Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Boston Metro North

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Boston Metro North? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Seaport Grille

4.8

4.8 (581)

$30 and under

Seafood

Gloucester

About the restaurant

Seaport Grille at Cruiseport Gloucester is located directly on the harbor with two decks for classic waterview dining. Our menu offers a wide range of delectable cuisines made with the freshest ingredients -including traditional New England seafood, surf & turf options, classic American plates, world-famous desserts and much more. Within the backyard of our restaurant lies the inner harbors of Gloucester, home to the oldest working waterfront in America. During the warmer months, you and your guests may want to experience dining on our outdoor deck or even our covered deck where you’ll feel the warm breeze and soak in the summer sounds of the harbor. Come for the menu, stay for the vibe!

*ORDER TAKEOUT HERE: https://eat.chownow.com/discover/restaurant/31809 *

Top review

Ben

Dined 3 days ago

A great date night for my wife and I. Our server Rachel was excellent and timed our courses perfectly.

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4.7

4.7 (496)

$30 and under

Italian

Swampscott

About the restaurant

Paradiso Ristorante is a family-friendly restaurant located across from the Swampscott train station. Small kitchen with big flavors.
Executive Chef Benedetto Carenza from Avellino, Italy prepares Italian cuisine that will make you want to lick your plate. All menu items are cooked to order. Quality is our number one priority. Enjoy the ambiance of our “soon” newly renovated lounge and dining room. The casual atmosphere of our lounge offers 6 flat screen TVs, along with our dining room, outdoor heated patio and outdoor tent.

Top review

Joanne

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Delicious food and a very nice wine menu. Very friendly and professional staff. A bit noisy which felt lively for a Saturday night.

Post 1917 Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (147)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Reading

About the restaurant

A steakhouse: city vibe, local heart. Our menu is hand selected to feature locally and ethically sourced ingredients. Our head chef and owner Jason Carron has revolutionized the New England restaurant community for two decades. With his acute attention to detail, Carron has helped struggling restaurants find their purpose and passion, restoring their place in the industry. Having given hope to hundreds of restaurants over the years, Carron is opening his first steakhouse this spring, bringing that same level of attention to his own restaurant. Every ingredient is well thought out to innovate the plate with not only something aesthetically pleasing, but more importantly delicious. His farm to table approach, ensures the highest level of ingredients go into every meal you enjoy.

Please note our dress code: No gym wear, hooded sweatshirts, shorts, or ball caps are to be worn. All men are strongly encouraged to have a collar. No tank tops. Jackets are not required.

Top review

Lauravip

Dined 2 days ago

Post is a beautiful restaurant with a huge bar. The food is excellent. I highly recommend the cauliflower appetizer. The bartenders are very accommodating and friendly. I asked for a specific mixed drink and they made it for me. There's music in the bar area which makes the vibe lively and energetic. I have been several times now and it is always excellent in all areas. Make a reservation, it is a hotspot and gets crowded.

Mile Marker One Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1816)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Gloucester

About the restaurant

Mile Marker One waterfront restaurant offers four season indoor dining and igloo dining on the marina with stunning views of fishing boats, some you'll recognize from television. We offer the freshest seafood, locally sourced direct from fishermen. The grass fed beef is amazing and you're never going to leave our restaurant hungry. We have fresh local clams, fresh local lobster, hake, halibut, and a stunning lobster grilled cheese sandwich with sage butter. We're about friends, family, fun and we even have music some Wednesdays. Local bartenders are always coming up with new drinks like our signature "Purple Rain." We host the Blue Fin Blowout each year in July.

Top review

Robertvip

Dined 4 days ago

Always enjoy our dinners at Mile Marker One! Relaxing atmosphere overlooking the beautiful marina with great music in the background. Blaine, our waitress, was wonderful and very helpful when helping me find the perfect glass of white wine! The crispy horseradish haddock is our favorite but all the food is excellent. The special pear, arugula, goat cheese salad with balsamic drizzle was absolutely delicious ❤️

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HORSERADISH-CRUSTED HADDOCK

Not Your Average Joe's Peabody

4.6

4.6 (587)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Peabody

About the restaurant

From our famous focaccia and dipping oil, to our legendary pizza, salads, and sandwiches, we offer something for everyone at Not Your Average Joe's. Come in for fan favorites like our Mustard Crusted Chicken or Steak Tips, stay for the extended list of wines, craft beer, and crafted cocktails. We serve an extensive gluten free menu, happy hour, weekend brunch, and have full-service lunch and dinner 7 days a week in the dining room or bar area.

