Bernadette

I had been told by several people that I had to try Bernadette, so I went last week with a friend who was visiting. The space is absolutely lovely, and the staff was truly helpful and kind. I received my rhubarb-based bourbon cocktail, and I will give my props for an utterly delicious drink. That is about where the props end, though. We were heavily driven by our waiter towards the small fried ravioli app and the side of fries, neither of which wowed us. The raviolis were fried well, but almost tasteless and begged for acid. The fries were nothing special as they weren’t super crispy and the “garlic” aioli lacked garlic. Our chicken liver pate was probably our favorite dish, but it was served with a singular piece of toasted sourdough…stingy and silly. I had the swordfish, and my friend had the risotto, both were woefully under-seasoned. The swordfish was otherwise ok but the fish itself was tougher to the cut than I was used to. The risotto was far too tight and very heavy. We had read about their pastry chef and decided to order dessert despite our lackluster meal. The Paris Brest sounded delicious, and the rhubarb compote and crunch topping were quite good. The mousseline, however, was broken…I was a little shocked it was even served. Overall, a very underwhelming experience for the price. I most likely will not be back.

We were excited to finally get to experience Bernadette and they did not disappoint! The food and the presentation were both amazing... and the service? It really made our night! Ask for Oscar, he has the best recommendations.

Last night's dinner at Bernadette, Settler's sister restaurant, was delicious. The whole meal was fantastic, with each course complementing the others beautifully. Definitely a spot we'll return to.

Overall I recommend this place. The food is really good, and very well-made cocktails. I've been several times, and have mostly only positive experiences. My only complaint is I came here recently with my fiance for her birthday. Her birthday was noted both on the reservation and I mentioned it to the host when we arrived. They confirmed they were aware. However, I'm guessing this was not communicated to our server (who was very nice). I definitely wasn't hoping for any singing, but I'm disappointed there was not even a mention or acknowledgement of her birthday by the staff. I understand dropping points for this reason is subjective, but it was a very important occasion for us and we left feeling disappointed.

Went on opening night and had an incredible time. We’ve eaten at Settler twice and had fantastic experiences. Bernadette brings the same inviting and sophisticated feeling without being snooty. The interior is meticulously decorated and the lightning is a good level. Our servers were so attentive and talkative in a way which was very comfortable. Hard to believe it was opening night because the rhythm of service didn’t skip a beat. My wife and I each had 2 cocktails and were very impressed. I could have had an IV of mine which was a coconut rum drink. Very creative and tasty. The sourdough is hands down the best I’ve had. For food, we shared the Gougères (delicious puffs with cheese), endive salad, & clams. The Gougères were mind blowingly good. The endive salad was texturally creative and the flavors came together very well. Clams hit the spot, though a bit pricey. I got the beef cheek and my wife got the chicken. Both had amazing flavor and were perfectly cooked. We shared a dessert. Overall, the quality of the food matches the price point. We wanted to try as much as we could on opening night but honestly we were too full. We spent a little more per person than at Settler but we think it was worth it. Both places are a special occasion type of place. Everything was just so good. Looking forward to returning!

Had the Valentine’s 3 course $75 menu. All beautifully arranged but they really don’t make seafood well and the bread was burnt, obviously intentionally but I can tell it’s not well done even though I am not a food critic..also the French country pate from the first course and the duck pate thingy from the second course makes the fixed menu too repetitive. Got a bill of $195 for two person. Feeling discouraged to ever try new fine dinning restaurants in America.

This new French spot in Salem is a must go to for fine French cuisine. While a little on the pricey side for Salem, the quality of the food is well worth it! Wait stafd are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The food itself was exquisite! Don't be afraid to try new things. Will definitely be going back

Went this weekend and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. The food was delicious! We had the endive salad, flatbread, loup de mar, fries and risotto. All of which were exceptional- tasty and plated beautifully. The service was also notable as someone was always checking in on us and seeing if we needed anything, knowledgable and friendly. A true gem we are lucky to have on the North Shore! We can’t wait to go back!

We've been to Bernadette several times over the past few months, and each visit has been a perfect blend of consistency and discovery. The experience is always marvelous, yet each time feels uniquely special. The dining room is warm and welcoming--sophisticated and elevated, yet effortlessly comfortable. Whether you're stopping in for light bites and cocktails or settling in for a full multi-course evening, Bernadette delivers. The bar staff strikes that ideal balance of being knowledgeable and engaging without ever feeling overbearing, and the cocktails are just as thoughtfully crafted as the food. Speaking of the food--what else would you expect from the chef behind Settler? Every dish is beautifully executed, and the subtly evolving menu keeps things fresh while maintaining the high standard that makes each visit exciting. Bernadette has quickly cemented itself as the best restaurant experience on the North Shore. A true gem.

