Alessandor's Ristorante and Galleria

Alessandro's embodies everything I've come to understand about fine dining in Salem: Faux-snooty waiters in bow ties serving low-quality food at outrageous prices. I can't put all the blame on Alessandro's, though, as it somehow manages to stay in business despite its criminally ham-handed attempts at sophistication. Let's face it: Salem is not a fine-dining town. If you're looking for haute cusine, I guess you could try J. James, but if my review offers any sway: You'll be much happier at one of the many ethnic restaurants. Just imagine yourself as one of the unsuspecting patrons in a Kitchen Nightmares episode, and you've pretty much imagined your experience at Alessandro's. Pros: Parking Cons: Too expensive, slow, bland, cold, and boring. Oh, and it smells kind of weird inside. more

The restaurant is nice insde, too bad the food can't match it. There are two other establihments in the area that are far better ( Caruso's and Davinci's). Pros: Nothing Cons: Go elseware for dinner more

I know most people consider this upscale Italian in Salem, but it barely cracks it over Olive Garden as the best contender for Italian fare. Pros: Parking, Variety Cons: Service, Prices, Food more