Lotus Leaf Cafe

Had my first meal there this week at lunch time, ordered a sweet & sour chicken dish. I was surprised by how good the food was. Also, their presentation of the food, friendliness and the cleanliness of the place does not lack of anything. Will come here again. more

pho 9 n 9 sells extra large pho for $7.50 vs. $10.95 at lotus leaf cafe. Not saying lotus is bad or anything, just want to let some of my fellow pho lovers that there is a choice if price is your concern especially in these economy. more

This place seems to get better and better over time. Both the appetizers and the entrees are always very fresh and very good. The cilantro and other vegetables are fresh and well prepared. The noodle dishes are my favorite. The waitress is very willing to help you with your selections. This place is really very good. Pros: Nice staff, not too pricey, great food Cons: Decor more

don't return bad food because they will call the police on you and I'd rather eat 50cent cup o noddles. I got treatened by waiters and owers by returning food with dog hair in it and I thought I to complaint about how dirty this place is....make sure you have medical insurance before you eat there. Pros: nothing Cons: dirty food with bad service more

First time after living only 2 miles fromit for the past 4 years- always went to Neo China until recently when i realized that their quuality had tanked. \r \r Wanted good food the night of the NCAA Championship game- got take out and was vvery pleased. The Sambal Eggplant was sort of a gamble- not having any idead what it woul dbe like- it was absolutely excellent. Lemongrass chicken was very good as well. \r \r The menu is now being revamped per the lady who rung up my order. In this time of pinching pennies- do yourself and a local merchant a favor and go here. Neo who? Pros: Huge menu Cons: None noted more

Every time we have gone to the Lotus Leaf (more than half a dozen) we have been impressed. The servers are attentive and knowledgable (low turn over: we have had one of two servers everytime we have been in the last two years). The owner (previously the chef) has greeted us everytime we have been and made us feel welcome. Even though it is in a strip mall, the creative porch area makes you feel miles away from a Food Lion. And the food is delicious. The menu is thick so ask your server for recommendations to suit your tastes. In the fall and the winter, nothing warms your soul like a bowl of pho soup or a clay-pot entree. The only place to get quality pho and ask for the chilled, unfiltered sake if you have never tried it. It is sold by the bottle, but it is refreshing and slightly sweet. Pros: Wonderful dining experience Cons: Not a lot of room for big groups more

I was unsure about this place, having read some of the prior reviews, especially regarding MSG. I found no hint of MSG in my steamed grouper and my wife found none in her excellent vegetarian duck (it's actually tofu, but you wouldn't think it). I am a confirmed carnivore but will try the tofu next time. The bite I had was that good! There is a whole page on the menu dedicated to vegetarian dishes. That is rare in my experience. As a carnivore, I will leave others to judge its quality.\r \r Service was efficient and friendly. Mind you, we dined at 5pm on a Saturday and it wasn't overly busy. We dined outside on the patio. It is enclosed and covered. Even with the numerous fans in the ceiling, I am not sure what it would be like in the height of a North Carolina summer - seating inside is minimal.\r \r Desserts were light and refreshing, just what you need after a spicy meal. The Cafe Saigon was the most unique coffee I have ever had - no sugar required!\r \r Portions are not overly large. We left feeling well-satisfied but not overly-stuffed. To sum up - we will be going back. Pros: Good food, good service Cons: None that I can think of more

There is definitely nothing to rave about here. Everything from the service to the food was horrible. My husband and I were there for an early dinner. The waiter was not attentive or friendly. The thai chili sauce they used was the exact thai chili sauce that I have in my fridge that I get at the asian market for $1.50 a bottle. Cons: processed food. we both had ""MSG indigestion"" after the meal more

