Lê Madeline
Vietnamese restaurant · Quincy ·
Modern Vietnamese fusion featuring experimental dishes and classic fare
Modern Vietnamese fusion featuring experimental dishes and classic fare
"If Le Madeline’s sunny corner space on North Quincy’s main drag feels a little familiar, you’re not imagining things: Co-owner Tam Le used to run Vietnamese noodle shop Pho Linh out of the same space. But while the restaurants share some DNA, Le Madeline is like the kid sibling who left home for college, came back with a lot of big ideas, and is ready to change the world—or at least do something cool for the neighborhood." - Erika Adams
"Longstanding Vietnamese noodle shop Pho Linh has morphed into Lê Madeline, an ambitious restaurant where chef Peter Nguyen (Eater Boston’s chef of the year in 2024) brings an exciting, experimental edge to traditional Vietnamese fare. Case in point: the tôm hùm rang me, a gotta-try fried lobster roll topped with little pearls of tobiko, and the bò lúc lắc, featuring cubes of filet mignon marinated in a trophy-worthy house sauce. Nguyen is also great at keeping things interesting with fun chef collaborations and a steady stream of new menu ideas; keep an eye on Instagram to stay updated on all the latest happenings at the restaurant. Best for: The diner who wants to understand how the next generation of industry talent is shaping Boston’s dining scene." - Erika Adams
"At modern Vietnamese spot Lê Madeline, Tam Le and Peter Nguyen (Eater Boston’s 2024 Chef of the Year) are gearing up with multiple celebrations for the holiday. From Wednesday, January 29 to Sunday, February 2, the restaurant will be running a special prix fixe, family-style Lunar New Year menu. Plan to stop by on Lunar New Year Day for extra fun surprises in the works, according to Le. Then, on Tuesday, February 4, Nguyen is teaming up with Chelven Randolph of restaurant pop-up Southern AvantGardeN and bartender Toni Casoli on a one-night-only Vietnamese family-style dinner with influences from the South and African diaspora that simultaneously celebrates Lunar New Year and kicks off Black History Month. Tickets for the dinner are $100 per person; 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. seatings are available here." - Valerie Li Stack
"A critic recalled a solo dinner at the bar just after opening: "I loved the idea of the traditional Pho Linh turning into a chef’s riff on Vietnamese food after dark, but I had no idea what to expect. That made this stunningly delicious, super-fun meal that much more exciting. Service was charmingly discombobulated because it was brand new, but the staff was so good-humored about it. It was just a really fun, unexpected night." — Devra First, restaurant critic for the Boston Globe. The account emphasizes surprise and playfulness in the transition from a daytime traditional spot into a chef-driven, after-dark interpretation of Vietnamese cuisine, with warm, self-aware service despite early hiccups." - Erika Adams
"A nighttime reinvention of a family Vietnamese noodle shop in Quincy, this ambitious restaurant channels a modern, experimental approach to traditional Vietnamese fare. Signature dishes include a tôm hùm rang me fried lobster roll topped with tobiko pearls and a bò lúc lắc of filet mignon cubes in a standout house sauce; the kitchen also stages collaborations, events, and late-night menus, positioning itself as a promising next-generation voice in the city's Vietnamese dining scene." - Erika Adams
