Lucky Tiger — Restaurant in Boston

My partner and I came here on Valentine’s Day with pretty high expectations based on the great reviews and how new/trendy it looked. While the food and service overall were good, there is plenty of room for improvement. The menu is pretty small and limited which I was not expecting based on it being an Asian fusion place. We ordered the Pork Egg Rolls, Shishito Peppers, Pork Gyoza Dumplings, Garlic Edamame, Spicy Tuna Roll, and Chef’s House Fried Rice to share. When we gave the order, our waitress said those were amazing choices and we wouldn’t be disappointed. The pork egg rolls were solid, nothing special and lacking flavor in my opinion. Especially for the price, I wouldn’t order them again. The shishito peppers were good, with a nice salty citrusy flavor, but no dipping sauce. I would recommend them. The pork gyoza dumplings were similar to the egg rolls in that they were solid but lacked flavor. I felt like I could make better ones at home, no sauce with these either other than the sauce on top. The edamame was very disappointing. I am not picky at all, but they were overcooked and soggy, and completely wet from the sauce. They were literally hard to eat because when you put them in your mouth they fall apart and you can’t separate the beans from the shell, causing you to have to pull out the shell from your mouth. Not pleasant. We ate some but gave up on finishing them. DO NOT RECOMMEND. The spicy tuna roll was OUTSTANDING. We eat a lot of sushi and we HIGHLY recommend the tuna roll. The pork fried rice was good, a lot of ingredients which I liked but it also could have used more flavor. It felt like it was missing something. It also weirdly came with a sauce which was good, but why do you need sauce for fried rice? For drinks we ordered the Japanese sour (solid), the lychee mojito (good), the yuzu martini (I loved it, my partner was meh) and the valentine drink special which was also good. The service was good, the waitress checked in on us like 5 times while our food was coming out but then when we actually wanted to order the second drink round, it took her a while to come back. The water-filler-upper was on his game, filling up our water the second it got halfway empty 😂. They gave us chocolate covered strawberries on the house for Valentine’s Day which was nice. I wish they had more sushi options, as I would like to come back to try those and the other items on the menu we didn’t order. Also, the vibe was great. The interior...

The ambiance was fantastic—elegantly designed, cozy, and inviting. There are two separate bars in different rooms, each with its own unique vibe, making it a great spot to explore and find the perfect setting for your night. It really added to the overall atmosphere.

From the hosts to the waiters to the managers and bartenders, everyone was wonderful. The staff was attentive, friendly, and quick to assist. They made sure we had everything we needed without being overwhelming, which was much appreciated.

Convenient parking was available with a garage nearby. The first two hours are free, which is a nice perk. Plus, the restaurant is conveniently located next to Urban Wild, adding to the overall vibe of the area.

Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to expectations, and considering the prices, it really didn’t feel worth it. The fusion dishes didn’t hit for us, lacking the flavor profile I was hoping for, and the overall quality didn’t justify the cost.

On the other hand, the drinks were wonderful. Creative and refreshing, they were definitely a highlight of the meal. We liked everything we tried from the sake, to the martinis, mojitos, and margaritas.

A downside in IMO was the use of a palm pilot for payment. I’m not a fan of this method, so I asked for the bill to be printed out so I could review the charges. It feels awkward for the waiter to stand there while we try to scroll through to review charges on the device and then make payment and tip while they are watching.

As a sweet touch, they surprised us with fresh chocolate-dipped strawberries at the end of our meal, which was a lovely gesture for the occasion. We also got fortune cookies.

While the food may not be worth the prices, this place is perfect for a date night, especially if you’re just looking for a great spot to enjoy drinks at the bar and a light bite. There are two separate bars that give you some great options, and the environment and cocktails make it a fun and relaxed outing. The service and ambiance is...

Another Asian fusion spot without the flair.

Came here for an early dinner this past week. Aside from Nautilus, I haven’t found a spot in Boston that really nails Asian fusion, and unfortunately, Lucky Tiger was no exception. We shared five dishes, and while the portions were decent, the food lacked the kind of balance and complexity I usually expect from good Asian fusion.

Favorites: Sweet & Sticky Spare ribs Solid: Spicy Tuna Roll, Chef’s House Fried Rice Poor: Pork Gyoza Dumplings, Udon Noodles

The Spare Ribs was the best dish of the night — light, crispy skin with exceptionally tender meat inside. The sweet and spicy hoisin sauce was just okay, but honestly, the ribs didn’t even need it. The Fried Rice was probably the most flavorful item we tried. Not amazing, but still better than everything else we ordered. The Tuna Rolls were solid — nothing mind-blowing, but decent for the price.

The udon noodles and the dumplings were pretty bad. The dumplings had thick skin, small filling, and were just bland — frankly worse than low-tier HMart frozen dumplings. The udon noodles were undercooked, and the lone fried egg didn’t do much to balanced the overly acidic sauce. My biggest issue with these was the overall lack of layered flavors. They seemed to rely too heavily on tanginess without much complexity. I love acidity in fusion dishes when it's paired with sweetness or spice, but here, it just felt uninspired and monotonous.

Service didn’t help either. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty, our server was practically missing the entire meal.

Overall, a few decent bites, but not enough to make me want to come back. Not sure how long this place is going to last, but I’d be surprised if it sticks around longer than the Mexican spot that was...