Loved the dish I got - very spicey just the way I wanted it. Nice decor, friendly people. Service was ok. A lot slower than I would have expected since there were only a handful of people dining in that day.
(4)
Jason C.
I have eaten Thai food all over the place, including my own kitchen. I've eaten at the best places in Thai Town in Los Angeles where every billboard is in Thai. I've eaten at the best Thai places in Kansas City. I have to say that this place is hands-down the best in Kansas City. My only complaint is that the menu doesn't have more items. But, I would rather have excellent quality than excellent quantity any day of the week. The waiters had a little extra time to talk to me tonight because it was slow due to the weather, but they explained a few things about why it's better. For example, real tamarind instead of vinegar in the phad Thai. I usually don't even care too much for phad Thai... but it was worth trying here. Also, importantly, they don't use the same coconut milk that most Thai restaurants do... They use coconuts and turn it into the coconut milk there themselves, and fresh. It makes all the difference in the world. I mean, ALL the difference in the world. Plus, there is never an objectionable cut of meat here. You can tell that they paid attention to every detail, including not using cuts of meat that might have a little extra fat here and there. Particularly the gristly kind that we all run into from time to time at restaurants. You can tell that these guys really care, really want the business, and really want to succeed... And it's all right there in the plate. Right where I like it. If it's important to you, the atmosphere is also nice. I'm not much of an atmosphere guy... I like to focus on the food and the value for the money there. But, the atmosphere is plenty good. In the process of chatting me up about all the particulars, the waiter decided to bring me a free Thai iced tea. And, it's going to sound stupid, but even it was better than any other Thai iced tea in town. Seriously. I could tell that it was brewed nice and strong, and that the creamy milk on top was plenty fresh. I can't wait to go back again. I suggest you get down there asap. I don't think you will believe just how good it is. It is truly a cut above. Beyond beyond.
(5)
John H.
I've been to lemongrass several times in its various incarnations. This review is for March 2015, just after I understand they changed management. The crab Rangoon was far too sweet. I've never before not liked crab Rangoon, but I won't be getting it here again. The seafood pad Thai, on the other hand, has insane amounts of seafood. I've gotten it twice. I didn't want to leave this review until I confirmed it wasn't a fluke. So if you like seafood, you can get a ton of it with noodles for $15. My wife says the grapow and penang curry is good too.
(4)
Michael J.
I was hoping for more, but got average. My wife and I had curried tofu and TOM YUM soup. The soup was very good. We enjoyed it alot. The problem was the main dish - the vegetables appeared to me to be frozen peas and corn you could buy from a grocery store. On top of that, the dish was cooked so fast that the flavor was not present in throughout the meal, and the gravy part of the dish was EXTREMELY soupy. The staff was ok, and left you alone, but came by and filled drinks in a reasonable amount of time. the decor was nice inside, but to get into the place, there was trash and leaves around the front door. Overall I thought it was good, but not great.
(3)
Pam T.
Delish! I can't wait to go back during happy hour. We did take out for our first visit :)
(5)
Chamberlain H.
I want to wrap my arms around this place and give it a big sloppy kiss for being fresh, local, vibrant, and all the other culinary buzzwords. But I can't do that yet. Been here three times now and I like what they are trying to do. But something is lacking. Green curry with pork - better flavor than the other local versions because they actually try to incorporate a little sour hint to the curry which is how it's supposed to taste. Didn't have that overwhelming sweetness that's all too common. But the pork itself was just bland, under seasoned, and tough. Kind of like the suspect pork or chicken in Chinese dishes. Simply throwing pork slices in the curry doesn't magically raise the pork quality. Try a marinade or tenderizer or something. Pad Khieng - simple mix of beef, veggies, herbs, in a brown sauce. Fresh ginger ,as usual, put this dish over the top. Asked for a fried egg on it, which they did. Came out a little cool, but acceptable overall. Pla nung mak noow - steamed fish with lemongras, veggies, herbs, and chili sauce, etc. Had high hopes for this, but it was way, way, way, too salty. I realize they were using swai which needs to be doctored up to give it some flavor, but the salt (or too much fish sauce) in the recipe drowned out the chili, cilantro, and lemongrass. Disappointing. Won ton soup - again, lots of potential, but way too salty. Had me chugging water. My favorite and most consistent dish so far has been the Som Tam, or green papaya salad. Just the right combo of fish sauce, lime juice, chili, to put this refreshing salad over the top. But again, there was something a little off. They brought it out with steamed shrimp on top instead of the advertised crushed, dried shrimp. The waiter said the dried shrimp are so strong smelling that they just default to the steamed shrimp unless asked. But the menu says the dried shrimps are standard. The second time I got the salad i asked specifically for the dried shrimps. The waiter then said they were out. Frustrating. I don't spend much time critiquing service or ambiance, but both were quite good. And try a Chang beer while you are there. Overall, they're making a good effort and the produce used is fresh and local, but it just has too many inconsistencies. Two steps forward, but one step back type of place.
(3)
N J.
Non vegan friendly. They said cant make dishes vegan, have to add oyster sauce. Not impressed by the reply!
(1)
Caryn G.
WOW! What a great addition to the downtown OP dining scene. A Chicago native who makes frequent extended visits to the area, I've been looking for a Thai place that matches up to the ones back home - to no avail. Until now. Lemongrass is in a whole different league. For me the food checked all the boxes - authenticity, fresh, quality ingredients, perfectly balanced flavorings spiced to the ideal heat - plus it's friendly, with great service and a cool techno vibe to the space. They offer the typical selections but then branch out into Vietnamese and Laotian dishes. I went for the KHAO NAM - the traditional Laotian rice ball salad. Not only terrifc, there's plenty for two. Loved the complimentary shrimp chips came with this dynamte dipping sauce. Definitely worth a visit; we'll be back.
(5)
Martha M.
So good. Great staff, delicious food, nice decor. I feel like no one sees this great little restaurant among the other stores, it definitely deserves more attention.
(5)
Liz S.
My Father and myself ate at Lemongrass this last Saturday. We were greeted by a very friendly woman who sat us at a nice table in the back. Only 3 or 4 tables were filled. From the owner, we ordered two bowls of the sweet and sour soup and the Masala chicken curry to share. The owner delivered the soup in under 5 minutes. It was outstanding. I don't normally like the run of the mill sweet and sour soup you get in most Asian restaurants but this was homemade and delicious. Just the right amount of heat. The young man sitting next to us had the wonton soup and was raving. Our curry arrived and was just as wonderful. I can still taste the creamy goodness of the coconut curry sauce. Service was very attentive. Our tea and water never got low. Very friendly devoted owners who want you there. It is Now my go to place for Thai. I wish them great success.
(5)
Amanda O.
Oh man I love this place! I haven't had a full sit-down meal yet, but so far they've won me over and I can't wait to go back!! We just had egg rolls and crab Rangoon, to go. Everything was so hot, fresh, and crispy! The egg rolls came with a delicious plum sauce that was great on both items. The crab filling was *just* a little sweet, and positively delish. I got to meet the owner, who was an absolute pleasure! Friendly as heck, and aiming to please. I can't wait to go back for dinner! Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Jay G.
For the price it's the best deal around. For the service and food it's even better a really good deal and great people and service. I hope the other Thai places get the hint and follow suit
(4)
Jim S.
Have gone twice and was very impressed. Food is outstanding, personal opinion it is the best Thai food in Kansas City, which is why I gave it 5 starts. Went for lunch, not very busy and service was great. Went for dinner and it was busier, service struggled a little. Staff they had was great, but they were short staffed. Talked to them later and they said they were having some challenges finding good people because customer flow was still inconsistent so tips were also. Will give them a pass on this. They were trying and I think it will improve with time (when people figure out how good the food is doubt they will have many slow times).
