Njord Haven is a gem. The Nordic-Asian fusion concept is genuinely interesting, and the execution matches the creativity. Every pairing worked beautifully together. Nothing felt gimmicky, everything was thoughtfully prepared. The ambiance is outstanding. Walking in, it felt like one of the better spots I've dined in Boston proper or New York. The space has real character. Our server Lou was exceptional. First-timers at a tapas-style restaurant, and he made sure we understood the portions, guided us through choices we weren't sure about, and kept us from over-ordering. That level of attentiveness makes a difference. The food was outstanding. The broccoli alone (yes, broccoli) was a standout. The ahi tuna and rice cake were equally impressive. My martini was perfectly executed. The owner came by, introduced himself, and actually spent time with each table. That kind of engagement from ownership tells you everything about the place's standards. I'm already planning my return to work through the rest of the menu. Whether it's a full dinner or just drinks and a snack, Njord Haven is worth the trip. read more

I appreciate Njord Haven, the owners' efforts for a wonderful experience, and the good food he makes with passion and love. We no longer go, however, but on a rare occasion. Why? The delish cocktail less (which are NOT cheap) have almost no alcohol. I'm not a big drinker, but typically one will suffice. Two is a big night out. When I have three cocktails and almost no buzz, that makes you feel robbed. Who wants to feel ripped off? Several of my friends feel the same way and do not frequent for the same reason. I do hope the lovely owner does the right thing. read more

Some tapas style dishes, and also some larger family style dishes. Basically something for everyone on a diverse menu. You can tell time is spent making each dish. The service was pleasant and not rushed at all. The Swedish meatballs were delicious, as were the Asian inspired dumpling and sautéed greens. Delightful and picturesque location, with a view of the water across the street. read more

Foods were excellent. All dishes we had like duck Breast, Japanese pamcake, crab cake, fish with mangoes, papayas, and pear salads. For desserts, banana Foster was delicious. Favorite drinks for non alcoholics I liked were the Kiwi and the Thai Poon- passion fruits and pineapple. read more

See all

What a wonderful dining experience we had on Saturday night. From the cozy elegant interior, to the view of the chef and kitchen staff pumping out the food, to the wonderful server who was so patient with us as we had a delayed guest. Each dish was presented beautifully, with perfect seasoning and textures. Unfortunately, I was so engaged and engrossed in our company that I neglected to take pics, oops! From the Korean Caesar salad, Swedish meatballs, the chicken eggrolls, shrimp pad Thai and Osaka pancake, we had a feast! Enough to take home for lunches! At the end of the evening, as the service winded down, the chef himself went to each table to thank them personally for coming. Servers were on top of drinks and making sure we enjoyed the food. We will come again! read more

Parking sucks but otherwise wow. One of the most unique locations for dinner in eastern mass. The service is amazing. Our server walked us through the menu and their recommendations all were excellent. This is somewhere worth going out of the way to visit. I can promise you that you havent tried food similar to this before. And the price was extremely fair for how much food we ordered and the quality. read more

I love this restaurant and have gone back many times. There is a wide variety of very delicious tapas to enjoy and the menu evolves so there is often something new to try. Don and his team are incredibly friendly and attentive to the needs of all of their guests. I can't recommend Njord Haven enough. It's my favorite restaurant on the North Shore. read more

Food was excellent and creative and surprised me. I need to return just to try everything on the menu.

It's such a wonderful little gem! Don, Jesus (our waiter), and all of the staff were extremely friendly and immediately made us feel welcome. They all were, without a doubt, some of the kindest restaurant staff I've ever encountered. The food itself was delicious and perfectly highlighted the strengths and uniqueness of a multitude of European and East Asian cuisines. The prices were extremely fair, given the quality and portioning. I definitely recommend visitors, local or otherwise, give this restaurant a chance! read more

just the tastiest, most masterful cuisine in the area. My wife had asked to be taken to one of the giant steak houses for her birthday. But this morning she changed her mind and opted instead for the subtler grandeur of the food at Njord Haven. And now, just home from her birthday dinner, we are both grinning and savoring the feeling one only experiences after a masterful meal -- four courses split between us, perfectly cooked, beautifully sauced, artfully presented. Incredibly enough, at one-third of the cost of one of the Big Cow palaces, we feel grateful and gorgeously served. Absolutely recommended. read more

My wife and I visit at least once a month. We have enjoyed every dish we've tried. The only thing better than the food is the service! Anyone who has rated it less than 5 stars needs to give it another try. read more

Great cocktails, good Scandinavian food, and good service. If you're looking for something different this is one you should try.

