The Bottom Line
Pros
- Very fresh ingredients. This is really obvious in the vegetarian dishes.
- The sauces.
- Great value for the money.
- Fast service. You'll make the movie next door with time to spare.
Cons
- It can get crowded.
- No alcohol license. This can be a pro or con.
Description
- Address: 150 Hutchinson Ave., Columbus (next to Marcus Theatres at Crosswoods)
- Phone: (614) 781-8883
- Hours: Open daily 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
- Prices: Nothing is more than $6.95
- Fax: (614) 781-8828
Guide Review - Lotus Grill in Columbus Ohio
The Lotus Grill's General Tso's Chicken gets raves from my kids. A friend of mine crosses town for the pot stickers and curried Singapore Noodles. Once a week, a couple I know splits the Double Pan-Fried Noodles with shrimp. And the Hong Kong Fried Rice is an interesting variation on an old standard.
But for me, Lotus Grill is about the eggplant. Stir-fried to the perfect cooked-but-not-mushy point, the eggplant is tossed with cooked onions and a sparkling sauce.
Sauces are important at Lotus Grill. They have a good take on the usual "Empress" and sweet-and-sour sauces, but they shine at the more innovative concoctions. The Orange Peel Chicken sauce has a light citrus tang that engages your nose, as well as your tastebuds. And the ginger/garlic combination in the beef brocolli's brown sauce makes it slightly -- and deliciously -- different from the traditional brown sauce.
Most of Lotus Grill's non-noodle dinners come with steamed or fried rice. And most of the meals are big enough to split. In fact, many of the groups eating at Lotus Grill do split dinners between themselves.
Lotus Grill is not about atmosphere. You place your order at the counter, then seat yourself. When your food is ready, someone brings it out. And it's good. Really good.