Inside: Lemongrass Fusion Bistro

Spricy shrimp tempura and cucumber roll (Credit: Dwayne Steward)

Photos:

If you take a quick drive by Lemongrass Fusion Bistro, you'll probably miss it. The restaurant is nearly hidden, surrounded by scrunched-in storefronts along High Street in the Short North. The green and red neon signs give off more of a 24-hour-convenience-store vibe than a trendy upscale Asian restaurant.

But upon walking through the door, everything changes. The under-the-sea decorating scheme, white table-clothed dining rooms and high-class, pan-Asian menu make the small bistro feel more like a transplant from deep within Manhattan's hip sushi bar scene.

Food: The Lemongrass menu is full of what they like to call "fusion fare," an interesting mixture of Asian and American cuisine. Though they aren't exactly reinventing the wheel, they have added their own special spin. The menu is dotted with Lemongrass trademarks, including the Lemongrass salad, Lemongrass soup and Lemongrass roll, to name a few.

The food here is pretty delicious, and you won't be breaking the bank if you decide to stop in for a meal. The house-made pad Thai ($9) is a great lunch dish that can be shared. The entrée contains rice noodles, snow peas, carrots, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts, stir-fried in a semi-spicy lime sauce. Like many of the dishes, it can be ordered with shrimp, tofu or chicken.

For sushi try the spicy shrimp tempura and cucumber roll ($8). The seven large servings come with an amazing house-made spicy mayo dipping sauce. And, according to the waiter, house-made sauces are the restaurant's specialty.

If you're a vegetarian be sure to request a special menu they offer just for you.

Libations: Though the Lemongrass bar is pretty small in comparison to most, don't be fooled. The restaurant has a wine cellar on site that requires a menu sheet of its own. Order from the lofty selection by the glass ($7-$9) or the bottle ($24-$79). There's also a large selection of cocktails including the Lemongrass martini ($8)—mandarin vodka, pomegranate and lime—or the mai tai ($8), made from a secret in-house recipe. There's also a plethora of mainstream and international beers, along with a full list of sake and the usual soft drink options.

Décor: When you first walk into Lemongrass you'll see the slightly cramped bar area, but the establishment opens up into a multi-roomed dinging hall. A baby grand piano separates two dining rooms where abstract, sea-centric art covers the walls, all of which seem to be for sale. A winding staircase at the front of the restaurant leads to an upstairs nook where more seating is available.

Service: The service is exceptional. The staff is prompt and knowledgeable. If you're not really a sushi expert, ask your server for help with choosing some of their specialties. Or inquire for their wine suggestions if the list seems a bit daunting. 

Crowd: The prices at Lemongrass don't really alienate anyone when it comes to the crowd. It's a great place for sushi lovers, but if you're just into some light Asian options or are a vegetarian looking for something upscale, Lemongrass will work for you, too.

Bottom line: Lemongrass Asian Bistro may be one of Columbus' best-kept secrets when it comes to great food without the outrageous cost. We recommend it for anyone looking for a hip date-night option or any professional looking for a lunch upgrade during a busy day.

Add a comment