Lemongrass Cafe
Avg. Prices (excl. tax, tip, & drinks): Lunch 10 Dinner 15 Updt 10/26/2008 Hours: See Profile
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Profile Description: Lemongrass Café features Asian Fusion Cuisine combining the finest Asian spices with International concepts to create a distinctive, trendy style. A casual to upscale dining atmosphere makes Lemongrass Café fashionable for charming lunches and dinners. The seasonal lunch and dinner menus feature health-conscious ingredients using only the freshest and finest quality foods.
MY REVIEW: I love this restaurant! Every time I come here, the service is always so friendly and warm on top of being quick and professional. The tuna tartar is to die for. I usually don't like cold raw dishes like that, but when my husband insisted I try the tuna tartar I would have eaten the whole thing if he had let me!
They changed the menu a bit, but thankfully still serve the curry crab firecrackers, my favorite. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. They're long thin eggrolls with curried crab inside served with this yummy cilantro sauce. My other favorites are the bulgogi rib eye and short ribs. The meat is so tender and juicy, and so well marinated. Most steaks I've eaten before are either too dry or flavorless, but they hit this one of the mark every time. The only downside is that they put this new edamame miso sauce on those two meats now, whereas I'd just prefer the meat as it is.
NAME: yum
SUBMITTED: 10/6/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 9/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times
MY REVIEW: Amazing gem in Bellaire. Have eaten there several times and each dish is more amazing than the last. Appetizers are very reasonably priced and I recommend the dumplings and firecracker shrimp. They give you a house bread with dipping oil which is very unique and light. For entrees... Short ribs and pork chops are wonderful with vegetables that add to the total flavor of the dish. The scallops and shrimp dish is fantastic with the scallops -large tasty and fresh! Desserts...you can't go wrong with the most amazing creme brulee with fresh fruit. The presentation of food is artistic and reflects on Fah, the Chef!
The staff is knowledgeable, able to make great suggestions and attentive. The wine selection is decent with reasonable prices that allows for a bottle to accompany any meal. This is a very nice surprise in a very unassuming strip center in Bellaire...ample parking is located in the back. I would definitely come back on a regular basis!
NAME: Happy Diner
SUBMITTED: 8/29/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: August, 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: Excellent food. Although I found the fresh bean sprouts with the shrimp and scallops dish a little odd for a side....Was a little disappointed with the poor condition of the booths... ours had a big rip on the edge where you slide in and the foam was popping out.. saw others in poor condition too... also, the service was rushed/too fast, we had barely started our salads and they were bringing the entrees and trying to clear dishes...
NAME: REVIEWER "X" a.k.a. markh
SUBMITTED: 6/15/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 6/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: This is one of my husband and my favorite local restaurants. The waitstaff is always extremely friendly; and the service always great.
We've alternated between having a full meal - Love the Shrimp/Scallops, and Korean beef ribs(!) or a glass or two of wine and a couple of appetizers (the Firecracker rolls, Tuna Tartare are our favorites!).
We've always had a great dining experience here, and would highly recommend!
NAME: Bellaire Residents
SUBMITTED: 5/29/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: May 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times
MY REVIEW: My Dad found this place, and boy what a find it was!
I had the seafood curry, it was lovely - very creamy, not too spicy and seafood a-plenty! There was far more than I could eat, so I surpised to see that others say the dishes were small; perhaps I got lucky. Other family members had scallops, ribs and chicken dishes, all to their liking, and none of us had room for dessert (btw which looked very artfully put together and tasty).
The ambiance was nice, dimly lit modern restaurant (booths and tables available), but light enough to read the menu and see what we were eating! Our waiter was a little slow at times, and took a while for our drinks to arrive, but he did look quite busy so I made an allowance as the food was so good.
We had 3 starters, and a soup similar to a Japanese Miso soup. In all, 4 meals, 3 startes a few soft drinks, 3 glasses of wine plus a $20 tip, the total was $140. Pretty reasonable for a party of 4.
