After getting over the initial shock of an Asian fusion restaurant like Lemongrass even existing where I live, I'm bowled over again by the restaurant's taste, value, and attention to detail.
Tucked away on Barksdale Boulevard in Bossier City, Lemongrass is a homey, comfortable atmosphere with warm colors and décor fresh from southeast Asia. And their interior design is an extension of the dishes on their menu.
Diners can choose classical dishes from various cultures including Vietnamese and Thai. You can get everything ranging from grilled fish and curry dishes to pad thai and fried rice.
The major element you notice in their cooking is that dishes are flavorful, but light and aesthetically pleasing.
And Cook David Terrazas' attention to detail blows me away. For example, while eating my pepper steak — filet mignon (!) and a bell pepper mix over steamed rice — I noticed that two bell peppers of the same color were not touching.
To start off our dinner, my wife and I tried the spring rolls. To be honest, we expected your average deep fried crispy rolls. Oh, how wrong we were.
Out came two huge, fresh rolled eggrolls in a transparent wrap where you could see the boiled shrimp, strip of pork, greens, and noodles. Served with a peanut sauce, it is a perfect meal starter — just enough to keep you tied over, but still light and fresh enough that your stomach doesn't get weighed down.
My wife tried Lemongrass' southern twist on a traditional Vietnamese sandwich, the Banh Mi. Four sliders of pulled pork slow roasted in an Asian marinade topped with an Asian slaw are served on homemade (HOMEMADE!) French rolls. A side of fresh cucumbers and jalapenos to be added at the diner's choice come on the side with a serving of regular or sweet potato french fries. But it doesn't stop there. For dessert, their in-house pastry chef has created some elegant sweets to perfectly finish off the meal.
A perfect example is the coconut milk flan we had for dessert. It was a very simple, clean and light dish that topped with berries, provided the right amount of color and tart. And, of course, not a single berry was out of place.
If this isn't enough, when the check came, we saw even more value. None of their dishes are over $13 and most are under $10. It's easy to get an appetizer and two entrees on a budget.
With happy hour drink specials and a full bar, Lemongrass makes it easy to have a great night out with a taste of Asia right here at home.
