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.
Review Source:Caught off guard by this small restaurant. Â It's in a strip mall, but it could stand alone easily. Â Modern style, clean lines, and nice decor. Â The waitstaff were all friendly, greeted us promptly and took care of us, never having to wait for drink refills and the food came out fast.
As for the food, it was good quality and light in flavor.  They also provided the hot mustard and hot oils to spice it up for me.  Not only is the food good quality, but the amount of options you get with the lunch menu is  great and for such a low cost you can't beat this place - actual fair amount of meat in the crab rangoon too!  I couldn't finish my lunch and had a doggy bag to go.  If this restaurant was closer to where I work, I would come here regularly.
Very happy with the experience, I haven't found any Chinese or Chinese fusion restaurant in the Marlborough or Hudson area that is nearly as good as here.
(Also, brought in our baby in the car seat, which they have accommodating booths that were a perfect location for him to relax.)
I really want to give this restaurant 4 stars but the quality of food/preparation is spotty. Â We typically go to Lavender on Tuesday or Wednesday nights and the food is fresh and well prepared. Â Tonight (Sunday) is was a mushy, oily mess. Â This happened one other time to us a couple of months back and thought it was just an off night. Â Whoever is cooking tonight needs learn another trade outside of the food industry.
Review Source:Food was Excellent. Â As was the services. Â I was a bit surprised at the negative reviews for the place. Â I will say that the ambiance is just weird. Â It has a huge picture of the great wall of china on the wall with very contemporary furnishings and a disco ball on the ceiling. Â
But all in all, it was a great meal!
Never tried the food here, but the service is ok. I had a pineapple drink, that had minimal alcohol which was good. There was karaoke going on when we came and the music was blasting. It looks like a romantic but loud place to have dinner, so be prepared, if it happens to be karaoke night that is.
Review Source:We have been there 3 or 4 times now and have had good experiences. Â The food is good and the service has been excellent. Â The only drawback is the expensive drinks, but as others have said - it is Sudbury after all. Â Fortunately we have not seen any of the bad behavior that the Manager is obviously known for, but we'll have to keep an eye out from now on to see if we can discern which one he is. Â We have had nothing but excellent service so far. Â The atmosphere is very nice, especially on quiet nights. Â The only bad experience I had was the one time that I ordered delivery and it took 1 1/2 hours despite the fact that I was less than 1/2 mile away.
Review Source:We have been going here for years and lately the food is just off. Â Not that it is bad but it is just average at best. Â If you go on the weekends and eat late, 8:30-9:30, they have karaoke that starts at 9. Â Usually it is not to loud till after most people have eaten dinner and the manager is usually making sure you are ok with how loud it is, but not last night. Â They had the music blasting so loud that you had to yell to be heard right from the start. Â It was just crazy to have it that loud. Â We had already ordered and were drinking a bottle of wine when it started or we would have left. Â
If you love karaoke then this would be a fun spot.
If you want a nice dinner out on the weekend and eat late go somewhere else.
Love it! Â Came here for the karaoke - but have enjoyed this restaurant for many more reasons. Â The food is excellent. Wasabi pot stickers are my favorite. Â Scorpion bowls are fresh and great flavor. Â Waiter is the best anywhere - remembers you and treats you with respect - very aware of when you need something and when to leave you alone. Â Love the white table cloths. Â This is a classy place. Â Highly recommended.
Review Source:I love this place! I get the General Tsaos bean curd and its amazing. Service is always wonderful, they always remember us and our order. They treat us like royalty when we come in every time.
Staff is always super sweet, and the food is really good. We also love their scallion pancakes. YUM
Wow! The food here is really good! Service is exceptional! Â Stopped in for a quick lunch, and to kill time. Â There luncheon specials are crazy good. Â They give you tons of food. Â Salad ontop of soup, a side and a rice or lo mein? Â I had to decline the salad, and I only had a little of the soup. Â Their luncheon menu could be expanded abit, but what I had (Kung Pao Chicken) was really good, and the rice was not greasy, and very fresh! Â The chicken was white, sliced meat... no mystery meat here! Â I hate to say it, but it is better then Lotus Blossom which seems to be getting more and more greasy. Â Yay!
Review Source:I have to point out that Lavender's is not your typical American Chinese food. It's not like Lotus Blossom where it's dressed up American Chinese food. I say American Chinese food, because real Chinese food is absolutely nothing like take-out (American) Chinese food.
The food here is, like Dawn pointed out, more Asian Fusion-ish. The dishes are definitely lighter in flavor, and definitely better prepared. I don't know why some reviewers say that it is pricier than other "nice" Chinese restaurants, it is not.
Although it is in a strip mall, the space is decorated very modern. Clean, and not cluttered. The bar is to the left, the dining area to the right. The only thing that I'm not a fan of, is that the dining room and bar are separated by a sort of wall with cut-outs. I understand that they wanted to put booths there, but they could have done so without the wall partition.
