Always love visiting Lantern. Our favorite go to in Chapel Hill.
Travis Kukovich
One of the best restaurants in the entire triangle area!
Nina Pater
Wonderful dinner with excellent attentive service! We all loved our apps, entrees and dessert. Will be back next time we are in town.
Rick Hubbard
The restaurant is impeccable and the food is unrivaled anywhere. I do recommend adding more Table Staff, that's only a suggestion not a complaint by any means. I've been here several times and have always left extremely pleased overall. We have recommended your establishment and will continue to do so. Our many thanks to you all for a job well done. Thanks to you all.
Unc Biosuperwomen
This place is great I love each meal we have had. However the menu is forever changing and nothing is ever the same makes taking children or college adults out hard. If you have consistent eaters or picky ones this is not for you.
Kennedy D.
I was very happy with our dinner. We came for an anniversary and they had special menus printed for us when we arrived. Our service was amazing, all the staff was attentive and helpful. Our server, Alec went above and beyond and gave great recommendations for food as well as personal after dinner recommendations. We have no complaint about our food, everything was delicious. We have nothing bad to say. Overall, wonderful experience and great restaurant. We will definitely be returning!
HillelK
We think this is one of the most valued restaurants in our area. We have been their clients for many years and were never disappointed. Bret is an innovative and creative chef, his staff is competent, helpful and courteous. When bad times come we always think of small businesses and Elaine's always pops up as one of the first. we admire Elaine's consistence quality and hope it will continue to sustain difficult and hopefully rare crisis situations.
Leonard A.
Was able to get a last-minute reservation on a Saturday night. Got a cute table for two with my date. The chef sent over a very nice amuse start. The bartender prepared a special drink for us. We started off with a ceviche which was comparable to anything I had in Miami which means it was great. My date ordered the duck and I had the bass. We did a little sharing and it was our own version of a Surf and turf. Everything was outstanding. I would definitely come back. If I had to give them one piece of constructive criticism I would say that the waiter should introduce himself, speak up a bit and the bus boy who served the bread was a bit raw. But they both were super nice and it's definitely a high-end place in a college town. I'm sure many wealthy parents come here after they drop their kids off at their dorms or expensive Frat houses ))
KatieR
I went to Chapel Hill for 4 years and never went to Elaine's. I have been an alumni for 20 years and this was my first time. What was I thinking?! The food was fabulous and a tremendous value. This will be on our list from now on every time we return to Chapel Hill. Wonderful experience!
Susan Cerrigone G.
Fabulous. Service ,food and ambiance You must try this place next time you're in Chapel Hill.
Classic fancy small-plate antics. Sure, we are eating ourselves to death and all, but don't come at me with children's servings of chicken and fish for $28. Only steak is worth that money per the oz. I gotta make this last til morning or spend more money on a 4th meal. So next time I'll just start with the wings across the street.
Lisa Rose
OMG!!! Elaine’s on Franklin is off the hook! Elaine's On Franklin Steak melts like butter in your mouth, and the trout was delish! Chocolate Bread Pudding with ice cream is so good too! Can’t say enough about this place! It is SO GOOD! And... they wished Torrey a happy 21st birthday on their menu!
I was very happy with our dinner. We came for an anniversary and they had special menus printed for us when we arrived. Our service was amazing, all the staff was attentive and helpful. Our server, Alec went above and beyond and gave great recommendations for food as well as personal after dinner recommendations. We have no complaint about our food, everything was delicious. We have nothing bad to say. Overall, wonderful experience and great restaurant. We will definitely be returning!
Kaitlyn A.
We went to Elaine's on date night! Complimentary focaccia bread was delicious, but we did find a hair in it unfortunately. We let our waiter know. Appetizer: Caesar salad with fresh anchovies, but definitely needs pepper to give it a kick! Entree: 5 scallops with a creamy base, spinach with penne, light and buttery, needed a little more seasoning perhaps more salt? Overall so good. Entree: Duck confit-moist meat, creamy peanut based sauce with white rice, slight spiciness, and a fresh crisp slaw offered excellent contrast. Dessert: Pineapple upside down cake was just enough for 2! Moist and fluffy, just enough sweetness. A ring of pineapple on it. Great for those of you that love your fruity desserts. Their other options looked outstanding as well. Drinks: Sweet, easy drinking rye old fashioned. Prosecco-light and crisp Vodka soda-yummy with just enough ice and lime Ended the night with a complimentary espresso (because of the hair), would have been good to have lemon peel and sugar cube! Bathrooms- Small, but clean, genderized, lockable. Vibe- Casual, but still fit in with a jacket and tie. Romantic and candlelit. Attentive service. Cooler temperature, have a jacket! Seems like it was an old house. They also have a nice bar that is set a part from the dining area. Affordable meal for a special occasion. Would defiantly give this place another try.
rossmck
We were at Elaine's for a prix fixe Valentine's Day dinner, so it's not really a fair evening on which to judge. They did start with a sparkling rose and a rose on the table (and a gift rose at the end of the meal for my wife). The food was all good, particularly the scallop entree. I very much enjoyed my warm chocolate cake. The wine pairings were mostly okay, although the Banyuls with the chocolate cake was pretty stellar. The price was very fair for the quality of the food. We've been to Elaine's many times, and we'll be going again. We might even go again for Valentine's Day some year!
