Lemongrass Cafe
1419 5th Ave, Moline, IL, 61265
Lemongrass Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Moline for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1419 5th Ave
Moline, IL, 61265 - Phone (309) 797-4100
- Website https://www.lemongrasscafequadcities.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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LaCarla F.
Great Asian cruise. The restaurant is cozy so be prepared to be close in quarters.
(3)Kristen J.
My boyfriend and I eat here FAR too often, but it never seems like we can go often ENOUGH! BEST BEST BEST Asian fusion in the QC. I love all of their drinks, everything I've eaten here has been the best, and the wait staff.. OH MY the wait staff is almost our most favorite part. We even have two favorite waitresses that have grown to recognize us and greet/send us with the most genuine smiles and jokes. :) We'll soon be moving out of state and we both agree that it's going to be hard to find an Asian food place we love as much as this one. I wish I knew the name of our favorite servers so that we could praise them here too!
(5)Chad B.
Great restaurant! One of my favorite restaurants in the Quad Cities. They have the same owners as Exotic Thai. This restaurant is an Asian fusion of Thai, and Vietnamese food. They have noodle bowls, curries, and Pho. Personally, I think the pho is the best in town. I also would recommend the appetizers, the lettuce wrap, and the fresh spring rolls.
(5)Mike V.
Fantastic dining experience! Intimate place, friendly staff, awesome food. What more could we ask for? Best Asian entrees my wife and I have ever had. Do yourself a favor and hit Lagomarcinos confectionary across the street. Great chocolate treats.
(5)Meghan H.
I have literally eaten everything off of this restaurants menu. Delicious. Great service. Fast service for lunch, and relaxed service for dinner hours. Things to eat: pumpkin curry. Red coconut curry. Tiger steak. Buddha rolls.
(5)Rachel R.
The food was absolutely awesome but it took forever to get our bill and our to go boxes. I mean a really really long time. We popped in for a quick lunch, were seated right away and ended up being there over an hour, almost an hour and 15 minutes. I am a very patient person and normally don't mind, but I had to track down our waitress just so we could leave.
(3)Mark G.
This place is very high quality, they could be in the biggest of cities and be in a top spot easily. They really have something special here. So to start off their pho is delicious, not their special but they have it. Big bowl with both steak and meatball in it. If your a pho fan your good to get some here. Their entree dishes and appetizers are amazing. The eggrolls and rangoon are served with the best dipping sauces, these are some of the best that I have had. The entrees all have a unique flavor to them which only can be found in quality places, not the store bought sauce here. I do suggest trying something new each time, you will have favorites but everything is worthy on this menu. Well run place with a great ambiance inside, it has all the features of a nice date night place with a good price that won't bust your pocket. Believe me they could easily charge another $5 on each of their dishes and it would be worth it.
(5)Adam S.
It would be fair to call myself a regular at this establishment. I come here frequently for lunch with coworkers, lunch on the weekends with my girlfriend and dinners with the family. I have experimented with the menu thoroughly. Some of my favorites include: General Tso Chicken (I know what you're thinking, and it is not at all what you are expecting!!!) Panang Curry Pad KeeMao (Bento) Singapore Noodles Steak Luc Lac Pho Crab Cheese Wontons Bentos are a great value for lunch. They also offer a monthly special that offers tastes from different regions. I have tried 3 so far and they have all been amazing. The best thing about Lemongrass is the flavor (particularly sauces). As mentioned above the General chicken is not at all what you are expecting and the sauce is unlike anything I've ever had before, DELICIOUS. Service is always with a smile and very attentive. Truly one of my favorites!!!
(5)Connie H.
Went here the other day with decent expectations since all the yelp fans pretty much like this place. And after ordering and tasting our dishes, those expectations were met. Here's a few things I tasted: - Thai Omelet: I had a Thai Omelet in another town before and loved it, and wanted to try it here. Different from an American omelet, this is deep fried, I believe, crunchy, and when paired with some rice, has a great taste to it. They serve it with tomatoes, cucumbers, and a sweet sauce, which I didn't have before, but it was a good combination to match the oily fried egg. I got this with shrimp, so there were little pieces of shrimp in the omelet. Just as good as I expected it to be. - Pad Thai: I tried some of the pad thai and it was a lot sweeter than I like. I've had a lot of pad thai before, and this was one of the sweetest that I've ever had. It kind of had a strong ketchup like flavor to it. I probably won't order this here next time I come - Pad Keemao: A pretty decent, safe dish. In my opinion. Noodles with assorted vegetables in it - Gra pow: the gra pow was good (with a fried egg in it .. and not just a normal American fried egg. This was kind of weird. It looked similar to my omelet. Maybe it was a deep fried egg???. Anyhow, it was good. :)). However, this dish has a LOT of basil in it. The basil taste takes over the whole dish. So if you don't like basil, definitely don't get this. - Pumpkin Curry: Had a bite of this, and it was delicious! May try this next time.
