Beth S.
There are so many wonderful places to eat in Salem, why in the world anyone would go here..Just your everyday, standard chain restaurant. .I had a burger which was ok, no better than any other burger, but the hubby had 1/2 of sandwich which he said was the worst he'd ever eaten. Go eat someplace that has all 4 to 5 stars. But I will say the waitress was sweet as could be.
(1)Google U.
Why must you keep changing the menu???? They use to have a steak soup, and a turkey noodle soup- not anymore. These are sad days for me.
(5)Sara L.
It's not fancy, but it's delicious and what you need it to be for an easy breakfast. We passed through Salem and stopped here for coffee, omelets, and pancakes. Quick and cheap!
(4)Stefani P.
For my money - the best, most consistent breakfast in town. Farmer's Omelet, Mr Elmer's Omelet - WONDERFUL. German Pancakes - excellent. Chicken Fried Steak - good. We've had lunch and dinner here, as well - and they do a good job with both ... but breakfast is the star here. They have some career servers here who are amazing - service is usually always excellent. The one time we had an issue (we've been eating here for 30+ years), I wrote to the management and they sent me a very nice apology and a $25 gift card. This is a "go-to" place for us. We love it!
(3)Lindsay L.
Just left Elmer's and I have to say I'm very unhappy with the quality of food and the amount of time it took to get to my table. Mine and my boyfriend plates were both hardy warm. I feel like I just flushed thirty dollars down the toilet. There is a place on silverton rd called breakfast and burgers it's a little yellow building close to the fairgrounds spend your money there don't throw it away at Elmer's.
(1)Beth A.
Disappointed. Canned industrial gravy and half hearted service. Side veggies not fresh. Missed request for dressing on the side. This should have been a much experience for the price.
(2)James M.
Elmer's Restaurant is a fixture in Salem. We like eating in the bar, where is is far quieter and away from the noisy families in the dining rooms. I always go for something that includes Chicken Fried Steak and gravy, and my wife likes the omelets very much. We enjoy playing the Oregon Lottery Video Poker machines, when we can get a seat -- this place seems busy all the time.
(3)Ground Z.
Great food, huge selection .. and Tilliamook BLT.s yes! Prices were very reasonable and the service was nice and friendly.
(4)Kelly B.
Our experience here was fine, but the one star is because we came in when a free birthday meal was sent to us via email (from elders corporate after registering on their website), they refused to take it even though the fine print indicated nothing of the sort, and they refused to honor it. So use coupons / special offers with caution
(1)Karin H.
Ok, I have eaten at this restaurant WAY too many times. Growing up it was our neighborhood pancake house so we went there at least once a week. My dad continues to keep this tradition even though he no longer lives anywhere near the neighborhood. I, on the other hand, have gone back more occasionally but have never been disappointed in my meal. A few years ago our local Rotary clubs needed to find a new place to hold its monthly presidents meeting and after trying out a few other locations we settled on Elmers. They have been more than accommodating for our group. As it is an early morning breakfast meeting and we are serious about not going over time and keeping people from getting on with their days, service is of the utmost importance and they are always very efficient in getting our orders, serving us and getting our checks without us having to stop the flow of the business meeting. They even open a little early for us in the winter months when they alter their hours. The food is always consistent and not over priced. There aren't a lot of frills, but we since that is not we are there for, they are the perfect place for our group to meet.
(3)Crystal S.
I really love Elmer's! I took my family here for breakfast last weekend for the first time. It was a saturday and even though they were busy we didn't have to wait that long to get a table. Also, the waitress was really friendly and we had no problem getting our orders. The prices are a little high but totally worth it because the food is so GOOD! My son just loved the Big Foot breakfast and my daughter ate all her Cub Cake. I had the pancakes and they were AWESOME! I can't remember what my husband had but he was happy with his order. I recommend everyone to come here. I will definitely be back!
(4)Mark P.
Great food and service however the place could use a facelift. Came to Elmer's for a late breakfast. Really late. 1pm. The establishment was a quarter full, we were seated by Beverly almost immediately. The waitress didn't waste anytime, drinks came fast and our order was placed. We both had ordered an omelet. The food came out fast and fresh! They tasted wonderful and I'll be back again for sure. :-) My only suggestion would be is to give this place a facelift. The carpet was old and overall decor was dated. Like 1970's dated.
(4)Yvonne C.
Im a very healthy person but when I crave that POW breakfast with all the goods this is defintely one of my favorites spots! Staff is friendly,Big portions and has that cabin feel to it.
(5)Joseph B.
Stopped here recently while driving through Salem. Food was great but the service was HORRIBLE. We waited at least 10-15 minutes just to get a cup of coffee. Our waitress kept apologizing for her old-lady memory or something, but it didn't help the service one bit. I had to get up 3 different times and ask our hostess to track down the server for us to get things (maple syrup, ketchup etc) that she said she would bring. By the time they came, our food was cold. That said, I had the Omelet with avocado and chipotle bacon....it was delicious! I'll have to get that at my local Elmers and hope it's as good. The service certainly couldn't be any worse.
(2)Tommy H.
This place is pretty ok. Friendly staff, decent food. The chicken fried steak is fairly good. They do force you to tip when in a large group. I always tip, but hate being forced to do so. over all it's good and i will be back.
(3)Jovar T.
