Nightshade Noodle Bar

They need a infinity sign to put after the stars for this place. The staff that Chef Rachel and Alex have put together is phenomenal. They REMEMBERED me from my birthday dinner in April. Pearl at the bar is a legitimate joy in sharing with everyone sitting in front of her. I got to shake Chef's hand and tell her how wonderful her menu is. I ate uni--and LIKED IT. Because I can't have strawberries (allergy), Pearl whipped me up a palate cleanser drink that was made of literal stars and magic. The experience of this place is incredible. I willingly drive almost two hours to come here. It's worth the aggravation of Boston traffic. I can't wait to bring everyone I know to come and eat here. Long live Nightshade, long may she reign.

tl;dr: Michelin level restaurant in Lynn. Get there. Pronto.

My wife and I had an epic meal here that was worth the hype. The cocktails were awesome and we did a 12 course blind tasting menu where I still wish we did 14! All the staff were super knowledgeable and said hello/goodbye/thank you to every person who walked in and out of the establishment. The energy was flowing through the place and everything we ate was amazing! They make sure all the staff are taken care of and it seems like they all work together to make your experience a memorable one!

Went here because we heard about chef Rachel being a finalist for the James beard. We drove about 2 hours to get to Lynn from Weymouth through the rain.

The restaurant has a great atmosphere. We love all the plants and how cozy everything was.

The food was great. Everything we had was made well. Flavors were amazing. Highlights were sungold tomato’s, wagyu sirloin, blowfish tail, and the tiger blood palate cleanser. Overall everything was amazing and we hope to be back soon!

Update!

Went for another dinner at nightshade for our anniversary and had another great experience. We found out they keep a history of the menus you previously had and will try to give you new things to taste!

We loved the smoked duck and all things uni. Similarly to last time the coconut rice was made to perfection. Soft, nutty, and a great complement to the uni and the foie gras. The shrimp reminded us off elevated vietcajun boil, where the butter and garlic really make it decadent. The smoked duck with the bean curd was delicious and the bean curd really absorbed the flavors of the broth. The fish was fried well with a great crunch and The sauce was delicious. We did kind of wish we had a bowl of rice to eat the shrimp, fish, and Chinese broccoli so the flavorful sauces could mix with the rice. The noodles were also tasty with a hint of mala.

Overall we had another great dinner at night shade noodle bar. Staff were very attentive and there gave a great wine pairing. Loved our dinner there!

I love the concept of blind tasting menu. Though one needs to be open minded and willing to try new things. We got to try a lot of new flavor combos. It was interesting to say the least. Great atmosphere and service

We recently went to celebrate my partners birthday and had a great time. The last time I visited was back when they were doing an a la carte menu, so I was really excited to try out the tasting menu setup. We had the 9-course blind tasting and everything was so delicious. The cocktails were phenomenal as well! We also experienced some of the best service in recent memory. Would highly recommend, especially to celebrate a special occasion.

One of the best dining experiences I've had in months! You can tell they really care about the flavor journey here. We did the 7-course tasting menu, which was more than enough in my opinion (I was stuffed at the end). The plating was beautiful, but the flavors were what really wowed us. We don't live near Lynn but it was very much worth the drive. Great place for a date night or to celebrate something special!

Exceeded my expectations! After chef Miller was nominated for the James Beard, I went in with high hopes. It was so much more, each dish was great, there were no weak links and they know how to build up to the stronger flavors. The service was one of the best I've experienced anywhere, Margaret did an amazing job of both explaining the dishes and mixing drinks, Bravo! This was one of the best tasting menus I've ever had, that includes places like Paris & Barcelona. Softshell crab is the stuff of dreams. Keep up the good work guys, the accolades will keep coming. I'm looking forward to going back.

My partner and I went for a date night a few weeks ago. We sat at the bar for the 7 course blind tasting menu. Pearl was our server and she was so kind and knowledgeable. It's a cool atmosphere and the service was exceptional.

This was our second visit and won't be our last!

It was completely solid dinner experience. We got 9 course tasting menu. All of dishes are perfect and top on their flavor. Thanks for the Chef, kitchen crew, front of office and manager to create this beautiful restaurant!

my partner and i did the 9 course tasting menu. such incredible food! i appreciated the depth & complimentary complexity of flavor and textures, along with attention to detail. the staff was kind, attentive, and very generous. we already booked our next dinner :-)

There was my life before this meal, and my life after this meal. This is some of the best food I have had in the Boston area. Phenomenal and experiential, everything was so unique in ingredients and presentation yet still 10/10 on flavor. The service was also phenomenal - every single person we came into contact with (especially Alex, our host, and Aaron, our server) was funny, charming, friendly, and anticipatory. You can tell this restaurant values quality on all fronts, and our experience was one we will not be forgetting for a while!

We came here for an anniversary dinner after making a reservation over a month in advance due to a friend's recommendation. The space is on the smaller side, but we were seated at the table closest to the back so it didn't feel too crowded. There are lots of plants adorning the space and the atmosphere is pretty lively. There are two tables that fit four people, but the rest of the seats are at the bar or high-tops for two.

