Red Lotus Restaurant

We went to our favorite chinese restaurant tonight. We have never had an issue sitting in the bar and ordering food in the past when Kelly is tending bar. But tonight was a total different experience. I don't know the bartenders name, but she was so completely rude as to be borderline contemptible. We requested to place an order for soup from the bartender, and she said she would send a server over, she could not take our order herself, although Kelly has always been able to accomplish this task with no issue. We waited for several minutes, the server spoke to the bartender on several occasions, but never came to our table, We finally went to the front desk to place our order for two bowls of soup. When mention was made to our server regarding our request for service, she came to our table, slammed down our placemats and told us that all we had to do was tell her we wanted to order. She was so rude, it was indescribable. I followed her out front, listening to her call us names (another sign of the professional service we received) and when I told her that I was the ""pain in the ass"" she was referring to, and that I wished to speak with her manager, she pointed me to a gentleman speaking to another table in the dining area. I pulled him aside, attempting to allow him every opportunity to rectify the situation politely and professionally, but apparently to no avail. He left without addressing the issues with his staff. It escalated from there, we being told that we could have our soup, but it would not be served to us in the lounge, but in the dining area and that we had to pay our tab in the bar. We had only had one cocktail, so we paid our tab, but the bar staff escalated the situation from there, including threatenting, and then actually calling the police on us when we asked again to speak with management. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PATRONIZE THIS ESTABLISHMENT. You will be sorely disappointed in the quality of service you will (NOT) receive. I intend on calling the Better Business Bureau and making a formal complaint against this establishment. I cannot believe that they allow their staff to be so completely disrepectful of paying customers. I repeat, DO NOT PATRONIZE this restaurant. You will be treated abominably. more

This place has obviously been there forever, the decor is old school and delightfully garish. It's located on the main drag in a red neck town and the clientele reflects that. Most of the waitstaff are in their 50's and obviously hate their jobs. When they are not verbally tearing each other or the customers apart, they stand by the front door smoking cigarettes. Classy! Some of the food is palatable, most of it not. If you are accustomed to authentic Chinese, decent food or good service, avoid this place. In a pinch for a quick drink, it will do. The lounge does pour a stiff drink. It's full of locals and regulars that think it is their own club or rec room and God forbid you should sit in one of their self designated chairs or perches. If you go into the lounge at night, be careful in the parking lot and use cash only. more

THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE!!!!! DO NOT GO HERE BECAUSE IF YOU DO YOU WILL LEAVE WITH A BAD MOOD, LESS GAS, AND A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! This is FAST FOOD chinese, i would not even call it chinese food, more like frozen food that someone heated up and tried to pass off as a chinese meal. The waitresses had attitudes the whole time my friends and I were there. When we asked for a substituition or for the food to be extra spicy they looked at us like we were asking them to jump up and down while rubbing their stomachs. This is the worst experience I have ever had while eating out. I have been to Chinese restaurants before and the food was nothing like I nastiness I experienced today. They shoved the checks and dinners in front of our faces, stormed away, and huffed and puffed all through the night. I don't know who hired these freaks but they are not fit to be waitresses. At the end of the meal I told the rude waitress that she shouldn't be one, and she had the nerve to tell me I shouldn't be a customer. Of course WE DID NOT pay for this meal. I regret even wasting my time setting foot inside that poor excuse for a chinese restaurant. DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!!! Pros: nothing!!!! Cons: horrible food and even worse customer service. more

My family and I have been going to the restaurant for years! I have just now begun to explore even more items on the huge menu. Out of all the people I have introduced the Red Lotus to, just one guy didn't like it and he was a total yuppee from Kirkland who was a dork anyways. This is a great restaurant for anyone who likes a good experience, isn't on a diet, and isn't stuck up! Hehe Pros: Great combos yummy food Cons: I can't stick to my diet too well when I go there! hehe more

Duh this is Americanized Chinese---it opened up in Auburn for Pete's sake over 40 years ago!! But if you want to time warp back to the 70s, this is totally the place to go. The food is a guilty pleasure, lots of fried things. But seriously the wonton soup, fried rice, and bbq pork are the best around and the chow yuk is anything but yuk. So to all the reviewers who are whining about the food being americanized and the lack of asian people---read city search's fourth rule: ""Compare apples to apples: Burger joints shouldn't be held to the same standards as four-star restaurants"" If you compare this place to other chinese/american restaurants, this place rocks. If you want 'authentic chinese' then go to Shi'an in Lake City (which by the way is amazing). And the interior is amazing---and really really big, with many secret rooms. Pros: Much parking, the lady behind the front desk has been there FOREVER Cons: it is in Auburn more

First of all, this restaurant is a city jewel and family tradition for hundreds of people within the south end which is more of an accomplishment than any self righteous wanna be food critic thriving on letting out self disappointment through obviously ignorant reviews. My Family has been going to the Red Lotus for maybe 20 years now many of their menu items have become classics that are unique to the restaurant. I recommend the almond chicken dish as well as the ""B Dinner"" which has a little of everything including some of the traditional favorites, most recently the owner and chefs have put together specials which have been mixes of new flavors and ingredients as well as fresh ideas. I would recommend that you give it a try. There is a reason it has been open for so long and still continues to go strong, the only downfall are the clientele that come in and try to degrade the establishment and i will bet money that the family who insulted the chef, ate all of their food before complaining. Pros: Warm and friendly service more

Once upon a time, 23 years ago, we entered the town of Auburn. We had never been here before and we were looking for just a place to eat. Pros: The place has incredible dishes! Cons: The parking is not as good as other places. Sometimes you have to park in the back and go in through the back, past the bathrooms. It's a little spooky back there at night. more

OMG, this is the worst so called Chinese Restaurant we have ever dined at. There wasn't a noodle in the so called Chow Mein and the Kung Pao Chicken had no Kung or Pao! They used on thai peppers or other oriental spices. The food was completely lacking in taste and was so bland we didn't even finish. We saw no orientals except one who came out to adjust the thermostat. My mother being chinese (my grandpa was from Canton, China and opened one of the first Chinese restaurants in Austin, TX) asked him if he was the chef and he replied he was. She told him she wished she had extra time to come show him how to cook real Chinese Cuisine. We were shocked at how candid she was but she actually took the words right out of my mouth. I would not recommend letting your dog eat here! more

Sure this restaurant won awards... in the 1970s. In fact the newspaper clippings on are still on wall. The original owner has since sold the restaurant and while it might have been good in it's heyday, the food is downright awful now. The menu consists of extremely Americanized Chinese dishes. I have to agree with the other reviewer-the food is greasy and tasteless. They used top ramen in the chow mein! Not one asian person in the entire restaurant. Go where the local asian population dines for good eats. Avoid this restaurant! I gave a single star because the waitress was nice and the decorative booths had touches of chinese architecture. Pros: Interesting interior decor Cons: The food is downright awful more

This use to be a great place to eat. It's really gone down hill over the years. Most the dishes are over battered and greasy, too salty or have no flavor. The only thing I enjoyed or ate was the BBQ pork. more

This is not Chinese food. This is an American food restaurant trying to do Chinese food. Denny's does a better job. If you're looking for cheap food go here. For Chinese food, look elsewhere. more

The food did not taste good, tasted like they used a liberal dose of MSG to cover up mediocre ingredients. Also, the booth we sat in was crowded and uncomfortable. I will not be dining there again. Cons: , crowded booths more

Red Lotus has outstanding food at a quality price, the combination dinners for 2 or more are especially good, always need doggie bags as there is alot of food coming at you. Service is decent and drinks are good Pros: Food Quality, Inexpensive, Great Portions more