(4)Melissa K.
First time here. Delicious! Great food, great service and ambiance. Park on the street or across at the bank.
(5)Louise M.
Just love this place. If I crave super spicy food, I come here. Too bad, I don't live nearby, but I try to make it there whenever I'm in town. I always ordered the same thing as I fell in love with it and couldn't get myself to miss the chance to eat it when I can. I always get the tom yum with shrimps, and the gra pow which is a minced chicken stir fried with basil and veggies, then topped with this super crispy fried egg. The cool part is, the yolk still runs though the edges are so crispy. The gra pow is really hot!! My mouth will burn and stomach will be on fire each time! So good!! They also have a nice selection of high end teas to choose from. Quite pricy but if you like tea like me, it is worth the money. The atmosphere is quite modern and service is relatively good. The lighting is pretty dimmed. I always thought the place was close as it looked really dark from the outside. It helps they have a blinking open sign. Lol. Love love love this place!!!!!!
(5)Tammy D.
Absolutely delightful!! Great food and amazing service!! A real highlight of our trip to the Quad Cities!!!!
(5)Ken M.
My gf asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday, and I suggested Lemongrass Cafe. Of course, I checked Yelp first to get an idea of what dishes were recommended since this was my first time eating here. My gf had been here before quite awhile ago. We walked in for a late lunch and were greeted immediately and seated. We were given menus, and a couple minutes later the water came. It is pretty unique that the carafe of water is a wine bottle while the glasses are normal. We placed our orders. I ordered the Gra Pow beef and my gf ordered the Pad Thai Chicken (hot). They then brought the soup. Lemongrass soup. Very good. Devoured it! It took them about 20 min to get the food out, which didn't seem too long, and I have attached pics of our meals. I will just say that both of our meals were absolutely delicious! We just drank water, and the bill was $26. Definitely worth every penny.
(5)Laura C.
The lighting is dim but the food is awesome. I had great fast and friendly service. At 11:40am this place was packed with all of the local business lunchers. I wasn't starving so I ordered the crab cheese Rangoon and Shu Mai appetizers. The Rangoon came with a really awesome citrus dipping sauce that really complimented the crab well. The Shu Mai was small stuffed wrappers with chicken and shrimp with a soy dip. It was also really tasty. I hope to return to Moline soon so I can try more dishes.
(5)Maria Cristina C.
*This review is broken up into Overall Verdict (Summary), Experience/Service and Food details. ---------Overall Verdict: Service: Good Venue: Cute, quaint space with dim lighting Food: Decent portions and good quality Additional details: Because of their dim lighting, you may think the place is closed - haha - so just watch out for the "Open" sign! Verdict: If you're craving Thai food and you're around the area, stop by! ---------Experience/Service: I visit this place for dinner at least once every time I'm in the area, and I'm never disappointed. Even during the most crowded days, there's always immediate seating available for my small group of 4 - 5 people. The staff is always sweet and attentive. The food always comes out fairly quickly (within 10/15 minutes from the time of order). ---------Food/Drinks Most of their dishes are savory, filling and have just the right amount of spiciness: - Lemongrass Soup (Tom Yum) - flavorful and spicy. We usually get the bowl to share - Chicken Pad keemao - decently spiced and flavorful. The portion-size, depending on how hungry I am is either too much or just right; but either way I'm always left stuffed. - Pad Thai - non-spicy and okay. - Thai Iced Tea - too much sugar so will make sure to ask for less next time.
(4)Joe B.
Pumpkin curry is outstanding and so were the chicken lettuce wraps! The whole concept of eating plain white rice I will never understand! They drop off my curry and it's in a nice bowl full of pumpkin and shrimp, very nice! I dump my plain rice into the bowl and have a delightful dish! I'm thinking about hitting the brewery next door for a beer dessert!
(5)Dave P.
My fellow Yelpers; you did NOT lead me astray on this one. I highly recommend Lemongrass Cafe. This is the first Thai restaurant I can remember to offer Pumpkin Curry. I ordered it with tofu and extra veggies. Although I am not a pumpkin fan in general, I was delighted with this dish! Big chunks of pumpkin, red pepper, broccoli, cabbage, snow peas. Beautiful curry. Wow! I will tell my fav Thai restaurant back home in the ATL about this dish. Maybe they will try to make it too.
(5)Kelly S.
Loved the gra pow with chicken. Very friendly and fast lunch service.
(4)Melody H.
The revitalization of the area is wonderful. It's in the process of becoming a welcoming part of town. Lemongrass is the perfect kind of restaurant needed there. Clean and casual but also quality. We were a party of 4, double date. It's a bit loud but the waitress was on point. The Gra paw was flavorful with just a tiny pinch of heat. The general's chicken was well made. Both the dumplings and lettuce wraps were great. This is Thai, not Chinese nor Vietnamese, so enjoy the taste adventure without comparison! It's such a breathe of fresh air from the common and Mexican restaurant choices.
