10/31/09

Fantastic Food, Horrible Service

by Whatever1

I no longer live in portland, but when i come to town this is one of my "must do's". The food is fantastic, but the lack of customer service has made it almost impossible to enjoy this restaurant. They have horrible hours and are closed FAR TOO OFTEN. Many times i have come to town to find that they are closed because they are on vacation, closed for remodel, or closed just to be closed. They are highly unreliable. However, on the off chance that u can actually get in...u will enjoy the food. Oh, and if u were thinking about getting an order to go...make sure that u check their jacked up policy on that too. U can only order to-go for 1 hour prior to the business opening, and if u hop on one foot in a circle for 32 seconds. Good luck, and happy eating.

• Pros: Excellent food
• Cons: Finding a time when the restaurant is open

01/28/09

SEARCH NO MORE!!

by BreeziN

Best thai food in the WORLD!!! well, probably better in Thailand. But their pad thai is off the hook!!!

• Pros: best food ever!
• Cons: small place

11/21/08

Portland's best Pad Thai

by Hot4Thai

We have been eating here for over five years. The food is exceptionally delicous and it is a very romantic atmosphere. When we first started going, the place would be packed on a Friday or Saturday night. The wait at times would be an hour, but the food was well worth the wait. Now days, the wait is less than 10 minutes and the food is still delicious.

The service can be slow, but does not lack in quality. If you are one who needs attentive, quick, and constant service... then go to AppleBees or another corporate chain where each server only has 3 tables. If you can be patient and enjoy the person or people that accompanied you, then you will have quite the pleasant experience.

Also, they DO accept reservations. I believe the summary says they do not, but they are more than willing to accept reservations.

Also... try the garden rolls. They are made fresh, so they run out quickly... you have to get there around 6 to get the chance to order them. They are delicious.

Cash and Checks only, no credit cards.

• Pros: Delicious pad thai and garden rolls
• Cons: none

06/03/08

Some of the best Thai food in Portland

by moxiefox

We've gone here for a few years and the food and service is good and consistent. We usually order the curry noodles and pad thai. It's a cute, clean and homey atmosphere. We also have leftovers from the large portions they deliver.

• Pros: Delicious large portions of food for a good price, great customer service
• Cons: Can get stuffy in the summers

05/28/08

Major Let Down

by jhighet

My husband and I went here on a solid recommendation and were very disapointed. Maybe I'm overly sensative when it comes to cleanliness, but the inside of the charming Victorian home-turned restaurant looked as though it needed a thorough cleaning. The walls and floor are spattered with food/drips and the decor is old and worn. The service was poor (one person for the entire restaurant on a Friday night) and the food mediocre at best. Actually, the tom kah gai (spelling?) soup was awful - tasted and looked as though something was curdled in it. Not at all like variations I've had elsewhere. All evening I was continually amazed at how this place could have come so highly recommended. I've been to thai food all over portland and there are countless others that far exceed this place. Oh, and on a final note, the menu is very overpriced.

• Pros: none
• Cons: ambiance, service, food

02/26/08

Great Thai Food! Delivered

by chikeze

I got Lemon Leaf delivered to my office from Delivered Dish. The food was absolutely delicious. We were feeding about 7 people and everything was labeled and the driver was really cool. I love Thai food and I am really glad I found this hidden gem on the Delivered Dish web site. Lemon Leaf is my new "go to" Thai Place. They will be seeing me any my staff a lot,

• Pros: Delivery
• Cons: None

12/29/07

Best way to enjoy Thai...enjoy the company of those you are with

by slieder

I am a Portland native and military retiree who has had his fair share of Thai food from the country as well as from people from Thailand and the food here was wonderful. We arrived just after they opened for the night and were greeted by the sole waiter who was happy, friendly, and immediately made us welcome. Each subsequent person arriving received the same warm greeting, which seemed to throw some off guard as if this shouldn't happen at a restaurant. The waiter made sure we understood what the heat levels meant that we asked for. As we were 1 of 3 tables occupied it was easy for him to keep up with water ( he left us a pitcher-smart, unlike most places)and jasmine tea refills. As the place filled up we saw him less and less but it would have been easy to get his attention if needed. Our food came out, Padh Thai and Yellow Curry Chicken, about 5 min apart. The food temperature was hot.

If you want fast service, and waiter serving only you and one other table then go somewhere else. This is a place for people that can enjoy each others company and have time to wait for a meal that is worth the wait.

11/17/07

#1 Thai Food !!! BAM!!!

by cifelli2

This restaurant is by far the best and only Thai food restaurant in the Pacific NW! I first ate at Lemongrass at their first location on - I think - Glisan Blvd. about 13 years ago or so. If you're looking for first rate service (and I'm a total service appreciative person) then don't bother, if you're looking for the most incredible, authentic, full of flavor Thai food then this is your place. First you have the restaurant in an old victorian style home: totally cool, run by the owner and sole chef, Shelly, and most times she has only one employee: host, waiter, server and busser all in one - hence the not so stellar service. If you can get past the slow service at times then you're in for a Thai treat like you've never experienced. I live in Vancouver, and would rather not have to drive into Portland to go to dinner, but as my husband and I ate tonight with another couple we realized that we have been settling for less than excellance with our Thai food experiences. The Lemongrass flavor is stellar, the spice is HOT (and there's the all important "tray of death" if you need it hotter), the portions are more than enough, and you can't find a better Phad Thai Noodle dish anywhere, which is the staple of Thai food, think about it - they all taste like ketchup - not at Lemongrass. The curries are amazing, the spicy fried rice - yum, the garlic/basil dishes- mouthwatering, Shelly is a goddess!!! Thank you for your superior cooking skills and mastery of your homeland cuisine and thank you for bringing yor culinary excellence to Portland, Oregon and the surrounding areas. You opened my tastebuds to another form of Asian food and in my world the only Asian food. Thank you, thank you, thank you Shelly........

• Pros: excellence of food, flavor, spice, authentic Thai food, none better anywehre!!!
• Cons: if you can get past the slower service you'll never find better Thai food, I promise!!!!

05/27/07

My favorite!

by zefin0

I love their pad thai. My spice level is 3 and it's just perfect! Food is consistently good everything I go there. Supurb!

• Pros: Food
• Cons: They don't take credit cards

02/16/07

BEST THAI RESTAURANT YOU WILL EVER FIND!

by missbehavin

I have been three times now and each time I found the service to be exceptionally gracious. The restaurant itself is in a NE neighborhood Victorian home decorated simply in neutral shades which provide a casual yet elegant atmosphere. The food is made to order fresh and you can chose your own level of spice "heat" from mild to very, very hot. I recommend the salad to start which is especially a treat if you have never had a Thai salad. Holding your lettuce leaf in hand, wrap up the spicey chicken ingredients and it eat burrito style. Delicious. For dinner order a variety and share. The peanut sauce is excellent!

This is the best Thai food my husband and I have ever had.

• Pros: Friendliest people, nice ambience, best Thai food - ever!
• Cons: You must pay by cash or check and find parking on street.