Phenomenal flavors and service. Everything is fresh. The servers are knowledgeable and work as a team to make your dining experience the best it can be. Recommend asking for the lemonade that they give you mixed with vodka for your cocktail. Nice beer selection of some local staples. The swordfish and oysters were perfectly done, as was the gnocchi. We sat outside and the patio was wonderful. Only downside was the miserable, pretentious family next to us who complained about everyone they've ever met in their entire lives. Great place! read more

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Great food and service! This was the best service in town and we ate at over 8 restaurants in the past few days. Each and every dish we had was delicious. Appetizer- We had a lamb meatball dish that was off menu and a shrimp dish. Very tasty. Dinner- We had the pumpkin ricotta agnolotti and the harrisa chicken. We would return for both of these. Each agnolotti pasta was filled like a fat pillow and the chicken was so flavorful. Wine- I had a red wine recommended by our server and it was amazing. Ambiance- It's clean and simple decor highlight the focus on the high quality of the food. read more

Settler - Harrisa chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Pretty good restaurant with great decor and service! Staffs were super friendly and foods were good as well. The only reason I gave 4 instead of 5 is that they are overpriced. I believe it's more expensive than the restaurants in North End, which is absurd as Settler is located in downtown Salem. Also it's a small business, you'll have hard time finding seats on weekends. Def make reservations! read more

Settler - Clam linguine - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Everything is amazing here from the staff the food and the ambience. Highly recommended for a incredible dinner

Sceptical is the first thing that came to mind when i saw the perfect 5 star score on their yelp. But after spending dinner without, immaculate. We we both wondering how can this be so good? In the middle of a tourist town?! Wth. Cocktail: Yuzu highball 5/5 - ordered 2 glasses. Lemony lime fresh, sweet ,super easy to drink!!! Food: Torta flambee 4/5 - basically a well made pizza. Dont get me wrong, its good. Perfect temperature, great flavor balance, swee from onions, salty pancheta, crispy and juicy combined. BUT the rest of the meal really brought the curve up and i didnt feel right giving them the same score. Octopus 4/5 - awesome. Perfectly smoky, not rubbery. The sauce that goes with it has something crunchy sprinkled in and it was absolutely amazinh Casarecce (pork sausage) 5/5 - perfectly seasoned sausage with perfectly cooked pasta. The definition of al dente. Balanced with breadcrumbs, making the dish saucy, meaty and crunchy at the same time. Garnished with arugula which provided the bitternes to complete the dish Ribeye - 5/5. Honestlyx you know how expensive restaurant always have a steak dish cos theres always that 1 meat eater that just needs a fucking steak? Well this is not one of those half ass ribeye. Its 50 dollars and its better than any halfass wagyu we got at other restaurants. Excelleenntt!!! Toffee pudding - 5/5 perfect way to end the whole meal! Perfectly sweet. Balanced with the temperature again! Warm cake not hot, with cold cold ice cream. Lastly, the service. The waiters were so attentive and knowledgable on the menu. Our waiter gave us solid recs! I booked the reservation on resy and left them a note that its our anniversary and requested us to be seated together. Honestly i didnt expect them to honor it since we put in our reservation like 3 hours before our reservation and when we got there the restaurant is tiny and quaint and the tables are full! The team pulled it off and gave us a 4 seater and place our plates side by side. Honestly this might have been a tiny thing so someone but as a couple our experience is 100000x better when we are seated next to eaxh other cos we can have our own conversation and share all the meals! ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE. We can heartbroken that we dont have this place close to us. read more

Settler - Toffee date cake with ice creaaammm - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