This is an incredible addition to the northshore food scene. The service is lights out. The oysters are mind blowing. The Tarte Flambée is lovely. The Beef Cheek Bourguignon is a 10 out of 10. The tables are tight and it can be loud but if you want a quieter ambiance go try to order Moules Marinières at the Derby Street VFW.

My wife and I are huge fans of their sister restaurant Settler (which i still consider to be one of the best restaurants in the greater Boston area). Bernadette is definitely a close 2nd. All of the food / cocktails were excellent and the service was great. It's definitely has the same upscale vibe as settler. I highly recommend checking it out.

Dined here Friday, January 17th. From the moment we walked, everything was absolutely perfect. Unique cocktails to start, and lovely not too expensive wine with dinner. My pictures ended up being a lil fuzzy but everything was seasoned to perfection. Our server was gracious and attentive. They noted the hubs birthday and offered a lovely sorbet to celebrate. While it is on the pricier side, I can def see it as a place to go celebrate!

Celebrated my son's birthday last night at Bernadette. The food and service were fantastic. However, the wine selection is, unfortunately, simply awful. 70% of the Reds are Pinot Noir. For how fantastic the food menu is, the selection of wines are not comparable. I think that is a shame as the menu lends itself to great pairings. Hopefully, in the future, more attention will be paid to the wines. The cocktail menu is really great. The only other thing that holds me back from giving them a perfect review, besides the wines, is there is no sugar substitute in the place. I ordered a caffe latte after dinner. It was served with no sweetener. When I asked, I got raw cubes. When I asked for sugar substitute, I again got cubes. Finally, someone told us, we have none and brought me granulated sugar in a bowl. Like many people, I don't eat real sugar or try and limit it. It seems odd they do not have this. However, the food, the cocktails, the service and the decor were amazing! Cant wait to go back. I hope they work on their wines and diversify to compliment the food, and please get some sugar substitute for coffee.

Superb! From the service to the cocktails to the food! Best meal I have had out in ages! Atmosphere and staff are hands down the best! Can't wait to go back!

We went on a Tuesday to celebrate my boyfriend and let me tell you - the interior is beautiful! The food was immaculate. We started off with their truffle flatbread, mushroom&hen egg, bone marrow toast, and oysters. They were delicious. We had a wonderful server who has worked in upscale restaurants before and told us about how he had gotten into Bernadette's. The drinks were great! I had a gin drink named after the restaurant while my boyfriend had the tequila espresso martini. His mom had Sauvignon blanc and his father another gin cocktail on the menu. Two of us had the swordfish (my first time - trying to be good about trying new things!) while the other two had the pork chop and chicken dishes. We were amazed. I will definitely be returning!

One of the most incredible dinners I've had in a while. Love the food beyond description. The service and the staff are top notch. We will be back !!!!

We were seated right next to the kitchen and the waiter area. We had wait staff running by us to the waiter station right decided us. Nothing but noise and confusion. I would have asked to change the table to another location but our friends had seated themselves already. All I can say is this is an over priced quasi- French menu in a noisy college cafeteria type setting. I had a pulled duck appetizer that was really not at all good -a weird duck sausage. The plate was practically empty so they slapped some stale grilled bread beside it. Also ordered Branzino sashimi that was served very prettily as an appetizer with about half an ounce of actual fish in it. Save yourself a lot of money and head to Maitland Mountain Farm restaurant on Derby St.

This is a very high brow restaurant in a community that is very accepting of all. Went there with a friend with a disability and they were not accommodating in fact they made us feel unwelcome.

It's overrated. The tables for two are so close together that it ruined my dinner. I could hear the conversations on both sides. I've never experienced anything like this before! If you're going to spend your money, I'd say "no way!" The pork was just okay--dry and lacking flavor. The other dishes we ordered were also bland and needed more salt. The bread with butter they served us at the beginning was nothing special, and for me, that was a sign that the rest of the meal would be disappointing. The oysters, however, were the best I've ever tried.

Went there last night, absolutely beautiful inside and the food was incredible as expected. Great addition to Salem, will definitely be going back time and time again.

We were there last night. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. The food was excellent as was the help. A great new addition from the owners of Settler.