What a quaint local restaurant!! From the moment we entered the restaurant to the time we left, the staff were so attentive and polite. The food came out hot & tasty. Portions were perfectly sized...not too big not too small. Would definitely recommend.
Robert L.
Not the same good quality dining experience that it was ten years ago. Now it's fast food served slow at NYC pricing. Get the cocktails. They're worth the money. Skip the food.
Dianna L.
So disappointing. I can imagine the restaurant week sucks for the actual restaurant, but I felt like I was at the Olive Garden and not one of the best restaurants in Chapel Hill. They ran out of the best thing on the menu, probably because it was the most expensive and I don't believe that was mistake. There was no replacement so you were either stuck with fish or a vegetarian rice dish. They probably had a certain number of orders to entice people into the restaurant and then just didn't care when they ran out early. We ordered drinks and they arrived 10 minutes after our appetizers. We sat there for 15 minutes without water. *sigh* Lantern used to be the best place in Chapel Hill with exquisite service and excellent food and this will make me think long and hard about ever going there again. For the quality of the experience is just not worth the price.
Steven M.
Came in here for the third time, once before covid (seating in the main dining room), the 2nd in the back bar area. I much prefer the back area in terms of ambiance and service from the awesome bartender we had. First visit did have perfect service, but I found the food really overpriced for what it was. My buddy (and his girlfriend) were visiting in town and asked to go here, which I was happy to oblige. Our server was trying his best, but my friend's girlfriend had a couple of specific allergies that she told the server about. The server never confirmed whether she could eat any of the menu items. She finally asked him if he checked with the kitchen, and his response was, "um, yeah you should be fine to order whatever". Not exactly imparting confidence. Our drinks also took a really long time, around 20 min. Overall, I found the food mediocre and would rather enjoy various asian cuisine somewhere else. I would visit the back bar again, though for drinks.
Jim V.
Yelp menu doesn't reflect the actual menu. Absolutely nothing for kids. Too political signage. We were a large party that didn't even get to main course because of limited menu. Used to be good, but will not be back.
Victoria S
I was so looking forward to this restaurant. Had heard so much about it. Was going to Asheville for a wedding and left a day early and booked a room in Chapel Hill expressly for the purpose of going to experience this dining establishment What a disappointment. The famed pea shoot dumpling were totally lacking in flavor. The corn soup was fairly good. The shaking beef was tough , lacking seasoning and there was nothing about this dish that would give you a clue as to why it carried that name. The veggie and chickpea stew served with chutneys was very one note again no depth of flavor The cilantro chutney had zero flavor and the red pepper chutney was just chopped up red bell peppers with a little no flavor vinegar. I am not sure on what level either of them can be considered a chutney Dessert I ordered a warm yuzu pudding cake. It came to the table ice cold obviously straight out of the refrigerator. They apologized and another took one bite it was bit of sponge under blueberries but in no way constitutes a pudding cake which should become two layers one creamy and one sponge. I can only imagine that it was over cooked by the time they reward it The service was perfection the only redeeming factor of the night One can only assume that at some point this restaurant was better but at this point the kitchen is way off its mark
Jake B.
Loved our meal here - great vibes, great food, great drinks. We got a variety of things to split. My personal favorites were the corn soup and the pork dumplings, but there wasn't anything that wasn't good. Perfect spot in Chapel Hill, would strongly recommend!
Sean R.
We loved the food and service. Try the dumplings and pork shank. We will definitely go back.
Shiloh L.
The ambience is pretty cool but the "shell-still-on" fried shrimp was, um, unpleasant (to say the least) and the fish in the bento box wasn't any better, unfortunately. Something else good: my beer was cold and delicious.
Anna Z.
The food is a combination of Asian flavors with a modern twist. I had the Japanese style steak which was cooked to perfection and the crispy spinach on top was a nice addition. We also got the duck congee and the peashoot and scallion dumplings as an appetizer and they were good, but I thought the dumplings could have been a little more flavorful. My friend got the roasted Moulard duck and thought it was pretty good. The sweet potatoes it came with were delicious. I also got the Junebug cocktail and thought it was really refreshing!Service was pretty good and the waitstaff were helpful in answering questions about the menu. The ambiance was on the fancier side. I would recommend coming here to celebrate a special occasion as it's got an intimate/cozy vibe. The menu is on the pricier side, but nothing too crazy for the service, ambiance, and food.