We have patiently awaited reservations here; we came Friday, March 3rd. Our Rez was at 7, but at 630, the manager called to let us know tables were a bit behind and we could move to 715. I thought this was odd but then also very thoughtful. They are a very small place; there is no standing room here. So I appreciated the heads up. Décor: It was a bright, clean, and somewhat casual vibe. The wood beams in the ceiling were gorgeous. Our table was next to the front door in a small, tight, rounded booth. At first, I wasn't sure about comfort, but by the end of the meal, I would sit there again. Food and Drink: We started with some nicely balanced cocktails and an excellent white wine for dinner. We opted to start with the Chef Meze for two, which was wonderful after tasting the sourdough; it came with Labneh, falafels, and a kohlrabi salad. All were very, very good. The falafel had a nice dark crunchy crust, but the inside was light and fluffy. A smidge too much salt, but that is nitpicking. The labneh was so thick and creamy I could eat it by the spoonful. The Kohlrabi salad was very refreshing and light. We also got the winter salad with endives, roasted beets, some other crunchy thingy, and a gorgeous smooth velvety beet puree. I didn't like the endive, but the salad was good overall. For the mains, hubs got the fried chicken which was glistening. It was so juicy over a potato puree. I got the sea bass with a Beurre Blanc sauce that was light but then decadent too! The fries! These were suggested as an add-on and wowzah, thin, crispy, and perfectly seasoned. The harissa aioli was amazing! We finished up with the sticky pudding with dates and walnuts, which was very luscious and delish! Service: Ignacio and Lindsey took care of us that night. Both did a fantastic job introducing us to the restaurant and concept. They guided us through our ordering and ensured everything was up to standard. We were well taken care of! I can't wait to come back! read more

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Just amazing. One of my top 10 eating experiences of my life. Fabulous, wonderful, kind staff. The food was stellar. We got the whipped ricotta which I kinda wanted to bath in it was so magical, pasta, chicken and salad. Everything was plated wonderfully with the such taste. Get reservations on Resy, the place is meant to be intimate and a lovely friendly environment. Like eating at your super friendly bestie's place who is also a Michelin Star chef. read more

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We were in the area, and got a walk in table. Not having heard of this restaurant before, we weren't sure how good it would be. But we didn't need to worry. The service was amazing, and the food stood up to the fanciest tasting menus we've had. The manager that night was so thoughtful and made us feel so welcome for my birthday dinner! We don't live in the area, but we will be back for Settler for sure! read more

The food was good-- very seasonal and interesting. Larger portions than originally let on! I did feel a bit rushed though, the energy was that of the actual kitchen staff very snappy and efficient. That's not typically my speed when dining out, personally. The layout was also a bit tight but that made it cozy. We also ate at the bar due to not having a reservation and were treated just as though we had a reservation and a proper table. All-in-all it was a nice experience, just not the energy that would cater to just anyone looking for a luxurious dinner out read more

Such a quaint and beautiful looking restaurant in the heart of downtown Salem. Does not look like it belongs there. They gave us free hot cider shots. For starters we had the dip appetizer platter. Whipped ricotta, falafel, tabouleh, and pumpkin hummus. All very tasty dishes. Unique flavors and fresh ingredients. I ordered the brand steak, medium rare, cooked to perfection. Such a great dish. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Hands down the BEST restaurant in Salem. Locally grown ingredients, sophisticated menu and excellent staff. We discovered it by walking by and we are so glad we did. Will definitely be going back on our next visit! 10 out of 10 read more

My wife and I had researched restaurants to eat at in Salem and made our reservation about a month in advance. They had a special three course meal planned for the season. I had also read reviews and several people had mentioned that the meal they had at the Settler was life changing. I don't know about that but It was absolutely one of the best meals I've ever had. Pros: * Service was stellar * I don't know how or why but the squash soup was so good... it would taste a certain way and then a new flavor would appear changing it to something even more delicious. * It was the best chicken I've ever had. It was just a chicken breast and she explained how it was prepared but I've never had a chicken breast that was that juicy and good. It could have done without the wheat bulgar but the mushrooms that came with it were exquisite. Cons: There is little space between the tables so you feel like you're eating with other people. I was unfortunate enough to sit next to a lady who threw her napkin on me when she left and that table was then replaced with an ahole who watched a sports thing on his phone with no headphones. read more

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The food was good but kind of over hyped in our opinion. Was very expensive for just mediocre fine dining food. We got sat outside which was an awful ambiance. There's a massive street or building light blaring in your eyes for the majority of tables outside. Fine to have the experience once but wouldn't go back. Compared to other nearby restaurants, Ledger was all around better. read more