We moved to Overland Park a few weeks before Lemongrass opened and have been meaning to try it for months. After one visit we are singing its praises to our friends, and wondering why we waited so long to go there! My husband is an adventurous eater but me, not so much. I went with my old standby, General Tso chicken, which i have at almost every Chinese restaurant. I have eaten *a lot* of General Tso chicken, and this was the best I've ever had! My husband asked for recommendations based on his particular "likes" in Thai cuisine and ended up with a curry that he said was delicious. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. We really liked the place and plan to return to try different things on the menu. Asian food is one of my husband's favorites since he is a vegetarian. I am not. Next time there, I plan to have drunken noodles with chicken. I used to live in Lawrence, and this is the best Asian food I've had since moving away from Zen Zero.
(4)
Camron S.
Beautiful new restaurant. Very friendly owner and wait staff. The front part of the restaurant is a cool bar area. Down a short hall is the dining area. Great decor. Wait for food is what you'd expect from a Thai place that takes time to prepare their food from scratch; don't be in a hurry when you come. We had the green curry with chicken, which was Amazing. The best I've had anywhere around Kansas City. Smooth and sweet, with subtle hints of galangal. We also had "crazy noodles," which is not on the menu. It was a delicious twist on pad thai, with crispy fried thai basil (so good!) on top. Highly recommended. Go check the place out! We really enjoyed it and will be headed back.
(5)
Elizabeth O.
Yum! We've wanted to try Lemongrass ever since we read about it in the paper. We had Pad Thai and Pad See Ew. They were both fresh and flavorful. The decor was serene and the staff was friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend!
(5)
Katie G.
We were really excited to try this place, but it was kind of a weird experience. First of all, we came at a very slow time, which was fine, more on that later... We ordered drinks, the Lemongrass Lemonade and the Hit and Rum. They came out in tiny glasses, with a very small amount of ice, and our waiter asked if they were ok, because he had never made one before. He said he had to dump like four. I was unsure if he was kidding, but very worried about the potential alcohol waste. The drinks were pretty lame. We ordered the Calamari and it was so delicious.... tender and huge and yum. Now things get weird. Another couple was seated RIGHT NEXT TO US at the empty restaurant...the chairs were SO CLOSE to us and so it was super weird, but also entertaining. I ordered Pad Thai, and my companion ordered something curry. I ordered mine medium hot, and it wasn't very spicy so I asked for some hot sauce. The guy who I asked didn't seem to speak much English, so he brought me some ground up peppers. it did the trick but wasn't really what I had in mind. Also, I ordered Shrimp Pad Thai and got Chicken, but it was ok, so I didn't say anything. The Pad Thai was ok, I've had better. So the couple beside us who were sitting SO CLOSE kept asking for stuff from the waiter who didn't speak English. It was classic. First she asked for 3 dishes filled with condiments like she's gotten before at other thai restaurants. Poor guy had no clue. He said he would go check, and he was probably like WTF. He never returned with anything. Later she asked for more sliced limes and Tamarind sauce. hmmm. ok. Someone gave her something. Not sure what it was because the waiter (english speaking one) didn't know what she was talking about. Maybe he gave her Ketchup, I don't know. It seems like I was creeping their table, but let me tell you, they were so close to us we were practically at the same table. The trip was entertaining, to say the least. If I want Thai again, I'm just gonna go to Lulu's or Thai Place.
(3)
Kathy W.
One of the better Thai restaurants in the area. Food is inconsistent. I ordered the same dish three times and it was different each time. Curry is excellent. Scallops very good. Service is slow. They are friendly, but don't refill drinks or check on diners.
(3)
Kathy A.
Neither the food or service was very good. When we got our credit card statement for our meal we saw that the restaurant had added a $41 tip. The tip we had added was only $6.00 for our $35 meal . To say the least we will NOT return.
(1)
Darren F.
This place has grown into one of the better Thai restaurants in town. Today's tofu pad kee mow Thai hot (my go to dish at any Thai restaurant) is the best I've had in well over a year. Much better than my first visit here a couple years ago. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)
Karen P.
This place smelled weird when we walked in. The bathrooms are right by the entrance- so maybe that's why??? We could see through to the kitchen though, and it looked clean and organized, so we felt ok to stay. And when we got to the dining room, it thankfully smelled much better. It's a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, and the 2 people working were both really lovely and accommodating. I ordered a Thai Iced Coffee and it was prepared exactly as I like it- soooo delicious. For our meals, we got the Pineapple Curry & the Rainbow Noodles. The waitress described them both as 'more than mild but less than medium' spice level, but we thought they were both above medium. But maybe we're just wimps! But even with the heat, it wasn't overpowering- all of the amazing, differing flavors came through. We loved that both dishes were packed with fresh sliced veggies, and my pineapple was super juicy and perfectly ripe. We will definitely go back here. So nice to find yet another great Thai restaurant in KC!
(4)
David L.
Much improved since my visits earlier in the year. I've eaten there twice for lunch in the last few weeks and both times the food has been excellent. Nice sized portions and dishes were well seasoned - spicy was spicy while my companion's mild was mild. The Thai Basil fried rice was particularly good. Definitely worth trying again if, like me, you were disappointed with the food and service under the old management. The new team seems to be hitting their stride.
(5)
Julia R.
I've had the pleasure of enjoying both lunches and dinners here several times in the last three months. Each time the food was nicely presented and delicious (luv the cashew stir fry, but also crazy noodle ... pad Thai ... and-ddd). The servers are terrific and Alyssa (sp.?) has made me very valued each time I returned. Very well done, Team Lemongrass! Julia
(4)
Ann W.
It pains me so to update my review to a 3-star review. The restaurant is under new ownership since the last time we dined there and there were some major misses in terms of service and execution this time. The new ownership has updated the menu, but the wide range of curries remains. For that, I'm grateful because I'm a curry fiend. The hubby and I each ordered a curry dish tonight and were surprised that the serving size is a bit bigger but the dishes both had very few veggies in them. My hubby's curry was ordered mild, but he was sweating a bit and his nose was running due to the level of heat. I ordered mine Thai hot and got it that way. They currently have a Yelp deal for a free app, but the wait staff apparently were not looped in. Our waitress asked if she could take my phone with her to check into it. What??? Hell, no. You never ever ask to take someone's personal phone. What if you drop and break it? How do I know that you won't access proprietary work information? Just a ridiculous request. So she was able to check into it without taking my phone and apparently the free app is limited to 1/2 order of crab rangoon, spring rolls or fried egg rolls. We selected the spring rolls and were really disappointed in them, so much so that I was glad they were free. They were pretty much completely lettuce with just a tad bit of diced chicken and zero flavor. I was surprised they had no cilantro in them as this is a typical ingredient in spring rolls and helps amp up the flavor even if they're mostly lettuce and glass noodles. The hubby also ordered the Andaman salad which is a seafood salad. It was mostly iceberg lettuce, but did have one mussel, two small scallops, a shrimp and a fair amount of imitation crab meat, plus two small tomato wedges and a few pieces of cucumber and peanuts. The flavor of the dressing was nice, but there was waaaay too much iceberg lettuce. It would have been much better with less lettuce, better quality lettuce and more cucumber and tomato. Sadly, the overall food quality doesn't appear to be as good and the service was very slow even though two of our items were things that were likely made up in advance and only needed to be plated. Also of note is that they are no longer serving alcohol which is unfortunate. Hey, if you're going to have slow service and the quality of food isn't going to be as good, maybe having a nice adult beverage could soften the blow a bit. Finally, in an odd twist, they were playing reggae music. An incredibly strange selection for a Thai restaurant and not terribly conducive to making conversation. Overall, I wasn't pleased with the new direction the restaurant has taken, but we will probably check back in after a couple of months to see if these are just new ownership wrinkles that will be worked out.