Njord Haven really blew us away! The atmosphere was extremely welcoming from the get-go, and the staff were incredibly attentive and personable. We ordered 4 drinks and 4 dishes between 2 people. The portions were generous but not overwhelming and the presentation was exceptional. The lamb was cooked to perfection and the Thai "fish in the jungle" was incredibly unique in flavor. From the drinks to the food everything was beautifully plated and thoughtfully detailed. Even a simple margarita was taken to the next level with garnishes like torched rosemary and exotic fresh fruits. The prices were extremely fair, especially given the elaborate presentation. At the end of our meal the owner came around to introduce himself to us and thank us for coming in. Overall amazing experience. We will be back! read more

Every single dish was great! The flavors were balanced, the prices are fair, and the service was good (though, if anything, this is the one area where they can really improve). read more

Had an excellent experience last night with my family. The food here is tapas-style and is served one plate at a time as it is made. The four of us shared every one of eight distinct dishes. Seven out of eight were excellent with the eight one very good. The service was friendly and attentive without being hovering. The background music was on point. It was a lovely dining experience. We are all looking forward to returning, all the way from New Hampshire. read more

Njörðr is the Nordic God of the sea. Very fitting for this restaurant location since right across the street is the sea and they are tucked away enough that they are a safe haven from weather related issues the sea can bring. Decor is very Scandinavian: modern, clean lines, minimalist, and tasteful. Love that the glasses used for most drinks resembles the top of a rhyton aka horn cup too. The paintings on the walls remind of the crimson skies I would see over the ocean in southeast Asia too. This night we only ordered from the Scandinavian side of the menu. Tried to order the rabbit from the Asian cuisine side but thankfully for the restaurant and unfortunately for us, it was sold out for the evening. Couldn't decide what to order so of course did my tried and true way of ordering and ordered one of each from the Nordic side. A decision we did not regret! Only 2 dishes were slight misses: the Swedish meatballs mixture, though it had great texture and reminded me of Danish Frikadeller, needed salt. The gravy accompanying it had beautiful strong nutmeg forward flavor to it but that too needed a bit of salt. The lingonberry jam that accompanied it was just sweet and tart enough and definitely not a store bought already made concoction either. The other dish that was just ok was the sesame ahi tuna... Not quite sure what made this dish Scandian or Nordic. It was very Asian flavors forward and the only ingredient in it that was Scandinavian was the lingonberry and beets I think. But the lingonberry was overpowered by the flavors of the unagi sauce that was mixed with it and the flavor of the beets were masked by the sesame oil it was dressed in. It seemed more like an Asian fish dish rather than Scandinavian. You must order, and on repeat, the crab cakes: all crab on the inside with just enough breading on the outside to give it a light crunchy crust and to keep it together, this was melt in your mouth from the first to the last morsel; grilled lamb chop: the cut that has both the "strip and tenderloin cuts of the lamb like a tbone, was grilled to a perfect medium and seasoned beautifully, hate doing this in a beautiful restaurant but had to pick it up and eat the meat of the bones with my hands like a modern day Viking because it was that good. the Copenhagen style steak came with a traditional Danish dark brown gravy that was properly thick and stick to your ribs amazing with a hint of smokey roasted pepper; the wood grilled Cesar salad is one of my must favorite ways to eat Romain, just cut in half lengthwise, cut side down on a hot grill to charr a good 2 or do minutes think the edges have those smoky charr on them and then drizzled with the best Cesar dressing known to man! Never had grilled Danny's Havarti before and after this experience here, that's the only way I'll eat havarti going forward. And we thoroughly enjoyed the traditional Norwegian Fårikål, a hearty lamb stew where the gravy is gray in color and just simple and gamey just enough. Reminded me of the many lamb stews I had all over Scandinavia. After our meal, chef, who happens to own this beautiful restaurant too, came out to speak to us for a bit and I loved learning that he uses a lot of the recipes his mom had used to make their family meals at home growing up. It was a pretty amazing meal that brought back a lot of great memories for my partner who is Danish and for me from my travels to the many countries that make up beautiful Scandinavia. We will be coming back her for years to come. read more