This made for a great birthday meal. The service is above and beyond for Salem standards but also what you would expect for a true dining experience. I would compare this to some of my fine dining and even Michelin restaurant experiences. The actual restaurant was beautiful and the lighting made it very romantic. If you're looking to impress someone bring them here. read more

Settler - Muscles - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This place was unreal. Very cozy, kind staff, and no misses on the menu. Everything was fabulous, with a great wine selection. Highly recommend! read more

We saw this place had 5 stars on YELP and decided we needed to test it - and we have concluded there are multiple reasons for the 5 stars! The service, the food, the ambiance! Everything about our dinner experience was extraordinary. We made a reservation, we arrived 15mins early and our table was ready for us. They gave use a palate cleanser which was amazing, and every dish we got was outstanding. We started with the falafels and whipped ricotta - the sourdough is made in house and you can tell how authentic it is. The falafels were the best ones we've ever had - perfect balance. For main dishes, we got the chicken - decadent, no other words to describe it, perfect. Mushroom-Ricotta tortellini, perfection in a bite. Do yourself a favor and book a table at Settler, you won't be disappointed. read more

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I was very excited about trying Settler. The venue is a little small and Salem being Salem, parking can be difficult to find on weekend (there's a garage up the street by the museum which I recommend since it's cheap and large, just make sure to drive there first since the streets are one way and you'll have to make a big loop if you mess up). We were quickly greeted and seated. The table we got was a little small and felt pretty close to the others, understandable seeing as how the venue is small but would have liked a LITTLE bit more space between the tables. This environment itself was enough to not gain the 5 stars for me. Food was all fresh but the flavors were not there for it to earn a 5 stars from me. The drinks I had were unimpressive as well. Maybe I'll give it another try in the future but all in all a good spot to try if you're able to in the area. read more

Amazing food! Very attentive service although a little pushy. We were full but they kept recommending we order more! We are outside in the patio area which was nice. The pasta took a little long, about 30 minutes, but it was well worth the wait. It was tangy and rich, many different flavors and textures with each bite. Even the bread and butter was fresh and rich. The ricotta honey cheese was delicious as well! Very satisfied! read more

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To say we love this place is an understatement - we roll in here a few times a month and grab a spot at the bar typically right at 5pm or any time on a Tuesday evening. Space is cozy and stylish. This experience never disappoints - the food, the wine, the folks are all amazing! The Settler team is cool, authentic and super knowledgeable - whether describing a dish, recommending a wine, or just catching up with the locals - they do it with class. Occasionally, they the special chicken sandwich at the bar - yum! Seafood is always a winner - love the oysters. Great funky wine collection (always willing to offer recommendations) and a killer espresso Martini! We love this place and this team! read more

Settler is one of the newer additions to the Salem restaurant scene and quickly making a name for their self. Came here for my birthday dinner this past September and thoroughly everything from the food to the drinks to the service. We kicked off the experience with some cocktails -I ordered the Old Fashioned, which was delightful. We then sampled the burrata drizzled with balsamic - very good. For my main, I chose the lumache w/pork which was so good that it didn't stand to see the light of day. The restaurant is small with a menu that changes often. Everything was fantastic. This is a must visit when in Salem. read more

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Ok, this is my favorite restaurant on the North Shore. Food is spectacular and the service is even better if that's possible. They are very attentive and friendly. Everything I had was outstanding. Hmm...maybe I should change my review and keep the secret... read more

Tasty dinner fare. We visited Settler on a Thursday night, and it was packed. The design of restaurant is minimalist, and, even though the music was played at a low volume, it was loud in the restaurant. We split the whipped ricotta and crispy herb falafel with grilled sourdough, liuzzi burrata, zucchini pancakes, bluefin tuna crudo, and ricotta gnocchi. The falafel was as good as can be, but the dipping sauce was a bit plain for my taste. The burrata was tasty if you can secure a bite with all of the toppings together (easier said than done). The tuna crudo was solid. The zucchini pancakes were delicious, and the gnocchi was absolutely heavenly. Overall, I had a good experience at Settler and would recommend them for dinner. read more

