Great drinks and chic atmosphere! I love the outdoor patio. We just ordered drinks so I can't comment on the food. The drinks were reasonably priced - I recommend the Junebug! I wish they had a bigger space inside though...it got a little cramped on a Friday night. But overall great place to grab a drink if you're out in the area! read more

This place is great. It is often listed as Asian, but it is is much more refined than the Chinese restaurants you might frequent. The menu is online, so look it up first. Example of things you might not expect: There is a shrimp appetizer but the waiter says you should. Eat the shell. Beach experience says no, but it works. Dress up. read more

Two years ago, I read an article in Gourmet, that placed Lantern in the top 11 restaurants in the nation (Magnolia Grill was also there). For that reason, I made the trek to Chapel Hill from Raleigh to meet a friend from Durham for dinner. I don't know what I was expecting. This place is pretty small. The tables are tightly placed. The server was undoubtedly a graduate student. He was highly informed about the wine and the food. The menu was really overwhelming. Meaning- there really wasn't anything that did not sound good. Every single dish promised a little mouth party. I landed on a crusted Sea Bass. It was delicious. Perfectly cooked and served in a light poaching liquid with vegetables. My friend ordered halibut in a Thai sauce. I won't say it was in the top 11 restaurants in the nation, but I will say it was damn good. Lantern, please leave the light on. I'll be back. Mmm. read more

The Lantern has a great atmosphere, and pretty good food as well. I haven't seen the same menu twice, so recommending a dish is pretty much futile, but I will say that everything I have had here is great. I wish the prices were a little lower, though, which keeps me from going here too often. The wait staff is always exceptional, and some of the best in Chapel Hill. This is a great place to go on a date, so keep it in mind. read more

LOVED!!! We went here for my birthday dinner and were not disappointed. The service was great, the atmosphere was nice and the food was awesome!! We got he chaat to start with and I got the fried fish curry, which was soo much food - but dont worry I ate it all. Their menu is constantly changing, so you can always try something new. We even got dessert - I mean come on, it was my birthday! The desserts were also great. Our waiter was really nice and helpful. Can't wait to go back - no complaints here! read more

Rating applies to the bar only, which is quite cool and has good drinks and friendly service.

Hands down my favorite restaurant on Franklin. The dishes are so good, you know that the chef prepared each and every thing on that menu with the intention of hearing that satisfied "yum" from each patron's lips. The sea bass is soooo good. The bar is also very cool, if you can snag a seat. Try the strawberry juice and vodka drink, it's delish. read more

Amaaazing!! Everything about our dinner experience was great. I found the restaurant through Yelp and I was a little concerned because of the mixed reviews. Our experience was flawless! Everything from the host to the drinks was great! We would definitely go back here! Thanks Yelp for another great find! read more

Consistently good food every time I go. Great drinks and good atmosphere. The salt and pepper fried shrimp are really good! Different than the normal app. Will definitely come back next time I'm in town. read more

Had a nice meal at Lantern on a Friday night recently. Service was attentive. The atmosphere is very nice. I had a fish entree. It tasted fresh and was cooked nicely. For me, the most exciting items on the menu were the appetizers. All the ones we tried were very good! And they do really nice cocktails. read more

Shared the CHAAT and Coconut Pork Shank. One of the best meals ever. Ambiance, Food quality and Service all 5 star

Excellent food, great atmosphere and the service is perfect. This restaurant is one of the best in Chapel Hill. I highly recommend for everyone. read more

We had high hopes reserving a table for our anniversary. The restaurant was small, crowded, and over lit. The food was nothing special. Presentation was obviously chosen over flavor. Our waiter was nice, but this dining experience was a huge, huge disappointment. For a $200+ tab for two people on a special night we wanted and deserved more. Will never be coming back. read more

The food up front is good Asian fusion cuisine. But I prefer a saketini in the funky red bar in the back that was as close to a tiki bar as I could find in the Triangle. Slip back there and enjoy the scene while being seen in the crowded small space as you make your way through some yummy appetizers. read more

