Our local Priest recommended this restaurant for dinner, so my wife and I had dinner at the Njord Haven for the first time with my Fr. Frank. I usually don’t go to Asian Cuisine restaurants, so this was a first for me. Not only was I pleasantly surprised and impressed, but the menu was absolutely amazing…
I ordered a dish called “Crazy Drunken Noodles with Chicken, my wife ordered the same with Shrimp, and Fr Frank ordered an octopus dish. Owner/Chef Don Golden came over and welcomed us, chatted with us. We also had an Artichoke dish, and empanadas. Chef Don made me a special Salmon dish… I am not a seafood person, and have never tried salmon, so he made me a sample dish and made me try it. I was overwhelmed and could not believe how great it was, it was absolutely delicious. It was so good, that I ate the whole piece. My wife was very impressed that I ate it, and more importantly…. That I loved it.
I absolutely give this restaurant Five Stars and recommend everyone trying it… you will love it !!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Linda Lewis Williams
Some food excellent but other dishes very poor Service for drinks very good but food extremely slow Poor communication from Waitress Visited last year for our anniversary and had great experience, came back for our anniversary this year and so disappointed, we will not be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Alix Bigley
Njordhaven is hands-down our favorite local restaurant. The food and drinks are absolutely delicious—perfect for a date night, catching up with friends, or impressing out-of-town guests.
They’re also incredibly allergy-friendly. One of our close friends has celiac, and this is the one place she always asks to come back to. The Chef goes out of their way to make sure everything is completely safe for her to enjoy.
The service is just as impressive as the food. The Chef and staff are warm, welcoming, and always take time to greet guests and chat.
All around, it’s an amazing experience—great food, great people, and a guaranteed good time. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rin Wolter
Wasn’t sure what to expect with Nordic-Asian cuisine but it Absolutly delish. Everything was so tasty and cooked to perfection. Staff was friendly and kind. Great little gem
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
KayBee
We were given a very generous gift certificate for here, and were like, “what is Nordic/Asian fusion?” lol. Had no idea what to expect. Bartender immediately greeted us, and we were seated at the front window with nice view of the ocean. Some items were very interesting, some were difficult to imagine, so we went with the suggestions of our waiter Paula. We ordered way more than we needed and ended up eating almost everything! The Korean Caesar salad was delish. We also got sesame crusted ahi, Krabbekake (crab cakes), pad Thai, wok seared bok choy, and the Shui Dong Cumin Spareribs. Everything was great. Service was a bit slow, as others have commented. But there was a festive feeling, almost like a dinner show! I gave atmosphere only a 3 b/c I was literally bumping knees with the table about 4-6” away!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Cassidy Gray
Everything was delicious and the staff was super friendly and personable! Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tigran Aleksanyan
Great food and vibe, service is a bit slow, but overall is very nice restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Nolan Riley
Friendly and efficient service, great overall atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
S Powell
Incredible experience all around from the well balanced plates, to the warm welcoming staff. Chef Don Golden and his team have blessed the town of Swampscott with this gem of a restaurant that respectfully highlights both the uniqueness and similarities between Scandinavian and East Asian cuisines.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lucia Jenkins
Amazing food! There were four of us. We ordered four Tapas dishes from the Scandinavian menu then four Asian dishes and we split everything. They were all excellent - their tempura haddock was perfection, as well as the stuffed artichoke hearts. Light crispy panko-type coating. Paddle Thai delicious, and the Tacos are a must! Drinks were delicious. We will dine here again.
Excellent meal. The location is nice and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. Our waiter gave some good recommendations and the food was delicious. And so nice to have a small plates restaurant that staggers the dishes and doesn’t bring everything at once. I will definitely be going back here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Shank
Delectable fusion of Scandinavian and Asian cuisine. Tapas style small plates so it's good to order probably 2 or more per person. The kitchen chooses the order the food comes out which is really neat! They did an excellent job pairing the flavors.
Some of my favorite dishes were the Drunken Thai Noodles, Swedish Meatballs, Kongsburg Artichokes which were breaded and fried artichokes with goat cheese, Kanom Gui Chai, and Havasöletta which was fried Havard with little toast to put it on.
The staff were all very friendly and made sure we had a great time.