(4)Jon K.
We really enjoyed this lunch passing through the Quad Cities in Moline. The chicken lettuce wraps were a delicious start followed by a tasty soup akin to hot and sour. My wife's pad thai lived up to her lofty expectations while my Ga Kho pleasured my taste buds. Ambience and service were good. Enjoy a visit to the Lemongrass Cafe!
(5)Cathy C.
Despite high Yelp ratings, I had low expectations from this place but I must say I was a bit pleasantly surprised. This was our first meal in Quad City. Crispy Duck: Breaded and fried pieces of duck and comes with veggies (broccoli, carrots, bell peppers). This was very good, tasty and well...crispy. Watch out for bones. 4/5 Bento Box (served from 11am-3pm): For $10 you get soup, Vietnamese spring roll, Korean slaw, mixed fruit and your choice of meat. You can get shrimp for an additional $1. You can get pineapple fried rice, gra pow rice, pad woon sen, pad keemao, LemonGrass Grill chicken or steak OR pad thai. I tried the LemonGrass Grill steak and it tastes like a cross between teriyaki and Vietnamese grilled beef. Soup of the day was good - had cilantro, lemongrass and small pieces of chicken. The spring roll was delicious with the peanut sauce. The Korean slaw was like kimchee but not quite fermented for 100 years. Shawn tried the pad keemao - it was very spicy! 5/5 Thai Iced Tea: This was a fail in my book. There was too much half and half, not enough tea. 2/5
(4)Nirwana Sahara H.
Best Asian food! Came here for campus trip and yelping. Saw this recommendation,,n it's Yummee!!
(4)Robert L.
Their Ga Kho is so good and I think the Gra Pow there is also exceptional! I am half-Thai and I approve this restaurant!
(4)M H.
Dude. Lemongrass. Oh my god. I've considered moving across the river just so I can be closer to this place. The Wor Won Ton Noodle soup is my favorite. My sister says the kimchi fried rice sucks, but who goes to a legit Asian fusion restaurant and orders fried rice? You know that person can't have good taste. Honorable mention: Rama, Cashew Lover, Ga Ree Gai Curry. Also, the Vietnamese coffee. I don't know what makes it Vietnamese. It's good, though.
(5)Jordan A.
Food is delicious , service is awesome! Very well maintained establishment. A little on the pricey side but so worth it.
(5)Brandon C.
Best Thai food in the Quad-Cities, barely edging out Kong's, in my opinion. I usually get the Pad Kee Mao, but have had many different dishes and they are all great. Just a warning, the Pad Kee Mao comes spicy even if you don't request it to be. Which is why I love it! Crispy duck, drunken noodles, pad thai, all the standards are great! As other reviewers have mentioned, service can be slow at times, but they are always very nice and accommodating.
(4)James G.
Good food, fast and friendly service - it worked great for our group of 11 people. We liked the menu variety and I would definitely return again.
(4)G S.
We went here for after reading the good Yelp review. The food was average and the drink was not much better. The bad part of the restaurant was the service and the water. Why water? Because they use it in everything they cook and in the drink they serve. They must have gone through a remodeling process and spilled some motor oil in the pipe. The taste was awful and for a quality restaurant, they should have used filter water for their customers.
(2)Amanda D.
Was in Moline on business and stopped here for lunch. Ordered the Bento Box special and it was delicious. The box has Asian slaw, Vietnamese hand rolls, chicken pad Thai (my choice) and fruit. The food is very fresh and the lunch special had more than enough to satisfy a mid-day appetite.
(4)Sheila H.
Wanted to try this place so we finally went. Waitress was extremely nice. Food was cold. Cold! Very disappointed as we had heard good things about this place. Will we try it again? I don't know.
(2)Elaine H.
Outstanding! Food was very fresh, elegant and full of authentic flavor. Would highly recommend the Chicken Rama. Fast and attentive service. Very, very reasonable pricing and plenty of variety. Will definitely be returning!
(5)Rachael P.
This is my absolute favorite restaurant. I love Thai food, and this place delivers the best flavors and variety. From their noodles, to their fried rice and their entrees almost everything can be subbed with tofu and no egg. I suggest Rama with tofu, Kimchi with tofu and no egg, or just their Pad Thai which is awesome!
(5)Heather P.
I've been here many times and I am always pleased with the food and service. Make sure you try a lunchbox and a Vietnamese coffee!
(5)Shawn H.
