Red Lantern: Spend a Sultry Night in Asia Without Leaving Boston

Red Lantern is a trendy-meets-industrial Asian restaurant and nightlife spot that recently opened up at 39 Stanhope Street where the Back Bay and South End converge. The space is cavernous at 9,000 square feet and boasts exposed brick walls, enormous red and beige birdcage lanterns dangling from the open truss work in the ceilings, and Asian-influenced statues and art at every turn.

Despite the very large size, the dining area is broken up appealingly with elevated areas, glass walls, and varying seating arrangements – there’s also a sushi bar, dining counter, private dining room, and a family-style communal table to choose from. The vibe is very seen-and-be-seen, and patrons seemed to be a mix of after-work business folk and chic trendsetters. The kitchen is open to the dining room so you can keep an eye on the hustle and bustle, and the music has a slight nightclub edge with a driving beat, but it’s kept light and low (not scream-at-your-neighbor volume) to serve as a nice compliment to the lively vibe.

The company behind Red Lantern, Big Night Entertainment Group, also operates several spots in Connecticut as well as the Back Bay’s own The Estate. Executive Chef Kevin Long, formerly of Tosca and SHRINE at MGM Foxwoods, brought along a few menu standouts from his other popular restaurants, as well as adding some new twists to the upscale, Asian-inspired menu that goes way beyond maki rolls to include noodle dishes, dumplings, spring rolls, fried rice, and more.

Says Chef Long, “I've long been intrigued by the intricate, nuanced approach to Asian cuisine, and the menu at Red Lantern is a reflection of years of study of Asian cooking techniques, combined with my many worldwide travel experiences."

The delicious hoisin duck buns ($6) were a sweet, handheld treat, while the pan fried pork gyoza dumplings ($10) were so flavorful and perfectly cooked that we were tempted to lick the plate (we didn’t). Tempura green beans ($3) were also a simple and tasty hit with their three unique dipping sauces – sweet, spicy, and herbal.

For entrees, we sampled the Tik Tok Chicken ($26), a vibrantly orange dish with a sweet and spicy characteristic that was flavorful but didn’t blow us away. The Teriyaki Noodle Steak ($25) was beautifully presented in a painted ceramic bowl and heaped high with a mint, basil, onion, and sprout salad. The steak had a divine flavor, and we were split on deciding if it was too chewy or cooked perfectly.

All in all, Red Lantern was a wonderful experience due to excellent cuisine, a vivacious atmosphere, and a very conscientious staff.

The Good: Red Lantern displays quite the bar menu. Creative cocktails and martinis abound, some featuring Asian influences like sake and yuzu syrup. Also possibilities are two varieties of scorpion bowl and Flaming Plum shots if you’re feeling adventurous.

The Better: And what better place to enjoy a fine cocktail but in Red Lantern’s gorgeous bar space? Set off from the main dining room, this dimly lit, sexy space features more red lanterns, strings of Vietnamese seashells, and antiqued mirrors so you can make eyes at the hottie at the end of the bar.

The Best: The menu is served until 1:30 a.m.! That means you can ease it on back with a pupu platter if you’ve had one too many hits off that scorpion bowl.