My daughter is obsessed with this totally forgettable diner and insists on eating breakfast here when I visit grandkids (might need to reduce frequency of visits). The corned beef hash is BBQ flavor ... someone should tell you before you mix it with eggs and take a bite. Coffee is weak, tastes like the water heater. Poor seating, ok service. Menu is an inviting fiction... I'm usually dissappointed with my meal, while daughter enjoys hers. I usually spend a great deal of time in the bathroom following one these breakfasts. So I dunno - I've had better ...
(2)Chris D.
VERY friendly wait staff and they are on top of it. What is not advertised but good to know...they have a full bar and...well, a full bar in the back. The decor is diner-ish as expected...nothing to write home about either way. The food...well, I hate to use Denny's as a benchmark but it suits this I guess... You will have better food at Denny's. The menu is more ambitious than Denny's but that doesn't mean Elmer's hits the mark...most dishes were neat in concept but substandard in execution. There are better breakfast options in Salem.
(2)Emma W.
After a long day of driving I showed up at this Elmer's very close to closing. The staff was very welcoming and didn't make us feel like an inconvenience. Despite the late time we were treated well, the food was fresh tasting and our server was attentive while tending to her closing duties. I enjoyed the German Pancake with Marion Berry Syrup while my dining partner had the chowder and beef dip. This is a quick on and off for the I-5 and I will consider stopping here again.
(4)Roy T.
Elmer's what can I say, you think you can go to a "nice place" to eat and you end up regretting it. I have had two bad experiences worth mentioning I went here once for breakfast with my wife, her omelet came out fine and looked good. However mine, had been garnished with a huge gob of hair! Least to say I had them take it back and had a fresh one made. The dining experience was very mediocre and if not for past experiences I would not have gone back. Another episode I had, myself and my wife went to the bar section and ordered the prime rib dinner for both of us. It came out after 20 minutes or so and being experienced in the food industry it was very obvious to me that BOTH of our prime ribs were reheated from the night before. The drinks were okay, but service was lacking. When I'm paying upwards of 15 dollars a plate for prime rib, I expect that it be fresh. I will definitely not be coming back here anytime soon. This Elmer's needs some help with quality.
(2)Lori E.
The food is great and the service is pretty decent, sometimes really slow, though. I've really liked everything that I have tried from their menu over the past few years.
(4)Jacqueline R.
Make sure you watch your money in the lounge; played keno at the bar and the bartender "lost" the money I initially put down to choose my numbers and play 10 games. When I was finished gambling she the asked me to PAY when I had winnings. Truthfully I think she pocketed the money because she even went so far as to open her drawer and show me she had no bills in it. -- Food is mediocre. Service is horrible.
(1)Erin H.
I have been forced to eat here twice. Once by my boyfriend, and once by his daughter. What their obsession is with chain diners, I'll never know, but here goes: Staring at the menu, I had no idea what I wanted to order. Not because everything looked so good, but because everything was weird and not what I wanted. The first time I ate here, I got the fish and shrimp and chips. Terrible. The fish was soggy and they crammed everything in this basket and left no room to seperate the food. I don't even remember what I ordered the second time, but I know it was not good. Don't eat here.
(2)Billie C.
me and my husband love this place. The food is always great and the wait staff are super. I enjoy this place because I am actually being served by adults and not 16 yrs old little girls who know nothing about service. When you are first seated the same little man always brings us our water and asks if we want coffee. Then our server is always prompt in coming over. We have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to get served. Folks have to remember this place is really busy on the weekends and those older gals are working their tails off and you won't see them standing around chit chatting like other places in town. They are serving HUGE parties at times so you just have to patient. If you like a retro type Aunt Mae's house look this place is for you.
(4)Kyle R.
went a few weeks ago, after a 10 year absence. food was average, good breakfast variety. place was dead at 4pm on a weekday. one other person came in during our stay. wait staff was excellent, very attentive, except drink refills. why water can't be refilled is beyond me. i got their blueberry pancakes, decent and very large in size. you get 4 big cakes. hash browns were just average. AND if you like Thomas Kinkade, you'll LOVE this place. his paintings decorate the whole place. AND if you like country western (modern), you'll also LOVE this place. they were rockin' out to it. this place beats Denny's any day of the week.
(3)Brandi J.
Helpful waiters and waitresses, nice atmosphere. A little pricey but u are getting quality!! Delicious!!!
(5)Sandy K.
Usually a fan of Elmers (Tacoma location) but our visit while in Salem left something to be desired. Service!!! Not only did we have to wait to be seated (no, they were not busy) and they took extra long to take our order and FOREVER to bring the meal. I mean, really, an omelet taking over 1/2 at 4:30pm on Sunday?!?!? When another server came to see if we need more water, I said how about the food, she replied, OH It will be here shortly, but did not offer to go check on the order. Bad service spoils the meal. :(
(2)Robert G.
Typical American offerings such as pancakes and burgers with a Pacific Northwest accent. I found the flavor to be quite satisfying and the portions to be more than sufficient. I have been here for breakfast in the past and they have a good selection. There's a fireplace and a country vibe to the place. There's a lounge in the back where people used to be able to smoke. Regardless, it's totally removed from the rest of the restaurant. I am wondering if the other reviewers are talking about the same place.
(4)Xavier I.
Great place inside. There's Thomas Kinkade art hanging on the walls with unique vintage items above on shelving. They even have a good sized fireplace. I've only been here once and the food was great, but I guess it could have been better. If the food was as amazing as the environment, this would be an excellent place to eat all the time.
(4)Andrea M.
If you like the smell of cigarettes and the taste of mediocre food, then this is the place for you.
(1)