More and more I realize how low the bar is in Utica, and I don’t want to accept it. Folks rave about this place but I’m not sure what all the hype is. The restaurant itself was quite dirty - splashes and drips on the walls, floors dirty, dusty fixtures, as some examples. The staff was inattentive, leaving finished plates from appetizers and entrees until after we closed our check…. Ordered a second drink after apps and it didn’t come until the check came… it wasn’t crazy busy either but they were just too busy killing time not paying attention to us. The food was mediocre - noodles stuck together badly seemingly I. The cooking process because there was enough sauce to coat and separate them. Vegetables and protein were very little compared to the noodle ratio, skimping cost all around. Flavor was OK - nothing recommendation worthy and we don’t really need to go back.
I never like writing this sort of review, but it has to be done.The good: The interior is nice. There's a lovely outdoor dining space, though it had no chair set out, so we didn't know we could sit there. The bartender did her best, though she had no front of house help whatsoever. The Cambodian fish curry- (Amok) was delicious. A bit sweet for my partner, but I loved it.The bad: sadly, pretty much everything else.The spring rolls- whoever made them was unable to roll them properly, as all of them split open and spilled everywhere, all down the top. Use bigger pieces of rice wrapping, maybe. The shrimp tasted off. It tasted old and fishy. I am honestly a little concerned that I may get sick.The XO sauce beef- Oh, this made me so sad. :( I found a few fragments of what might have been dried scallop in it, but it was mostly just a thin, watery, generic brown sauce with oddly sweet tones. The beef itself was WAY too sweet. I don't know what happened to it. I do know it wasn't tenderized in any way, however. It was incredibly tough, dry, overcooked, and grey. It's a shame. A cow died for that.The flat rice noodles (we got the Chinese style ones with shiracha, but I do not remember the menu name) seemed like they must have been really old. They're only good for about half a day after you make them. Either they were cooked and ended up dried out after spending time in a fridge, or they were just undercooked and not separated properly when being stir-fried from the start, as there was a very hard, dry chunk in the middle that seemed uncooked. Almost all the noodles were stuck together in a clump. Chow fun style noodles should be tender, not mushy, and not hard and dry.Two of the dishes we got were supposed to be Chinese food, and if you want to judge the quality of a Chinese restaurant, try their beef and try their flat, wide rice noodles. They are a bit of a challenge to get right, but if the chef cannot make them right, don't bother with anything else either.I was surprised by how good the curry was compared to the rest, but I haven't had Amok before, so I have no Cambodian dining experiences to compare it to.The menu is so incredibly eclectic that it is easy for one to get lost. I see the appeal in having a little something for everyone, and a wide variety of things to try from that you might not have access to anywhere else in central new york, which is not exactly a culinary Mecca. It's easy, however, for such a concept to fall apart in execution. So many different dishes prepared in so many different styles. I would advice refining the best dishes and letting the rest go. Make the menu smaller, and really work hard at making the things you do keep shine, as well as ensure that all the ingredients are fresh. Maybe it'll take less than an hour to prepare the food that way, too.
We loved this place they are very accommodating at the last minute we added extra people to our already large group and they were so great! The food was great! The sushi rolls were outstanding! The staff were very friendly and accommodating. We will return for future celebrations
Amazing curry, sweet lotus chicken. The speciality sushi is fantastic. Fried rice is awesome.
The food was amazing and the service was impressive. Will be back with my family for another great meal
Hands down the best sushi around, and the staff is always so friendly! I love going to the Lotus Garden!
loved the veggies eggs rolls
We were en route to MA, stayed overnight in Utica, walked from the hotel to the restuarant. We were greeted by both the chef and the hostess/server. The restaurant was very UNcrowded, even though it was the dinner hour. We had zucchini bloosims as an appetizer. My wife had Massaman curry and I had Karl Khmer. Both were excellent, and it was a lot of food. Server was very helpful, and the chef knows his stuff. Would return there if we were to stop in Utica again.
Nothing special at all. Certainly was overpriced, more than $50, for an appetizer, sushi, and shrimps with celantro. Bland. Special spicy tuna roll was neither spicy nor special. Waited a long time, kinda odd as I was the only person in the place, other than family.
Decided to eat at Lotus Garden tonight once more before I move away from Utica in a week.The Curry was absolutely amazing, chicken wasn't under or overcooked, and the veggies held the robust sauce flavors perfectly!However, I had to take away a star due to the wait time for one dish and an entree. I understand it's busy lately and like most places lately, they might be understaffed, but I waited 30 mins after arriving for my takeout order in addition to the 35-40 mins the server said on the phone... It looked like it was winding down when I arrived and took 10-15 mins to make a masaman curry when I worked in a Thai restaurant previously, so I was a bit confused about the excessive wait time. It was a mild frustration for me but I didn't have much going on so I didn't mind too much. Though, being a socially anxious person and having a phone that died made waiting extra very intimidating, but thankfully one of male servers/bartender (I forgot to ask for his name!) made my waiting exp much more enjoyable. He offered me water and friendly discussion! He even gave me some life advice! The other servers chatted a little with me too, and everyone was genuine and kind, but that one employee made my feelings while waiting go from awkward and quiet to comfortable and safe, which is a rare skill to have, so props to you sir & thank you again.