My fiancee and I have been going to the Lotus Leaf regularly for over a year (nearly once a week) and she long before that. The food is always good. Some of my favorites are the basil duck salad and the shrimp and scallops over rice vermicelli. The carved-out pineapple was my favorite over the summer. I've seen some reviews in CitySearch that appeared to be skewed based on something other than having actually eaten at the Lotus Leaf. I hope the readers will see through that and not deny themselves a truly authentic and very enjoyable Vietnamese dinner. There's so much that we enjoy about the Lotus Leaf Cafe that, rather than try to list them all, I would just suggest that readers decide for themselves. You won't be disappointed. more

my girlfriend and i ate here the other day and it was very good. i was looking for a pho bowl, it was ok but my girlfriend had a tofu entree that was really good. the flavors were complex, balanced and well thought out. very tasty. the service was a little lacking but we were not in a hurry so no big deal. we will be returning. more

Separate Vegetarian menu section. My favorite dish is Vegetarian Vermicelli. I also like the Fresh Summer Rolls appetizer. Live music sometimes. Great date spot. I met my future husband there on our first date!\r Pros: Vegetarian/Vegan Options more

We would like to say thanks to everyone who wrote an honest review, good or bad. For those who are truly interested to know about our Pho, here is the secret: it is cooked in the Northern style, ""Pho Bac"" (the only in the area). It is well praised by the News & Observer's food critic Greg Cox, You can read the complete review from our website or from the N&O. The secret to taste is a lot of meat stock, rock sugar and liquorice. The recipe can probably still be obtained at the William Sonoma at Crabtree where we held the last cooking class. For the reviewer who was wondering about our french infuenced menu (and identity), thank you for your honest observation. Vietnam was a French colony for almost a century until 1954. It is common to find French dishes on elite restaurant menus in Vietnam even today. There are also many notable Vietnamese restaurants in the US with that theme including Le Colonial in Chicago, Crustacean in Las Vagas, and LA. Our french-influenced dishes, when available, are usually well loved by our guests, including creme brulee, lobster bisque, Asian bouillabaisse. The ""Grouper in Banana Leaf"" dish you had was also found on a old Vietnamese-French menu. XO sauce was added by us to intensify the flavor. You can read more about this dish on our website's Recognitions page. For comments regarding our location and size, we apologize but a sidewalk cafe is what we are. We only have 26 seats and the sidewalk patio. :-) \r \r Chuc ban an that ngon, \r Bon appetit,\r - The Lotus Leaf Cafe Pros: innovative menu, patio dining, live jazz on weekend Cons: limited seating, reservation recommended on weekend. more

The Lotus Leaf really need to work on their foods and service if they want to stay in business. The restaurant is small, cleanliness alone would be a reason not to come back, and it is located in a strip mall pretty much next door to a Food Lion. Sorry, but this is not my type of restaurant. I expect great service and if I have a question, that my server knows exactly what he's talking about. This is defintely two thumbs down in my book. Pho Cali is more authentic and has better food. In actuality, fantastic food that is NOT laced with msg. Avoid Lotus Leaf, it's not worth it. The whole thing about hole in the wall restaurants are fantastic do not apply to this one. Do yourself a favor and just have KFC across the street. Cons: Don't even try it. It's not worth spending $5 over. more

I've seen many mixed reviews about the Lotus Leaf Cafe. People go on and on about how they loved the place or how they hated it. Before you write a review for a restaurant, a bar, a pub or whatever it is; please bear in mind that NO place is capable of pleasing EVERYONE. Cleanliness, atmosphere, service, food,\r drinks and etc. depends on individuals. Nothing is perfect.\r \r Expectations of the great things a place can offer. Why would you want to do that? Shouldn't life be about taking things as they are and make the best out of it rather than just put on a pouty face and mumble about how things should be. If that's the case, shouldn't YOU be running an establishment and make the\r perfect place to dine/drink?\r \r I, for one have dined at the Lotus Leaf Cafe. Food was great, service was mediocre and yes, it's located at a strip mall. Will I come back to the Lotus Leaf Cafe again? YES! Let it be lousy service or it's not located at the high-end place where you'd be ashamed to take your posh friends to dine. But one thing that attracted me to the place is that people there do not treat you as customers. They treat you as a friend. Yes, there are times when the servers will get on your nerves. But have you had a friend where he/she does not make you mad at times?\r \r No, Lotus Leaf Cafe is not a perfect place. I may be old and senile and I'm not perfect either. But then again... are you? more