Always love visiting Lantern. Our favorite go to in Chapel Hill.
One of the best restaurants in the entire triangle area!
Wonderful dinner with excellent attentive service! We all loved our apps, entrees and dessert. Will be back next time we are in town.
The restaurant is impeccable and the food is unrivaled anywhere. I do recommend adding more Table Staff, that's only a suggestion not a complaint by any means. I've been here several times and have always left extremely pleased overall. We have recommended your establishment and will continue to do so. Our many thanks to you all for a job well done. Thanks to you all.
This place is great I love each meal we have had. However the menu is forever changing and nothing is ever the same makes taking children or college adults out hard. If you have consistent eaters or picky ones this is not for you.
I was very happy with our dinner. We came for an anniversary and they had special menus printed for us when we arrived. Our service was amazing, all the staff was attentive and helpful. Our server, Alec went above and beyond and gave great recommendations for food as well as personal after dinner recommendations. We have no complaint about our food, everything was delicious. We have nothing bad to say. Overall, wonderful experience and great restaurant. We will definitely be returning!
We think this is one of the most valued restaurants in our area. We have been their clients for many years and were never disappointed. Bret is an innovative and creative chef, his staff is competent, helpful and courteous. When bad times come we always think of small businesses and Elaine's always pops up as one of the first. we admire Elaine's consistence quality and hope it will continue to sustain difficult and hopefully rare crisis situations.
Was able to get a last-minute reservation on a Saturday night. Got a cute table for two with my date. The chef sent over a very nice amuse start. The bartender prepared a special drink for us. We started off with a ceviche which was comparable to anything I had in Miami which means it was great. My date ordered the duck and I had the bass. We did a little sharing and it was our own version of a Surf and turf. Everything was outstanding. I would definitely come back. If I had to give them one piece of constructive criticism I would say that the waiter should introduce himself, speak up a bit and the bus boy who served the bread was a bit raw. But they both were super nice and it's definitely a high-end place in a college town. I'm sure many wealthy parents come here after they drop their kids off at their dorms or expensive Frat houses ))
I went to Chapel Hill for 4 years and never went to Elaine's. I have been an alumni for 20 years and this was my first time. What was I thinking?! The food was fabulous and a tremendous value. This will be on our list from now on every time we return to Chapel Hill. Wonderful experience!
Fabulous. Service ,food and ambiance You must try this place next time you're in Chapel Hill.
Restaurantji Recommends
Classic fancy small-plate antics. Sure, we are eating ourselves to death and all, but don't come at me with children's servings of chicken and fish for $28. Only steak is worth that money per the oz. I gotta make this last til morning or spend more money on a 4th meal. So next time I'll just start with the wings across the street.
OMG!!! Elaine’s on Franklin is off the hook! Elaine's On Franklin Steak melts like butter in your mouth, and the trout was delish! Chocolate Bread Pudding with ice cream is so good too! Can’t say enough about this place! It is SO GOOD! And... they wished Torrey a happy 21st birthday on their menu!
I was very happy with our dinner. We came for an anniversary and they had special menus printed for us when we arrived. Our service was amazing, all the staff was attentive and helpful. Our server, Alec went above and beyond and gave great recommendations for food as well as personal after dinner recommendations. We have no complaint about our food, everything was delicious. We have nothing bad to say. Overall, wonderful experience and great restaurant. We will definitely be returning!
We went to Elaine's on date night! Complimentary focaccia bread was delicious, but we did find a hair in it unfortunately. We let our waiter know. Appetizer: Caesar salad with fresh anchovies, but definitely needs pepper to give it a kick! Entree: 5 scallops with a creamy base, spinach with penne, light and buttery, needed a little more seasoning perhaps more salt? Overall so good. Entree: Duck confit-moist meat, creamy peanut based sauce with white rice, slight spiciness, and a fresh crisp slaw offered excellent contrast. Dessert: Pineapple upside down cake was just enough for 2! Moist and fluffy, just enough sweetness. A ring of pineapple on it. Great for those of you that love your fruity desserts. Their other options looked outstanding as well. Drinks: Sweet, easy drinking rye old fashioned. Prosecco-light and crisp Vodka soda-yummy with just enough ice and lime Ended the night with a complimentary espresso (because of the hair), would have been good to have lemon peel and sugar cube! Bathrooms- Small, but clean, genderized, lockable. Vibe- Casual, but still fit in with a jacket and tie. Romantic and candlelit. Attentive service. Cooler temperature, have a jacket! Seems like it was an old house. They also have a nice bar that is set a part from the dining area. Affordable meal for a special occasion. Would defiantly give this place another try.
We were at Elaine's for a prix fixe Valentine's Day dinner, so it's not really a fair evening on which to judge. They did start with a sparkling rose and a rose on the table (and a gift rose at the end of the meal for my wife). The food was all good, particularly the scallop entree. I very much enjoyed my warm chocolate cake. The wine pairings were mostly okay, although the Banyuls with the chocolate cake was pretty stellar. The price was very fair for the quality of the food. We've been to Elaine's many times, and we'll be going again. We might even go again for Valentine's Day some year!