I recently tried Blue Fin around 3:30pm for a late lunch. It wasn't overly busy when we arrived,…read morebut it was definitely starting to pick up. The dining room has a nice vibe -- modern, clean, and comfortable. It feels like a good spot for a casual date or catching up with friends. That said, the noise level builds quickly. Everyone was chatting, and you could easily overhear conversations without even trying. Service was genuinely great. Our server checked in consistently for water refills, cleared plates quickly, and asked if we needed anything -- but never felt overbearing. That balance is appreciated and made the experience smoother. One thing worth noting: some menu prices are higher than you might expect, especially since Google lists the average around $20-$30 per person. For some of the higher-priced items, photos on the menu would really help set expectations. The portions do help justify the entrée pricing somewhat, but the overall bill -- $110 for a late lunch for two -- was honestly higher than expected. We started with the spicy edamame. To make it spicy was a $2 upcharge, which felt unnecessary -- most places offer regular, sea salt, or spicy at the base price. That rubbed me the wrong way. For sushi, we ordered two pieces of unagi and two pieces of wagyu. The fish/meat to rice ratio was generous (see picture). The unagi sushi is something a sushi chef can't really mess up -- solid and as expected. The wagyu sushi, however, had a very intense char on top and was extremely fatty. Depending on your preference, that could be a plus or a bit overpowering. The spicy beef rice bowl was a very large portion -- honestly enough to split between two people. The onions had a nice crunch and weren't soggy, which I appreciated. The beef is shaved rather than sliced, and you can't choose how it's cooked. The spice level was faint, should have spice level indicators on items like this. I did feel like the dish was missing another vegetable element that could have elevated it. The chicken curry bento box came with a lot: two tempura shrimp, two deep-fried pork gyoza, one sweet potato tempura, sticky rice, and the curry chicken. The chicken was very tender. The curry had that strong, classic curry aroma and was well balanced in flavor. Nothing to rave about. Both meals came with miso soup and salad. The salad dressing wasn't for me; I prefer something tangy, and this one tasted more like pan juices from cooked meat. For dessert, we tried the vanilla crepe cake. It honestly tasted like tiramisu. If they offered a matcha version, that might have set it apart more. I wouldn't order it again. Overall, I'm glad we tried it and had the experience. The service and portion sizes stood out positively. However, for the price point, it's not a "must-return" spot for me, and not somewhere I'd immediately recommend off the top of my head when people ask.

Stopped by for lunch around 3:20. Quickly seated and service was efficient. After looking at the…read moremenu, everything was priced much higher than I'm used to, but you can tell that it's a luxurious ambiance. Staff were nice and I noticed that all the waitstaff worked together with different people checking in on us and delivering/clearing dishes. Started with fried shumai which was usual as it's most likely frozen and fried-nothing crazy. What we were most excited for was their sushi. The fish was insanely fresh that you could taste the difference. The rice bowl came with miso soup and the portion was large enough to easily feed two people. Glad we made the visit after hearing from several people how good their food is. We will be coming back!

Dumpling Garden deserves 5 stars for a multitude of reasons:…read more- Kind and attentive staff - Large menu with lots of good stuff - Some of the best dumplings in the area - Boba! - Open late (my favorite part) - A charm that cannot be put into writing I love finding dumplings that feel and taste authentic. It can be hard in the north shore but dumpling garden does a great job!

The best Juicy Buns! So filling and could just eat those alone! I wish the staff were more…read morefriendly though.

Tried Sala Restobar in Beverly and overall it was a pretty underwhelming experience…read more We started with drinks -- I ordered a piña colada expecting it to be blended, but it came unblended. Nothing on the menu or from the server mentioned that, which was disappointing right away. When I told the server I didn't like it and wanted something else, he literally tilted his head and said, "ummm what do I tell the bartender?" That honestly rubbed me the wrong way -- just felt unprofessional and awkward. Jenny got a tequila cosmo, which was fine, nothing special. Food-wise, everything was just average. The bao buns were overcooked and the bun fell apart, though the flavor was decent. The pineapple fried rice was probably the best thing we had, but even that was just okay. We also had dumplings -- Jenny liked them, but I thought they were just alright. Dessert was the biggest miss. The blueberry cobbler was not good at all -- maybe a 3/10 at best. One thing that really didn't sit right was when we asked to split the tasting menu and were told no. That doesn't make much sense -- if people want to share, especially for a tasting menu, it should be allowed. Overall, nothing stood out in a good way, and between the service and the food, solid ambiance , it just wasn't a great experience.

We both had the Taste of Sala four-course meal for $46. There was a pretty long wait between…read morecourses at times, but the atmosphere is relaxed enough that it didn't feel out of place. Portions were larger than expected, and each dish was very shareable, so you can easily try eight things instead of four if you plan it right. They also have live jazz music -- every Thursday from 7-10pm, and on Friday and select Saturday nights from 8-11pm. If you want a clear view of the musicians, try to sit on the right side (opposite the entrance), though the middle works too. It's a fairly small space, so most tables can see, and all tables can hear. Overall, it's a fun spot -- good food, a relaxed vibe, and the live music (when available) adds a nice touch. If you're looking for something new to try when in the Beverly / Salem area, or a good date-night venue, I'd check out Sala.

I enjoyed the sushi at Karma. The Kobe roll (wagyu beef with truffle) was one of their speciality…read morerolls and it was delicious. Their spicy tuna was also very good. The chicken pad thai was portioned nicely and had great flavor. I was impressed to see how extensive the menu was and will be back again!