I went into Lotus Leaf tonight expecting a really great Vietnamese meal and I have to say I was a little disappointed. The food was not bad by any means, but I just felt the restaurant is suffering from a bit of an identity crisis. We arrived and found that they do have a nice large patio, but inside the restaurant is surprisingly small. It is the only place I've seen where the outside seating seems more spacious than the inside. A jazz band was playing in the corner, not really what you would expect for a Vietnamese restaurant. The menu included things like Lobster Bisque and Creme Brulee, not that these foods are bad, it just didn't seem to fit. The grouper that is served in a Banana Leaf, very neat concept, but it didn't live up to my expectations flavor wise since the menu describes it as being in a ""spicy XO sauce"". In fact all I could really pickup up in the dish was the ginger, and it was a little overpowering. The fish is served on rice noodles and with a few green beans on the side, and it wasn't very filling. My husband ordered the Curry Coconut Chicken, which the menu neglects to mention is actually dark meat chicken. Since he dislikes dark meat chicken or any meat on the bone, he had to send it back. He ordered the special stir fry that is served in a cored out pineapple, and it was the best part of the meal. The Fried Banana dessert, is actually bananas wrapped in a spring roll skin, and I felt they would have been much better in a light batter. Our server was clearly distracted by a large table he was waiting on outside, so he was absent for long periods of time and didn't once offer to refill our drinks which didn't help my overall impression. I'm happy I tried it but I don't see this restaurant becoming one of my regular haunts. Pros: nice large patio Cons: strange combinations of food, menu is a little misleading more

just another restaurant in a strip mall! The Vietnamese food it just bad and taste like Chinese restaurant. Pho taste alot of MSG\r The service was poor. more

Met some friends for a going away dinner (I'm moving). Our server, Chris, was outstanding. I ordered the Ginger Glazed Salmon and it was AMAZING. Best Salmon I have ever had. My friends both got a Tofu/Vermicelli dish and they enjoyed theirs as well. ""Chris"" told us that the Saki was on special so we appreciated that. It was a wonderful evening and very positive experience. My only regret is that I just found it and I'm moving! When you go ... be sure and ask for Chris. Enjoy! I rate them an 11. Pros: Great food more

The restaurant is look like a trailer through a hurrican, not o mention the cleanliness (where is the health departement?). The server had no idea what they are serving, the Vietnamese crepe is so none tradititional and greasy, the pho is taste alot of MSG make me fell sick in my stmach. Please, this is what Vietnamese food is all about, I am very disappointed. more

LOTUS LEAF WAS AMAZING!!! FOOD, SERVICE, PRICE: EXCELLENT.\r WE HAVE TRIED OTHER VIETNAMESE RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA, AND LOTUS LEAF IS THE BEST.\r OTHER PLACES HAVE NON-VIETNAMESES COOKING THEIR FOOD, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE FOOD IS SUPPOSS TO TASTE LIKE, BUT AT LOTUS LEAF THE FOOD TASTE LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD GET IN THEIR MOTHERLAND.\r KEEP IT UP.\r Cam on Pros: EVERYTHING GREAT Cons: NONE THAT I COULD TELL more

My friends and I do an ""Ethnic Dinner Night"" every month. This month was Vietnamese. My friend Julie is Vietnamese, so she definitely made she she could go this this past month's ethnic dinner night. She said she hasn't had decent Vietnamese food in YEARS! Though I wouldn't recommend Lotus Leaf for large groups of people, they really made an effort to accomodate our group of 16! Make sure you call ahead if you have more than 4 people. Seating is limited.\r \r I had the summer rolls - extremely good! And then had the duck as the main entree. Wow! Explosion of juicy flavor! Their bowls of soup are ridiculously huge and well worth the $9.00 price tag. They are a meal in themselves! Their cheesecake for dessert was quite good as well.\r \r We didn't have any complaints among the group. Julie said it was fantastic and talked to the chef a bit afterwards. Very authentic, VERY good! Pros: Great food, fabulous staff, outstanding wine list! Cons: Shopping Plaza Storefront; no curb appeal; doesn't accomodate larger groups as well more