While the outside is nothing spectacular, the decor was pretty nice and simple. Wooden table in small dining area. The service I would say was very good as of a few months ago. The food changed with season so you might not find the same food unless you frequent the restaurant. Lantern is more of an Asian Fusion place. Between Lantern and Jujubee, I would prefer Lantern a lot more. The atmosphere although a little bit upscale but casual and easy going in comparison with Jujubee which was stiff and unfriendly. The food was better at Lantern than Jujubee as well. Some of the appertizer portion was pretty big so unless you came in a group, I would recommend just ordered the entree. I tried of the fish special a few months back. I was not as good as I had hoped it would had been. Maybe the non-special items might have tasted better. Ambience was nice and cozy. Table is a little bit close to one another due to limited space. But other than that, I would definitely come back. The price was a little bit higher than other restaurant in the area. So if you are in for good service and good food with unlimited spending budget, I would recommend trying out Lantern. :) read more

We had a family celebration dinner at Lantern and the restaurant came through with flying colors! From the many and varied appetizers to the innovative desserts, the meal was delightful. We first enjoyed pork and chive dumplings (the gossamer wrappings and lively pork filling would have made a fine Taiwanese dim sum place proud), local pickled vegetables (reminiscent of old places in Kyoto), a plate of addictive chaat (tomatoes, crispy chickpeas, potatoes, pickled red onions served with a mint chutney), salt and pepper shrimp (sweet and crackling crisp), and three additional dishes, all excellent. The entrees were prepared with equal care and deft execution: a vegetarian stew featuring seasonal local vegetables dressed up with fresh green curry leaves, saffron, and chutneys, a seafood hotpot packed with the bounty of local waters, a delicately steamed halibut on baby bok choy, ginger, scallions and black beans. The tea-smoked farm chicken was succulent and redolent of lightly smoky fragrances, and everyone liked the BBQ'd Niman Ranch pork tenderloin with thick rice noodles and herbs. The unique desserts provided a fitting coda to this excellent meal - among them a sweet corn panna cotta with local blackberries (perfect consistency and so luscious I needed to order another one) and steamed yuzu pudding cake with raspberries and soft cream. The well-composed wine list offers many unique choices for under $40 and for sake lovers, there is a small selection of various sake grades (a bit more pricey than the wines). Service, under the watchful eye of the restaurant manager, was friendly and efficient. I am eager to return to Lantern as soon as possible. read more

There are (too) many reviews of Lantern; hence, shall be brief. Chef Andrea Reusing's emphasis on local ingredients is laudable (and a bit overbearing). The dinner menu is interesting although less than inspiring. Seeking to avoid a heavy meal, I opted for an entree of red curry and tofu with an appetizer of the black mushroom and cabbage dumpling and desert of passion-fruit cake. All were tasty. If you are in search of a truly outstanding meal, Lantern is likely to be a disappointment. If, however, you find yourself on Franklin Street and wish to have something other than the ubiquitous "cafe food" found throughout Chapel Hill, Lantern is an acceptable alternative. read more

Has an interesting menu. Dumplings were good. Salt and pepper shrimps were excellent. A solid selection of sakis. Portions are small but tasty. read more

This place blew my mind and I'm a tough critic. I ate in the bar, had a spicy chili martini per another yelp recommendation, a special appetizer of steamed oysters with herbs and butter and the black cod. I was trying to eat fairly healthy but all of the dishes were so divine I ordered the persimmon bread pudding for dessert and I was not disappointed. Ahhh, it was all delish! I did eat in the bar because there weren't any open tables, but it was lovely and the service was great. I was in town for business and dining alone but there were several regulars there that in their own individual conversations were raving about the food. I will definitely go out of my way to eat here again! read more

Our new son-in-law's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner 3/3/17 at Lantern Table. Everything from venue ambiance to food to service was stellar!! It was a fantastic kickoff to the wedding weekend festivities that everyone raved and are still raving about! Our servers Elizabeth and Steve were incredibly warm and attentive all night, especially to my husband's parents and their special needs. This was the first time any of us had been in the private dining side and it definitely did not disappoint. The restaurant side has been a special place for us in the past as we have celebrated our daughter's 21st BD there and she and her then fiance' celebrated their engagement and their engageversary there!! So... a great big thank you to Lantern staff for creating a very special evening and memory! Elaine and Joe Elbeery read more

The food is good and the ambience in the bar seating area suits us. We have been customers for years, but that ended last year, when a large cockroach entered my lap while I was eating. read more

