Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Boston Metro North

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes 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!

Ledger Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (2733)

$31 to $50

American

Salem

About the restaurant

This historically unique location houses the new restaurant from Matt O'Neil chef/owner of The Blue Ox in Lynn. O'Neil collaborates with Executive Chef, Daniel Gursha, formerly of Bambara, Cambridge and A Voce and Bouley in New York City, offering a progressive New England concept, where traditional 19th-century dishes, cocktails, and techniques will be elevated with 21st-century resources.

Top review

LaurieVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Everything about this restaurant was stellar: food was prepared beautifully (and delicious!), service was thoughtful, friendly and professional, cocktails and wine - excellent and the historic location was incredibly creative and fun. Lively room - especially considering it was a Monday night. We’ll come back here in a heartbeat. Best meal by far that we’ve had on our trip around the northeast. What a find in Salem!

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Popular dish

Niman Ranch Pork Belly

Popular dish

Fried Brussels Sprouts

Experience

Rose Patio Party

Pots

4.8

4.8 (132)

$31 to $50

Chinese

Peabody

About the restaurant

Pots is on OpenTable. Make a reservation today!
We look forward to seeing you

Top review

CharlesVIP

Dined on Jun 19, 2025

Cool place. Staff was super nice. We had a great time.

The Derby

4.6

4.6 (263)

$30 and under

American

Salem

About the restaurant

Located within walking distance to Salem Old Town Hall & Witch History Museum right in the heart of downtown Salem, The Derby is scratch restaurant focused on unique, locally sourced, American fare with great and unique cocktails and a vast selection of Draft Beer! We have large televisions throughout the restaurant, windows from ceiling to floor, and a beautiful patio for those warm days! Whether you are out to watch the game, catch up with old friends, or just enjoy a nice night out on the town, The Derby is here to meet all of your needs. Feel free to ask our team for recommendations if you are visiting form out of town... Salem is not just about the witches.
*Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm
*We do apologize but we do not take reservations for outdoor seating. The patio is sat on a first come first serve basis. Thank you for understanding.

Top review

Roger

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

Food was good! They had outside seating. Service was quick.

Sea Level Oyster Bar- NBPT

4.5

4.5 (860)

$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

PeterVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent meal. Crab crusted haddock was great. Very attentive service. Outdoors with band playing on the square was fun.

Not Your Average Joe's Peabody

4.5

4.5 (613)

$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

Ben

Dined 5 days ago

very tasty food, good portion size, cold beer, and excellent service.

Bradford Tavern

4.5

4.5 (227)

$31 to $50

American

Rowley

About the restaurant

American fare & creative cocktails served in a charming house with rustic beams & modern decor.

Top review

Susan

Dined 3 days ago

The food is always excellent. I had the wedge salad and bang bang shrimp. Both were delicious!! I will definitely have them again. Our waiter, Jimmy, is fabulous. He is knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, and always makes us feel welcome. We dine here frequently, and always ask for one of his tables!! We will be back soon.

Goodnight Johnny’s

4.5

4.5 (193)

$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

TeresaR

Dined 4 days ago

Love going there for music . Beautiful place and not far from home . Everyone is so nice and like making rsvp .

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Experience

Taylor Made

The Babe

4.5

4.5 (78)

$30 and under

American

Salem

About the restaurant

Welcome to your friend neighborhood bar and sandwich shop. Tucked away on Lafayette Park, just a block from the downtown and seaport neighborhoods of Salem, MA, The Babe is the perfect place to rendezvous after work for a cocktail, grab a bite with friends, or get together for a late night celebration. We take pride in our scratch kitchen with a menu inspired by Northeast sandwich culture and cuisine; touching on fan favorites from Philly to NY, and of course, Boston! Our menu includes specialties like house-ground cheese burgers, loaded Italian subs with freshly sliced salumi, crispy and cheesy mozzarella pockets, crispy wings, and more. The dining room and bar have a casual but intimate feel with high ceilings, updated vintage architectural features, and warm deco-lighting. The Babe also features live performances several nights a week as well as a cozy backyard patio in the warm weather season. Parties larger than 10 guests should contact the restaurant directly for booking

Top review

Theresa

Dined on May 15, 2025

Very fun neighborhood bar. I love the vibe, the crowd (very welcoming, lots of young people there and then us in our 50's rounding out the older crowd!). Server was great and we ended up there on Drag Trivia night which was a blast! Good food and good prices. Definitely a great addition to Salem!!

BOSA Coastal Italian

4.3

4.3 (18)

$30 and under

Italian

Haverhill

About the restaurant

BOSA is a unique concept founded by renowned restaurateur and pizza expert Sal Lupoli.

Named after the picturesque fishing village of BOSA, situated along the Temo River in Sardinia, Italy, our vibrant establishment is located on the shores of the Merrimack River in Downtown Haverhill. Situated in The Heights, a diverse building just a stone's throw away from Restaurant Row, BOSA injects an unmatched liveliness and ambiance into the Haverhill dining scene.

Our menu showcases coastal Italian cuisine, emphasizing fresh ingredients and traditional Italian dishes. This includes a carefully curated selection of artisanal wines and cocktails, as well as a range of craft beers. Additionally, we proudly present Sal's renowned pizza creations, featuring enhanced flavor profiles and cooked in our Marra Forni pizza oven.

Top review

HilaryVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We thoroughly enjoyed the Bosa Brunch! Great food, service and atmosphere. We will return in the future.

Fogo de Chão - Burlington

4.1

4.1 (1190)

$30 and under

Brazilian

Burlington

About the restaurant

Fogo de Chão is an internationally-renowned steakhouse from Brazil that allows guests to discover what's next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old culinary art of churrasco - roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame - into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Please join us in our dining room, in our more casual Bar Fogo, or bring the Fogo Experience to you with Fogo To-Go or Catering. Visit our website to make a reservation or place an order.

Top review

KeithVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Daffny is the best! Thank you for making a good experience… a great one!

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Experience

Surf & Turf Cocktail Party

Experience

All-Day Bar Fogo

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