See all

Njord Haven 408 Humphrey Street Swampscott, Ma 781 910 4516 SCANDANAVIAN ASIAN FUSION https://www.njordhaven.com/ WOW! From the second you walk in the door, it smells soooooo good!! What an incredible Culinary Experience here. Food was excellent to say the least. Menu items are very creative and interesting. Chef Donald Golden is very talented and an extremely gracious host. He pours his enthusiasm and love for every dish by carefully selecting each ingredient. Our server, Andrew, along with 2 others who came to our table bearing drinks and or our dishes were also very caring and informative about the meal. Food is to be shared as opposed to each Diner having their own separate entree. Making it all the more fun! Everything was prepared with such love and dedication. Including my delicious drink. My Trädgård was delicious and refreshing. "From Scandanavia to Siam" What an amazing Fusion! I had been wanting to go for so long and I am definitely happy. I highly recommend. Very relaxing atmosphere. From the decor to the demeanor of the staff to the delicious food. Left very happy. Vegetarian/Vegan Options Available read more

See all

Fabulous creative unusual dinner. Loved meeting the chef! Food was delicious. We will be back.

This experience was nothing short of excellent. From the impeccably crafted dishes, to the warm welcoming atmosphere and friendly service. Everything about this place is top notch. Towards the end of dinner service, the owner/chef went to every table to introduce himself and share few a words. When I tell you this man is passionate about his craft, I'm understating it. He told us he frequently travels to gain inspiration and knowledge that he then injects into his own menu. When I say this place is mind blowing, I still feel like I'm selling it short. I live on the south shore and I feel compelled to take the drive to this establishment again...and again. Treat yourself to culinary excellence with a warm cozy vibe and a knowledgeable affable staff. read more

Excellent food and service !!! They were full but had some seating in the bar area and even though we were only a party of /, they had us sit in the comfy chairs for 4 by the window . They are always so accommodating ! read more

The food was delicious. The service was delicious. The ambiance was delicious. This is a wonderful joint that will please any and all. Unless you're super picky, then there's no satisfying you anyways. But if you're like me and absolutely loves Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich, and salt and vinegar chips, and Buffalo ranch Combos, and you get your fanny over to Njord Haven, you're going to be so damn happy. Super duper happy! This review is also a reminder to the wonderful chef/owner who popped over and said hey to us. I said hey right back to him and then asked if he has seen the movie Midsommar. Why did I ask that? He has a cocktail called Blood Eagle. Movie fans, death metal lovers, and all around nerd dorks will know what it is, but if you don't, I also recommend Ari Aster's Midsommar to you because you'll find out what a Blood Eagle is. While I'm at it here are a three more movie recommendations for you. Robot Dreams, Perfect Days, and The Gullspang Miracle. There ya go. Take care now, bye bye then. read more

With it's recent opening, I came here with a group of (6) total and was on a business trip. We were recommended by a local (who was part of our group). The restaurant is tucked in a corner right in front of the ocean and it's got a low-key atmosphere. Upon entering, you are greeted by the bar which has a small lounge area. The interior is dark and warm colors which feels as if you're transported into a different world. The kitchen is open and in view from the seated tables. I also came during Mother's Day and the restaurant was packed! We received the menu which is split into Nordic inspired cuisine vs. Asian inspired cuisine. We literally ordered everything off their menu to try and shared with the group. All the dishes were unique and tasty! The chef came by and greeted us, talked to us a bit and thanked us for coming out. The whole staff were friendly and attentive to us the entire time. Also their wine list did not disappoint and their cocktails were delicious! Highly recommend for folks visiting from out of town. read more

