About Us
For those who’ve walked through the dark — welcome home.
Lantern is more than a restaurant;
it’s a place to sit down, connect, and feel something real again.
Built from the coast of Virginia and the people who call it home, Lantern brings warmth, craft, and intention back to the table.
With each plate, we gather around food, atmosphere, and community — created to remind us that light always finds its way back, and the sun will shine again.
At Lantern, we cook with meaning, serve with purpose, and every seat is an open space to belong and grow.
Meet the Team
Micah French -Chef & Owner
Brittany Whitmire - Pastry Chef
Brittany Whitmire - Pastry Chef
Born and raised in Virginia, Micah French built her craft in the kitchens that shaped the region’s coastal identity. From the Culinary Institute of Virginia to years spent behind the line at restaurants throughout the area. Her journey has always been about more than food, it’s been about people, purpose, and the quiet fire that brings th
Born and raised in Virginia, Micah French built her craft in the kitchens that shaped the region’s coastal identity. From the Culinary Institute of Virginia to years spent behind the line at restaurants throughout the area. Her journey has always been about more than food, it’s been about people, purpose, and the quiet fire that brings them together.
Micah co-founded Lantern with the belief that hospitality can be healing. Her cooking is rooted in Virginia’s seasons - drawing from local farms, waters, and communities to create dishes that feel both familiar and new. Each plate is a reflection of balance: grit and grace, comfort and craft, light and shadow.
At Lantern, Micah leads with heart and intention. Her kitchen isn’t just a workspace; it’s a table of connection; where guests, chefs, and neighbors alike are invited to sit down, share a moment, and remember that light always finds its way back.
Brittany Whitmire - Pastry Chef
Brittany Whitmire - Pastry Chef
Brittany Whitmire - Pastry Chef
As the Pastry Chef here at Lantern, I create and produce all of our baked goods for the café, as well as our dessert menu for dinner service.
My culinary experience began as far back as I can remember. I grew up in my single mother’s deli, where I started with small tasks in the kitchen—like proofing bread—from the age of five. Baking and
As the Pastry Chef here at Lantern, I create and produce all of our baked goods for the café, as well as our dessert menu for dinner service.
My culinary experience began as far back as I can remember. I grew up in my single mother’s deli, where I started with small tasks in the kitchen—like proofing bread—from the age of five. Baking and pastry have always been my passion, but it wasn’t until culinary school that I truly had the opportunity to run with it.
I began my professional career in high-production bakeries and kitchens, including working with Hollywood studios, producing desserts for the thousands of daily guests. While I love the energy and excitement of a fast-paced production environment, coming to Lantern has felt like a return to my roots—bringing together my love of pastry, production, and creating something meaningful for people.
Nothing brings me more joy than creating a dessert and watching the elation on someone’s face when it speaks to them. Dessert is magical in that way. From the moment you see it, to that very last bite, it has the ability to make you feel like a kid again—like that five-year-old girl proofing bread in her mother’s kitchen.
That feeling is what we strive to create in everything we do here at Lantern: an environment where you feel cared for, welcomed, and, hopefully…a little bit elated.