(3)
Adam S.
It's time to update this review, because like KC in the spring time, this place seems to change by the day. I used to work around the corner from here. When they first opened there appeared to be some major hiccups, yet the food was good and I was excited to have a new, locally owner Thai spot. Each time got progressively worse and worse until I've finally stopped going. Most times eating inside, there was a strong ammonia smell that ruined my appetite. They cut the music and TV's and it was stone silent in there, especially noticeable when there weren't any other patrons in there. One time I had a lunch where I was aiming to get in and out in 30 minutes and literally spent an hour and fifteen minutes there! I had to let my fiancee leave to get back to work while they sorted out the check. Another time, they brought out some kind of broth for my vegetarian friend and I. When he said he was vegetarian they took away the broth without saying anything or bringing a replacement. To this day I don't even know what it was... hot onion water? Pretty much what it tasted like. As I mentioned earlier, some of the entrees are alright, but not that memorable. This place is firmly buried in that forgotten part of my brain and unless things turn around, I won't be going back.
(2)
Jake E.
First time visit today and it was wonderful! I came in for lunch after the prime hours and would have given them a pass for mediocre service but it was fantastic all around. I enjoyed the "medium" Pad Thai and can't wait to come back again. Great atmosphere and delicious food.
(5)
Jillian C.
This place has a fun, bright interior and a friendly staff. It has never been full either time I have come in but filled up much more during dinner service than during lunch service. I have had both the panang curry and the pad thai when I have gone. I'd say the panang curry is better. It has a beautifully creamy coconut peanut base and the rice is nice and sticky (my favorite!). The pad thai isn't the best I've ever had but it is still good and a classic dish. The food is incredibly hot and fast so this is probably a sweet lunch spot because your turn around time should be short. Price point is normal for a thai place. Overall happy and I'll be back (obviously, since I had already gone twice before I finally reviewed...haha).
(4)
Kathy M.
After seeing a movie at the Rio, we opted to try out the new Thai restaurant down the street. It had a nice decor and was a comfortable restaurant. Their bar is located at the front of the establishment and does not allow you to see the seating they have available for dining or the fact that anyone is actually inside the restaurant. This is a little quirky, but I'm guessing they are making do with the original layout. The staff is very friendly and did a nice job taking care of us. Hubby and I both enjoyed our meals - the quality of the steak in hubby's dish was very good. Their portion size allowed us to bring leftovers home which I always consider a nice bonus. We will definitely visit them again.
(4)
Crabby P.
Thankfully under new management. I been there several times since and I have not been disappointed. Pineapple curry, the crispy duck, the pad thai and Wow the crispy pork belly were great. I always look forward to going back and trying something else. The staff couldn't be nicer.
(5)
Julie S.
Food poisoning from soft spring rolls is where I'll start with this post. That pretty much speaks for itself. If I hadn't gotten food poisoning from the shrimp I would still rate this place low. The other item I ordered was the panang curry with beer. The broth tasted a little off from what I'm used to with thai curries. It also has peas and carrots in it that looked like they came from the frozen section (perfectly diced and bright orange).
(1)
Marie F.
Waiter was super excited to help us. Really made us feel welcome. Lots to choose from on the menu, including pho. He gave us the option of saying spice level and meat choice and he would make us a surprise dish. So, that's what I did! I was served drunken noodles and it was delicious. He made it clear that if there was anything we didn't like about the food that he would fix it to our liking. Truly impressed by the personal attention and the desire to make the customer happy. Great experience.
(4)
M L.
Everything was delicious and the service was wonderful. We had the Phuket rolls, crab rangoons, and pad thai -- we left with happy tummies! Thank you, Lemongrass!
(5)
Matthew K.
I never, ever leave reviews; even as I constantly tell myself that I should. But there is something so fundamentally satisfying about Lemongrass that I've finally committed. First, let me tell you about the inviting decor and cute streetside appeal. Upon first walking in, your greeted by a small bar and a halfway to the dining area. There you'll find a wonderfully designed layout with plenty of room between tables resulting in a comfortable experience. Now, the food. That's the reason why I've find myself on binges, eating at Lemongrass six times in a week. The standard fair appetizers are on point and a perfect rendition. Amazing Pad Thai and sesame chicken. My knowledge of everydishes is limited though. You see, I'm addicted to the Tom Yum soup. It's kind of like when I first discovered Pho. I just can't get enough. The vegetable and tofu are mind blowing. Highly, highly recommend. Also, they'll ask you hot, medium or mild. The secret is medium, or hot if you're bold. It's the perfect level of heat to express the dishes.
(5)
Gavin G.
I stopped in for lunch on a Monday. I ordered the "Shrimp in a Blanket" appetizer and Masaman curry. The shrimp appetizer came out looking so perfect and identical to one another that I fear that they are simply frozen. After one bite, I'm almost positive that they were. The shrimp inside were ice cold and still grey in color and raw. The sweet chili sauce that came with them tasted fine, but also exactly like sweet chili sauce from other places. The waiter was appropriately apologetic and removed it from my bill. They offered to re-make it for me, but I declined. However, the Massaman Curry was surprisingly delicious. It has a slightly different flavor than other places with tender chicken, tasty peanuts and perfectly cooked carrots. Unfortunately, the potatoes were nearly raw. The menu can't decide if it's Thai, American Chinese or something else entirely. You can probably find something that you like, but it doesn't seem like the worlds most authentic menu. All of their curry options are rolled into a single menu option. Again, for a Thai menu I would expect the curries to get a higher billing than General Tso's chicken. The dining room is clean and colorful. The TVs showing a YouTube channel that teaches Thai cooking is a little odd, but better than the typical 24 hour news that many places show. The music playing is 99.7 the vibe; very strange. It's tough to shake the raw shrimp experience. The curry was good enough that I would return with a friend, but I probably won't suggest it to anyone.
(2)
mark b.
Last night, my wife and I went with 2 friends for our first and last visit to Lemongrass Thai Cuisine. Although the ambiance is nice and the place is clean, we were very disappointed. We ordered a variety of dishes and the food was just okay, not great. However, what was really annoying was that we asked them several times to turn up the air conditioning because my wife and I don't enjoy eating with sweat running down our faces. Evidently, they did not care and took no action to address our concern. As a consequence, we rushed through our meal and left as soon as we could. Needless to say, we will NOT be going back. There are other restaurants such as the Thai Place in Westport that have better food and are more accommodating to their patrons.
(2)
Gretchen S.
Tried Lemongrass on a trusted recommendation. Ordered beef satay, spring roll, General Tao chicken, and an entree soup (don't remember name). The food is excellent...especially the spring roll, general T and the soup. I haven't been impressed with Thai Place or some of the other Thai restaurants in KC. This tasted so much fresher and carefully prepared. I also picked up an order of the spring rolls for a party and they traveled well and were a hit. This is a very new place so they are not at all crowded. Only downside to our experience was a sewer drain smell when we entered. Would definitely go back because of the food quality!
(4)
Scott Q.
We went here for Mother's Day and the food was great. It was pretty empty but it was a Sunday night. The food was fresh and some of the best Thai we have had. The kids even loved it. Fast forward 2 months and when you walk in it smelled terrible. I ordered carry out for the family and took it home. They did not mark which pad Thai was which spice so I smelled them to see which ones had spice. First mistake as they smelled terrible. Then I took one bite and it was disgusting. My stomach immediately started to churn. So I took it all back and got my money back. Looks like it is time to try hot basil. Too bad as I was really rooting for these guys to make it.
(1)
Tony X.
This is my third time coming here, I enjoy the quieter ambiance, its not too loud. The food is great, I like the fried springroll and the pad thai. The pricing is moderate for two people. Most of the dishes are a little sweeter than your average thai food but its still flavorful.
(3)
Nattapong A.