If you don't fancy a dessert here, there's a well known ice-creamery 3 doors down. Also, don't be put off if you are arriving at Lemongrass driving East on Bellaire; this is the way I arrived and the neighbourhood is pretty scary, but as you enter city of Bellaire, it literally changed from ghetto to nice in the space of 100meters. Finally, the bathrooms are very clean!
NAME: LoveGoodFood
SUBMITTED: 4/12/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 3/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: We went in because A*untiePastos was closed [at the time]. We thought it was going to be Chinese but we were pleasantly suprised. Its more nuveau Italian. I had the Baby Spinach salad (we were just eating lunch). It was excellent, with pine nuts, and quail eggs, and a wonderfully non sour vinegarette. Amy had the veggie lasagna. REALLY GOOD. Will had the lemon chicken with a side of greenbeans and tomatoes, accompanied by an excellent creamy sauce.
The tastes were really good, however the portions are a little small and the prices a little high. BUT that is fine with us. We are trying to eat less. And I dont mind paying a little more for well prepared food, good service, and a nice athmosphere, cloth napkins, etc..
I thanked the chef (they have an open kitchen) as i went to the bathroom. He was very gracious and appreciative. I recommend this place. Just be aware that the portions are not MANLY.
NAME: Profjake
SUBMITTED: 2/10/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 02/008
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: My favorite items here are the curry crab firecrackers, the short ribs, and the bread pudding. Heck, sometimes I go there just for the bread pudding, which is hands down the best dessert I have ever tasted. The sauce and cream that is served with the pudding... yum!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The korean short ribs are so juicy and tender, the meat just falls off the bone. No knife needed. They also only serve the true hearts of romaine In their Caesar salad. Most restaurants serve you the cheap dark green leaves in their Caesar salad, like La M*adeline’s.
True, the portions aren't monstrously large, like your bargain basement restaurants, but this is not a low class restaurant. If your only goal is to stuff yourself silly, go to P*appadeuxs. The portions in America are so huge it's ridiculous. I think the portions here are just right, and they leave room for dessert. Depending on what you order, some portions are larger than others. I can never finish the short ribs because the portion size is a bit too large for me.
The service has always been very courteous, friendly, and quick when I went there. I guess because I've been such a good customer, the chef mentioned that she's planning on doing a secret menu. I can't wait!
NAME: alwayshungry
SUBMITTED: 2/9/2008 LAST VISIT WAS: 2/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...
MY REVIEW: Strong points: exquisite food produced by a talented chef; gracious staff.
Weak points: 1) small portions; 2) some of my totally fantastic medium rare duck breast was actually fully rare (no thanks, salmonella), so I sent it back and they happily returned fully non-rare slices; 2) tiny amount of wine poured by the glass. this is something they should reconsider. Lemongrass prices are so high it attracts the kind of clientele that can well afford and definitely expects a decent glass of wine. twice now for my 11 bucks I got precisely 5 ozs of Pinot Noir, or so we were told. geez, that's a high price for a 3/4 empty glass. c'mon, half empty please, at least?
Strongest point: did I say the food is EXquisite? the desserts are to die for. honest, i wanted to lick the plate.
NAME: Bellaire resident
SUBMITTED: 11/17/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 11/17/07
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times
MY REVIEW: The name draws you into this restaurant, the waitstaff complements the incredible food. I visted the Lemongrass 3 years ago after moving here from New York. We have lived internationally with my husbands business and find this restaurant a refreshing respite. I have tried almost every item oon the menu and find the blend of spices tastefully done...not overdone just enough to want more. My favorites the Kataffi Wrapped Shrimp Salad and the Trio sampler of the soups. Great place for all occasions.
NAME: gina
SUBMITTED: 9/28/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 07/07
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...
MY REVIEW: I adore fusion restaurants and have found a new fave! The food was incredible and the desserts defy superlatives! I had the chicken Milanaise, caesar salad and the Ginger Creme Brulee'. I can't wait to go back and try something different.
NAME: Joceanne
SUBMITTED: 4/17/2007 LAST VISIT WAS: 04/2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: A business associate invited a coworker and me to lunch today at Lemongrass Cafe, a restaurant that I had never eaten at before; and I can tell you, it won't be my last!
