Bernadette

Bernadette is a French-inspired restaurant in downtown Salem from husband-and-wife team Aaron and Shanna Chambers. The market-driven menu follows the seasons, built around ingredients from nearby farms and producers and cooked with classic French technique in an open kitchen, with everything made in-house. Chef Aaron Chambers draws on his upbringing and classical training, and the bar pairs the food with bold cocktails and wine in the spirit of a Parisian bistro.

This is the couple’s second restaurant, following Settler, also in Salem. The name reflects the phrase raison d’être, a reason for being, and the interior honors the women who shaped their journey, with natural oak, plush velvet seating and handcrafted brass lighting. The owners say they want guests to feel the way their mothers made people feel at the table, and the restaurant has been featured among the hottest new restaurants in Greater Boston.

What to Know

• Once a month, the kitchens of Settler and Bernadette prepare a four-course take-home supper in portions for two or four, with limited quantities.
• The bar and rail are reserved for guests 18 and older.
• In October, a free early-evening series offers a welcome sip and cheese gougères, with RSVP required.