I went to Lemongrass restaurant early this March 2015 right after they are with a new management. The light lime green restaurant interior looks very nice. The first dish I tried was Papaya salad and it was my favorite so far. My main dish was pork belly with basil sauce. It's awesome! The crispy pork skin went well with yummy spicy basil garlic sauce. I believe I would replete this dish again in the future. Hopefully, the customer would give the new management a chance too.
(4)
Beau E.
I battled internally on whether to write this update. I loved this place so much until I went back last week. The two younger gentlemen who were clearly responsible for the atmosphere, service, and food quality appear to be gone. Cheap special signs that are duct taped to the windows now adorn the storefront. The service is mediocre at best, but most of all; the food recipes and presentation have changed for the worse. To be effectively blunt, the charm of the place is gone and the food is shit. I don't know if it's new owners, management, or both, but this place is now a joke and won't be open much longer. They just took a swanky foodie destination and converted into a rot gut run in the mill MSG outlet. We were there for lunch, we were the only people there, and the people who appeared to be the owners/managers were sitting at their own bar drinking...none of which are good signs. We are very disappointed and will not be returning.
(1)
Andrew S.
I have to agree with the recent review written by Beau E. In the beginning there were in fact two younger gentlemen that appeared to be designing the food and decor; & the whole experience was great! The last two times I have dined there, it appears that these two young men no longer work there; and, the food has suffered quite a bit! As Beau E. said there is a good amount of 'kitschy' type signs hanging outside. I might give Lemongrass one more shot but it is not looking good:(
(2)
Sarah J.
Since my original review of lemongrass I've heard there's an issue with consistency. I can't actually tell you about that because after inviting friends to lunch here today there was such a variety of awful smells that we actually had to leave because my stomach was hurting from it. We all had different opinions on whether it was the bathrooms, blanched veggies or two day old fish, but it was safe to say, at least in the area where we were sat, it was a deal breaker. I hesitated to bring this to light here, as maybe there was just a bathroom issue and it was a one off, but I was pretty disgusted and I hope they can fix the issue. I'll try again -- without any friends who I've promised a great experience.
(1)
Trista C.
Great food, cool ambience, nice staff. The dining room is well decorated. We dined on a weekday, so it was not crowded. There were flat screen tvs showing images of Thailand. Our Favorite dishes pad kee maw sweet and spicy yellow curry has carrots, potatoes, spice and is great! The Tom yum great combo of lemongrass and coconut milk. The portions are generous and the vegetables were fresh and plentiful as well. We will definitely eat here again!
(4)
Christina M.
We ordered delivery via GrubHub and it was delicious! The Udon noodle soup and green papaya salad were wonderful. We would definitely try their food again. The tempura was a little greasy, but this is probably because it was delivered instead of eaten in-house. Mango sticky rice was yummmmmmy!
(4)
Melisa V.
Headed here after the Yelp event last week after realizing we wouldn't be able to find a place downtown without an hour wait. The manager helped us and talked us into ordering lemongrass martinis, which were amazing. He disappeared for a while before returning to take our order. It was definitely an eclectic menu and we enjoyed everything we ordered, especially the spring rolls. The dish I ordered, the pad khee mow, was my favorite and as good as I've had elsewhere. The seafood combo and curry we ordered were also very good. I look forward to returning to try more on the menu.
(4)
Mary Q.
I love Downtown OP! This place delivered to the salon I was having my hair done at. :) Food was warm, delish, and fresh. Pad Thai was plentiful, crab rangoon was crispy and flavorful. It was nice to have tasty food that didn't taste like grease. Hoping to try the fried rice next time
(5)
Irma S.
The Galanga soup is excellent. I went with two more friends and we ordered the pot, very nice presentation with the flame to keep it warm. We ordered it mild because I am not a big fan of spicy food, it was perfect. My friends added some spicy sauces they brought as sides. The service was very good.
(5)
H H.
I've eaten here a handful of times now, dine-in and carry out and every time it's amazing. I haven't had anything bad here. The Phuket rolls are amazing, as is their crispy pork belly Gapow at dinner time. Go here! Or get takeout. They have great lunch specials and some of the best crab rangoon I've ever had (you get a crab rangoon and a hot and sour soup free with lunch!). Seriously, this place is a gem. The staff is so wonderful and friendly, they remember your face if you come in multiple times.
(5)
Nicole J.
Best Thai I've ever had!!! Sooo fresh and incredibly friendly staff, and super informative about the menu and Thai cuisine!
The food used to be better and the service is not very good. Very disappointing. We had gotten carry out from here before and it had always been great until today. The mild dish was unbearably hot and I had to send it back. When I asked for some rice to go with the "fixed" dish I was charged extra. The people in the tables near us were also complaining about the hotness of the mild dishes and were having a hard time eating them.
(1)
Heather W.
Oh my YUM! I am so excited to get awesome Thai food closer to home than Westport. Their curry and pad Thai win. Helpful and smart waitress overcame our doubt at the slightly confused hostess. We will be back!
(5)
Tina H.
My bf and I stumble upon this place while we were driving, this place is beautiful and the staff is really friendly but the food wasn't great it was just OK.
(3)
Tobin P.
Back door is broken, so I had to walk around the block to the front door. No big deal, things break The inside has a very nice ambiance. Nicely decorated and good chill music. One thing that didn't make sense was that they had large flat screen TV s playing some type of Thai cooking channel. The food was good. I had the red curry chicken. There was a taste of black licorice that i wasn't used to but i still enjoyed it.
(3)
Tim S.
I had the Spice Beef and Scallops for lunch and if was great. Large medium well cooked flanks of steak with juicy scallops. The scallops were on the small side, but I'm not too chapped since it was less than $10. Too many Thai restaurants are cooking American-Thai food with too much sugar and salt. This was not the case here where the sauce was flavorful, but light. Give them a try.
(5)
Cornelia H.
Delicious food! Excellent service! Will definitely go back!
(5)
Nancy B.
We were thrilled to try this restaurant and were very impressed with the decor and the initial service. We got our appetizer right away, and I received my meal (pad thai) within 10 minutes afterward. However, my husband didn't get his until 15 to 20 minutes after that. Having waited for his plate to arrive, mine was already cold. Those around us were having a similar experience with the spacing of entrees. My husband's food was undercooked and despite asking for an extra plate multiple times, we never received one. All in all, it started out well, but ended terribly. There's a lot of potential in this place, but it was a terrible dining experience.
(1)
Julie Z.
We fell in love with this restaurant the first two times we ate there. The food was unique and so good. The atmosphere was gorgeous. The last time we went there it smelled like day old fish and the food was inedible. We are hoping we just picked an off night and will try it again.
(3)
Jocelyn S.
I've been here twice so far. Once for dine in, once Togo. The first time I came with my aunt who had never had Thai food before. The gentleman working was so kind and took his time explaining everything to her. She got the pad Thai and loved it. I got the pad see eew and it was incredible! The food was just as incredible when we got takeout tonight. My boyfriend got the lemongrass noodle and was very impressed. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Leslie E.
This was my go to place while pregnant and craving Thai food. It's even great now that in not pregnant and constantly eating. It seems the same two gentleman have always been working and waited on us. I'm not sure if they are the owners. They are attentive and give great detail when we ask questions about the menu. After the first few times I've learned to ask for no sprouts on top. They add a bunch and I'm really not a fan, but they are are always will to accommodate. It never seems busy which is a surprise since it's so good. But I do see a lot of people walking in to get take out. This is a good place to to get together with friends when you want to eat great food and chat for a bit since they don't try to rush you out and there is plenty of seating.
(4)
Hangon S.
Our experience at Lemongrass was nearly flawless. One of the better Thai places in K.C.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Melissa C.