The first impression when you walk in is positive. The upscale interior is light and airy. The restaurant looked squeaky clean. Best of all, it is a restaurant that is inducive to business lunch conversation - we didn't have to scream across the table to be heard.
The food was fantastic. I ordered the Beef Satay Wrap - East meets West in a most delectable way! A tortilla is wrapped around crisp lettuce, red onions and other veggies in a light vinaigrette along with very tasty thin slices of grilled beef. The wrap is cut in half and skewered with an olive and pepperoncini pepper then sided with a pretty remarkable chunky peanut spread. As tasty as the wrap was, it was the french fried sweet potatoes that stole the show for me! A must try, but be forewarned - they are addictive. The price for the plate is $8.50, which I thought was reasonable for the quality of food. In all, I would give it a "two thumbs-up" rating and a "second Diva appearance" in the very near future!
NAME: Drew Diva
SUBMITTED: 12/6/2006 LAST VISIT WAS: December 6, 2006
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: If you're yearning for a meal that deserves a Michelin star, but you don't feeling like getting on a plane and going to Europe, visit Lemongrass. We went there in the middle of a weekday afternoon and were surprised with the simply delectable fare, not least of which were the bread and the iced tea. Never paid attention to iced tea before? This one was so delicious that when I stood to leave and noticed there were still a few swallows left, I sat down again to finish the heavenly tea. The bread was swirled herbed white rolls accompanied by an herbed olive oil. Divine. I ordered the green papaya salad and the vegetables in miso gravy with shrimp. The latter was really a soup of very fresh exotic mushrooms, carrots, broccoli and a delicious green vegetable I couldn't name. Absolute heaven. So was the salad -- long strips of green papaya atop a bevy of delicate greens with halves of tiny tomatoes. I kept wondering what was in the viniagrette and if it was a bit too salty or spicey and still hadn't decided by the time I'd cleaned the plate. Such cooking is no accident. Here works a talented chef. We will pay him homage by frequent visits.
NAME: A Bellaire resident
SUBMITTED: 3/20/2006 LAST VISIT WAS: Mar/2006
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Wow- what's not to like about this restaurant?
Our second visit was just as impressive as the first.
I believe that everything on the menu must be good, but here is what we found particularly delicious: The Gorgonzola Salad (wonderful and comes with a "gorgonzola pouch" that contains pear and gorgonzola cheese). One of the better salads I've had. The Lemongrass Pizza- unique and delicious. The Curry Crab Firecracker- yummo!!!! This eggroll appetizer is so good! It comes with a cilantro sauce that compliments it perfectly- we also asked for a sweet sauce to go with it and they brought us an Asian sauce that also complimented it perfectly. The Pad Thai was very good, although probably not the most outstanding item on the menu, and the egg wrap around the noodles (instead of small pieces of egg mixed with the noodles) makes for a nice presentation. Probably the only small thing we noticed was that our Green Tea Cheesecake, although very good and green in color, didn't really have any kind of pronouced green tea flavor. The color seemed to have come from food coloring. Probably should be flavored a little more with green tea flavoring. Overall we love Lemongrass Cafe.
NAME: About Town
SUBMITTED: 10/28/2005 LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2005
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: Pros: The salmon salad is the best I have ever eaten, especially love the lemongrass vinagrette. Relatively quiet restaurant. Waitstaff is very pleasant and helpful.
Cons: Expensive and you don't get a lot of food for what you pay for.
NAME: amateurcritic
SUBMITTED: 7/25/2005 LAST VISIT WAS: 7/15/05
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times
MY REVIEW: My husband & I have enjoyed this venue on several occasions, a wonderful dining experience! The chef's work is superb, and the food is tasty. We have ordered the seafood dish (best scallops ever); salmon and vegetarian meals; they have all been delightful! Strongest points: service, fresh food, price for quantity and presentation. Weak points: Hostess
NAME: shay
SUBMITTED: 5/11/2005 LAST VISIT WAS: March/2005
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: Good environment to dine in
Nice try to prepare the dishes mixing with chinese cooking into western style food, but the taste and the presentation are not impressive at all. I was confused while eating as I cannot get the message from the dish itself. The dish lost an uniqueness. BTW, there aren't too many selection.
