Lotus — Restaurant in Passaic

Edit: 5/28/24: I usually wouldn't engage in a back and forth on the Internet, but I would like to reply to your response to my review. I won't insult you and label you a liar (as I could), but your response is a lie in its entirety, and it is honestly shameful lol. I never called anyone (neither you nor the bartender) that term, as you claimed in your response. Your business practices are subpar and are an unfortunate reflection of who you are as a manager/operator and unfortunately, a person. All I asked was to have my shots poured from a fresh bottle. Instead of doing so, the bartender got another, already-opened bottle that had the same "odd" taste to it, these are facts. You and I both know that Don has replaced Casamigos as the "it" tequila right now and those bottles that my shots were poured from were either old, potentially tainted through unknown means (you even admitted the possibility), or likely reserved only for mixed drinks and customers simply can't tell the difference. The place was empty, which provided a perfect opportunity for your staff to ensure that my party was shown a reasonable amount of attention and courtesy. Instead, a simple request was ignored and handled dishonestly. This interaction likely would've never happened if I had my shots poured from a new bottle like I (politely) asked. I would've ignored the Eggos, the horrible sliders, the fact that I was informed hookah was available only to later find out that it wasn't and the 20% gratuity that was automatically applied to my bill despite the absolutely terrible service and overall experience. Your response to me prioritized you making up an entirely fictional scenario instead of addressing the valid claims related to the service like a true manager would do lol. This is no surprise, as all of the reviews that aren't favorable seem to have been given the same nasty responses. You do this because you are trying to ignore that this establishment has clear deficiencies. Furthermore, its comical that you spent time looking me up on the net in an attempt to defame me or invalidate my claims. It is also laughable that you would think I would waste my time trying to get "free booze". Truthfully, a claim like that is pitiful and isn't worth the time I spent typing that previous sentence. I also won't give you the satisfaction of making this a race thing because that's just lazy lol. This place describes itself as "upscale" on your website. I didn't give Lotus this label, you all did. The service simply does not match this self-applied label, this is yet another fact. Truthfully, I've wasted enough time addressing this and should've just been happy with only being charged for 2 of the shots, even though that should've been a given. I hope that God frees you from your anger, frustration and deceptive ways and that your business makes needed improvements to achieve (and maintain) the success that you desire. I also wish you a swift recovery from your foot injury. Be well.

OG review (5/27/24): I left a detailed review of this place that can be found in the attached Photos. After writing that review and putting further thought into today’s experience, it became clear to me that the review was a waste of time and that my thoughts on this place could be summarized in far fewer words. So, i’ll simply state that this place sucks. If you’re looking for mediocre food, horrible service, and bitter and incompetent management (hi @Colasweet) then come here. This place does what many similar businesses do: fool the public by getting friends of the establishment or “influencers” to leave reviews that are favorable in order to entice guests to visit lol. Then, when they reel you in, you realize that you are in an establishment that has the audacity to sell sliders topped with Cheetoh dust alongside mediocre hookah topped off with mediocre service. You will absolutely get what you pay for here. This place is best for those that are just happy to be doing “something” and not those looking for something that resembles an...

8/27/24: Nicola, you clearly can't help yourself. I assume Nicola is responsible for these responses, because I find it hard to believe that an owner would be this incompetent. Everyone can see how you conveniently disregard legitimate complaints and choose personal attacks. All one has to do is look at a review from a mere 4 days ago. A customer had legitimate complaints, and you replied, "Sounds like you just had a problem if anyone was breathing". What kind of professional responds that way to a critique of their business? You are not equipped to be in any management role, and every immature response that you provide to your customers proves this. I reviewed because I was considering a return visit, which I clearly stated in my update. Neither your attitude, nor the level of service, have improved, and I certainly think that it is worth highlighting to save customers the disappointment. Every response from you provides further legitimacy to all the complaints about this place. Uncomfortable truths aren't "slander". And the truth is that the hookah and food here are trash, the service is no better, and this place has yet to show that they aspire to change any of those things. Tighten up.