Pretty tasty Thai food in Moline...surprisingly good actually! We came here for lunch while we were visiting from out of town. Thanks to all the other Yelpers like yourself, we were seeing it recommended and decided to give it a shot! I always order Pad Kee Mao ($9.95 Lunch): This was a good version of this dish, and packed a punch! Lots of places are afraid to make it spicy when requested, but this was wonderful and was full of spice! The bento box setup for lunch is a great value too, with all this food for a $10 bill! Take a look at the pics...it comes with a soup, spring roll, kim chi, and fruit :) Also tried the Crispy Duck ($14.95): Fried Duck, Spicy Basil Sauce, and Veggies. This was interesting...never really ate duck fried up like this on the bone. It had a good flavor though...Just not sure if I would order this again. Lastly, the Thai Tea ($2.50) had too much cream...too sweet. Maybe ask for a stronger ratio? It was a little disappointing considering the food was all pretty good. Check it out if you are in the area! Pics :
(4)D. M.
Awesome! A very pleasant surprise this place has amazing entrées. Each dish is unique and flavors are very traditional. Hot means hot here so when you ask for spicy you get it! I've been to bigger cities with lots of Thai choices but few are equal. The only thing that is weak here is the appetizers...
(4)Yoyo A.
Everything is delicious. I would suggest the pad Thai or any of the curries. Lunch hour gets very busy. Modern on the inside and the service is very friendly. I like how they serve water out of glass bottles. Bento Box for lunch is a great deal! Nom nom nom nom!
(5)Mark H.
Might be a but too harsh because the food is not too bad at all, but my, the service makes the place a non-return eatery for me. This was my first time at this restaurant, So I asked the waitress if I could substitute the noodles or rice on my main meal which was the ribs. She replied yes since it's my first time here. So i ordered the rangoon and tge ribs with noodles. After waiting ablut 15-20 minutes she came out and another older lady said "we cant do the noodles instead of the rice" . I said no big deal, i didnt really want the rice, but please bring out the appetizer. After another 10- 15minutes my main meal came out. I said i order an appetizer, so she took the food away and left. After 5 minutes she came back asking if i ordered the rangoon... Anyways... She barely comprehended english. If you know your command of the language is less than stellar, please repeat bavk the order. The food was OK, slthough rather cold. Edit: she brought the check out while i was still eating :) didnt ask if i needed anything else... Zoiks Btw, the service was so bad it made me open a yelp account!
(1)Jay B.
Enjoyed my curry, the decor looks great. I will come back next time I visit the qc and try some of the other dishes. Lunch came with soup and it was under $10 before tip. I liked the music playing as well. Found free parking on the street but i think there is a lot in back as well.
(4)James W.
Stopped in for a late lunch and sat down immediately. Friendly service and everything was delicious. I'll certainly return if I'm ever in town again. I had the Kai Soi Gai, and that is probably my favorite soup now.
(5)Nina K.
I love going here for the coconut soup and the curry dishes. My husband loves the pumpkin curry, and my favorites are the chicken lettuce wraps and spring rolls. They also have really good and creative drinks, and the dipping sauces are amazing. The waitress that we have most of the time is so sweet and patient when we have our young daughter with us. The atmosphere is also great, very pretty inside. I would love to give them five stars, however it's more expensive than it was when we first started going there a couple years ago, and they changed their "happy hour" specials to a dollar off instead of half-priced apps and drinks. We used to eat there so much because it was great food and a reasonable price. Now, they seem to be priced more like Exotic Thai or somewhere geared more towards dinner than lunch, even though they started as a "café". It was a nice place to get a delicious lunch, some tea and maybe a drink without spending a lot of money.
(4)Leonard K.
Stopped on our way through town and was very surprised at the quality of this place. Cafe was clean, food fresh, staff very friendly. Only wish we could've experienced the wine bar! Will definitely stop by again!
(5)Taylor S.
I spent a week in Moline for business and went to this place twice. The only reason that I didn't go to the place every day is because I discovered it the last two days that I was there. It was a great place to eat! I had the Yakisoba noodles and some awesome shrimp appetizer they had. A couple of colleagues that I went with (who were not as familiar with Asian food) had the "Poor Mans Noodles" and thought highly of that meal. This is a great restaurant for a group with different dietary needs. If you're ever in Moline checking out the John Deere Pavilion or Riverfront it's definitely worth the stop!
(5)Jason H.
My favorite Thai restaurant in the Quad Cities. The food is great as is the atmosphere. The atmosphere is such that you can dress up for a special evening or swing by in casual clothes for a quick bite.
(5)Cody R.
My wife has to eat at every Thai place that falls in the vicinity of our travels. So a weekend in the Quad Cities meant our first visit to Lemongrass Cafe. It was excellent all around. The weather was beautiful so we elected to sit outside where we were quickly attended to and our spring rolls and edemame came out nearly immediately along with our drinks. I'm a huge fan of the bite sized spring roll slices and the delicious peanut sauce that comes on the side. This is actually an asian fusion restaurant, so I thought I'd venture out if my typical Thai go-to dishes and try something new. The "Cashew Lover" with chicken entree did not disappoint. Good to the last bite. My wife ordered Rad Na and it was very similar to her families Thai restaurant in Springfield, Illinois (plug Magic Kitchen). That means she loved it. She also had Tom Yum soup and Chicken Vegetable soup, both very nice. The total for our family of 5 (3 small kids split one entree and snacked on appetizers) was $57, that is with waters to drink. I felt it was very modestly priced for the quality served up. Entrees are typically $10-13 each.
