Review: Lemon Grass Asian Bistro in Boca Raton
By John Tanasychuk, Sun Sentinel
Important: This article was last updated on May 27, 2010. Please call ahead to confirm hours, prices, dates and other information.
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 Lemon Grass Asian Bistro 101 Plaza Real, Boca Raton 561-544-8181 lemongrassasianbistro.com Cuisine: Asian Cost: moderate Hours: lunch, dinner daily Reservations: yes, but not required Credit cards: AE, MC, V Bar: full service Sound level: moderate Outside smoking: yes Wheelchair accessible: yes  |
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First impression: The chic surroundings and above average service could almost make you forget that this isn't the best in the local Lemon Grass chain.Ambience: Stylish with just about every surface in the restaurant covered with shiny white and green laminate. There's a very cool water element near the entrance and contemporary Asian art is a visual treat. A separate dining room with an oversized TV screen is perfect for a casual meal.
Starters: Very good deep fried Lemongrass Rolls ($7) are filled with pork, mushrooms and water chestnuts and served with vinegar dipping sauce full of sesame seeds and cucumber. Age Tofu ($6) comes with either peanut or ponzu sauce, but the tofu needed a bit more time in the deep fryer and the sauces taste prepackaged. Monster Shrimp ($6) is a near perfect collection of fried specimens done in a batter of crispy rice noodles. A special Ahi Tuna Pizza special ($14) is made on a crispy tortilla but contains too much tuna and not enough of the other ingredients: avocado, red onion, cilantro and mayo. Sometimes balance is everything.
Entree excellence: Mama's Lobster ($24) is a stir-fried dish of ginger, onions, bell peppers, shiitake mushrooms, snow peas, scallions and cashews. The sauce is a standard issue brown, but the lobster is tough from overcooking. Volcano Jumbo Shrimp ($20) are again overcooked. They come with steamed bok choy and Asian sweet chili sauce which the server spoons on a hot stone that sits on the dinner plate. Tornado Chicken ($14) tastes like it sat for too long before being brought to the table. The breading pulls away from the chicken breast as though it had been frozen. The only thing that pulls the dish together is the sweet chili sauce. Lobster Monster Roll ($22) — lobster, cucumber, asparagus and sesame seeds — is a great idea, but the lobster was soggy, like it had been made too far ahead of making the roll.
Sweet!: The fried cheesecake ($7) is fine, but not remarkable.
Service: Not just friendly, but efficient with wait and bus staff working as a team.
Dining deal: Check out the four-course $16 Sunset Dinners available 5-7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.
Contact dining correspondent John Tanasychuk at jtanasychuk@sunsentinel.com or write to him in care of Sun Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301.