Njord Haven opened recently in Swampscott, which serves up Scandinavian & Asian style tapas plates at very fair prices. The place has a cozy dining room and bar with dim lighting and an open kitchen area, so reservations are strongly recommended. I stopped by Njord Haven for dinner after making a reservation for later in the evening. I was promptly seated and given menus for food and drinks. The waiter arrived with a glass of ice water. I was told that their tapas are good sized portions and priced competitively. I placed my order for 3 food plates including the Shrimp Pad Thai ($14), Swedish Potato Cakes ($6) and Swedish Meatballs ($13). Each of the food items came out one at a time, so I had time to enjoy each one. The Shrimp Pad Thai was a good portion of soft noodles mixed with sprouts, egg, tamarind, garlic chives, 3 firm grilled shrimp and topped with cashew nuts. The Swedish Potato Cakes we're soft dense potato patties lightly fried and served with an apple & red pepper chutney with sweet and salt flavors. The Swedish Meatballs were soft & firm with a mix of beef, pork, & veal covered in a Swedish cream sauce, and sides of Crème Fraiche, lingonberry jam. All of the food I had was delish and very filling. I could eat no more and got the check for the 3 food items, $35.31 with tax and before tip. The service here was spot on and my waiter constantly refilled my ice water glass during dinner and the chef in the kitchen greeted me and was able to see I was enjoying his food. The menu here changes on a weekly basis, so I will definitely check them out again for dinner and perhaps with my dining buddy or date night. Please note at this time, it's dine-in only here and no takeout is available, yet, due to the small staff here. read more

Food was decent, service was frustratingly bad. Arrived at 5pm for a "quick" dinner with my dad. Considering the early hour, we were the first customers in the restaurant. We didn't take long ordering or finishing our meal but, due to the server not checking in often, it took over a 1.5 hours from arrival to being able to pay. The server was very friendly and he was attentive while he was there but only checked in on us every 15 or 20 minutes (totally understandable if they were slammed but there were no more than 4 tables to 2 servers the entire time we were there. When we finally got the bill we requested one of the dishes to go, the waiter proceeded to clear the dirty dishes into the plate we'd requested to go. When we reminded him that we wanted to take that plate home he nodded and continued to clear the table. When we got the check ~15 minutes later it was clear that our to go food had been forgotten and we didn't feel like waiting even longer to resolve it. The menu looked great, the food was okay (one dish was solid, the other was decent, and the other not at all what we'd ordered). Will likely give this place another shot (they only opened recently and the chef was kind enough to come out and say hello) but the service was so horrible that if I see the same waiter there again I'll turn around and likely not return. (note, on a busy night it's understandable that orders would be wrong and tables would have to wait but there were 0 tables there when we arrived, 5 tables including us when we left and they were all 2 tops...absolutely no reason for us to wait 15-20 minutes between each time the server checked in on us.) read more

Overpriced, super small portions and poor quality. What a disappointment. I look forward to the restaurant that will replace this one read more

Food is top notch. Coming here was a culinary experience like I haven't had before. The chef pays close attention to detail and you can tell food is his passion. 10/10 ambience is great too read more

Food, outstanding, a perfect blend of traditional Norwegian plates with a contemporary spin. Asian fusion was solid. Cocktails are an experience. Quality ingredients, artisan built to perfection... A Northshore must... read more

It's rare for me to leave a review immediately after leaving a restaurant, but Njord Haven provided such an all-around incredible meal that it's well-deserved. We got five small plates to split between two of us, which was more than enough food (we packed some to go afterward) and it was all amazing. Creative, delicious cocktails, and incredible service, too. We'll definitely be making this one of our go-to spots! read more

