Excellent food and service!! Loved it - would definitely recommend!!…read moreOne of the best Italian restaurants I have ever eaten at!! Ambience was wonderful too!!

I got the steak frites for takeout and it excellent. The steak was very tender and cooked…read moreperfectly, fries were also great. Plan to dine in soon for more.

Sadly, Ciao has closed. They are focusing on other areas of…read morethe culinary t & I wish them the best!

The food is incredible, drinks are great and service is amazing! One of my new favorite hot spots!read more

Went there in a big group, music was good and they had the Celtics game on. The service is very…read moreaccommodating and fast. The drinks( had mojitos) are great and the food is delicious. I had the spaghetti with chicken other people in the group had the skirt steak, skewers and tacos. We all left very pleased and will definitely return. Will recommend.

The food was amazing! I ordered the canasta de pollo and it was very filling! The salad that comes…read morewith the dish complemented the dish very well! The staff are great and very attentive! The vibes of the place are great too! If you are in the area you should definitely stop by!

If you find yourself in the Lynn area, call Nightshade and see if you can nab a seat for yourself…read moresolo or a party of 2. I read online that you need advanced reservations to dine, but decided to call and see if they had an opening since I was in nearby Salem. They did, and I had tremendous experience starting around 7pm on a late-August Friday evening. Caveat: October tends to be the busiest month, so advanced reservations are advised. The mantra to enter into the multicourse journey is "Trust the Process" and "Take Your Time." The chef and her team will curate a unique medley of dishes. After familiarizing myself to the "menu map," I knew there were some ingredients (duck tongue and caviar, for example) that I normally wouldn't order ad hoc, so jumped in with a deep breath. This was one of those instances where the risk taken paid off in spades! I opted for the seven-course experience. The staff are knowledgable, food-passionate, attentive, and expert at creating an atmosphere of ease and genuine hospitality. They were quick to refill my water, make sure I had everything I needed, and inquire about my take on the dishes. The pacing overall was solid, and I was intentional about tasting and allowing the mouth feel of each dish to register: this helped my brain clock that the tasting menu left me satiated, despite the 1-to-2 bite portion sizes of a few of the courses. As you can see from my photos (not in chronological order), each dish is a work of art for the eye and the palate. My favorites were the uni brulee and the "dragon's blood" aloe vera gel: the latter was technically a chef's gift (palate cleanser) vs an actual course, but I loved the play on a vibrant childhood icee flavor and the "pop" of the tangy/tart/sweet lime sugar. Actual order: choupique caviar service (chips), grilled coconut sticky rice pop w/pork floss, habotcha squash bot chien, uni brulee, collard greens, garlic noodles with crab cake, "dragon's blood" aloe vera gel, and lemon custard "trifle" (deconstructed lemon merengue pie). Note: if you are sensitive to spicy, certain dishes may not suit you. They include the habotcha squash bot chien and uni brulee, which both have a decent kick. Everything was memorable in delivery, gorgeous presentation, and symphony of flavors. I've been fortunate to enjoy a Michelin-rated prix fixe in Paris, and Nightshade was on par with that meal. I'm already looking forward to my next visit, and will highly recommend to friends for a special meal. Trust me, it's worth it! Bonus: Nightshade is a stone's throw from the Lynn MBTA Station.

