Brie (Gabriela ) best bartender , she knows spanish , they have Averna and Fernet Branca, best service!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carol McNair
VERY DISAPPOINTED! The steak and rice dish was good, but almost over seasoned, whereas the pork belly and dumplings had no flavor at all. We had to dip them in the sauce from the steak. We don't mind higher prices and smaller portions as long as the food has flavor. These dishes did not.Positives: service was excellent and our waitress was super friendly. The drinks and desserts were very good.So I would say go here for drinks and dessert, but skip the main dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Ashley Stuart
Wonderful ambiance and very friendly/attentive staff. The food presentation was beautiful...the taste was equally amazing! Great dining experience, we will definitely be return customers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Steakhouse Style Steak, Crispy Slow-Cooked Duck Soup, Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Pork and Chive Dumplings, Panna Cotta
Ne Ne
Loved this place. The atmosphere is classy, warm and homey. The ladies who served us were well dressed, especially the one in training. The food was unique. I loved the crispy shrimp , the dumplings, the steak. I would have loved my salmon little bit more cooked but that's my fault. Loved the crispy green spices, never had them fried like that. The bill was hefty but it was so worth it. Loved the drink. The ginger was very present!Parking: Parking to the side of the building, paid parking but free in the evening
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Steakhouse Style Steak, Salt & Pepper Shrimp
Vickie
It has been several years since we have been to the Lantern. It used to be outstanding all around. What happened? The server was pleasant but very slow - e.g., 15 mins before cocktail orders were taken and then another 20 mins before we received them. The menu was limited to 4 entree items and from the 3 our table tried, all were 'alright, wouldn't get again' to 'awful'. Only the restaurant name remains the same - everything else about the old excellent Lantern has disappeared.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Jason West
Visited in January 2024. We’ve been here several times over the years but had not been back since Covid. Quality of the food was much lower than it used to be. Salmon starter was low quality fish. “Sticky rice” was just a runny risotto without much flavor. Salad was just a pile of damp lettuce without much else. Ambience remains great but they are going to struggle to survive if food doesn’t improve.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Michael B
Some of the dishes were excellent, unique, others were more average (like the soup). Waitress very sweet but had no idea how to pour wine, even my kids commented—pretty shocking for a place like this.Dietary restrictions: They did a nice job dealing with celiac disease
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Bento Box
Oriana So
Delicious food, wonderful service, beautiful atmosphere! We were lucky enough to come here on restaurant week and had an amazing 3-course meal. We will definitely be back!
Chan Lin
Server was nice, food is just ok, but the bill did gave me a surprise in the end, 6% of kitchen appreciation fee was added without any notice. That is disgusting! If you want to charge, plz make this transparent and let pp know in advance!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Ryan Roberts
Food is so good! Thoughtful, seasonal, and well presented.Our waitress was amazing too! One of the best I’ve had to dine with.
Had large group dinner at restaurant and it was great!! Wonderful appetizers, entrees and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Hunter Levinsohn
We always enjoy eating at the Lantern. The Panna cotta is to die for!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Marie Liebelt
Best meal and experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Chive Dumplings
Anne Everitt
Sad to say, that this formerly consistently stellar restaurant has really fallen. For the first time it was a disappointment. They were out of multiple things we wanted order, which our waiter was not aware of until we ordered and he returned 10-15 min later to say they were out. The service seemed amateur and old time favorites were lackluster. Super disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Manisit
Lantern is a delicious Asian fusion food in downtown Chapel Hill. Everything was well-balanced in flavors and exquisitely presented. Two small plates and a large one were adequate for my partner and me, leaving us room for desserts. I would love to visit again!Parking: Parking garage at 5-10 min walking distance
Brie (Gabriela ) best bartender , she knows spanish , they have Averna and Fernet Branca, best service!!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
VERY DISAPPOINTED! The steak and rice dish was good, but almost over seasoned, whereas the pork belly and dumplings had no flavor at all. We had to dip them in the sauce from the steak. We don't mind higher prices and smaller portions as long as the food has flavor. These dishes did not.Positives: service was excellent and our waitress was super friendly. The drinks and desserts were very good.So I would say go here for drinks and dessert, but skip the main dishes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Wonderful ambiance and very friendly/attentive staff. The food presentation was beautiful...the taste was equally amazing! Great dining experience, we will definitely be return customers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Steakhouse Style Steak, Crispy Slow-Cooked Duck Soup, Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Pork and Chive Dumplings, Panna Cotta
Loved this place. The atmosphere is classy, warm and homey. The ladies who served us were well dressed, especially the one in training. The food was unique. I loved the crispy shrimp , the dumplings, the steak. I would have loved my salmon little bit more cooked but that's my fault. Loved the crispy green spices, never had them fried like that. The bill was hefty but it was so worth it. Loved the drink. The ginger was very present!Parking: Parking to the side of the building, paid parking but free in the evening
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Steakhouse Style Steak, Salt & Pepper Shrimp
It has been several years since we have been to the Lantern. It used to be outstanding all around. What happened? The server was pleasant but very slow - e.g., 15 mins before cocktail orders were taken and then another 20 mins before we received them. The menu was limited to 4 entree items and from the 3 our table tried, all were 'alright, wouldn't get again' to 'awful'. Only the restaurant name remains the same - everything else about the old excellent Lantern has disappeared.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 2
Visited in January 2024. We’ve been here several times over the years but had not been back since Covid. Quality of the food was much lower than it used to be. Salmon starter was low quality fish. “Sticky rice” was just a runny risotto without much flavor. Salad was just a pile of damp lettuce without much else. Ambience remains great but they are going to struggle to survive if food doesn’t improve.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 3
Some of the dishes were excellent, unique, others were more average (like the soup). Waitress very sweet but had no idea how to pour wine, even my kids commented—pretty shocking for a place like this.Dietary restrictions: They did a nice job dealing with celiac disease
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Bento Box
Delicious food, wonderful service, beautiful atmosphere! We were lucky enough to come here on restaurant week and had an amazing 3-course meal. We will definitely be back!
Server was nice, food is just ok, but the bill did gave me a surprise in the end, 6% of kitchen appreciation fee was added without any notice. That is disgusting! If you want to charge, plz make this transparent and let pp know in advance!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Food is so good! Thoughtful, seasonal, and well presented.Our waitress was amazing too! One of the best I’ve had to dine with.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Baked Oysters, Bento Box
Restaurantji Recommends
Had large group dinner at restaurant and it was great!! Wonderful appetizers, entrees and atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
We always enjoy eating at the Lantern. The Panna cotta is to die for!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Best meal and experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Chive Dumplings
Sad to say, that this formerly consistently stellar restaurant has really fallen. For the first time it was a disappointment. They were out of multiple things we wanted order, which our waiter was not aware of until we ordered and he returned 10-15 min later to say they were out. The service seemed amateur and old time favorites were lackluster. Super disappointed.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Lantern is a delicious Asian fusion food in downtown Chapel Hill. Everything was well-balanced in flavors and exquisitely presented. Two small plates and a large one were adequate for my partner and me, leaving us room for desserts. I would love to visit again!Parking: Parking garage at 5-10 min walking distance
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Junebug