You might not expect Nightshade Noodle Bar, a buzzy Vietnamese restaurant in downtown Lynn, to serve margaritas, and technically you’d be right—because as general manager Alexandra Caruso freely admits, the restaurant’s Coconut Margarita is something more.

Available for patio dining and takeout, it’s made with reposado tequila, lime, coconut milk syrup, Thai banana, black cardamom and Vietnamese coriander. “Our Coconut Margarita drinks more like a tiki cocktail,” Caruso says. “Nutmeg and smoky black cardamom from Curio Spice kick up the coconut milk, which lends more texture than coconut flavor. This drink is all about spice!”

She adds that the cocktail is creamy yet avoids being heavy, and has a light sweetness and richness of body that makes it a worthy companion to the bold flavors of chef Rachel Miller’s Vietnamese-influenced fare, particularly the Fried Salt & Pepper Clam Roll, and Homemade Egg Noodles with caramelized garlic sauce and either beef or mushrooms. 

If you’re carrying out the cocktail, Caruso recommends pouring it into two rocks glasses filled with ice—presuming you feel like sharing. 

“This cocktail is bottled for two and quite strong, but we won’t judge you if you don’t share,” says Caruso.