Lemongrass Thai Cuisine — Restaurant in Ottawa

My friend and I found this place through Google and thought we'd try it out. While I hadn't had Thai food before, I've tried many other Asian cuisines and was excited to try some since I have relocated from a very rural location that had NO Asian options. We arrived after a rainy walk, the side streets were packed on a Wednesday night so we had to walk two blocks for parking. The decor is nothing special, but it doesn't detract from the experience. We got the best seat in the house- a two seater table in front of the window (so we could watch dogs go by). We used our phones to bring up the menu as they have a QR code available on each table (unsure if they have paper copies or not) and we decided to order a couple things and split them between us. It didn't take long for the hostess to come over and take our order, being sure to clarify our order and the meat options we wanted, taking note of the spice level of each dish. Only 3 other tables had patrons, but many people came through the door to pick up take out. Our 3 dishes came out one at a time, and the hostess happily got us plates so we could share our dishes. The red curry was perfect in terms of flavour and temperature, to me at least, again, I've never had real Thai food unless you count the frozen items I've bought and reheated at home. We had tofu in it which was the only downside to this whole experience- I found it to be crispy on the outside, but hollow in the middle. My friend had no complaints about it. We got a side of Jasmine rice and crispy crunchy shrimp rolls and they were the perfect temperature. Lastly, our chicken pad Thai was superb. No complaints, we even thought the portion size was good for one person if that was all you ordered. I can't wait to go back with my husband and recommend it to...

Update from 11 months ago. After a truly horrible experience, but a response from owner asking for another chance, I returned to what used to be my favourite Ottawa restaurant. When I asked if Sally still worked there, I was told yes, then the server said no. I showed her my previous review & the response from the owner. It was clear she didn’t believe what I was telling her, by her responses, even though she was looking right at the review. I explained the order had been delivered, & that the food was horrible. I showed her again the owner’s response. She said she had to talk to the owner, & called him. Returning to the table, she asked if I remembered what the order was. I again showed her the review, which detailed the order, & also showed her on the restaurant menu. She said it was different from what the owner had told her, & said ‘Are you sure you are in the right place?’ I said this had been a favourite spot for years whenever I was in Ottawa, & yes I was very sure. (My review says Lemongrass right in it) I don’t need to spend money in a restaurant who has this kind of customer service. At dinner time with an empty restaurant I’d think they would be happy to have anyone at all come in. She was muttering something, & repeated ‘are you sure this is the right place?’ at which point I said I’d had enough. Lemongrass just lost a customer who has brought numerous friends in, but will not...

Discovered this establishment while strolling along Elgin Street. Opted to give it a chance. Regrettably, upon entering, no one extended a greeting, leaving us to find our own seats. Unbeknownst to us, their menu was exclusively available online, resulting in a prolonged wait until we were informed.

We were notified of their debit system malfunction, fortunately, we possessed cash. However, due to our limited funds, we were compelled to exercise fiscal prudence, despite our desire to experience the cuisine. We added a side of rice to our order, albeit, it would have been appreciated if the cost had been adjusted considering the inconvenience caused by the malfunction.

Regarding the ambiance, it was satisfactory, although the absence of background music rendered an eerily quiet atmosphere. The establishment's appearance lent itself more to a take-out venue rather than a formal dining experience. The service was satisfactory, albeit lacking in warmth or friendliness. Minimal attention was directed towards our table, necessitating our approach to request the bill.

The sole redeeming quality of this establishment lies in its exceptional and impressive culinary offerings.

All in all, the overall impression conveyed is that of a take-out establishment rather than a...