We decided on the 12-course menu, which ended up being the perfect amount of food. My favorite was the pork floss + sticky rice on a stick, as well as the noodle dish. The plates were spaced out, which gave us ample time to savor everything. We ended up being there for almost two hours. I appreciate that there was a variety of flavors, but it all felt cohesive. There were also some pretty creative combinations, so it might be an adventure for some folks.

The service was also fantastic. Our waitress, MJ, was friendly and attentive. We even got champagne in honor of our anniversary.

I would definitely come here for a special occasion, or just a good old date night if you're willing to splurge. Would recommend coming in with no expectations and a willingness to try new things!

We did the 12 course tasting menu and everything was incredible!! above and beyond for plating and for ingredients!

Not sure where to start! Just a 12/10 meal and dining experience. Normally I’d say each dish was better than the next but that wasn’t true (and not a bad thing!). Our 4th dish, the bahn mi, stood true as our number one item through out. We didn’t have a best to worst list. We had a best to still good just not the best list. I highly recommend checking out nightshade noodle bar for a unique, exciting, and e delicious dining experience!! Can’t wait to return

Wonderful experience, chef Rachel Miller is an amazing individual who puts time and care into each dish and it can be tasted. Unique experience. Once in a lifetime flavors. Great atmosphere.

The best restaurant I’ve ever been in the east. It’s so good that all the other tapas places in downtown Boston/Back Bay Area feel like in the shadow compared to the Nightshade. Every dish is like a little story, I can totally imagine how each dish was designed, combined with so many fun elements from all over the world, then finally brought into our table. And the service was great as well. Appreciate the experience!

Best innovative tasting menu in New England.

Recognized among the top 50 restaurants in America, Nightshade Noodle Bar brings a unique and eclectic tasting menu to New England. It effortlessly marries the intricacies of Vietnamese and French cuisines, presented in an avant-garde tasting menu. It’s creative and displays complicated flavors, embodying all the qualities that a great tasting menu should have.

The 14-course blind tasting menu that we opted for offered a selection of signature dishes, each crafted with precision and audacity. We had the option to choose two from their menu if we wanted something different, but it already included some of the popular dishes like the Caviar service, Peruvian uni brûlée, Dungeness crab, and the Claypot caramel foie gras. All the dishes were amazing, but some of the standouts included the Caviar service, Uni Brûlée, Limpet Shooter, Sungold Tomatoes, and Lobster Glace.

The Caviar Service set the tone for the evening. The airy eggspuma dip, complemented by the crunch of chips and the luxe pop of caviar, provided an excellent start to the meal. The Peruvian Uni Brûlée was another marvel. Imagine the classic crème brûlée but reimagined with the creamy richness of uni, accentuated by the delicate heat of torched cinnamon and the contrast of coarse salt.

A nod to classic Italian flavors, the Sungold Tomatoes were reminiscent of fresh basil and tomato pasta but elevated to gourmet standards with hints of salmon roe umami. The Lobster Glacé, with its delicate balance of smoked vanilla vinaigrette and briny sea foam, felt like a whimsical prelude to dessert. But the Limpet Shooter was the pièce de résistance. As suggested by its name, each morsel of finger lime bursted with a sac of zest, and it was certainly one of the most interesting dish I’ve had in a while.

As for the desserts, while they may not have been as groundbreaking as their savory counterparts, both the Strawberry Pudding and Salted Chocolate Mousse were delightful closures to an epicurean saga.

Whether you opt for the 7-course or the full 14-course experience, Nightshade promises an unforgettable culinary experience. A must-try for any serious food enthusiast.

Immediately upon walking in, I was overwhelmed in the best way possible by a smoky sweet smell. Celebrated 2 birthdays and an anniversary here and it was so worth it.

The explanation of the menu was a little confusing. The menu is a list of possible things you mighty get that seating, but there's no guarantee... Unless you special request up to 2 items. To be honest, it's a little overwhelming and I'd rather not experience the FOMO that happened by knowing what I didn't get the chance to eat. Got the 12 course option.

Standouts were the sticky rice with pork floss, soft shell crab, the uni brulee, the egg noodles, and the foie gras. That being said, no dish was a dud. I'd come back here tomorrow to eat the same things all over again.

Drink menu was interesting but nothing was especially outstanding. I was expecting more interesting ingredients in their cocktails and primary alcohols. Definitely not vodka. I got the petit oiseau which was good and tart but not something I'd get again. My sister got another cocktail that was pleasant but straightforward. We also split a reisling and a Brazilian beer which were unique but not particularly exciting. If their food is any indication, I have faith that they can improve their drink selection. Wouldn't stop me from coming back!

Some super high highs in this meal. The sticky rice w/ pork floss on a stick, egg noodles, and Chinese broccoli (not pictured because we ate it too fast) were all AMAZING. I absolutely loved those dishes. All 7 courses were tasty though. My only gripe was that I wish there was more food and specifically that at least 2 noodle dishes were served. For a place called a noodle bar, I was expecting more noodles. I definitely will be back in the future, and I think I will be more specific about wanting 2 noodle dishes for courses. Otherwise, a great spot and highly recommend!

The food is so delicious and well crafted you can taste the personal effort the chef puts into their courses. The staff put forth an excellent effort to inform you what you are eating and are willing to answer any questions. It is worth the hype.