Each time I have been here, the staff have been very attentive, helpful, and effective. I've been here for lunch, dinner, birthday dinners, and late night for karaoke.
If you don't like loud music/karaoke, avoid Thursday-Saturday nights after 9PM. I find that karaoke here is one of the best in the area. The sound is loud, but clear, and the dj's are usually very good about rotating singers. It is always busy on karaoke nights.
The drinks are good. I've had, beer, which has always been cold; wine, good selection; and mixed drinks, which go down way to easily...
As for my experience with the food, always good.
The chicken fingers always come fresh, not greasy, perfectly crispy on the outside. Chicken tempura is just as good. The hot and sour soup is very good, light, and doesn't smother the flavors of the ingredients (i.e. tofu, mushrooms, pork). Gyozas (Pot Stickers) are good, and the dipping sauce is light and flavorful.
The dinners have always come out great, we've never had leftovers. If you like spicy, you HAVE to get the jalapeno chicken. Yum!
If you're looking for Chinese with a bit of class, this is definitely the place.
Not worth the prices and if you don't like karaoke don't go on the weekend. Awful singers and VERY loud, its a small place so you are almost asaulted by the singing. Yuck. Also, they "lost" our reservation for a large party & then yelled at us for not all showing up at the same time after they "accommodated" us for fitting us in! Food was okay, I think Lotus Blossom is better & cheaper too! Drinks VERY expensive & wait staff boardering on rude. I will never go there again!
Review Source:I am here quite often so I obviously dig it! Â The karaoke is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Â Hit or miss on the crowds but it is a great place to go out for cocktails. Â I find Thursday nights are pretty busy. Â It does get loud after 9 but the owner is awesome about keeping it reasonable.
The food is decent. I wouldn't describe it as Asian Fusion really. Â It is just well done traditional Americanized Chinese food. Â Crab rangoons, chicken fingers and wings are all served up here. Â They have some lighter dishes available too that are good like the Pineapple chicken. Â However, not super creative and they don't offer things like xiao long bao or bon chon ect. Â Â So if you are looking for a slightly lighter traditional chinese food go here. I know a lot of folks get take out from here...they do deliver.
Classy and a cut above. Food is fresh. not your typical Chinese but with plenty of favorites that you will know and love.
Can't believe some of the negative reviews I've read here. I did see another diner recently losing his temper and start making stuff up and expecting the management to just give everything away for free. Even his wife was apologizing for his behavior. Makes me think the other negative reviews are simply unreasonable people that expect to be treated like the Queen of England. But then again, that's Sudbury for you.
Go. you won't be disappointed.
When Lavender opened I thought it might give Lotus Blossom a run for its money (and mine.) Â I live in town and avoid times when it is most crowded, and find the ambience and service well above average. Â Bar and wine are good, and the food is suburban Chinese with high spots. Â My favorites areTangerine Chicken and chocolate martinis (not together.)
Lunch menu is a great value; we often eat here on Saturday while out running errands. Â I think Lotus Blossom still holds the top position in Sudbury, and we continue to frequent it, but the prices there are higher than Lavender. Â I feel lucky to have a choice of the two as for many years there was no Asian restaurant. Â
As for being in a strip mall: inside you have no sense of that. Â Like LB, it is architecturally interesting and seating is comfortable. Â I have never experienced the karaoke; it's just not my thing.
Worst customer service I've experienced.. After they supplied the wrong entree, insisted it was ordered wrong (not!) and claimed I needed to pay for it and the meal I really ordered. Â Appealed to manager who then launched a tirade on ME I've never before experienced. Â This manager is notorious for totally losing it! We will never return nor will any friends, and given we do our business in Sudbury, good luck!
Review Source:This review is only for karaoke and cocktails. Our drinks were strong and delicious. The atmosphere is a bit strange at first because if you arrive at 10:30pm, folks are still sitting and eating their meals. But, the karaoke was really fun and people were gracious. I can't wait to go back!
Review Source:Meh.
This place is adequate. Â Food is good, feels like real food, not you know, what you get at a Chinese restaurant that serves you something in 5 minutes. Â Full bar and relatively strong drinks. Â Casual but modern atmosphere. Â Service was lacking but whatever.
I'll try other places before going back here most likely but I suppose it's a good back up.
Last night I attended a 40th Birthday get together with approximately 25 people for drinks only. Â The bar staff and doorman were helpful and friendly. Â The place is nice and people were having a good time with the Karaoke. Â
The major problem we experienced was when we arrived and stood in the bar area many of the regulars were frustrated we were taking up so much space. Â The manager approached our group (15 or so people) in a very hostile way because we were not all drinking alcohol or ordering food (our group consisted of a few pregnant women and designated drivers). Â Tensions between the manager and group almost escalated to a fight and nearly ruined a birthday celebration. Â Luckily we were able to stay and have fun but this manager lacks class and professionalism and was a total jerk. Â Approximately 15 people (some from the neighborhood) will not come back.