Wonderful spot for dinner and drinks on a nice stretch of Franklin in Chapel Hill. The back room and bar are cozy and hip, and perfect for a small group or solo meal. The menu is stacked with intriguing-sounding dishes: I settled on pea shoot dumplings and a tea-cured salmon bento which was excellent. The outstanding bartender served up a top notch cocktail (the best I found in Chapel Hill) and a good wine rec, then offered good suggestions for other spots in Chapel Hill. Friendly folks at the bar rounded out the experience.
Mary P.
In my experience, Lantern is always a cut above. The food is reliably tasty and interesting, the vibe is friendly and informal. I'm in my 70s, am not a drinker, and often eat by myself, certainly not the ideal customer, but I'm always treated with courtesy and warmth. Every Chapel Hill restaurant has the occasional hiccup, but Lantern has been my most consistent favorite. One of its underrated superpowers is the dessert menu, which is small but full of exceptional items.
Catherine L.
Two of us shared four small plates and the hot fudge sundae. The food was amazing. The Asian influence was clear with a sesame sauce on asparagus. We also had the scallion dumplings, chaat and salt and pepper shrimp. The mint chip ice cream tasted like freshly picked mint. The cocktails were delicious. When making the reservation, I had asked for a quiet spot. They seated us indoors and no one as seated next to us. Much appreciated. Decor isn't very exciting. Service was prompt. Servers are still masked. There s a pay parking lot very close by. Definitely would return.
AlexanderW
Server did an excellent job of describing the menu. Each dish was unexpected but tasted fantastic, we were given plenty of time between courses to drink our wine. Nothing went poorly.
CATHY
Our table was not great. We were next to a window with lot of glare from the sun. Ask to move since there were many open tables, it didn't happen. Drinks were super small for 13.00 each. Apps and entrees were really good. Desserts we're definitely out fresh. The toppings were stale and mushy.
What a quaint local restaurant!! From the moment we entered the restaurant to the time we left, the staff were so attentive and polite. The food came out hot & tasty. Portions were perfectly sized...not too big not too small. Would definitely recommend.
Not the same good quality dining experience that it was ten years ago. Now it's fast food served slow at NYC pricing. Get the cocktails. They're worth the money. Skip the food.
So disappointing. I can imagine the restaurant week sucks for the actual restaurant, but I felt like I was at the Olive Garden and not one of the best restaurants in Chapel Hill. They ran out of the best thing on the menu, probably because it was the most expensive and I don't believe that was mistake. There was no replacement so you were either stuck with fish or a vegetarian rice dish. They probably had a certain number of orders to entice people into the restaurant and then just didn't care when they ran out early. We ordered drinks and they arrived 10 minutes after our appetizers. We sat there for 15 minutes without water. *sigh* Lantern used to be the best place in Chapel Hill with exquisite service and excellent food and this will make me think long and hard about ever going there again. For the quality of the experience is just not worth the price.
Came in here for the third time, once before covid (seating in the main dining room), the 2nd in the back bar area. I much prefer the back area in terms of ambiance and service from the awesome bartender we had. First visit did have perfect service, but I found the food really overpriced for what it was. My buddy (and his girlfriend) were visiting in town and asked to go here, which I was happy to oblige. Our server was trying his best, but my friend's girlfriend had a couple of specific allergies that she told the server about. The server never confirmed whether she could eat any of the menu items. She finally asked him if he checked with the kitchen, and his response was, "um, yeah you should be fine to order whatever". Not exactly imparting confidence. Our drinks also took a really long time, around 20 min. Overall, I found the food mediocre and would rather enjoy various asian cuisine somewhere else. I would visit the back bar again, though for drinks.
Yelp menu doesn't reflect the actual menu. Absolutely nothing for kids. Too political signage. We were a large party that didn't even get to main course because of limited menu. Used to be good, but will not be back.