1 will give 2 points out of 5.
NAME: Kerry Pathon
SUBMITTED: 3/5/2005 LAST VISIT WAS: Feb 05
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: My father and I are also vegetarians. There are several vegetarian-friendly selections at dinnertime; I have tried the Gorgonzola Salad, the Spinach Salad (minus the bacon dressing), the Lemongrass Cafe Pad Thai, and the Lemongrass Pizza (substituting chicken with tofu). I was especially impressed with their Pad Thai's unique presentation - they wrap it in a thin layer of egg rather than scrambling the egg throughout the dish.
For lunch, I have had a vegetable wrap, which was decent but not stellar (it doesn't seem to be on the menu anymore). It came with taro chips, and my friend's order came with fried sweet potato, both of which were very lightly fried and very nice and crispy. A nice substitute for greasy potato chips!
The atmosphere is nice. The music is not too loud so it is a great place for conversation - no need to compete with the music. The decor has a very lemongrass feel to it, for lack of a better description - there is a mossy green, vertical line motif to chairs and wall adornments. There is definitely a romantic, classy aura to the restaurant.
So far I have tried the Ginger Creme Brulee and the Chocolate Molten for dessert. Presentation was beautiful; the Chocolate Molten was a bit too sweet for my taste, but the blend of chocolate and raspberry was very nice.
PS - Hi Peggy and Walt! Hope to bump into you at Lemongrass sometime! :)
NAME: Caroline
SUBMITTED: 1/24/2005 LAST VISIT WAS: 01/22/2005
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: My husband and I are vegeterians. We had dinner at Lemongrass Cafe twice. We really enjoyed our time there. It is such a fine cuisine with a great deal of attention on preparation and presentation. The blend of European and Asian cooking style is outstanding. Most dishes include meat, but the chef is happy to substitute vegetables. Our selections include Vegetable Napolean, Pad Thai, Pizza, Chocolate molten, Ginger creme brulee, key lime pie. I highly recommend this restaurant.
NAME: Peggy and Walt
SUBMITTED: 12/5/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 12/04/2004
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: lemongrass was an excellent dining experience, enjoyed the ambience and food. Chef does a wonderful job. Had the Kataifi Wrapped Shrimp, Spicy Thai Beef Carpaccio, Chicken Coconut Galangal, Tri-Mushroom Consomme and Soup Trio. For salads had the Gorgonzla Salad which was excellent. Love the Ginger Creme Brulee. Not much of a wine selection, although the Russian River from Sonoma was good, chef could expand the wine menu to include more of California's finest such as Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc and Chalk Hill Pinot Gris. Might I suggest some Benziger wines which would also complement chef's cooking.
Enjoyed both visits to restaurant and find the food satisfing and tasty. If you're on Weight Watcher's, this is a retaurant for you. It satisfies the soul and palet without making you feel heavy. One would swear the chef could also be a nutritionist with the health of the patrons in mind. Get ready because California fusion has come to Texas! I'm also going back to eat there again and look forward to a wonderful dining experience. Eating healthy does not have to taste bad. Everything was well prepared and well presented. I give it two to three stars. E*meril watch out, you have competition.
NAME: JB in Meyerland
SUBMITTED: 11/21/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 11/04
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
MY REVIEW: With all the good comments I had higher expectations. The ambience was wonderful, but my food was mediocre. I felt the meals were a bit on the greasier side and saltier side. My tuna was over cooked, but I guess it's my fault, I didn't ask for a rare tuna steak. I want to try it once more, maybe I just went on an off day.
NAME: t. r. trust
SUBMITTED: 11/10/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 11/9/04
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Atmosphere: asian fusion/pottery barn serene. Ambience was very very nice.
Service: very good, not too overbearing. The person I was having lunch with had been to the restaurant before and the waiter remembered her so they had some friendly bantering.
Food: My friend was very disappointed that the menu had changed since she was last there. There had been a chicken/coconut/curry dish that had a sauce she said was incredible. Nothing like it on the menu now. The waiter said they plan to rotate so it may be there again someday.