High quality and creative fusion Asian food. The decor is very cozy, trendy, and can be romantic. The service is excellent. It may be a bit pricey but is a great spot for special occasions. The menu changes often, so I don't really have any recommendations, but I've been many times and have yet to be disappointed. Their drinks and cocktails are not bad either. But the best part of this whole place might just be the cozy little bar/lounge in the back! read more

Outstanding restaurant, the best we tried in our recent trip to NC. True fusion cuisine, with an amazing combination of Asian-inspired recipes and local ingredients. Great drinks. Service was perfect as well. We ate here three nights in a row and were satisfied every time. Highly recommended read more

This place was ridiculous in the right way. Flash Fried Cilantro? Who does that? I was told this was a Top 50 in the Nation restaurant. Im no Travel Channel host, but this place was simply amazing. Trust what others say....it's really good. read more

The great thing about traveling with your boss is that he orders everything on the menu and you never have to feel bad for spending too much. Though the dishes weren't too pricey, we may have been just shy of ordering everything. And every bit of food or beverage that graced my lips was perfect, particularly, the rib appetizer special. My two-year long craving for delicious ribs was finally satiated. read more

Had dinner here several weeks ago - delicious dinner (seafood hotpot - YUM) and drinks.Lively atmosphere - busy...make sure to get reservations! One of the best meals I've had in Chapel Hill. read more

Review update: Have dined in the bar the past few visits and have found the service back there really lacking, which is too bad as the food and atmosphere are still great. Taking the rating down a star. read more

What a unique place! The food here is fresh and definitely fusion. I'd definitely talk to the waiter before you commit to something. The chicken is wonderful and the Lion Meatballs are interesting. Check out their bar, I find it to be more fun than the dining room if you have a party of 4, and their drink menu is really a treat! read more

Amazing restaurant! I think the menu changes but is delicious every time. Went here for a date and the ambiance was romantic and beautiful. Food is so so good. read more

Intimate seating in the front of the restaurant. Friendly and helpful service. Had the Lantern local pasture-raised pork and chive dumpling appetizer which was mouth-wateringly delicious. Followed by the Wok-seared rice noodle main dish which was a bit too salty for my taste. Make reservations because the dining area did get full on a Monday night! read more

Nice place to go for drinks and escape the college crowd. More upscale and serene than most bars in chapel hill. I like that the bar is separate from the restaurant, and that there are no windows looking out at Franklin street on the bar side. It makes you feel like your in a totally different atmosphere. I felt like I was in an underground bar in New York City (but maybe I was just drunk). Great appetizers and well made (strong) drinks. A little expensive, but what is to be expected with a place that caters to an older crowd. read more

...I had to come here just to get the taste of City Kitchen out of my mouth. Oh the Lantern always lights the way ...

This place is wonderful. Delicious food and drinks as well as great service. We were offered a seat in the bar area and it was a really neat spot. I hope to come back to Lantern on my next trip to Chapel Hill! read more

Excellent food- best on the strip of Franklin for unique cuisine and fine dining. Loved the flavors and options here. Highly recommend trying for special night out read more

Unlike many other places labeled "Asian Fusion", this place keeps the true Asian flavor. Our group tried five out of six main dishes on the menu, and each is great. The grilled whole fish, and the chicken with fried rice, are especially remarkable. Asian, and upscale. read more

I've eaten here many times. The quality varies, though the menu doesn't vary much. Tonight the restaurant was very cold and smelled of deep frying, as (unforgivably) did my clothes by the end of dinner. The pepper and salt shrimp were mediocre (as if coated in crushed cornflakes), but the other dishes were quite good. The service was good. The dinner with an ordinary wine on the expensive side. I'll wait a while before I return. read more

One of my favorite places in Chapel Hill. The menu is creative, food is amazing, and atmosphere is intimate. We usually dine in the cozy bar area, but you have to be patient as seating is limited. read more

The lantern is not for those chain restaurant fans. If you like Olive Garden and Applebees you won't like this place. But if you are not scared to spend a few extra bucks for something you can't find everywhere you will love it. Locals never go in though the front door. Walk up the alley and find the door in the back that opens into the bar. They use local vendors as much as possible and make some of the best Asian-fusion dishes I've ever had. read more

It was decent, but for the hype i've heard, I was a bit disappointed. Everything was okay, but nothing was spectacular. Did like the bento box appetizer though. read more

Locally sourced. Exquisitely prepared. The staff was excellent. I really enjoyed my meal.