(5)Robin R.
The pumpkin curry has been added to my Last Meal. When I think of curry, THIS is what makes my mouth water. Friendly service, calm atmosphere. A delight to downtown Moline.
(5)Denny L.
What a great little spot. Great service and always with a friendly smile. Was on a unique diet for a while, and the staff was quick to accommodate my custom orders. I'm not a crazy Thai food lover, but they do a good job with all the basics here (my favorite is the zen garden w/ chicken). If you're into something more exotic/spicy, check the other reviews. Service is swift, but they don't rush you. Have only been for lunch but will come back over for dinner at some point as well.
(5)Shannon H.
The food here is delicious! I would suggest the pad thai, although I've never had a bad meal here. Prices are great and the location is very convenient. The servers are always friendly!
(5)A D.
I have tried them multiple times. I think they are overpriced and the serving sizes are small. When you ask for thai spicy they still give you american spicy. After multiple trips , I will not go back. The silverwear was dirty the last two times I went. Also, the seating area is cramped. It's definetly not a place to take someone on a date to get to know more about them.
(1)Nicole G.
Fantastic Thai food.... I had some difficulty hearing the waitress.... But besides this our food was great. Had stay which had a good peanut sauce and (I can't remember the exact name) but a Japanese inspired noodle dish. Tasted like a nice fusion of Thai and Japanese..... I ate my whole dish!
(5)Lauren K.
Great environment, fresh ingredients, amazing food!!
(5)Matthew B.
Fantastic food and service! The atmosphere was lively and friendly. I will recommend this place to anyone who likes Thai and anyone who hasn't tried it before--ensuring a great experience and making them lovers of Thai food!
(5)Steve R.
The food is always good. The girls there can remember what you had to eat from weeks ago! Great experience.
(5)Gina M.
Yummy! And cheap. 3 appetizers, 1 entree, 1 mojito, 1 soda for $44. Shu mai was awesome. Skewers were good but I'm not a fan of the peanut sauces, so was pretty simple, just chicken. I will go back next time I'm in town.
(4)Kati L.
Their hot and sour soup is the best soup I have ever had in my life ! We have been here a handful of times and just moved downtown last month! Everything on the menu so far has been great. I highly suggest their lemon grass chicken.
(4)Steven T.
Great Thai food at very reasonable prices. I had the mango rice with beef and it was very good. My colleges also greatly enjoyed their dishes. Each of us got different dishes and they were all winners. I know where I'll be eating next time I'm in town.
(5)Andrea D.
The Gra Pow was excellent.... full of flavor! The Tom Kha Gai soup and Panang curry was good as well. Not the best but still hit the spot. They gave us each a free bowl of the hot and sour soup which was awesome! One of the best I've had! Was more impressed with the hot and sour over the Tom Kha Gai soup. If I'm ever back in Moline, I'll be back. Just wished they were in Holly Springs! ;)
(4)Randy R.
My wife and I have eaten here many times. Tried many items on the menu. Always excellent food. I especially like the yellow curry. Service friendly and polite.
(4)Mark W.
The food was delicious. I live in Portland, OR, a foodie town by any standard. While in the Quad Cities, I looking for something like home: delicious, healthy food with the standards of a 21-Century urban restaurant. Lemongrass came through! It took a while to find it. But when I did, I was happy that I choose this place. I ordered the Lemongrass soup (bowl) with chicken, the pumpkin curry, and a mango cocktail. All fresh and packed with complex flavors. It hit the spot.
(5)Mark S.
First visit and was favorably impressed. Good service and very good food. Won Ton appetizer was crispy and delicious. Fiance had garlic rice and I had curry. We were both very pleased with our entrees. On the downside, as others have noted, quite dim inside. Had to use light from cell phone to read menu. How about replacing some of the burned out bulbs in the few overhead light fixtures? We'll be back to try other menu items as we did enjoy the food.
(4)Jenny H.
Great Thai restaurant in Moline! It had a great ambience and the food was good. Their spring rolls with the peanut sauce in the beginning were good, and I got their drunken noodles as my main dish. Well-cooked and pretty good! My colleagues loved their pineapple fried rice too.
(3)Ellie H.
I came in for lunch with my family and it definitely tasted good. However, I have a gluten allergy and the waitress assured me the food would be gluten free. Hours later I had serious stomach cramps, headache, fogginess, and nausea. Definitely not gluten free food. Ended up spending the day with stomach flu/food poisoning symptoms. Not fun.
(2)Ernest G.
This place was absolutely amazing. The panang is incredible, one of the best I have had. Green curry is very good. Kimchi fried rice was very good as well (even to people that don't like Kimchi). My all time favorite though is the Singapore style noodles. Those were better than the street noodles I had in Singapore!
