The dining guide
Where to Eat
Red-sauce institutions, a rooftop bar, a 1950s diner and a steakhouse on the old racetrack. Thirty-three places to start.
Photo: Brelyn Bashrum / Unsplash
Salem eats well for a town of 30,000. Here are thirty-three places to start, grouped by where you'll be.
Tuscan Village · Exit 1
Tuscan KitchenItalian · $$$The flagship of Tuscan Brands, below The Artisan Hotel. House pastas, crudo and the tableside Tagliatelle al Tartufo.19 Via Toscana · (603) 952-4875
The Capital GrilleSteakhouse · $$$$Dry-aged steaks, seafood and a deep wine list.19 Artisan Dr. · (603) 212-7108
The Rooftop at The ArtisanCocktails · small plates · $$$Creative cocktails and shareable plates above the village.Atop The Artisan Hotel · (603) 458-3028
Tuscan MarketItalian market · café · $$Fresh pasta, Neapolitan pizza, butcher, cheese and pastry.9 Via Toscana · (603) 912-5467
Tavern in the SquareAmerican tavern · $$Two floors, a patio, brunch and a late-night menu.16 Via Toscana · (603) 685-3135
The Friendly ToastBrunch · $$Retro, all-day breakfast with a scratch kitchen and a full bar.18 Via Toscana · (603) 458-3131
AV Wine BarWine barAppolo Vineyards pours New Hampshire-grown wine with small plates.16 Artisan Dr. · (603) 328-8975
Sun Cruiser Social ClubOpen-air bar · light bitesContainer bars, lawn games, firepits and live music, open to the whole family.Tuscan Village
Route 28 & the Mall
The ColosseumSouthern Italian · $$Chef Annibale Todesca's family restaurant, on North Broadway since 1987.264 N. Broadway · (603) 898-1190
Grand IndiaIndian · $$Dosas, curries and Indo-Chinese plates. Start with the biryani.264 N. Broadway · (603) 458-5560
Dreo Food & DrinkNew American · cocktails · $$About 35 handcrafted cocktails, shareable plates and Dreo Fire Shrimp.254 N. Broadway · (603) 824-6337
Copper DoorNew American · $$$Upscale comfort food and steaks from New England farms, plus Sunday brunch.41 S. Broadway · (603) 458-2033
T-BONES Great American EateryAmerican · $$Steaks, burgers, homemade desserts and Chef Nicole's® Signature Salmon.311 S. Broadway · (603) 893-3444
TOMO Japanese SteakhouseHibachi · sushi · $$Chefs cook at your table, with a sushi bar alongside.368 S. Broadway · (603) 893-8880
MaryAnn's DinerDiner · $A 1950s diner with big breakfasts and milkshakes.3 Veterans Memorial Pkwy. · (603) 893-9877
MargaritasMexican · $$A festive cantina at the Holiday Inn, with a lounge and weekly trivia.1 Keewaydin Dr. · (603) 893-0110
Ralphie's Cafe ItalianoItalian · $$Red sauce, hand-breaded cutlets and extra-large homemade meatballs from the Feole family, here since 1978.91 S. Broadway · (603) 893-3777
Trattoria AmalfiItalian · $$$Gerardo and Sandra Cammarano's family trattoria. The owners' pick is the stuffed pork chop, baked in Marsala.385 S. Broadway · (603) 893-5773
Balducci's Wood Fired PizzaPizza · $$Wood-fired pies, rosemary wings and cannoli filled when you order. No reservations needed.419 S. Broadway · (603) 890-3344
Rae's Coal Fired at Par28Pizza · bar · $$Coal-fired pizza and a 34-seat bar, with golf simulators and axe throwing under the same roof.23 S. Broadway · (603) 458-7078
Amore PizzaPizzaA family pizzeria on South Broadway since 1989.314 S. Broadway · (603) 894-4344
Maddie'sBreakfast · lunch · $Family-owned, with Irish Eggs, the Woodsmen's Benedict and weekday early-bird specials that come with coffee.240 N. Broadway · (603) 894-0094
Thai ChiliThai · $$Pad Thai, drunken noodles and green curry, with a lunch break on weekdays.473 S. Broadway · (603) 898-3222
Peppers PubPub · $A Route 28 pub, open from 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. every night.326 S. Broadway · (603) 328-5476
Around town
Black Water GrillGrill · seafood · $$Chef-owned, with seared scallops, a deck and live acoustic music on Friday and Saturday nights.43 Pelham Rd. · (603) 328-9013
Sevmar Mediterranean BistroLebanese · Mediterranean · $$Mezze, seafood and Gaby's Signature Kabobs, with live music on Thursdays.401 Main St. · (603) 870-0018
Sayde's Bar & GrillLebanese · AmericanFamily-owned since 1994, with a Family Grill Platter built for groups.136 Cluff Crossing Rd. · (603) 890-1032
Ayasofia Mediterranean RestaurantTurkish · Mediterranean · $$Homemade Turkish cooking for lunch and dinner.82 E. Broadway · (603) 458-1485
Romano's PizzeriaPizza · subsTwelve kinds of slices a day and the 20-inch sub, under the same owners since 1994.154 Main St. · (603) 898-0788
OakCraft PizzaPizza · $$Build-your-own wood-fired pies on housemade dough, with vegan cheese and a gluten-free crust.55 Central St. · (603) 458-2510
Sammy J's Breakfast CafeBreakfastA Main Street breakfast café, open early every morning until 1:30 p.m.144 Main St. · (603) 894-5395
Tessi's PizzeriaPizzaA family-owned and -operated pizzeria.15 Ermer Rd. · (603) 893-2818
Blue House Family PizzaPizza · subsPizza, subs, salads and pasta.3 Hampshire St. · (603) 890-1131
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Date night
Date night in Salem
Dinner, a rooftop cocktail and a walk around the pond, all within a few blocks. Plus dates that don’t start at a table.
Where to eat
Italian restaurants in Salem, NH
A 1978 red-sauce room, a family trattoria, a seafood house and Tuscan Village’s flagship. What to order at each, and when to go.
Morning
Breakfast and brunch in Salem, NH
Diners that open at 6 a.m., weekend brunch at Tuscan Village and coffee for the early drive. Where to go, and when they open.