Not Your Average Joe's Peabody is a family-style restaurant that offers a bar area, main dining room, and wide array of seating options from high tops to booths to community tables. Our restaurant sits in the beautiful Northshore Mall near Sears, Legal Sea Foods, and the Sears Auto Center. Located just off Yankee Division Highway, it has easy access to Lahey Medical Center Peabody, the Salem Country Club, Bishop Fenwick High School, Endicott Square Shopping Center and more.

Top review

hilda

Dined on Sep 26, 2024

Service was personable, prompt, so accommodating..thank you for the birthday dessert sundae..we will return😊💜

The Autograph American Tavern

4.5

4.5 (120)

$30 and under

American

Andover

About the restaurant

Now Open! Enjoy Lunch and Dinner at our American Tavern. Family friendly and perfect for the sports enthusiast.

Top review

Alexvip

Dined 5 days ago

Great overall place! Our server was fantastic but food took just a little long to come out. Worth the wait though!

Sea Level Oyster Bar- NBPT

4.3

4.3 (801)

$30 and under

Seafood

Newburyport

About the restaurant

A staple in Salem now open in Newburyport in the historic Firehouse Theater. Offering front patio and deck dining overlooking the Merrimack river
Featuring fresh seafood, raw bar, pizzas and sandwiches, 20+craft beers and cocktails.

Top review

Brendan

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

It was a very great experience will come back soon

SurfSide Salisbury Beach

4.2

4.2 (181)

$30 and under

Seafood

Salisbury

About the restaurant

SurfSide offers al fresco dining with popular lunch and dinner selection on our expansive, panoramic oceanfront deck overlooking the mighty Atlantic. SurfSide's preseason menu favorites include our fresh Famous Fish & Chips, New England Clam Chowder, Maine Lobster Rolls, and Surf Burgers as well as savory appetizers--Crispy Fried Calamari, Coconut Shrimp, Bang Bang Cauliflower, and more. An afternoon visit to SurfSide offers seating to soak up the sun or shaded tables under our covered pavilion. In the evening, enjoy dinner with salt-all breezes and stunning pink skies over the ocean as the sun sets to the west. Creative cocktails offer a refreshing sip of sunny deliciousness--try the Watermelon Margarita, Coco Loco Mai Tai, Deep Sea Fish Bucket, and Frozen Pina Coladas. Treat yourself to the sweet and savory tastes of summer with unmatched ocean views and the sound of waves literally lapping beneath your feet. Open weekends through June 18 then Tuesday-Sunday through Labor Day.

Top review

Jessica

Dined on Sep 13, 2024

This was our 1st time here. Unfortunately, they were out of some of the drink specials and also some of the food on the regular menu. From what we were told, this was a 1st for them being open beyond Labor day. I would go back and try it again in the "on" season in hopes the service will be better as it was very poor.

Goodnight Johnny’s

4.2

4.2 (101)

$30 and under

Grill

Burlington

About the restaurant

Goodnight Johnny’s American Music Bar is Burlington’s newest hot spot for live music and quality food and drinks. Goodnight Johnny’s features top musical entertainment and a full service restaurant with classic American menu offerings. Our upbeat atmosphere caters to local adults looking for a quality, a reasonably priced experience and excellent service. We offer lunch, dinner, a weekend brunch, a few drinks and live music.

Top review

JohnG

Dined 4 days ago

Everything was great, from the food to the musicians playing that night.

Hotel Salem - The Roof

3.8

3.8 (58)

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Salem

About the restaurant

Unique among Salem restaurants, The Roof offers Salem’s only open-air rooftop bar and restaurant serving the necessities—strong drinks and simple food. Located at the top of The Hotel Salem, this seasonal dining space features an outdoor kitchen and expansive views of Salem’s cobblestone streets and bustling harbor. Expect to find some of the best-crafted cocktails in the area, as well as tacos, rice bowls, and more.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 5 days ago

So great. Nachos were outstanding. Cider and cocktail we ordered were fantastic.

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