Lantern Restaurant
423 W Franklin St, 27516-2314 - Chapel Hill
Recommended by Sluurpy:
2025
2024
2021
#11 of 174 restaurants in Chapel Hill
Updated on
Asian
Sluurpy Quality Index
PROPRIETARY
Popularity
100/100
Quality
59/100
Data Completeness
67/100
Verified Dish
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Contact Information
📞
Phone:
+1 919-969-8846
🌐 Website:
http://www.lanternrestaurant.com/
📍
Address:
423 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill
📷 Photos (11+)
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Google Reviews
415
Google reviews
Good quality cooking, dubious if it’s worth the price. I had high expectations for Lantern as it is the only restaurant currently open in the Triangle area with a JB award. The pan-Asian Southern concept is also quite interesting: it allows the restaurant to get away from authenticity if it allows for better flavor. Although, I doubt if that decision really pays off for Lantern (the fried okra with tomato chutney is markedly inferior to any Indian or Southern preparation of fried okra). The rest of the dishes, however, were executed perfectly. The noodles, in particular, were a highlight: it’s as if the very essence of an oyster mushroom was distilled into the sauce. Similarly, the dumplings were cooked to a perfect toothsome level and the sesame dipping sauce accompanying them was outstanding. All that said, I’m still unsure this is worth the price - there are certainly better restaurants in the Triangle area that you don’t have to pay this much for. Worth a visit, but not more than once.
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Google
Great atmosphere, excellent service, okay food.
The fish was cooked whole, which I'm definitely not used to. If it blew my mind I wouldn't have cared, but I've had much better fish that didn't involve mouthfuls of fishbones.
The pork and chive dumplings were good, not great.
The cocktail I got (scotch, port, egg white, some other ingredients) was EXCELLENT.
The chocolate cake and peanut brittle ice cream dessert was so good we ordered a second one.
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Google
Loved the ambience and the vibe. Cocktails were great. Fried okra was a disappointment. Not a fan of their entrees too. Overall what's a restaurant with good ambience and okay ish food ?
Google
Went here on a Wednesday night and sat outside. Great location and even better restaurant. This place is incredible. Reminds me of brewery bhavana or bida manda but in Chapel Hill.
I highly recommend going here. Great drink selection and great prices. For food get the pork dumplings, beef tar tar, mushroom noodles!
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Google
The first time I came to Lantern in August 2019 I was absolutely blown away. I was excited to take my husband so once they opened post-COVID we were eager to book a spot in their outdoor patio. They have a new system where you order entirely on your phone (although a waiter does come check on you and bus the table). The food was still good but I felt like it wasn't up to my last experience. The pea shoot scallion dumplings were my favorite of the night, in large part to their miso sesame dipping sauce. We also got the fried okra but it tasted kind of cold when it arrived. The fried cauliflower was not particularly stand out. The crispy catfish I expected to be more flavorful but it was bland (I got a whole fish the first time which was bursting with flavor). The real winner of the night was the Peach Melba dessert - that was a 5 star and not even usually big on dessert. I still love Lantern from my original experience so maybe it was an off night - hoping things turn around and recognize the hardship they've been through! Pic - Junebug cocktail (similar to Pimm's cup, and appetizers).
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Google
I was so excited to try Lantern with my foodie friend after years of having little way to enjoy it in the pandemic. I wish I hadn’t bothered $250 later for 3 people. They have a ‘steakhouse pop up’ right now and BOY it is not steakhouse quality but the same prices! Maybe their Asian fusion is better, but steak was way over medium rare TWICE, the salad was over done, and desserts were great but literally 2 hours or more after being seated. They used cuts of beef that were local, but not designed for their firing technique. The service was scattered and they have every guest cramped into the Garden and back bar - why? The head waiter said he would ‘take care of us’ when we had issues with hammered steaks for one of the party and fine for others - nothing changed and the second waiter snottily said goodbye to us as if we were the issue. Don’t waste dollars or time here!
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Google
food here was amazing, as always. our server Miguel was wonderful. and I was psyched to see some spirit-free cocktails on the menu, which I don't recall from last time we came. the tea smoked chicken was the winner 🏆 and the brown butter cake with that pink peppercorn ice cream, oh my my my! 🤩
Google
Came for dinner, and sat out on the patio which was really nice. Tried a bunch of different dishes that we shared and all of them were quite unique and tasty. Service was excellent! Not an everyday place due to the cost, but it's worth it as a special event place.
Google
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