8/26/24: I browsed the reviews after my poor experience weeks ago to see if Lotus had improved. I was considering a return visit and am not surprised to see that nothing has changed. The hookah and food are still trash, and they have yet to put a muzzle on Nicola. She is still writing snarky and passive aggressive responses to paying customers with legitimate complaints as if their displeasure is being directed to her personally and not the establishment itself. This place is ideal for people in their 20's that are looking for somewhere to get drunk and not those who have any familiarity with an upscale ambience or service. There is no structure and no discipline here amongst ownership, staff or management. People need to wake up and realize that being charged a 500% markup for a bottle or an overpriced, poorly made drink is never worth it, especially if you are being subjected to horrible customer service and misled about the quality of the location. You are being lied to a practically stolen from lol.

Original Review:

WARNING!!!: Look at the reviews for this place. They are filled with people with only 1 or 2 reviews associated with their profile and are obviously friends of the establishment that have been requested to say favorable things to drive up business. This place is mediocre, at best. Nice decor, but the service and food are trash. It is actually a slap in the face to paying customers how bad their food is. Their chicken n' waffles are chicken wings laid on top of frozen Eggo waffles and their complimentary mimosas are 95% orange juice. I’d rather they keep the mimosa instead of trying to make this place seem fancier than what it is. The food takes forever to arrive and is not worth the wait. Rooftop is large with a decent view. Parking lot has 15 spaces for a club that has 3 floors. The manager’s responses to some of the reviews are rude which is crazy coming from a new location. They got rid of some the nasty responses, but its obvious management doesn’t care about what their customers feel. It is like they would rather be in denial about the service and call us liars instead of improving. New management and actually listening to your customers would probably help. Don't be fooled by this place. They lure you in with promises of an upscale experience at what is described as a "premiere" hookah lounge only to provide a mediocre experience....

I'm rating this 5 stars because I live a block and away from this place. I have never stepped foot in there. I'm pretty sure it's a cool place, but I'm sad to say that this is more of a complaint. When they first opened for a few months, the music never bothered me at night . They must have upgraded recently in the last 2 weeks because I have not been able to sleep well at night because of this. To the owner of the place, this is my attempt to resolve the issue before I start going through the proper channels to get some decent sleep at night. Please lower the music or get glass walls installed to possibly lower the music. Thanks in advance. I hope you understand and have a decency to understand your neighbors pain. Edited on Dec.22,2024 2:47 am After almost 2 months, the situation keeps getting worse. They make the music even louder at 2:30 am. This has been going on for a while now, where I can not get any sleep until around this time at 3 am. Even my toddler kept tossing and turning in his sleep because of this noise. Today is Feb 17 12:55 am. For a few weeks, the music was at a respectable level. But this weekend they have been playing the music really loud again. All I feel and hear is the bass. It's really messing with my quality of life. People need to sleep and go to work early in the morning, and here they are messing with our sleep. State law is 50 decibels after 10 pm. This is way past that. Time to get the sound meter out... Todays date is 03/02/25. I am using a sound meter and from inside my apartment it read up to 70 decibels! At 1 15 am. Today's date is June 22 2025 12:49 pm. Its been 3 months since I last posted on here because the noise from the music was bearable. But last night. 6/21/25 I got no sleep they blasted the music til 230 am! and here were are again 6/22/25. Its 12:56 pm. And still I can't sleep because of the music penetrating through my wall with a decibels reading of 62 inside my apartment! making it difficult to sleep. 6/28/25 the music kept my family and I up until 2:30am both last night the 27th of June and the 28th. 7/4/25 the music is even louder than usual. Reaching 68 decibels inside my place again. This is getting out of hand now... The date is 8/15/2025 for the past month. There hasn't been a weekend where this business doesn't respect the well being of others. Time and again same thing the play the music loud and raise it even louder. Last night the had it extra loud from 12 a.m. and once again the made the music even louder at 2:30 a.m. 8/16/2025 1:44 a.m. boom,boom ,boom. All the way til closing hour 3 a.m. Today's date is 9/14/2025 at 12:58 am. for a few weeks since my last posting here the noise wasn't as loud. But tonight they are blasting it so loud its not letting me sleep again. This is what the law says about loud noise in the state of nj. The Noise Control Act (N.J.A.C. 7:29) and specific local ordinances. The state standards allow for 65 decibels (dB) during the day (7 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and 50 dB at night (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.). THESE PEOPLE are not following the law. But instead breaking it.

Its 10/26/2025. For the last month or so I haven't posted anything but every Friday and Saturday same thing loud til 3 am. Tonight t us a Sunday night I have work tomorrow early in the morning I wish they be more...