I hosted my birthday dinner here because I love the food, the decor is gorgeous and they have karaoke on Saturday nights. I had my reservation for 8pm but the table was not ready until 8:30 which was a bit of an annoyance because my guests (about 12 of us) had to wait at the bar and entry way.
The food was wonderful, waiters attentive and helpful and karaoke was a blast.
The staff really was wonderful, leading the entire restaurant to sing to me, kept all orders straight and were always pleasant.
I order takeout from here all the time, I would definitely suggesting dining in house as well.
This is not Chinese, it's, like, Asian Fusion. Looks mostly Thai, but I wouldn't know for sure, since I've never really studied the food menu. I have only been here for booze.
On Thursdays they have karaoke (I think Friday too but don't commit me to that), and it's A-Mazing.
I am a Floridian, and because I am a Floridian, I used to go to Disney a lot; sometimes, just to stroll around and look at all of the other people at Disney, because the people watching it catastrophic and wonderful at the same time. (Sorry for the run-on sentence but I NEEDED it.)
Well, this is pretty much the reason I'd go to Lavender. All the people watching of Disney minus the $300 round trip plan ticket and $50+ park admission.
Also, the drinks are strong. You know, if that matters to you.
After giving this restaurant a few tries, I'm giving up and going back to Lotus BLossom. Lotus isnt great but the food generally tastes ok.
Lavender is all over the map, alot of the flavors not particularly authentic, in particular the hot and sour soup. pork fried rice came with CHUNKS of porK FAT. and Karioke? no thanks.
Our first visit to Lavender, soon after it opened, was a very good experience. Â The food and service were good, and I especially enjoyed the Hot and Sour Soup and the Ma Po Tofu (one of my favorite dishes). Â We live nearby, so we have subsequently gotten take-out from this establishment. Â Unfortunately, that food has been very uneven in quality. Â The Hot and Sour Soup has variously been overladen with cornstarch and tasteless, and the tofu dish has come with regular peas (traditional), snow peas, and, most recently with NO peas. Â I don't know if there are different cooks each night, or if the same cooks do not pay attention to quality and consistency.
Originally, we thought this restaurant was a step above the other local "Chinese" restaurant, Lotus Blossom, but now I am not so sure. Â It is overpriced compared to Lotus Blossom, and although some of the dishes are more unusual, the inconsistency of our experiences has us going back to Lotus Blossom for our take-out orders, even though that restaurant has its problems as well.
I've never been to Lavender for Karaoke, but I'm sure that this would ruin the dining experience for me. Â All in all, it is hard for me to give it a very positive rating from our more recent experiences.
The atmosphere and service at Lavendar are top notch. Depending on when you go the restaurant can be quiet and intimate other times busy and raucous. The staff is helpful, attentive, and well informed about the dishes.
The food is adequate overall. I've been to Lavender a number of times now and tried a few dishes - most of which I would not order again. However, the Teriyaki Tofu is quite good and has now become my go to dish. The food isn't bad mind you, just okay. However, my girlfriend swears by the vegetable tempura.
Since Sudbury and greater metrowest lack a bevy of international cuisines this is a good option.
I find their food pretty good - not very creative, but reliably good. The delivery is always fast and I will commonly go after work to get something if I work late and missed dinner at home. Â We stopped eating at Lotus when Lavender came to town as the food is more reasonably priced and the service is 10 times better.
Review Source:Why open another Asian restaurant in a town with very few Asians and more than enough Chinese/Japanese/Thai restaurants? Â The only reasonable answer is if you are offering something different (Indian, Korean, Vietnamese), which this does not, or much better, which this certainly is not.
The decor is nice enough, with a long blue-lighted bar and a large photo of the Great Wall on the opposite side, but the food just isn't very good, especially in comparison to nearby Sudbury restaurants. Â This looks like another in a long line of failed restaurants at that location.
Most deff the best Asian food I could find open around 8:30 at night, no one was there besides people at the bar. Very clean, quiet place. Almost relaxing. Food was really good. Didn't take long at all from when we ordered to get to the table hot. The waiters always came by and asked if we needed anything else, if we needed more drinks. Very nice people.
If you live or are in the area, I would recommend going there. It's a little place in the wall, it replaced Stone Hearth Pizza, Next to Shaws and CVS with Starbucks near by.
Everything was amazing, end of story.
A welcome new addition to the Sudbury restaurant scene, though we hardly needed another Asian restaurant. It replaces Stone Heath Pizza near the Post office, which never seemed to quite fit here.
What's different about this on is the vibe... clearly more bar, more downtown, a little more hip than Lotus Blossom. There's a cap on how cool you can be in a strip mall, but this is just about there.
Cocktails were very good, food was great, especially the "Happy Family." Fresh vegetables, mot too heavy on the salt and fat, overall excellent. Service was poor, but I think it was just our waiter.
Will definitely go back to this place, you should check it out.
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