Excellent food in Salem. Excellent service. The only reason why I am not giving them five stars is because they did not note in the menu that the falafel had some spice in it. Hubby can't handle spice so when we told the waitress she politely brought it back to the kitchen to try to get it without the spiced hummus. This is a tiny restaurant and we could hear the chef yell, "what's the problem?" And "even the falafel has some spice." The entire restaurant did not need to hear that. Otherwise tasty food and excellent service. Pricy but would still recommend this place. read more

Came up from NY for a weekend in Salem and snagged two seats at the bar. Food was delicious and service was wonderful. I'd recommend Settler to anyone visiting Salem. read more

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I had such an amazing experience here- honestly one of the best restaurants in the area and my new favorite. I appreciated how much care went into every detail of the experience here. From the service to the ingredients and the presentation, I felt that the ownership and staff of Settler really cares. This was an elevated yet accessible experience. What I mean by this is that I was so excited to try all of the menu though admittedly didn't recognize some of the ingredients. Nevertheless I appreciated how the staff was super kind and friendly, explained what each dish was and the food did not disappoint. (Our main waiter was Dre and he was awesome!) Every dish was delicious!! We got the charred leek and onion, tarte flambée, mussels, beet salad, and for mains some of us got the beef two ways while others tried the sausage pasta. If I had to pick favorites, it'd be the charred leek and onion and the beef main dish. But I truly don't think you could go wrong with anything on this menu-- it all looks incredible. The space is also very cozy and decorated simply but elegantly. Again, I loved every detail. I felt super comfortable and at peace just being there. I'm very grateful to have such a high quality restaurant in the North Shore area. We are honestly lucky to have them here. I can't wait to be back. read more

Settler - Cassarece pasta topped with a flavorful tomato sauce, sausage, beautiful mushrooms and Parmesan! - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Food was DELICIOUS. My favorites were the steak tartare and the lobster pasta. I am not a spicy person; the pasta was SO good. N/A drinks were also really good. read more

Thai restaurant was FANTASTIC, the service was 10/10 (shoutout to Justin at the bar), recommendations and pairings. If you're looking for high caliber dining in a comfortable and cozy space this is the spot! read more

Settler - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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This showed up as the highest ranked restaurant in Salem in Yelp.. it delivers, not only that but this is in my opinion a restaurant that offers charm, quality of ingredients and exceptional cooking all in one spot. We were absolutely blown away from the first bite of homemade bread. Everything that we tasted was stunning, beautifully seasoned, locally sourced and seasonal such quality food. A great little kitchen with staff that care are charming and don't miss a best 6* restaurant a Yelp MUST VISIT in my opinion, Hats off to the owners and chef you are smashing it! read more

Settler - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Wow. A small chef owned restaurant that makes everything from scratch. Even the sorbet. Let's start with the negative: this is a difficult reservation to snag. If you can get one go and preferably with no more than a table for 4. The bar has no reservations and is available for dining. Cordials. wine, and beer license. Incredible food. Served hot and no one left a morsel. Clams and oysters delivered on Thursday's so please do yourself a favor and order the linguine and clams. My table had the above dish, swordfish, and chicken. All was perfect. Staff so attentive. The only question remains. "is this the best restaurant on the North Shore?" You decide. You won't be disappointed. read more

We went here a year ago and loved the food and service. We have a gluten allergy and they were very accommodating. We went tonight and they said they don't do any accommodations at all. They also removed the cocktail menu and only serve wine now. On top of that the waiter tipped himself 20% (on top of the 3% charge) without allowing us to select the tip. He apologized saying it was a mistake but also didn't offer to correct it. It was a disappointing experience. We paid $100 for 2 chicken dishes (one of which was missing half the dish because they wouldn't substitute a gluten free item) and some potatoes. No alcohol, drinks, or apps. I would not go back and I don't recommend for anyone with an allergy. read more

Absolutely fantastic dining experience! The service was great, we had a lovely attentive waiter who recommended us some wonderful dishes. She was super knowledgable and friendly. We also interacted with two other staff who filled water and brought food, etc, and they were equally attentive. For example, we were sitting on the patio, and a bug flew into my water. They brought me another glass really quickly. The food was all fabulous. We got the whipped ricotta, the steak tartare, and the feta boureka as appetizers. We cleaned the plates for all of them! I had the chicken for dinner, and my husband had the spicy lobster pasta, and again, we were so impressed. The lobster especially was perfectly tender. We couldn't resist dessert after such a great meal, splitting the chocolate torte and basque cheesecake, both of which were scrumptious. We couldn't have asked for a better time, and we definitely plan on coming back. read more