I went here last night with a group of six (three couples), several of whom had been before and…read moreraved about their experience. They're people whose opinions we trust when it comes to fine dining, so I was genuinely excited to try the nine-course tasting menu. I'll start by saying that I suspect the restaurant may simply have had an off night. They seemed short-staffed, and the service never quite found its rhythm, so I want to be fair and acknowledge that our experience may not have been representative of what they normally deliver. That said, at roughly $350 per couple for the 9 course tasting menu plus about two drinks each, expectations are understandably high. At that price point, you expect excellent service and a menu where perhaps one or two dishes miss the mark, but the vast majority are memorable. For us, unfortunately, the evening was much more hit-or-miss. The opening course, potato chips with eggspuma dip and caviar, was underwhelming. The dip was flavorless, the chips needed more seasoning, and the combination itself felt fairly familiar. The Portuguese goose barnacles were certainly interesting and something I hadn't experienced before, but ultimately felt more novel than satisfying. The server boasted that the restaurant was one of only three in the US that serves the barnacles, and after eating them I thought to myself "maybe there should be zero." I'm sure live seafood shipped from Portugal doesn't come cheap, so the ROI just doesn't feel there on this item. The pork floss dish was excellent and the highlight --flavorful with depth and memorable. Of the two noodle dishes, which we understood to be among the highlights of the menu, one was good but not particularly remarkable (with squid), while the other was considerably overseasoned and noodles way too firm. The two desserts also didn't leave much of an impression - other than "chocolate" and "lemon." Where the evening fell shortest, though, was the service. On at least three occasions, dishes arrived at the table without the plates and/or utensils we needed to eat them. At one point I just took matters into my own hands - I happened to be seated next to the service station and ultimately grabbed chopsticks and forks for the table myself. At a more casual restaurant, I probably wouldn't think much of it, but at this price point and with a tasting-menu format, those details matter. To the restaurant's credit, the kitchen also sent out a few complimentary items, including a crisp pre-dinner wine and a beef and tofu-skin dish. We appreciated the gesture, even if the tofu-skin dish wasn't a favorite at our table. Overall, I came away disappointed, particularly given the price, the drive from our home, and the amount of time involved in a nine-course experience. I know an enormous amount of thought, creativity, and work goes into putting together a tasting menu like this, and I don't take that lightly. Based on our friends' previous experience, I'm inclined to believe we may simply have caught the restaurant on an unusually difficult night.There were some very good moments, but unfortunately not enough of them to make the evening feel worth the investment. Of course the investment of quality time spent with good friends is always worth it, which was the ultimate highlight.

Came by on Father's Day with my mom to meet up with a few other people. She has been coming here…read morefor years since they opened in 1978. This is as mom and pap shop as it gets with a full bar and traditional food with it. For drinks we had a gin and tonic, toasted almond and a Michael's ultra beer. Good drinks with great service. We were able to chat and drink at their outdoor seatings. I was even able to get a photo with the charismatic owner Rocky/Rocko Difilipo. Overall, wonderful experience and would come again.

If i could give a zero i would. The cook was drinking while "working" she seemed absolutely…read morehammered. We waited 2 hours just for our "bartender" to tell us our ticket was lost. Mind you there were only 4 tickets. We could see the grill and ticket line. As an experienced service person i know when shits not working. I will never ever go here again. The bartender seemed overwhelmed and unaware with maybe 15 ppl in the place. I can't not stress enough DONT GO HERE!!!!!

Njord Haven is amazing! I had my doubts before arriving; two vastly different categories of cuisine…read moreon the same menu and somewhat blended? However, I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised with everything we had. The National Dish of Denmark (stegt flæsk) was incredible, the dumplings were jam packed with meat, and the Chinese Churros hit the spot. We came in about 50 minutes before closing and stayed long after, but the service was fantastic the whole time. We were thanked by the owner for coming in and were told that staying late was expected and well welcomed. The restaurant itself is gorgeous and the music was a lot of fun. The restaurant faces the shore, so expect lovely views, especially around the golden hour. Overall, this place is an absolute gem. It's worth the trip from Boston or anywhere within a 50 mile radius, honestly.

Njord Haven is a gem. The Nordic-Asian fusion concept is genuinely interesting, and the execution…read morematches the creativity. Every pairing worked beautifully together. Nothing felt gimmicky, everything was thoughtfully prepared. The ambiance is outstanding. Walking in, it felt like one of the better spots I've dined in Boston proper or New York. The space has real character. Our server Lou was exceptional. First-timers at a tapas-style restaurant, and he made sure we understood the portions, guided us through choices we weren't sure about, and kept us from over-ordering. That level of attentiveness makes a difference. The food was outstanding. The broccoli alone (yes, broccoli) was a standout. The ahi tuna and rice cake were equally impressive. My martini was perfectly executed. The owner came by, introduced himself, and actually spent time with each table. That kind of engagement from ownership tells you everything about the place's standards. I'm already planning my return to work through the rest of the menu. Whether it's a full dinner or just drinks and a snack, Njord Haven is worth the trip.