(5)Rebecca P.
This was a great end to our one-day roadtrip. Our dumpling appetizer was light and tantalizing; it made us excited for our entrees. We ordered a minced chicken dish with veggies, and the lemon grass grilled salmon. Both were amazing. The chicken had a great level of heat, and the salmon was caramelized in eel sauce. The service was light, two women on a saturday night. We came in and we were one of two tables, by the time our check came (just $28!) there were 10 full tables. One table I noticed was skipped in ordering, but they didn't wait an unreasonable amount of time.
(5)Stefanie C.
I was craving Thai food and was in the neighborhood so I decided to check it out for lunch with my husband. It was such a treat! Parking was nearby and the atmosphere made us feel right at home with the light brown and green spa-like decor with just the right amount of asian-inspired decorations. We were greeted right away with waters and soon after their hot and sour soup which was spectacular! We ordered the crab meat won tons (aka crab rangoon) which were perfectly cooked and not greasy one bit. My husband ordered the pad thai (his usual) and I ordered the Poor Man's noodles. Both of which had very authentic flavors, they were outstanding. Service was great too even though you could tell they do a decent lunch crowd. We saw every single server at our table whether it was to clean up plates, deliver food hot from the kitchen, or to bring us our check. Will definitely throw this restaurant into our regular lunch/dinner routines. I will be highly recommending this to all my friends and will definitely be bringing family here next time they are in from out of town.
(5)Hayley H.
Yes. More please. Artfully plated, this Asian fusion restaurant blew my mind. Instead of huge chunks of chicken, they mince it, like when you open up the casing of sausage. Each bite was filled with chicken flavor. It was delightful. The miso soup, flavorful. Not watered down. The drinks, garnished nicely and strong, just like a drink should be. Clean. Modern decor. Though they need a chair rail. You'll see all the "dings" in the walls. Open faced dumplings. Yum. Those are a must get.
(5)Brandy W.
Wow. I wanted to have a nice dinner in the QC with my husband and Lemongrass definitely did not disappoint. Coming from Chicago, we found the service, selection, prices, and meals to be fantastic. We arrived at 5:45 and thought seating would be a sinch. Not the case. There happened to be a ton of things going on in the city-- symphony, tree lighting, etc etc. We had to wait about 25 minutes for a table because people were just casually sitting around. I'd say there are about 12 tables in the whole joint. But, assuming we might be in a hurry (we were), a waitress came over and asked if we'd like to see a menu and possibly order so that when our table is available, we could receive our food sooner. GREAT! Love the service. She could've disregarded because they were so busy... but she didn't. We ordered 4 items: 1. Bowl of lemongrass chicken soup (incredible) 2. House salad with peanut dressing (good. Tried because of yelp review how it was someone's most favorite ever. It was good, but not the greatest ever.) 3. Pad Thai with chicken (good) 4. Pad KeeMao (incredible) No drinks, but we ordered all that for $27. The portions were quite large and we were STUFFED when we left that place. It was so good that we couldn't stop eating. As you can tell, we were impressed. Great all around! Would absolutely return and so happy about previous yelpers giving us the idea to head here for dinner. Considered Exotic Thai as their menu was equally enticing, but this was closer for our needs. Would go back and order the SAME thing. And the service was seriously exceptional.
(5)Calli L.
I travel to Moline and although I don't look forward to the drive I always look forward to Lemongrass. The food is fresh, flavorful and robust. Best lunch in town! 6 star worthy!
(5)Anna C.
The pad thai was delicious!!! Also the tangerine chicken tasted fresh!!! The won ton soup was great. Loved that they have a big bottle of water on the table. The service was great!!! Would definitely recommend this place and can't wait to go back to try the other dishes!!!!
(4)Lee L.
I love the pad thai, pacific curry, and iced coffee! Knocked it down from 5 to 3 stars as I was served a half-size portion of the Lettuce Cup app and charged full price. The waitress was easily confused and didn't communicate well so I didn't bother complaining.
(3)Charles D.
The food here is authentic and delicious. The atmosphere is comfortable, nice place. Only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is because the wait staff has dropped the ball on us here more than once. But all together, one of the better spots in the QC for a nice meal at a fair price.
(4)Kylie G.
Good food, good service, lovely interior design. I take away one star for the terribly annoying music playing...
(4)Robb M.
One of my favorite lunch places in downtown Moline. The box lunch is a great value, and full of flavor.
(5)Kristen J.
We come here very often and are never disappointed. The atmosphere is always great and we have never seen a wait for a table. The music they play is a great fit for the feel they have going on. Their soup of the days are always a wonderful blend of flavor and vegetables and I love their miso soup. We always get the pineapple chicken fried rice and something new. We also like to try different appetizers. We loved the sateh that we tried today. It was way different from what we would normally order but still good. We also ordered roasted garlic chicken fried rice. It had a lot of garlic, so if that's your thing get it! It's very moist and buttery like the other roves here but super wonderful.
