What a wonderful experience at Lotus Noodle Bar!…read more
We came here on a Thursday evening so it wasn't hard to get a reservation.
The restaurant is quite small inside with limited seating, and there is a parking lot with only a few available spaces.
The ambiance is nice, a bit upscale but I still felt comfortable in casual clothing. I would imagine it best to come here on a date; it's quiet and has low lighting.
The chef is Michelin star trained, and let me tell you this place definitely lives up to that description; he is well on his way to earning that first Michelin star for Lotus Noodle bar.
The service was top notch and equivalent to what I would expect at either a Michelin starred or high end restaurant. The wait staff were knowledgeable about all of the items on the menu, each dish was brought out in a timely manner, and the table was cleaned and the silverware replaced with every entree. Not only that but the chef came out to finish each dish himself and explain the meaning and ingredients behind them. He truly is passionate about his craft.
Now onto the food. We started off with the Izakaya Crab Salad which had yuzu kosho aioli, blue crab, green apple, mango, daikon radish pickled cucumbers, nori goma, scallion, mint, and ikura caviar. The crab was so fresh it could have been caught that morning! All of the salad's components worked well together as well as standouts on their own. The salad was refreshing, and the ikura caviar bursting with each bite, truly made this an outstanding experience.
Rating: 4/5
Next we got the BURRATA-TOMATOES-CITRUS which had heirloom tomatoes, burrata, citrus supremes, shiso, mint chíli oil, okinawa sea salt, and a citrus-truffle infusion. The tomatoes were so fresh, flavorful and juicy. The Buratta was delicious, and the citrus truffle infusion sauce made the whole dish stand out as unique to your normal Buratta with a citrusy creamy taste. They even topped it off with real sliced truffle which is my absolute favorite!
Rating: 5/5
Next was the HAMACHI CRUDO which had yuzu tobiko, pickled honeydew, citrus infused evoo, mango, jalapeño, cilantro, and a coconut-chili emulsion. The hamachi was so fresh it just melted in your mouth! The pickled honeydew and coconut chili emulsion made for a great pairing. All of the ingredients combined were wonderful as well and made the dish so fresh and delicious.
Rating: 5/5
Next on our list was the A NOT SO TRADITIONAL CAVIAR SERVICE with koji, roasted brown butter furikake potatoes with fried garlic, bonito flakes, and shichimi togarashi crème fraîche with chili oil, chives, and I chose the royal ossetra caviar. I found this to be such a unique caviar service that fit the Japanese/French style of the entire restaurant. The potatoes were soft and yet slightly crispy on the outside with the classic Japanese taste of furikake and bonito flakes. The crème fraiche added a nice creamy balance to the super flavorful potatoes and caviar.
Rating: 5/5
Of course given that this was a place also known for their ramen I had to get a bowl despite being super full already (the other dishes are deceptively filling). For this I chose the Truffle Mazeman which had truffle butter, aerated mornay, seasonal truffles and chives. This was the most delicious ramen I've had since I ate in Japan! It combined the delicious flavors of Gruyère and Parmesan but made in the aerated fashion it was super light and foamy but also very rich in flavor. I was also given a generous portion of shaved truffle to go on top!
Rating: 5/5
Next time I would love to have dessert!
TLDR: This is a standout Japanese/French fusion restaurant by a Michelin star trained chef with a focus on ramen and fresh ingredients. It is definitely eminent of a Michelin starred restaurant with the impeccable service, sustainably changing menu, and innovative dishes which balance both fresh and savory flavors in which its ingredients stand out alone as much as blend incredibly well together. The prices are decent and well suited to this type of establishment, and they are down to earth with not making you feel uncomfortable in casual clothing despite the ambiance and class. Small space and parking is minimal, reservations strongly recommended. I can't wait to come again!