Loved the dish I got - very spicey just the way I wanted it. Nice decor, friendly people. Service was ok. A lot slower than I would have expected since there were only a handful of people dining in that day.
(4)Jason C.
I have eaten Thai food all over the place, including my own kitchen. I've eaten at the best places in Thai Town in Los Angeles where every billboard is in Thai. I've eaten at the best Thai places in Kansas City. I have to say that this place is hands-down the best in Kansas City. My only complaint is that the menu doesn't have more items. But, I would rather have excellent quality than excellent quantity any day of the week. The waiters had a little extra time to talk to me tonight because it was slow due to the weather, but they explained a few things about why it's better. For example, real tamarind instead of vinegar in the phad Thai. I usually don't even care too much for phad Thai... but it was worth trying here. Also, importantly, they don't use the same coconut milk that most Thai restaurants do... They use coconuts and turn it into the coconut milk there themselves, and fresh. It makes all the difference in the world. I mean, ALL the difference in the world. Plus, there is never an objectionable cut of meat here. You can tell that they paid attention to every detail, including not using cuts of meat that might have a little extra fat here and there. Particularly the gristly kind that we all run into from time to time at restaurants. You can tell that these guys really care, really want the business, and really want to succeed... And it's all right there in the plate. Right where I like it. If it's important to you, the atmosphere is also nice. I'm not much of an atmosphere guy... I like to focus on the food and the value for the money there. But, the atmosphere is plenty good. In the process of chatting me up about all the particulars, the waiter decided to bring me a free Thai iced tea. And, it's going to sound stupid, but even it was better than any other Thai iced tea in town. Seriously. I could tell that it was brewed nice and strong, and that the creamy milk on top was plenty fresh. I can't wait to go back again. I suggest you get down there asap. I don't think you will believe just how good it is. It is truly a cut above. Beyond beyond.
(5)John H.
I've been to lemongrass several times in its various incarnations. This review is for March 2015, just after I understand they changed management. The crab Rangoon was far too sweet. I've never before not liked crab Rangoon, but I won't be getting it here again. The seafood pad Thai, on the other hand, has insane amounts of seafood. I've gotten it twice. I didn't want to leave this review until I confirmed it wasn't a fluke. So if you like seafood, you can get a ton of it with noodles for $15. My wife says the grapow and penang curry is good too.
(4)Michael J.
I was hoping for more, but got average. My wife and I had curried tofu and TOM YUM soup. The soup was very good. We enjoyed it alot. The problem was the main dish - the vegetables appeared to me to be frozen peas and corn you could buy from a grocery store. On top of that, the dish was cooked so fast that the flavor was not present in throughout the meal, and the gravy part of the dish was EXTREMELY soupy. The staff was ok, and left you alone, but came by and filled drinks in a reasonable amount of time. the decor was nice inside, but to get into the place, there was trash and leaves around the front door. Overall I thought it was good, but not great.
(3)Pam T.
Delish! I can't wait to go back during happy hour. We did take out for our first visit :)
(5)Chamberlain H.
I want to wrap my arms around this place and give it a big sloppy kiss for being fresh, local, vibrant, and all the other culinary buzzwords. But I can't do that yet. Been here three times now and I like what they are trying to do. But something is lacking. Green curry with pork - better flavor than the other local versions because they actually try to incorporate a little sour hint to the curry which is how it's supposed to taste. Didn't have that overwhelming sweetness that's all too common. But the pork itself was just bland, under seasoned, and tough. Kind of like the suspect pork or chicken in Chinese dishes. Simply throwing pork slices in the curry doesn't magically raise the pork quality. Try a marinade or tenderizer or something. Pad Khieng - simple mix of beef, veggies, herbs, in a brown sauce. Fresh ginger ,as usual, put this dish over the top. Asked for a fried egg on it, which they did. Came out a little cool, but acceptable overall. Pla nung mak noow - steamed fish with lemongras, veggies, herbs, and chili sauce, etc. Had high hopes for this, but it was way, way, way, too salty. I realize they were using swai which needs to be doctored up to give it some flavor, but the salt (or too much fish sauce) in the recipe drowned out the chili, cilantro, and lemongrass. Disappointing. Won ton soup - again, lots of potential, but way too salty. Had me chugging water. My favorite and most consistent dish so far has been the Som Tam, or green papaya salad. Just the right combo of fish sauce, lime juice, chili, to put this refreshing salad over the top. But again, there was something a little off. They brought it out with steamed shrimp on top instead of the advertised crushed, dried shrimp. The waiter said the dried shrimp are so strong smelling that they just default to the steamed shrimp unless asked. But the menu says the dried shrimps are standard. The second time I got the salad i asked specifically for the dried shrimps. The waiter then said they were out. Frustrating. I don't spend much time critiquing service or ambiance, but both were quite good. And try a Chang beer while you are there. Overall, they're making a good effort and the produce used is fresh and local, but it just has too many inconsistencies. Two steps forward, but one step back type of place.
(3)N J.
Non vegan friendly. They said cant make dishes vegan, have to add oyster sauce. Not impressed by the reply!
(1)Caryn G.
WOW! What a great addition to the downtown OP dining scene. A Chicago native who makes frequent extended visits to the area, I've been looking for a Thai place that matches up to the ones back home - to no avail. Until now. Lemongrass is in a whole different league. For me the food checked all the boxes - authenticity, fresh, quality ingredients, perfectly balanced flavorings spiced to the ideal heat - plus it's friendly, with great service and a cool techno vibe to the space. They offer the typical selections but then branch out into Vietnamese and Laotian dishes. I went for the KHAO NAM - the traditional Laotian rice ball salad. Not only terrifc, there's plenty for two. Loved the complimentary shrimp chips came with this dynamte dipping sauce. Definitely worth a visit; we'll be back.
(5)Martha M.
So good. Great staff, delicious food, nice decor. I feel like no one sees this great little restaurant among the other stores, it definitely deserves more attention.
(5)Liz S.
My Father and myself ate at Lemongrass this last Saturday. We were greeted by a very friendly woman who sat us at a nice table in the back. Only 3 or 4 tables were filled. From the owner, we ordered two bowls of the sweet and sour soup and the Masala chicken curry to share. The owner delivered the soup in under 5 minutes. It was outstanding. I don't normally like the run of the mill sweet and sour soup you get in most Asian restaurants but this was homemade and delicious. Just the right amount of heat. The young man sitting next to us had the wonton soup and was raving. Our curry arrived and was just as wonderful. I can still taste the creamy goodness of the coconut curry sauce. Service was very attentive. Our tea and water never got low. Very friendly devoted owners who want you there. It is Now my go to place for Thai. I wish them great success.
(5)Amanda O.
Oh man I love this place! I haven't had a full sit-down meal yet, but so far they've won me over and I can't wait to go back!! We just had egg rolls and crab Rangoon, to go. Everything was so hot, fresh, and crispy! The egg rolls came with a delicious plum sauce that was great on both items. The crab filling was *just* a little sweet, and positively delish. I got to meet the owner, who was an absolute pleasure! Friendly as heck, and aiming to please. I can't wait to go back for dinner! Definitely worth a visit.
(5)Jay G.
For the price it's the best deal around. For the service and food it's even better a really good deal and great people and service. I hope the other Thai places get the hint and follow suit
(4)Jim S.
Have gone twice and was very impressed. Food is outstanding, personal opinion it is the best Thai food in Kansas City, which is why I gave it 5 starts. Went for lunch, not very busy and service was great. Went for dinner and it was busier, service struggled a little. Staff they had was great, but they were short staffed. Talked to them later and they said they were having some challenges finding good people because customer flow was still inconsistent so tips were also. Will give them a pass on this. They were trying and I think it will improve with time (when people figure out how good the food is doubt they will have many slow times).
(5)Stacey B.
