ACME Cafe

ACME Cafe was started by Jeff James and Cecilia Ritter James in 2013 and passed on to father and son team, Tom and Jesse Voegtle in March of 2020. Tom, a veteran, served in the United States Air Force for over 2 decades and has longed to get back into the food service industry. Jesse, a new father, has a background in restaurant management specializing in coffee roasting and has just moved back home to the northwest from Alexandria, VA. The restaurant focus on their versions of American regional classics with an emphasis on seasonal bounty.

Outstanding food and service! Will go back whenever we are in town.

The food here was fantastic! We had breakfast for lunch and it was delicious. I normally don't like breakfast potatoes,but theirs are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We weren't aware that it was such a a popular place because we were from out of town, but we will definitely go there again when we are in Salem. Great, great food and service.

Great Breakfast!

I love this place! Their food is normal regular food, but cooked or put together in wonderful ways or combinations that make me think " why didn't i do that?". If you're sitting at the bar, you can watch the food being made right in front of you! The food is delicious, the service was very polite and fast. Can't say enough about this place. Great Breakfast!

Our Brunch GO TO spot in Salem

The Kids (adults) and I Love this , The convenient South Salem location has indoor and outdoor seating. We love the menu and often stick with the classics. The service team is very friendly ,the owner is a hoot and his kid runs the kitchen -a great Family owned spot. Get there early on weekends because its very popular. You wont be disappointed

Food is ok but dirty

We went here on a Sunday late morning. We were here a few years ago and it was ok. Food is still ok. Wife said her food was fine, good quality, but lacking flavor. My eggs Benedict was good food quality as well, but the hollandaise sauce was flavorless. On the plus side, the potatoes were crispy and good. The most disappointing thing was the restaurants cleanliness. The entire restaurant could use a good cleaning. The wall next to our booth had dried on food(it had been there awhile). Gentlemen refilled my wife’s coffee, and put the coffee spout submerged into the coffee in my wife partially drank cup. I watched him do this to numerous other people as well. Kinda gross and definitely not covid friendly. 1 of 4 kitchen staff wore their masks properly. Only 2 of probably 8 servers/hosts/runners wore masks properly. The lack of cleanliness and lack of Covid regard make this “no go” in the future.

A colleague and I had Friday

A colleague and I had Friday dinner here to beat the wait at another place downtown. The owner, Jesse, was helpful and pleasant as he told us we had a few minutes to wait until a table opened up. They seemed to be complying well with Covid rules and the inside was half full and the tent area outside was also kept half full. My Marionberry mule was fantastic - and a different option than the standard Moscow mule. Top notch! I had the angus burger, cooked medium, with a gluten free bun and avocado added and I have to say, it was one of the best, juiciest and messiest burgers I’ve had in years. Absolutely delicious. The fries were perfectly cooked and served with a mayo based sauce that was perfect for both fries and burger. This is a comfy, neighborhood place with a pleasant cafe vibe. I remember growing up it was the neighborhood Enco gas station and that history is kept alive with one of the original gas pumps greeting you in the lobby. The place was busy - lots of takeout as well as dine in, and the only reason I took away a star was that our waiter was inattentive. Twice we had to get up and get his attention as he was hanging out at the kitchen counter. He never once stopped back to see how we were doing. I am gluten and dairy intolerant, and there is plenty on the menu to choose from. But boy, those chicken and waffles are to die for! If only.... We will be back!