Great drinks, food and service every time. Best sushi around. Highly recommend "the spoon".read more

Wow this place was a life saver on MLK Day since it was sooo cold lol. This spot is located inside…read moreBambolima which is an Italian spot serving pizza which is a win for us since I got ramen and my daughter order cheese pizza. The service was great and our server was amazing. The ambiance was a little bar feeling with lots of wood tables which I liked. Now let's get to the food.. Pork buns: the pork was cooked perfectly and the bun was nice and soft. The sauce went well everything and it's a great starter dish. Spicy Kimchi Ramen- this consists of pork belly, pickled mushrooms, kimchi and fried garlic. The ramen was really good and had a lot of flavor with just the right amount of spice from the kimchi. Perfect for a cold day! Colonel Sanders Ramen- this had a pork broth with fried chicken and was delicious and moist. Also had corn with Vermont butter which you can taste through the bowl. This dish was the highlight for me and I'll definitely be back again. If you're in Salem, MA and are craving ramen then be sure to give this place a try.

The appetizers were delicious. My ramen, though good, had more sodium than I bargained for. The…read morebacon portions were generous. Portions here are pretty big which justify the prices. However, the food itself wasn't spectacularly special for me to grant the fifth star. There was a good amount of fat on the pork belly, and I wasn't really a fan of the wavy noodles. It's like cheap noodles in what should be a premium dish. The flavored sodas (N/A alternatives) were a great find and a decent value on the menu. Service was friendly and quick, we stopped by with no reservations on a weekday and got seated. All in all, would be back for appetizers.

Probably had the worst seats in the restaurant. Right near the aisle where everyone walks to and…read morefrom the restaurant. Other than that, the food was outstanding. Had Basil Fried Rice, Hunan Chicken, and Cilantro beef. All were excellent! Will definitely go again and hope to get a better situated table.

Went for takeout luncheon specials today. As usual, very good quality, price and service. Just…read morewished they added chow mein to the luncheon specials.

Came here for Nik's birthday and we got the golden honey boneless spare ribs and grand sushi and…read moresashimi platter to share between 3 adults. It was very grand and decadent. The spare ribs were tasty and I think they had some truffle oil. The sushi and sashimi was very fresh. The chefs provided 3-6 pieces of sashimi/sushi/nigiri of each type of fish so we could do our own tasty menu together. Our sushi boat came with the seared hamachi make + caviar roll which was really good. I would definitly order that again. The prices can be expensive, but the sushi is fresh and worth it for special occassions!

I come here every other month, it's so good!! It's a nice suburban restaurant that is beautiful…read moreinside. Yesterday the food came out at a good pace, but sometimes it comes out all at once and is overwhelming. The waiters are always so nice. Food: - hot and sour soup (8.5/10): great starter. the wonton chips on top were such a good addition. - lettuce wraps (8.5/10) - spicy edamame (9/10): can't go wrong - pork potstickers (9/10: i love the seasoning on these. - yellowtail thai basil spoons (10/10): my favorite thing on the menu, we always get 2 to start and 2 to end they are amazing. spicy, and so much flavor. - duck bao (4/10): i personally did not like the flavor of these so will skip next time. - crispy chicken wings (10/10): my favorite chicken wings! love the flavor. spicy - spicy tuna crispy rice (9/10): a must order as well!! love the presentation - seared hamachi and banana pepper (9/10): the fish is so fresh and the sauce is flavorful. - tuna pizza (7/10): these are good! i think there's too much going on for me but a lot of people love them so worth a try. - tuna taco (8.5/10): i like these more than the tuna pizza!! - salmon and fingerling potato (8.5/10) - black pepper udon noodles (8.5/10)

One of the BEST Thai restaurants in Boston. Love that I don't have to drive into the city, there is…read morea spacious parking lot, and the folks inside are always speedy and friendly. The food is spicy, delicious, and flavorful every time. Everything is fantastic and I've yet to taste a dish that I wouldn't get again. Things I've gotten: -Larb - quintessential, can't go wrong. -Thai Saap Pork Ribs Soup: SO GOOD. Sour and spicy (you can adjust the heat). It was perfect during the cold winter. The ribs were very tender and the broth was full of flavor. -Pad Thai - again, can't go wrong. -Wonton Soup - some of the best I've had. The broth was deliciously savory and so much tastier than the bland versions you get from most Chinese places. -Pad See Ew - also fantastic. -Rad Nah - appreciated that they packed the noodles separately so I could assemble the dish fresh. No soggy noodles. -Ka Prow Crispy Pork - by the time I got it home, it wasn't very crispy anymore but it didn't matter because the flavor was fantastic. -Crispy Chicken Basil - same thing, not too crispy but still delicious. Restaurant decor looks comfortable and there are a decent amount of tables inside. I haven't made the effort to eat onsite yet, but looking forward to doing that at some point because I definitely want to try their whole fish. It looks amazing! Can totally understand why some people would be intimidated by the location and look from outside, but looks can be deceiving! Absolutely worth the drive.

This place used to be the adult store but I think it moved to the back. Decent parking around since…read morea small lot. Its small inside with tables for dine in. 4/5 drunken noodles was spicy and delicious. Arived fresh and hot. This was lunch portion so assuming its smaller sized. Think there was only one cook so things bit slower but fresh cook to order. 4/5 fighting fish roll was decent. Crunchy tofu skin exterior and packed with flavors of pork, crab and shrimp. Juicy and hot inside, good flavor and texture. 3.5 siam fried rice was decent and flavored well but just wasn't distinguishing itself enough. Service was decent, it was one guy doing waiter and cashier. He was back and forth and sometimes waiting inside kitchen. Overall will come again since location has decent parking and reasonable prices and good thai food. I like their specials menu which I assume rotates.