Really enjoyed the food and the décor is beautiful! The waiter took such good care of us. We will for sure be back.
(4)Susan R.
We moved to Overland Park a few weeks before Lemongrass opened and have been meaning to try it for months. After one visit we are singing its praises to our friends, and wondering why we waited so long to go there! My husband is an adventurous eater but me, not so much. I went with my old standby, General Tso chicken, which i have at almost every Chinese restaurant. I have eaten *a lot* of General Tso chicken, and this was the best I've ever had! My husband asked for recommendations based on his particular "likes" in Thai cuisine and ended up with a curry that he said was delicious. Our waiter was attentive and helpful. We really liked the place and plan to return to try different things on the menu. Asian food is one of my husband's favorites since he is a vegetarian. I am not. Next time there, I plan to have drunken noodles with chicken. I used to live in Lawrence, and this is the best Asian food I've had since moving away from Zen Zero.
(4)Camron S.
Beautiful new restaurant. Very friendly owner and wait staff. The front part of the restaurant is a cool bar area. Down a short hall is the dining area. Great decor. Wait for food is what you'd expect from a Thai place that takes time to prepare their food from scratch; don't be in a hurry when you come. We had the green curry with chicken, which was Amazing. The best I've had anywhere around Kansas City. Smooth and sweet, with subtle hints of galangal. We also had "crazy noodles," which is not on the menu. It was a delicious twist on pad thai, with crispy fried thai basil (so good!) on top. Highly recommended. Go check the place out! We really enjoyed it and will be headed back.
(5)Elizabeth O.
Yum! We've wanted to try Lemongrass ever since we read about it in the paper. We had Pad Thai and Pad See Ew. They were both fresh and flavorful. The decor was serene and the staff was friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend!
(5)Katie G.
We were really excited to try this place, but it was kind of a weird experience. First of all, we came at a very slow time, which was fine, more on that later... We ordered drinks, the Lemongrass Lemonade and the Hit and Rum. They came out in tiny glasses, with a very small amount of ice, and our waiter asked if they were ok, because he had never made one before. He said he had to dump like four. I was unsure if he was kidding, but very worried about the potential alcohol waste. The drinks were pretty lame. We ordered the Calamari and it was so delicious.... tender and huge and yum. Now things get weird. Another couple was seated RIGHT NEXT TO US at the empty restaurant...the chairs were SO CLOSE to us and so it was super weird, but also entertaining. I ordered Pad Thai, and my companion ordered something curry. I ordered mine medium hot, and it wasn't very spicy so I asked for some hot sauce. The guy who I asked didn't seem to speak much English, so he brought me some ground up peppers. it did the trick but wasn't really what I had in mind. Also, I ordered Shrimp Pad Thai and got Chicken, but it was ok, so I didn't say anything. The Pad Thai was ok, I've had better. So the couple beside us who were sitting SO CLOSE kept asking for stuff from the waiter who didn't speak English. It was classic. First she asked for 3 dishes filled with condiments like she's gotten before at other thai restaurants. Poor guy had no clue. He said he would go check, and he was probably like WTF. He never returned with anything. Later she asked for more sliced limes and Tamarind sauce. hmmm. ok. Someone gave her something. Not sure what it was because the waiter (english speaking one) didn't know what she was talking about. Maybe he gave her Ketchup, I don't know. It seems like I was creeping their table, but let me tell you, they were so close to us we were practically at the same table. The trip was entertaining, to say the least. If I want Thai again, I'm just gonna go to Lulu's or Thai Place.
(3)Kathy W.
One of the better Thai restaurants in the area. Food is inconsistent. I ordered the same dish three times and it was different each time. Curry is excellent. Scallops very good. Service is slow. They are friendly, but don't refill drinks or check on diners.
(3)Kathy A.
Neither the food or service was very good. When we got our credit card statement for our meal we saw that the restaurant had added a $41 tip. The tip we had added was only $6.00 for our $35 meal . To say the least we will NOT return.
(1)Darren F.
This place has grown into one of the better Thai restaurants in town. Today's tofu pad kee mow Thai hot (my go to dish at any Thai restaurant) is the best I've had in well over a year. Much better than my first visit here a couple years ago. Looking forward to coming back.
(4)Karen P.
This place smelled weird when we walked in. The bathrooms are right by the entrance- so maybe that's why??? We could see through to the kitchen though, and it looked clean and organized, so we felt ok to stay. And when we got to the dining room, it thankfully smelled much better. It's a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, and the 2 people working were both really lovely and accommodating. I ordered a Thai Iced Coffee and it was prepared exactly as I like it- soooo delicious. For our meals, we got the Pineapple Curry & the Rainbow Noodles. The waitress described them both as 'more than mild but less than medium' spice level, but we thought they were both above medium. But maybe we're just wimps! But even with the heat, it wasn't overpowering- all of the amazing, differing flavors came through. We loved that both dishes were packed with fresh sliced veggies, and my pineapple was super juicy and perfectly ripe. We will definitely go back here. So nice to find yet another great Thai restaurant in KC!
(4)David L.
Much improved since my visits earlier in the year. I've eaten there twice for lunch in the last few weeks and both times the food has been excellent. Nice sized portions and dishes were well seasoned - spicy was spicy while my companion's mild was mild. The Thai Basil fried rice was particularly good. Definitely worth trying again if, like me, you were disappointed with the food and service under the old management. The new team seems to be hitting their stride.
(5)Julia R.
I've had the pleasure of enjoying both lunches and dinners here several times in the last three months. Each time the food was nicely presented and delicious (luv the cashew stir fry, but also crazy noodle ... pad Thai ... and-ddd). The servers are terrific and Alyssa (sp.?) has made me very valued each time I returned. Very well done, Team Lemongrass! Julia
(4)Ann W.
It pains me so to update my review to a 3-star review. The restaurant is under new ownership since the last time we dined there and there were some major misses in terms of service and execution this time. The new ownership has updated the menu, but the wide range of curries remains. For that, I'm grateful because I'm a curry fiend. The hubby and I each ordered a curry dish tonight and were surprised that the serving size is a bit bigger but the dishes both had very few veggies in them. My hubby's curry was ordered mild, but he was sweating a bit and his nose was running due to the level of heat. I ordered mine Thai hot and got it that way. They currently have a Yelp deal for a free app, but the wait staff apparently were not looped in. Our waitress asked if she could take my phone with her to check into it. What??? Hell, no. You never ever ask to take someone's personal phone. What if you drop and break it? How do I know that you won't access proprietary work information? Just a ridiculous request. So she was able to check into it without taking my phone and apparently the free app is limited to 1/2 order of crab rangoon, spring rolls or fried egg rolls. We selected the spring rolls and were really disappointed in them, so much so that I was glad they were free. They were pretty much completely lettuce with just a tad bit of diced chicken and zero flavor. I was surprised they had no cilantro in them as this is a typical ingredient in spring rolls and helps amp up the flavor even if they're mostly lettuce and glass noodles. The hubby also ordered the Andaman salad which is a seafood salad. It was mostly iceberg lettuce, but did have one mussel, two small scallops, a shrimp and a fair amount of imitation crab meat, plus two small tomato wedges and a few pieces of cucumber and peanuts. The flavor of the dressing was nice, but there was waaaay too much iceberg lettuce. It would have been much better with less lettuce, better quality lettuce and more cucumber and tomato. Sadly, the overall food quality doesn't appear to be as good and the service was very slow even though two of our items were things that were likely made up in advance and only needed to be plated. Also of note is that they are no longer serving alcohol which is unfortunate. Hey, if you're going to have slow service and the quality of food isn't going to be as good, maybe having a nice adult beverage could soften the blow a bit. Finally, in an odd twist, they were playing reggae music. An incredibly strange selection for a Thai restaurant and not terribly conducive to making conversation. Overall, I wasn't pleased with the new direction the restaurant has taken, but we will probably check back in after a couple of months to see if these are just new ownership wrinkles that will be worked out.
