Lavender Asian Cuisine & Bar

We had a lovely birthday dinner at Lavender. The food, service, ambiance, and price were all great. I will definitely come back. One of the best Chinese Restaurants I've been too in a long time

What can I say about Lavender? It's like a several restaurants in one; all great.

Lavender is located in a small strip mall on Route 20 in Sudbury. Despite being in a shopping plaza, it is beautifully appointed and exceptionally well staffed. The decor is classy and modern, with a large dining room featuring small four-person tables, wraparound mural of the great wall, marble reception area, and a large marble bar with a steel and glass back and TVs - separate from the main dining area. Service is modern flatware on bright white cloth. The waitstaff is mostly female, the barstaff male. The staff is quiet, polite, and exceptionally attentive.

The food here is not your typical American-Chinese. Everything is made-to-order in small batches with no MSG. You will not encounter greasy meats, though some dishes might be slightly oily. Seafoods are fresh, and meats are select cuts. Do not expect anything to be "typical" - for example the General Tsaos and Sesame chicken are very unique recipes, as are the crispy pad thai and wonton soup. Expect to spend between $10 and $20 for lunch, $20 and $35 per person for dinner - the menu offers a wide range of prices.

At lunchtime, you will find Lavender well-lit and occupied by local business people. The dress ranges from casual to business-casual, and it is quiet with piped-in acoustic background music. Outdoor seating is available for lunch. The menu features many "lunch specials" which include two dishes, rice and a soup served on a platter - these are also available for takeout.

On an average night, it is dark and quiet, with small groups and couples eating by candle light. The bar, which is located off the dining area, generally has a few small groups watching sports and a handful of regulars but is not especially loud. You will rarely have trouble getting a table, and if you prefer you can eat at the bar, though the outdoor seating is not available.

Friday and Saturday this joint is hopping! People from all walks of life crowd the bar, and many large groups dominate the dining area. A DJ sets up around 7pm and offers karaoke by request, which makes the place very loud and can be heard outside. Generally, there are a few smokers out front by the outdoor seating. Often times it is standing-room-only when the music starts, but there is a small waiting area if you have a party with you, and the staff goes above and beyond to try to accommodate all guests.

The only downside is that they only have "lunch specials", no "dinner plates" with multiple items. This does not matter when ordering several dishes with a group, means either a large and expensive meal or frustrating lack of variety when taking out late or dining alone.

I would not hesitate to make Lavender your next night out... Just remember:

1) 5% discount for cash payments...

2) Try the crispy Pad Thai, it's excellent!

Who doesn't include rice with stir fries???? We've tried Lavender a couple of times now and always end up sorely disappointed. I think we are just going to give up. The food isn't awful, but it's pretty bland and the stir fries apparently don't come with rice. That seems like a detail they should tell you about when you order - "Would you like rice with that?" - otherwise you get home only to find yourself eating a plate full of broccoli in garlic sauce with no rice. Not enjoyable.