My husband and I dined at Settler last night for the first time. I cannot say enough about this place. The food was seriously the best I've had on the North Shore since we moved up here four years ago and we've been to a lot of places. Everything was fresh and incredibly well prepared. Loved the Mediterranean flare and seasoning. The staff all of them were incredibly helpful kind and obviously loving what they do. Our waitress Sabrina couldn't have been nicer. Well done Settler! We'll be back read more

Settler - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Incredibly delicious dinner! Ultra fresh ingredients! Wonderful service! Cool ambiance! read more

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Had a wonderful dinner--delicious offerings. Amazing server guided us through the menu in detail and helped us make drink pairing choices. We sat out on the patio, which was charming. Can't wait to go back! read more

The best dining experience in Salem and one of the reasons I'm happy to have moved here. It's on par with the best restaurants in LA and SoCal. I can't wait to go back :) read more

Perfect refuge from all the witchy wackiness going on outside! Food is delicious, service is generous and ambiance is lovely! read more

Settler - Mezze, housemade sourdough and butter, burratta and beets - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

What an experience. We arrived wet off the street and there wasn't a single drop of judgment. Elevated but oh so comfortable. We didn't have a reservation but thankfully they had room at the bar. Everything was delicious and it was definitely a good highlight from the trip! The dough dough came from a starter that was more than 40 years old. The started using with a quinoa pomegranate salad and a squash hummus. If you're not drooling already, just wait. I had some buratta with beets and walnuts. My main course was the bolognese. It was hearty and warm. The noodles were perfection! My friend got the pork loin and I'm not going to lie, I was jealous I didn't get that. So good as well! We finished with the cheesecake and ice cream. What a treat! read more

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Wish I could give Settler more stars but we had service related problems. Chuck the GM might have been having a rough night because he wasn't super pleasant. We made a joke that must not have gone off well (that our very obvious sport water bottles had alcohol in them after he said we could have wine outside while we waited). The joke was not appreciated but he was rude to us the rest of the evening. That joke was our fault for sure but we didn't expect anyone to really think two 50+ year olds, would have wine in water bottles. When we were seated, we ordered a bottle of wine from the menu. The wine menu did not indicate whether the Riesling was on the dry or the sweet side. We lived in Germany for five years so we knew it could be either. After learning it leaned sweet, we asked for a dry wine recommendation from the list and we overheard the GM whispering about us to someone on the wait staff. I can absolutely see why that would be an issue if someone were publicly intoxicated or displaying inappropriate behavior but that was not the case. Our server was fantastic! We really enjoyed James at the bar! He was knowledgeable about the menu and kind. Our order was not correct though. Even the best staff can make a mistake and it's understandable but the review reflects both what goes right and what is off. The food was great! The oysters were perfectly cleaned, separated from the shell and the vinegarette was perfectly balanced. We loved the falafel from the mixed appetizer plate too! Most people who live a smoky flavor will really fall for the hummus, but it was too smoky for our palettes. We could tell that the bread was really special as it was rich in flavor and texture! Settler is small and doesn't seat many so make sure you get a reservation! Despite the minor problems, we are glad we waited for a table and tried it out. read more

Settler - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Have you ever had a meal that leaves you daydreaming about it or you find yourself talking about the food long after you dined?! The Settler brings that. Everything was delicious and heavenly. My friend and I shared dishes so we could try more things and every bite was followed up by a deep sigh of satisfaction. The cocktails are also divine, especially if you're a Gin & Tonic drinker. They were so good I ordered more than I typically do at dinner. You can't go wrong here, make the reservation. I only hope it is still there when I make my way back for a visit. read more

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My boyfriend and I tried this on our last day of vacation and it was the best decision! The food was so carefully crafted, the service was lovely, and you could see the chefs cooking beside you. The atmosphere was intimate and high end but not too intimidating. If you're on the fence, try this place! read more

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