Phenomenal. The owner’s passion for his craft is evident in every detail, from the warm welcome at the door to the impeccable presentation of each dish. The dedication to quality and authenticity shines through, making every bite an experience rather than just a meal. The flavors are perfectly balanced, the ingredients fresh, and the execution flawless. The ambiance is just as thoughtful—inviting, intimate, and reflective of the care put into the food. This isn’t just dining; it’s a masterclass in hospitality and culinary excellence.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristina
My coworker recommended this place and I decided to make a fun date night out with my fiancé.
The whole experience was amazing. Our waiter was fantastic. He was friendly and took great care to make sure we had plenty of food and drink. The food was delicious. My only recommendation would be the potatoes get a bit more cooked in the potato dish but that could be a personal preference. The drinks were perfect. It’s rarely I got out and have a drink hits the spot. We’d definitely come back to try more drinks and food.
I’d recommend coming here for the atmosphere, food and drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mango Crepe Cake
Robert Van Lith
We were quite excited to go since my partner plus sister are Thai and we know the owner spends a lot of time there and food is inspired by it. I wish I could follow that with a glowing review, but unfortunately it did not live up to expectations.
Let’s start with the good: -atmosphere is very nice, music not too loud, cosy and casual yet still classy -our server was kind and did her best. I think she was fairly new and I wouldn’t call her outstanding but we liked her. -food: most was prerty nice, good quality and mostly tasty. Portions are surprisingly large. The only disappointments flavor wise was the Swedish shepherds pie; it was very liquidy but more importantly rather bland, and the Thai basil chicken, which was good but did not stand out as different in flavor or presentation from basil chicken at many Thai restaurants
Now the not so good: -pacing of the food is really off. Yes it’s tapas style, but that doesn’t mean each dish should come just one at a time and after the previous one is finished, which is what mostly happened. They’re tapas, not courses. Ultimately my partner, who had ordered the whole fish, had already filled up on the other stuff we had ordered since the fish still hadn’t come after almost 75 min. Other reviews mention this too so it seems in general to just be slow to come out. -owner came to our table basically to tell us we had to still take the fish because it’s made to order. You know what, I don’t even care about that part. I get it, the food was already being prepared. That’s fine. However, he frankly came across a little defensive and seemed to think that we just didn’t ‘get’ the concept.
Maybe we caught him on a bad day, maybe kitchen was understaffed affecting the pacing. Who knows.
We may or not try again since we live nearby, but overall it was disappointing.
Our local Priest recommended this restaurant for dinner, so my wife and I had dinner at the Njord Haven for the first time with my Fr. Frank. I usually don’t go to Asian Cuisine restaurants, so this was a first for me. Not only was I pleasantly surprised and impressed, but the menu was absolutely amazing…
I ordered a dish called “Crazy Drunken Noodles with Chicken, my wife ordered the same with Shrimp, and Fr Frank ordered an octopus dish. Owner/Chef Don Golden came over and welcomed us, chatted with us. We also had an Artichoke dish, and empanadas. Chef Don made me a special Salmon dish… I am not a seafood person, and have never tried salmon, so he made me a sample dish and made me try it. I was overwhelmed and could not believe how great it was, it was absolutely delicious. It was so good, that I ate the whole piece. My wife was very impressed that I ate it, and more importantly…. That I loved it.
I absolutely give this restaurant Five Stars and recommend everyone trying it… you will love it !!!
⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Some food excellent but other dishes very poor
Service for drinks very good but food extremely slow
Poor communication from
Waitress
Visited last year for our anniversary and had great experience, came back for our anniversary this year and so disappointed, we will not be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Njordhaven is hands-down our favorite local restaurant. The food and drinks are absolutely delicious—perfect for a date night, catching up with friends, or impressing out-of-town guests.
They’re also incredibly allergy-friendly. One of our close friends has celiac, and this is the one place she always asks to come back to. The Chef goes out of their way to make sure everything is completely safe for her to enjoy.
The service is just as impressive as the food. The Chef and staff are warm, welcoming, and always take time to greet guests and chat.