(5)Dan E.
Ok, I will admit I was headed to Little Rangoon which closes early so I walked a couple of doors down to this place. It was a good find. As the other Yelpers have noted the decor is pleasant and relaxing. I didn't know what to order so I asked the server. She suggested the Gra Pow but warned me it was spicy. It was meat served with vegetables and basil and topped with a fried egg. Well, it was very spicy but perfect for me. I ordered an iced tea and that too was very good with a gentle jasmine aroma to the tea. I didn't have the lemongrass soup or the one entree with the namesake lemongrass in it. A pleasant dining option for any occasion: date night, business meal or family meal.
(4)Ana A.
In my humble opinion this is THE BEST Thai restaurant in the quad cities. Convenient locations! Easily Accessible from 74 or arsenal island. The food is amazing and isnt "heavy " .Definitely recommend the Pumpkin Curry and Pad Keemao ! You can not go wrong with Lemongrass.
(5)Diny P.
It is rare to find an Asian restaurant that has good food AND good ambiance. Most of the time, the ones with good food would have a cafetaria-like setting with plastic table cloth and plastic utensils. The ones with nice setting would usually have an 'Americanized' taste, meaning less flavorful. Lemongrass is an exception. Not only the food we ordered tasted great, but the ambiance was very nice and classy. Another plus point: they have a helpful website that lists the menu. The four of us were here around Jan 28 for lunch. Since we didn't want to eat too much, we just ordered some appetizers and a couple of entrees. The appetizers were: Sateh (good), Vietnamese Hand Roll with homemade dip (good), and Shu Mai (great). They're all $5.95 and enough for 4 people. The portion was fair, but who need a gigantic size of appetizers, right? The entrees we were getting was the Poor Man's Noodle for the kids (basically it's Pad See Eel, if you're more familiar with this in a Thai restaurant) and Pad Kee Mao (slightly spicier than the first one). They both cost $8.95 and the portion is enough for 2 person. The server was very friendly and helpful. Definitely will come back if we ever in Moline again.
(5)Rene T.
My husband and I stopped by Lemongrass for a quick lunch and they did not disappoint! We shared the Vietnamese Hand Roll and Ga Kho (caramelized chicken with lemongrass, mint, cilantro, and onion). Both were fantastic and really fresh. Service was prompt to boot. I glanced at the dishes of the tables around me and everything looked great. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes!
(5)Larry R.
The food was very good and the service was OK. While on the small side, it was quite and enjoyable to have a conversation. I would be happy to go there again.
(4)Anita B.
I wanted to give this place 5 stars for the food because the dishes were great. Everyone enjoyed their meal tonight however the service was lacking. It took almost 10 minutes just to seat us then another 5 for waters. Our others drinks took so long they came out with our meal. It appeared there was one person working the entire front of the house alone. She was the hostess, server, bartender, cashier and busser. We began to wonder if she was the cook too. I recommend the place on the condition that you're not in a hurry or too hungry because you'll be there a while.
(4)Zach B.
This was my first visit to Lemongrass Cafe and won't be my last. The decor was nice and inviting. I really enjoyed the music. The noise level was great since my wife and I were the only customers. Our server was great. The food was prompt and delicious. I ordered the Lemongrass Grill and my wife the Gra Pow.
(4)Brieana W.
I truly regret not checking out this place sooner. I wasn't too hungry, so I ordered the Chicken Sateh, a garden salad and sticky rice. Everything was lovely and delicious. The price was right up my alley and my server was friendly and helpful. Update, May 2014- I had a craving for wide rice noodles so I tried the Pad KeeMao. Now I have to forcibly restrict myself to eating there no more than once a week. It's so incredibly delicious!
(5)Avery W.
Ooph! Great service, but wow, this food was rough. I came with my family, a meat and potatoes man, myself, mid-west born and raised but then bi-coastally saturatedand indulged middle aged mom of two little boys. We were seated promptly and nicely despite both a nearly packed house on a week-night and the presence of a very little one which oftentimes relegates us to the crappy back table by the bathroom/kitchen, the first nice one by our server. The problem is that our server (easy 4 stars) was the very best part of a really substandard meal. After the shu mai and rather bland miso soup (which, with the nicely cooked rice, were the only edible portions of this meal) were devoured by my kids, the lemongrass grass steak, the duck, and my coconut soup arrived. I had asked our server to bring what came up as it came out, so the unorthodox arrival of my starter was by request. The entrees were utter flops. The lemongrass steak was utterly rejected by my ravenous steak man who compared it to 7-11 beef jerky topped with a Lemon Pledge car freshener. I thought his comment was ridiculous (I thoroughly enjoy lemongrass specifically and Thai/Aisan fusion food generally). Then I tasted it, his beef was inedible and I admit, in fairness, that the taste of his so soured my palate that I couldn't really continue my dinner, the duck. Unfortuately, the duck wasn't much from the beginning. It was tough, heavily battered and over-fried and while served with nicely prepped veggies, the sauce was completely forgettable salt laden goo. I had 3 bites then moved to my coconut soup which was nice, with an appropriate balance of heat, smooth, and acid. It was'nt enough to rid my mouth of the foul steak, but it was helpful. A huge bill came with the right amount of concern from our server at our virtually untouched entrees but zero effort was made beyond that. The four of us went home hungry, light walleted, and unsatisfied.