We enjoyed a wonderful meal full of surprising elements. The menu is filled with rarely seen ingredients. The chef came out to speak to us and describe his influences. A really nice experience. The restaurant is right across from the oceanside too. read more

Had a fabulous birthday dinner at Njod Haven. Delicious innovative food that's a mixture of Scandinavian and tapas. Wonderful service. Great to talk to the chef before we left. I need to go back again soon read more

Really interesting Nordic/Southeast Asian menu. Small tapas style portions for sharing. Chef came to check on our table twice and was very kind. Best Pad Thai I've ever had and was a good portion. My drink was weak and I didn't want to try another one which would be my only critique. Great view and nice music. Look forward to going back. read more

An amazing find for our last day in Massachusetts before we headed back to LA! We were heading back down to Boston after a little day trip to Salem and I randomly found this place on yelp and am so glad I did as I was craving something outside of the typical American food. The Scandinavian/Asian fusion tapas really caught my eye... I've never heard of such a thing and just had to try it. The restaurant did not disappoint. Everything was absolutely delicious. My favorite were the Ka Pow and the Saba but honestly everything was great. Staff were extremely kind, the chef thanked us for having a meal, and the restaurant had a great atmosphere about it. I'll be recommending this place to everyone who comes through Boston for a great experience! read more

Njord Haven - Lamb - Asian Fusion Near Me - Swampscott, Massachusetts

Fabulous dishes - we intended to have four dishes for 2 adults and 1 child, but ended up with six after tasting 3 of them - b/c they were so so good that we just wanted to try more. Plus, the sights were pretty good. We sat outside and were able to see the ocean and the moon. The waiters, waitresses, and Don are very nice. It's small, and mighty. read more

The food here is great, the service wonderful, and the decor lovely. The chef comes to your table to check in, which is a great touch; it makes every guest feel special. read more

Loved this place--it's going to be our neighborhood bar/restaurant spot for sure. The food and drinks were delish: We ordered the seafood paella and a sirloin steak with a peanut sauce of sorts among other tapas-like dishes. On the night we went, there were some southeast Asian dishes, but the menu changes weekly. Call it global tapas with a bit of a Nordic touch. What we most liked about it though was how open and friendly the staff and owner were. You can feel that it's a labor of love and that the people enjoy being there. It's surprising to say, but that's not usually a Boston-area experience. For that reason alone, it's a special place in my book. read more

We decided to try Njord Haven at a Spur of the Moment dinner get together. We were totally pleased with everything. The bar area is comfortable with nice easy listening music. Jason, the bartender, mixed our cocktails to perfection. Shannon, our waitress explained that the dishes are small plates for sharing. We started with the Pan Seared Havarti Cheese, then the Crazy Drunken Thai Noodles and the Copenhagen Style Sirloin. Each dish was equally delicious and the presentation was outstanding. I love the open kitchen. Chef Don Golden came over to say hello and welcome us. We will definitely be back. This restaurant is a hidden gem and we are lucky to have it so close to home. read more

Everytime I come here for dinner there is at least one new dish to try on the menu. I have not had a bad experience here the food and service is always amazing at the end of the night the chef will come and make sure everyone enjoyed their food and experience. Njord haven is something the chef is very passionate about and it shows in the quality of food. read more

Interesting place and concept. I was excited to take my Norwegian friend here. Small plates. Innovative. If you want to try something different after the beach or boat, I recommend it. Pretty nearly guaranteed you'll discover something you haven't tried already. read more

Incredible meal! Very unique dishes. Have never had Nordic/Asian fusion before, but everything worked so well together and all were amazing. Cocktails too! read more

We love this place! It's very unique with flavors as well as the way they do things. Everything on the menu is a small plate. My fiancé and I usually share three or four plates which is great because we get to try so many different things! Each plate is around $14-$20 ish. Cocktails, Swedish meatballs, lamb, chicken wings are all amazing! The chef is a sweetheart if you get the chance to chat with him. The whole staff really is kind. Location is great and it's right across the street from the ocean which is nice for the view. read more