(3)Adam S.
It's time to update this review, because like KC in the spring time, this place seems to change by the day. I used to work around the corner from here. When they first opened there appeared to be some major hiccups, yet the food was good and I was excited to have a new, locally owner Thai spot. Each time got progressively worse and worse until I've finally stopped going. Most times eating inside, there was a strong ammonia smell that ruined my appetite. They cut the music and TV's and it was stone silent in there, especially noticeable when there weren't any other patrons in there. One time I had a lunch where I was aiming to get in and out in 30 minutes and literally spent an hour and fifteen minutes there! I had to let my fiancee leave to get back to work while they sorted out the check. Another time, they brought out some kind of broth for my vegetarian friend and I. When he said he was vegetarian they took away the broth without saying anything or bringing a replacement. To this day I don't even know what it was... hot onion water? Pretty much what it tasted like. As I mentioned earlier, some of the entrees are alright, but not that memorable. This place is firmly buried in that forgotten part of my brain and unless things turn around, I won't be going back.
(2)Jake E.
First time visit today and it was wonderful! I came in for lunch after the prime hours and would have given them a pass for mediocre service but it was fantastic all around. I enjoyed the "medium" Pad Thai and can't wait to come back again. Great atmosphere and delicious food.
(5)Jillian C.
This place has a fun, bright interior and a friendly staff. It has never been full either time I have come in but filled up much more during dinner service than during lunch service. I have had both the panang curry and the pad thai when I have gone. I'd say the panang curry is better. It has a beautifully creamy coconut peanut base and the rice is nice and sticky (my favorite!). The pad thai isn't the best I've ever had but it is still good and a classic dish. The food is incredibly hot and fast so this is probably a sweet lunch spot because your turn around time should be short. Price point is normal for a thai place. Overall happy and I'll be back (obviously, since I had already gone twice before I finally reviewed...haha).
(4)Kathy M.
After seeing a movie at the Rio, we opted to try out the new Thai restaurant down the street. It had a nice decor and was a comfortable restaurant. Their bar is located at the front of the establishment and does not allow you to see the seating they have available for dining or the fact that anyone is actually inside the restaurant. This is a little quirky, but I'm guessing they are making do with the original layout. The staff is very friendly and did a nice job taking care of us. Hubby and I both enjoyed our meals - the quality of the steak in hubby's dish was very good. Their portion size allowed us to bring leftovers home which I always consider a nice bonus. We will definitely visit them again.
(4)Crabby P.
Thankfully under new management. I been there several times since and I have not been disappointed. Pineapple curry, the crispy duck, the pad thai and Wow the crispy pork belly were great. I always look forward to going back and trying something else. The staff couldn't be nicer.
(5)Julie S.
Food poisoning from soft spring rolls is where I'll start with this post. That pretty much speaks for itself. If I hadn't gotten food poisoning from the shrimp I would still rate this place low. The other item I ordered was the panang curry with beer. The broth tasted a little off from what I'm used to with thai curries. It also has peas and carrots in it that looked like they came from the frozen section (perfectly diced and bright orange).
(1)Marie F.
Waiter was super excited to help us. Really made us feel welcome. Lots to choose from on the menu, including pho. He gave us the option of saying spice level and meat choice and he would make us a surprise dish. So, that's what I did! I was served drunken noodles and it was delicious. He made it clear that if there was anything we didn't like about the food that he would fix it to our liking. Truly impressed by the personal attention and the desire to make the customer happy. Great experience.
(4)M L.
Everything was delicious and the service was wonderful. We had the Phuket rolls, crab rangoons, and pad thai -- we left with happy tummies! Thank you, Lemongrass!
(5)Matthew K.
I never, ever leave reviews; even as I constantly tell myself that I should. But there is something so fundamentally satisfying about Lemongrass that I've finally committed. First, let me tell you about the inviting decor and cute streetside appeal. Upon first walking in, your greeted by a small bar and a halfway to the dining area. There you'll find a wonderfully designed layout with plenty of room between tables resulting in a comfortable experience. Now, the food. That's the reason why I've find myself on binges, eating at Lemongrass six times in a week. The standard fair appetizers are on point and a perfect rendition. Amazing Pad Thai and sesame chicken. My knowledge of everydishes is limited though. You see, I'm addicted to the Tom Yum soup. It's kind of like when I first discovered Pho. I just can't get enough. The vegetable and tofu are mind blowing. Highly, highly recommend. Also, they'll ask you hot, medium or mild. The secret is medium, or hot if you're bold. It's the perfect level of heat to express the dishes.
(5)Gavin G.
I stopped in for lunch on a Monday. I ordered the "Shrimp in a Blanket" appetizer and Masaman curry. The shrimp appetizer came out looking so perfect and identical to one another that I fear that they are simply frozen. After one bite, I'm almost positive that they were. The shrimp inside were ice cold and still grey in color and raw. The sweet chili sauce that came with them tasted fine, but also exactly like sweet chili sauce from other places. The waiter was appropriately apologetic and removed it from my bill. They offered to re-make it for me, but I declined. However, the Massaman Curry was surprisingly delicious. It has a slightly different flavor than other places with tender chicken, tasty peanuts and perfectly cooked carrots. Unfortunately, the potatoes were nearly raw. The menu can't decide if it's Thai, American Chinese or something else entirely. You can probably find something that you like, but it doesn't seem like the worlds most authentic menu. All of their curry options are rolled into a single menu option. Again, for a Thai menu I would expect the curries to get a higher billing than General Tso's chicken. The dining room is clean and colorful. The TVs showing a YouTube channel that teaches Thai cooking is a little odd, but better than the typical 24 hour news that many places show. The music playing is 99.7 the vibe; very strange. It's tough to shake the raw shrimp experience. The curry was good enough that I would return with a friend, but I probably won't suggest it to anyone.
(2)mark b.
Last night, my wife and I went with 2 friends for our first and last visit to Lemongrass Thai Cuisine. Although the ambiance is nice and the place is clean, we were very disappointed. We ordered a variety of dishes and the food was just okay, not great. However, what was really annoying was that we asked them several times to turn up the air conditioning because my wife and I don't enjoy eating with sweat running down our faces. Evidently, they did not care and took no action to address our concern. As a consequence, we rushed through our meal and left as soon as we could. Needless to say, we will NOT be going back. There are other restaurants such as the Thai Place in Westport that have better food and are more accommodating to their patrons.
(2)Gretchen S.
Tried Lemongrass on a trusted recommendation. Ordered beef satay, spring roll, General Tao chicken, and an entree soup (don't remember name). The food is excellent...especially the spring roll, general T and the soup. I haven't been impressed with Thai Place or some of the other Thai restaurants in KC. This tasted so much fresher and carefully prepared. I also picked up an order of the spring rolls for a party and they traveled well and were a hit. This is a very new place so they are not at all crowded. Only downside to our experience was a sewer drain smell when we entered. Would definitely go back because of the food quality!
(4)Scott Q.
We went here for Mother's Day and the food was great. It was pretty empty but it was a Sunday night. The food was fresh and some of the best Thai we have had. The kids even loved it. Fast forward 2 months and when you walk in it smelled terrible. I ordered carry out for the family and took it home. They did not mark which pad Thai was which spice so I smelled them to see which ones had spice. First mistake as they smelled terrible. Then I took one bite and it was disgusting. My stomach immediately started to churn. So I took it all back and got my money back. Looks like it is time to try hot basil. Too bad as I was really rooting for these guys to make it.
(1)Tony X.
This is my third time coming here, I enjoy the quieter ambiance, its not too loud. The food is great, I like the fried springroll and the pad thai. The pricing is moderate for two people. Most of the dishes are a little sweeter than your average thai food but its still flavorful.
