Best Authentic Restaurants in Salem

We discovered that we’ve been coming here for 10 yrs, that tells y’all something there! Zarletti’s is a small but exquisitely decorated downtown Italian restaurant. The meals, appetizers, wines etc are almost all from Italy. The service is great, the wait staff know their foods, drinks and wines. We found them this time, as usual, to be friendly, available but non-intrusive & very nice. Our meals were wonderfully prepared and awesomely delicious!! The red wine we opted for was perfect for our meals. Oh, their take on an old-fashioned was fun and delicious. We’re allowed to relax, take our time to enjoy drinks and food, never any sense of hurry. We love coming here and would strongly recommend Zarletti’s.

No contest, best Italian in the city! Impossible to pick just one favorite item on the menu!

DanDan delivers an exceptional dining experience with its modern take on Chinese cuisine. The menu offers a great variety, blending bold, authentic flavors with creative twists. I particularly enjoyed the DanDan noodles and the dumplings – both were perfectly seasoned and cooked. The service was attentive and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. The ambiance was trendy yet cozy, perfect for both casual dinners and special occasions. Overall, a must-visit spot for anyone in the area looking for high-quality Chinese-American cuisine. I'll definitely be back!

1st time dining, visiting from Chicago, family of 5 (kids 15, 13 and 13). Was concerned that the food would be average since the unique theme sells itself. Really enjoyed the “Bond Mi”—-brisket Vietnamese style. And as simple as cheese curds and pretzel bites seem, they were cooked perfectly—sauces were delicious! We enjoyed our time as private investigators after dinner. Highly recommend!

We LOVE Avli! The hot Meze items are all so delicious - the phyllo shrimp are an absolute must have every time we go. The lamb chops were tender, flavorful, and fantastic. Greek meatballs, zucchini fritters, spreads, and the GF pita are all wonderful. We shared the blueberry frozen yogurt with baklava "cigars" and could not believe how fabulous the frozen yogurt was. Better than the best frozen custard I've ever eaten. Our server was delightful and attentive.