I was so looking forward to this restaurant. Had heard so much about it. Was going to Asheville for a wedding and left a day early and booked a room in Chapel Hill expressly for the purpose of going to experience this dining establishment What a disappointment. The famed pea shoot dumpling were totally lacking in flavor. The corn soup was fairly good. The shaking beef was tough , lacking seasoning and there was nothing about this dish that would give you a clue as to why it carried that name. The veggie and chickpea stew served with chutneys was very one note again no depth of flavor The cilantro chutney had zero flavor and the red pepper chutney was just chopped up red bell peppers with a little no flavor vinegar. I am not sure on what level either of them can be considered a chutney Dessert I ordered a warm yuzu pudding cake. It came to the table ice cold obviously straight out of the refrigerator. They apologized and another took one bite it was bit of sponge under blueberries but in no way constitutes a pudding cake which should become two layers one creamy and one sponge. I can only imagine that it was over cooked by the time they reward it The service was perfection the only redeeming factor of the night One can only assume that at some point this restaurant was better but at this point the kitchen is way off its mark
Loved our meal here - great vibes, great food, great drinks. We got a variety of things to split. My personal favorites were the corn soup and the pork dumplings, but there wasn't anything that wasn't good. Perfect spot in Chapel Hill, would strongly recommend!
We loved the food and service. Try the dumplings and pork shank. We will definitely go back.
The ambience is pretty cool but the "shell-still-on" fried shrimp was, um, unpleasant (to say the least) and the fish in the bento box wasn't any better, unfortunately. Something else good: my beer was cold and delicious.
The food is a combination of Asian flavors with a modern twist. I had the Japanese style steak which was cooked to perfection and the crispy spinach on top was a nice addition. We also got the duck congee and the peashoot and scallion dumplings as an appetizer and they were good, but I thought the dumplings could have been a little more flavorful. My friend got the roasted Moulard duck and thought it was pretty good. The sweet potatoes it came with were delicious. I also got the Junebug cocktail and thought it was really refreshing!Service was pretty good and the waitstaff were helpful in answering questions about the menu. The ambiance was on the fancier side. I would recommend coming here to celebrate a special occasion as it's got an intimate/cozy vibe. The menu is on the pricier side, but nothing too crazy for the service, ambiance, and food.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful spot for dinner and drinks on a nice stretch of Franklin in Chapel Hill. The back room and bar are cozy and hip, and perfect for a small group or solo meal. The menu is stacked with intriguing-sounding dishes: I settled on pea shoot dumplings and a tea-cured salmon bento which was excellent. The outstanding bartender served up a top notch cocktail (the best I found in Chapel Hill) and a good wine rec, then offered good suggestions for other spots in Chapel Hill. Friendly folks at the bar rounded out the experience.
In my experience, Lantern is always a cut above. The food is reliably tasty and interesting, the vibe is friendly and informal. I'm in my 70s, am not a drinker, and often eat by myself, certainly not the ideal customer, but I'm always treated with courtesy and warmth. Every Chapel Hill restaurant has the occasional hiccup, but Lantern has been my most consistent favorite. One of its underrated superpowers is the dessert menu, which is small but full of exceptional items.
Two of us shared four small plates and the hot fudge sundae. The food was amazing. The Asian influence was clear with a sesame sauce on asparagus. We also had the scallion dumplings, chaat and salt and pepper shrimp. The mint chip ice cream tasted like freshly picked mint. The cocktails were delicious. When making the reservation, I had asked for a quiet spot. They seated us indoors and no one as seated next to us. Much appreciated. Decor isn't very exciting. Service was prompt. Servers are still masked. There s a pay parking lot very close by. Definitely would return.
Server did an excellent job of describing the menu. Each dish was unexpected but tasted fantastic, we were given plenty of time between courses to drink our wine. Nothing went poorly.
Our table was not great. We were next to a window with lot of glare from the sun. Ask to move since there were many open tables, it didn't happen. Drinks were super small for 13.00 each. Apps and entrees were really good. Desserts we're definitely out fresh. The toppings were stale and mushy.