All around, it’s an amazing experience—great food, great people, and a guaranteed good time. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wasn’t sure what to expect with Nordic-Asian cuisine but it Absolutly delish. Everything was so tasty and cooked to perfection. Staff was friendly and kind. Great little gem
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were given a very generous gift certificate for here, and were like, “what is Nordic/Asian fusion?” lol. Had no idea what to expect. Bartender immediately greeted us, and we were seated at the front window with nice view of the ocean. Some items were very interesting, some were difficult to imagine, so we went with the suggestions of our waiter Paula. We ordered way more than we needed and ended up eating almost everything! The Korean Caesar salad was delish. We also got sesame crusted ahi, Krabbekake (crab cakes), pad Thai, wok seared bok choy, and the Shui Dong Cumin Spareribs. Everything was great. Service was a bit slow, as others have commented. But there was a festive feeling, almost like a dinner show! I gave atmosphere only a 3 b/c I was literally bumping knees with the table about 4-6” away!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Everything was delicious and the staff was super friendly and personable! Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food and vibe, service is a bit slow, but overall is very nice restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Friendly and efficient service, great overall atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Incredible experience all around from
the well balanced plates, to the warm welcoming staff. Chef Don Golden and his team have blessed the town of Swampscott with this gem of a restaurant that respectfully highlights both the uniqueness and similarities between Scandinavian and East Asian cuisines.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food! There were four of us. We ordered four Tapas dishes from the Scandinavian menu then four Asian dishes and we split everything. They were all excellent - their tempura haddock was perfection, as well as the stuffed artichoke hearts. Light crispy panko-type coating. Paddle Thai delicious, and the Tacos are a must! Drinks were delicious. We will dine here again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent meal. The location is nice and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. Our waiter gave some good recommendations and the food was delicious. And so nice to have a small plates restaurant that staggers the dishes and doesn’t bring everything at once. I will definitely be going back here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delectable fusion of Scandinavian and Asian cuisine. Tapas style small plates so it's good to order probably 2 or more per person. The kitchen chooses the order the food comes out which is really neat! They did an excellent job pairing the flavors.
Some of my favorite dishes were the Drunken Thai Noodles, Swedish Meatballs, Kongsburg Artichokes which were breaded and fried artichokes with goat cheese, Kanom Gui Chai, and Havasöletta which was fried Havard with little toast to put it on.
The staff were all very friendly and made sure we had a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Drunken Noodles, Njord Fries, Swedish Meatballs, Crazy Drunken Thai Noodles
Phenomenal. The owner’s passion for his craft is evident in every detail, from the warm welcome at the door to the impeccable presentation of each dish. The dedication to quality and authenticity shines through, making every bite an experience rather than just a meal. The flavors are perfectly balanced, the ingredients fresh, and the execution flawless. The ambiance is just as thoughtful—inviting, intimate, and reflective of the care put into the food. This isn’t just dining; it’s a masterclass in hospitality and culinary excellence.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My coworker recommended this place and I decided to make a fun date night out with my fiancé.
The whole experience was amazing. Our waiter was fantastic. He was friendly and took great care to make sure we had plenty of food and drink. The food was delicious. My only recommendation would be the potatoes get a bit more cooked in the potato dish but that could be a personal preference. The drinks were perfect. It’s rarely I got out and have a drink hits the spot. We’d definitely come back to try more drinks and food.
I’d recommend coming here for the atmosphere, food and drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mango Crepe Cake
We were quite excited to go since my partner plus sister are Thai and we know the owner spends a lot of time there and food is inspired by it. I wish I could follow that with a glowing review, but unfortunately it did not live up to expectations.
Let’s start with the good:
-atmosphere is very nice, music not too loud, cosy and casual yet still classy
-our server was kind and did her best. I think she was fairly new and I wouldn’t call her outstanding but we liked her.
-food: most was prerty nice, good quality and mostly tasty. Portions are surprisingly large. The only disappointments flavor wise was the Swedish shepherds pie; it was very liquidy but more importantly rather bland, and the Thai basil chicken, which was good but did not stand out as different in flavor or presentation from basil chicken at many Thai restaurants
Now the not so good:
-pacing of the food is really off. Yes it’s tapas style, but that doesn’t mean each dish should come just one at a time and after the previous one is finished, which is what mostly happened. They’re tapas, not courses. Ultimately my partner, who had ordered the whole fish, had already filled up on the other stuff we had ordered since the fish still hadn’t come after almost 75 min. Other reviews mention this too so it seems in general to just be slow to come out.
-owner came to our table basically to tell us we had to still take the fish because it’s made to order. You know what, I don’t even care about that part. I get it, the food was already being prepared. That’s fine. However, he frankly came across a little defensive and seemed to think that we just didn’t ‘get’ the concept.
Maybe we caught him on a bad day, maybe kitchen was understaffed affecting the pacing. Who knows.
We may or not try again since we live nearby, but overall it was disappointing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
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