(3)Nattapong A.
I went to Lemongrass restaurant early this March 2015 right after they are with a new management. The light lime green restaurant interior looks very nice. The first dish I tried was Papaya salad and it was my favorite so far. My main dish was pork belly with basil sauce. It's awesome! The crispy pork skin went well with yummy spicy basil garlic sauce. I believe I would replete this dish again in the future. Hopefully, the customer would give the new management a chance too.
(4)Beau E.
I battled internally on whether to write this update. I loved this place so much until I went back last week. The two younger gentlemen who were clearly responsible for the atmosphere, service, and food quality appear to be gone. Cheap special signs that are duct taped to the windows now adorn the storefront. The service is mediocre at best, but most of all; the food recipes and presentation have changed for the worse. To be effectively blunt, the charm of the place is gone and the food is shit. I don't know if it's new owners, management, or both, but this place is now a joke and won't be open much longer. They just took a swanky foodie destination and converted into a rot gut run in the mill MSG outlet. We were there for lunch, we were the only people there, and the people who appeared to be the owners/managers were sitting at their own bar drinking...none of which are good signs. We are very disappointed and will not be returning.
(1)Andrew S.
I have to agree with the recent review written by Beau E. In the beginning there were in fact two younger gentlemen that appeared to be designing the food and decor; & the whole experience was great! The last two times I have dined there, it appears that these two young men no longer work there; and, the food has suffered quite a bit! As Beau E. said there is a good amount of 'kitschy' type signs hanging outside. I might give Lemongrass one more shot but it is not looking good:(
(2)Sarah J.
Since my original review of lemongrass I've heard there's an issue with consistency. I can't actually tell you about that because after inviting friends to lunch here today there was such a variety of awful smells that we actually had to leave because my stomach was hurting from it. We all had different opinions on whether it was the bathrooms, blanched veggies or two day old fish, but it was safe to say, at least in the area where we were sat, it was a deal breaker. I hesitated to bring this to light here, as maybe there was just a bathroom issue and it was a one off, but I was pretty disgusted and I hope they can fix the issue. I'll try again -- without any friends who I've promised a great experience.
(1)Trista C.
Great food, cool ambience, nice staff. The dining room is well decorated. We dined on a weekday, so it was not crowded. There were flat screen tvs showing images of Thailand. Our Favorite dishes pad kee maw sweet and spicy yellow curry has carrots, potatoes, spice and is great! The Tom yum great combo of lemongrass and coconut milk. The portions are generous and the vegetables were fresh and plentiful as well. We will definitely eat here again!
(4)Christina M.
We ordered delivery via GrubHub and it was delicious! The Udon noodle soup and green papaya salad were wonderful. We would definitely try their food again. The tempura was a little greasy, but this is probably because it was delivered instead of eaten in-house. Mango sticky rice was yummmmmmy!
(4)Melisa V.
Headed here after the Yelp event last week after realizing we wouldn't be able to find a place downtown without an hour wait. The manager helped us and talked us into ordering lemongrass martinis, which were amazing. He disappeared for a while before returning to take our order. It was definitely an eclectic menu and we enjoyed everything we ordered, especially the spring rolls. The dish I ordered, the pad khee mow, was my favorite and as good as I've had elsewhere. The seafood combo and curry we ordered were also very good. I look forward to returning to try more on the menu.
(4)Mary Q.
I love Downtown OP! This place delivered to the salon I was having my hair done at. :) Food was warm, delish, and fresh. Pad Thai was plentiful, crab rangoon was crispy and flavorful. It was nice to have tasty food that didn't taste like grease. Hoping to try the fried rice next time
(5)Irma S.
The Galanga soup is excellent. I went with two more friends and we ordered the pot, very nice presentation with the flame to keep it warm. We ordered it mild because I am not a big fan of spicy food, it was perfect. My friends added some spicy sauces they brought as sides. The service was very good.
(5)H H.
I've eaten here a handful of times now, dine-in and carry out and every time it's amazing. I haven't had anything bad here. The Phuket rolls are amazing, as is their crispy pork belly Gapow at dinner time. Go here! Or get takeout. They have great lunch specials and some of the best crab rangoon I've ever had (you get a crab rangoon and a hot and sour soup free with lunch!). Seriously, this place is a gem. The staff is so wonderful and friendly, they remember your face if you come in multiple times.
(5)Nicole J.
Best Thai I've ever had!!! Sooo fresh and incredibly friendly staff, and super informative about the menu and Thai cuisine!
(5)Audé N.
The food used to be better and the service is not very good. Very disappointing. We had gotten carry out from here before and it had always been great until today. The mild dish was unbearably hot and I had to send it back. When I asked for some rice to go with the "fixed" dish I was charged extra. The people in the tables near us were also complaining about the hotness of the mild dishes and were having a hard time eating them.
(1)Heather W.
Oh my YUM! I am so excited to get awesome Thai food closer to home than Westport. Their curry and pad Thai win. Helpful and smart waitress overcame our doubt at the slightly confused hostess. We will be back!
(5)Tina H.
My bf and I stumble upon this place while we were driving, this place is beautiful and the staff is really friendly but the food wasn't great it was just OK.
(3)Tobin P.
Back door is broken, so I had to walk around the block to the front door. No big deal, things break The inside has a very nice ambiance. Nicely decorated and good chill music. One thing that didn't make sense was that they had large flat screen TV s playing some type of Thai cooking channel. The food was good. I had the red curry chicken. There was a taste of black licorice that i wasn't used to but i still enjoyed it.
(3)Tim S.
I had the Spice Beef and Scallops for lunch and if was great. Large medium well cooked flanks of steak with juicy scallops. The scallops were on the small side, but I'm not too chapped since it was less than $10. Too many Thai restaurants are cooking American-Thai food with too much sugar and salt. This was not the case here where the sauce was flavorful, but light. Give them a try.
(5)Cornelia H.
Delicious food! Excellent service! Will definitely go back!
(5)Nancy B.
We were thrilled to try this restaurant and were very impressed with the decor and the initial service. We got our appetizer right away, and I received my meal (pad thai) within 10 minutes afterward. However, my husband didn't get his until 15 to 20 minutes after that. Having waited for his plate to arrive, mine was already cold. Those around us were having a similar experience with the spacing of entrees. My husband's food was undercooked and despite asking for an extra plate multiple times, we never received one. All in all, it started out well, but ended terribly. There's a lot of potential in this place, but it was a terrible dining experience.
(1)Julie Z.
We fell in love with this restaurant the first two times we ate there. The food was unique and so good. The atmosphere was gorgeous. The last time we went there it smelled like day old fish and the food was inedible. We are hoping we just picked an off night and will try it again.
(3)Jocelyn S.
I've been here twice so far. Once for dine in, once Togo. The first time I came with my aunt who had never had Thai food before. The gentleman working was so kind and took his time explaining everything to her. She got the pad Thai and loved it. I got the pad see eew and it was incredible! The food was just as incredible when we got takeout tonight. My boyfriend got the lemongrass noodle and was very impressed. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Leslie E.
This was my go to place while pregnant and craving Thai food. It's even great now that in not pregnant and constantly eating. It seems the same two gentleman have always been working and waited on us. I'm not sure if they are the owners. They are attentive and give great detail when we ask questions about the menu. After the first few times I've learned to ask for no sprouts on top. They add a bunch and I'm really not a fan, but they are are always will to accommodate. It never seems busy which is a surprise since it's so good. But I do see a lot of people walking in to get take out. This is a good place to to get together with friends when you want to eat great food and chat for a bit since they don't try to rush you out and there is plenty of seating.
(4)Hangon S.
Our experience at Lemongrass was nearly flawless. One of the better Thai places in K.C.
(4)