Best of Boston

2002 Best New Restaurant, North

Cilantro

We’ll just say it: The North Shore doesn’t typically see many promising new restaurants opening. So Cilantro came as a pleasant surprise—authentic, hearty, and diverse Mexican specialties in an upscale but easygoing brick-walled setting. Fresh specialties such as crispy flautas rolled around chicken, pico de gallo, guacamole, and queso fresco are breaths of fresh air after so many ersatz Mexican dishes. Don’t miss the creamy flan—a smooth, sweet followup to the often fiery main courses.

282 Derby St., Salem, 978-745-9436, cilantrocilantro.com/