Where to Bernadette, a very stylish, French-inspired restaurant in Salem.
Why Aaron and Shanna Chambers — he’s the chef, she oversees front-of-house — own Settler in Salem and know how to put together an appealing menu served by a well-trained staff. We were curious to peek into their second spot in downtown Salem.
The back story The couple, who live on the North Shore (Shanna is from Swampscott), are raising three boys. Aaron, born in Yorkshire, England, worked for celebrated New York chef Daniel Boulud for almost a decade and cooked in other top kitchens. The duo opened Bernadette in late 2024. The name is the French word for “brave as a bear,” say the owners, to symbolize strength and resilience.
Barbajuan at Bernadette in Salem.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
What to eat Barbajuan, a specialty of the French Riviera and Monaco, are small fried fritters with Swiss chard and ricotta filling; frisee salad comes with a perfect poached egg, bacon lardons, and lacey-thin toasts; plump mussels from Penobscot Bay are served in a white wine-cream sauce with a crunchy slab of grilled hearty toast; frites (exquisite) with homemade aioli are a lovely accompaniment; vacherin, with orange sorbet and crunchy meringue pieces on top, is a very unclassic and delightful take on the French dessert.
What to drink Full liquor license with cocktails like La Vie en Rose (bourbon, hibiscus Lillet) and House of Bernadette (vodka, Lillet, Curacao). A by-the-glass list fits right in with the vibe. It’s all French, you’re trying pours from Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire, etc., and producers are solid with very good reputations. Nothing you’d call adventurous. Anyone can find something appropriate to drink right here before venturing into the larger list.
Marshall Cove Moules Marinières at Bernadette.
Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
The takeaway The 60-seat room with a 12-stool bar, designed by Shanna with RODE Architects of South Boston, is stunning with fanciful lighting (though not bright enough in the main dining room), an open kitchen, oak and walnut finishes, plush banquettes, rustic plates, top quality tableware, hues of tan and coffee throughout. The food is imaginative variations of French classics. Both of their mothers, say the couple, taught them about hospitality and it shows here. It’s luxe but friendly with a warm, professional staff. Aaron will collaborate at Bernadette with chef Carl Dooley of Mooncusser restaurant in Boston (both worked at Craigie on Main), on a dinner on March 26. 65 Washington St., Salem, 978-224-2976, www.bernadettesalem.com. Entree prices about $31-$48.
Sheryl Julian can be reached at sheryl.julian@globe.com.