The food is Amazing, it is made to order, It is a family owned restaurant, The owner's both work…read morethere he is the Head Chef and she is the main Waitress, And If you are Lucky enough you might just get to meet Their Son . The bar side is very unique. I will keep that to myself. You will have to go and check it out !The main part is an open kitchen concept where you can watch the chef doing what he does best , preparing all the meals at work one of the t anything good I hope it's don't go nowhere waitresses .They are definitely there too please and make sure everything is to your Satisfaction, I'm

My wife and I stopped in for lunch. Everybody was very very friendly. The bathrooms were trooper…read moreclean well let's get to the food. I ordered the chicken Parm sandwich that came with french fries my wife and I also got iced coffee and may I say this iced coffee was like no other it was super delicious. I got my son the burger with the hot peppers. He absolutely loved it with french fries so I would say give this place a try is super friendly and willing to help you with anything you need.

Last day of vacation and again just driving around seeing the sites. Susan was a great server!…read more Kept it simple today. I had the Nikki salad. Husband had the clam chowder and haddock sandwich with onion rings. The food was great and exactly what we were looking for. The clam chowder was one of my favorites from all we sampled this trip. The addition of dill put it over the top! Seems to be another hot spot in Swampscott. Very busy place and a lot of locals. Glad we found it!!

Excellent drinks. Ordered a manhattan and espresso and they were very good. Typical pub menu…read moreserving sandwiches, pasta dishes and entrees. Haddock sandwich was very good, fish tacos decent. Upcharge of $4 for what are standard sides (fries/onion rings). Spot is on the smaller side that has bar, indoor and outdoor seating. The space was always packed but moved through tables pretty quick. Service was friendly and quick. Street parking was not an issue.

We had an excellent dinner at Pomona Cafe this past week. The food set the tone, particularly the…read moreChicken Milanesa, Pollo y Limón and Chicken Violet. Each dish was thoughtfully prepared, beautifully plated and full of flavor without trying too hard to impress. The room is just as appealing as the menu. Warm lighting, striking artwork and a polished atmosphere make it feel special without feeling stiff. Best of all, the noise level allows for actual conversation, a feature that can be cocktail. The cocktails did not disappoint. Service was equally strong. Our server was prompt, knowledgeable and attentive without hovering. He answered our questions clearly and offered recommendations that proved well worth taking. The owner also stopped by to ask about our experience, a thoughtful gesture that made the evening feel genuinely welcoming. Pomona Cafe is a terrific addition to Swampscott, and we'll gladly return. Highly recommend!

Tried this place two times, both times was really disappointed. Also while we were here we saw them…read moresetting up for a graduation part or event of some kind, during this process we saw either the owner or manager take a rag that one of the waiters was using to dry clean plates, she sprays it with cleaner, wipes down the tables and seats then after she was done we see her start to finish wiping the clean plates with the same rag... and of course since she did that the waiters continued to do so with the same rag after she started doing something else?!? Disgusting. Apart from this.. if you can get over that, the food was really meh for the $, the chicken was dry and hard to chew and it just seemed like something I could cook on my own at home and I'm not even very good at cooking. Also got an espresso which was acidic and 1/2 cold. (This we've tried twice and both times just as bad)

Great food, and great people! Definitely try it out, their…read morechicken is crispy and well cooked.

The food SLAPS, my first experience eating Mongolian food, and it was fantastic. It's so beautiful,…read moreclean and elegant. Taste fresh and delicious and the watermelon drink I had was incredible. Will be back for sure. Thank you