I had consomme broth and a spinach/walnut/blue-cheese/vinaigrette type salad. Both were excellently presented. Portions were large. I was amazed at the amount of soup in what looked like a relatively small bowl. The broth was exceptional.
My friend had a coconut soup that had a slight tartness. I had a taste and thought that I would get that next time if available. My friend ordered the white-chocolate cheese cake for dessert. The portion sizes for all items including dessert were fairly good sizes, though not gargantuan. My least favorte dish was the cheese-cake. It seemed average to me. I like caky New York style and this was a bit creamy.
Prices - The soup was 4.00, spinach (large size) salad was 8.00. Cheese-cake was 6.00.
Overall - I will definitely go back again. Next time, I may try the vegetarian lasagna or the tuna sandwich or the same salad if I'm trying to diet like I was today.
Final verdict: highly recommend.
NAME: texasgeek
SUBMITTED: 10/25/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: Oct/2004
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Dinner on Saturday night was fabulous! And I am very particular. The ambiance is serene, it's extremely quiet (thanks to good accoustics, no boring conversation was overheard from the next tables) and the food was superb. The wine list is short and interesting. I had the shrimp appetizer, lobster bisque and a Caesar salad and it was all unusual and incredibly tasty. I am sorry I did not have room for dessert. I will be returning soon!
NAME: nhamil
SUBMITTED: 10/18/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 10/04
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Went with reservations (not for a table) and found that my fears were unfounded. There was no wait on a Friday night at 7:00 and the service was almost too quick. But the service was very friendly and attentive and the food was great. The tuna tartare was simply great and the shrimp equally delicious. The ceviche was not our favorite but OK. The seafood and pasta was huge as was the osso bucco. And both of these were very good indeed. The salmon was the only item that could be considered a little spartan but the taste of this dish was up there with the other two. We ordered one Key lime pie for the three of us and should have ordered three.
Great ambiance for anywhere and especially nice to find in musty old Bellaire. The area is alive with action from the Auntie Pasta next door and the ice cream shop and other eateries going on in that block. They may have worked out the opening month jitters by now and should be given a try by anyone wishing an interesting fusion menu at a fair price.
NAME: Geronimo
SUBMITTED: 9/10/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 9/04
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Here's the lowdown: 15 minutes for us to even get WATER, and the manager was the one who brought it to us!!! It was another 10 min. for the waitress to even acknowledge us. Shrimp appetizer: my husband liked it, I thought it was too salty, and I tend to salt food more than the average person. We split the pizza: after our waitress told us twice it would be out soon, we started eating it about 45 minutes after we first ordered it. We did like the flavor of the pizza, but it was not worth such poor service. The waitress told us the wait is not normally that long, but after reading the other reviews, I know her perception of time must be warped. We will not return to this place.
NAME: APE
SUBMITTED: 8/26/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 8/24/04
FREQUENCY: Visited once
MY REVIEW: Having dined at this restaurant 3 times already with friends, I can say that we've tried almost everything on the menu. The portions are are just right, if not just a little on the small side. My recommendations are of course the shrimp appetizer, which seems to be everybody's favorite, the tuna tartare and Thai ceviche. The salads were good except for the papaya one which was tasteless and underseasoned. It was just mixed greens with shavings of papaya and grape tomatoes. I was expecting an exploxion of tartness as usually can be expected from a papaya salad. We also sampled the trio of soup. It was 3 shots of very different soups served in tiny bowls. A definite must-try if you're into shrimp bisque with a twist. Of the entrees we've tried, the Korean Ossso Bucco was my favorite, very deep flavors accented by the sweetness of the root puree. Too bad it wasn't an actual shank but a leg portion, no bone marrow to savor! The grilled scallops and shrimp were perfect cooked. The hoisin steak was a hit also because of the wonderful medley of mushrooms and rich sauce. For dessert, I recommend the watermelon granita. It is the most refreshingly light ending to a meal. The service at Lemongrass has always been a stand out all 3 times I've been here. The waiters are attentive and friendly. It is a good semi-casual dining experience and a great neighborhood restaurant.
NAME: Bellaire Neighbor
SUBMITTED: 8/16/2004 LAST VISIT WAS: 8/12/04
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times
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