In Salem, plenty is going on late at night, even if it's not Times Square. Bars are full of dancing fools, poker players, pool shooters, and those out for a few cocktails. Fun, right? But you need some fuel to keep going, and a number of our hotspots in town take that to mean more than just a few sticks of fried cheese, or some peanuts.

Take, for instance, Southside Speakeasy. Hit the place late on a weekend night, and the music is thumping, dancers are shaking their booties, and the buzz is running non-stop. After midnight, you can still get what amounts to one of the more majestic and over-the-top salads available anywhere, their chef's salad. What you find when you order one, is a true superman of a meal, available with chicken if you want, and piled high with cheese, olives, greens, tomatoes, and more. If you can't keep moving after this fuel, it's time to head home.

Copperjohns, which is featured in this month's dining section,  stays open until 1 a.m. most of the week, and 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

The Brick doesn't disappoint either, offering heaping helpings late into the night. If your path weaves through downtown, stop by The Brick and enjoy a plate of nachos, oyster shooters, or a burger.

Denny's and Shari's are open 24 hours a day. Their main late-night purpose? Helping you recover from the club you just stumbled out of, of course. Even for those not following the party circuit, both these restaurants offer interesting people watching at a late hour, and offer full menus into
the wee hours of the night.

Maybe getting dressed up for the club doesn't sound so good, but your stomach is growling. There's only a few restaurants that will be just fine with your pajama pants -- those with drive-thru service.

With a plethora of "fourth meals" and "eat great, even late" advertisements, it's clear that the national drive-thru establishments are embracing the late-night food movement. Late-night diners can grab a quick sirloin burger at Jack in the Box or a chicken soft taco at Del Taco. Both drive thrus are open 24 hours a day.

For a more local (and a lot more authentic) flavor, Muchas Gracias is always a good choice. They offer quick Mexican food for little coin. Five rolled tacos with fresh guacamole makes a delightful midnight snack. Muchas Gracias offers everything from tortas to quesadilla to giant burritos. The best part is they have a restaurant in each section of the city, so chances are there
is one near you.

Dipping Donuts on Lancaster offers something for a late-night sweet tooth with their drive-thru service that is available 24 hours a day. The selection of donuts may be limited depending on what's available, but if you're lucky you can get just-out-of-the-oven fresh donuts. Dipping Donuts also offers a large selection of soup in case a sugar buzz is not what you're looking for.

If you haven't visited Coffee In Motion, the coffee shop built in a double decker bus, you're in for a real treat. Coffee In Motion touts the "world's largest mocha," clocking in at 44 ounces. If the party is winding down, consider a sour apple smoothie or one of the many other unique flavors. Coffee In Motion is open from 4 a.m. - midnight every day.

Despite many early bird restaurants that tend to close shortly after the dinner rush is over, Salem does have a wide variety of options for the night owls. Carpe noctem, Salem.