(2)Jason H.
Absolute garbage! I had the lemon grass steak. it tasted like Jack Links beef jerky from the gas station had been marinated in lemon pledge. My girlfriend had the duck. she said it was ok, however, I think she was just saying that as this place was her idea. I tasted the duck. Cold Col. Sanders chicken out of a dumpster would have been better.
(1)Jill A.
Good food, good find! Thanks yelp. The pad Thai was sweeter than usual, but I liked the sweetness. The stand out for us was the Tom Ka (coconut) soup. One heads up- sticky rice is not a usual order here, do it will take a long time for your food to come out if you order sticky rice.
(4)Jim H.
We have eaten here several times and always find the food to be delicious and the staff to be very friendly. On our first visit we were advised to try two different entrees: Gra Pow and Rama. They are so good it is very difficult to move beyond them and try other items. We really recommend ordering the Larb as an appetizer, even though it is listed under the salads section of the menu. Since they are located within walking distance of the I Wireless Center, it can be difficult to find a table if you come just before a concert event in downtown Moline.
(5)TJ H.
Lemongrass is lovely. Nice sized (small) portions of fresh tasty food. The lettuce wraps are spicy and flavorful and the yum yai salad was cool and fresh. Lovely small place, good service, nice menu options. Great addition to dining options and definitely a favorite.
(5)Zain D.
Lemongrass Café is a great place to get good Asian food for cheap. The decor of the restaurant is very modern and the place is very clean. Most items on the menu are very reasonably priced, and all of it is very good! The Vietnamese Coffee is my favorite! The next time you are in Downtown Moline, make sure to check this place out.
(5)Jessica C.
I absolutely love this place. I eat a LOT of Asian food (and admittedly, not much else) and this is some of the best I've had in this area. The pho is very authentic tasting and comes with a lot of extras you can add (bean sprouts, mint, lemongrass, chili paste, and black bean sauce, from what I remember). The tom kha, poor man's noodles, fried rice, and panang curry are all dishes I highly recommend.
(5)Samantha D.
I got take out, but this place looks great on the inside. I'd definitely come back for a sit down meal (and it's very conveniently located next to the bars in downtown moline - dinner & drinks, voila!). I ordered glass noodles with veggies and tofu. It was really good. I'll definitely go back to try some of their other entrees out at christmas time!
(5)Eric P.
Great place!!! We were looking for some places to eat while visiting the QC area. There was a concert at the iWireless arena; so we wanted to go near that, but didn't want to hit a tavern/bierhouse that seemed to be everywhere. This place sounded interesting from the ads and reviews we saw, so we decided to check it out. Very nicely decorated place for the small size it was; it even had a small bar. The waitstaff was very attentive to us and gave us time to decide what we wanted w/o being pushy. I decided to get the coconut soup and pad thai w/ chicken. My wife got the wonton soup and lemongrass grill w/ steak. The soup came hot and quickly. My coconut soup was VERY VERY good...strong tastes of coconut, curry, and something else (not sure). It was quite tasty and I would get it again. The wonton soup was very interesting. Generally w/ wonton, you get the big dumpling and that's about it (maybe some scallions). This wonton had a TON of veggies and stuff in it. It was good, but I'd probably give it 3.5/5 stars. The entrees took a lil bit to get to the table, but not outrageous. My pad thai dinner was gigantic. I wish I wasn't staying in a hotel w/o a fridge, otherwise I would have had another meal to take home!! It was very good and had plenty of chicken. The sweetness-level was probably a tad too high for me, but I know a lot of people like it that way. The lemongrass grill w/ steak my wife had was excellent. The steak was very juice and had a strong chargrilled taste to it. It had very crisp carrots, broccoli, and other veggies. I'd highly recommend it!!! I also enjoyed a Thai Iced Tea....YUMMMMM! man was that good...get that for a lil something different! Unfortunately time ran out and we couldn't order some desserts or tea to finish off dinner, though the dessert menu isn't very big. All in all, I would definitely go here again if we had the chance. The prices were pretty good for what you get. You can check out the website for the complete menu (including prices).
(5)Dana L.
Ok. I went to Lemongrass with my husband for a dinner (he reviewed as well, john d.) And it was good. I concur that it was a bit crowded at our table but over all was a good experience. SO good that 3 days later I asked a friend to do lunch with me there! Wow. Not a happy camper. We both arrived @ noon. We did not get waited on for 23 minutes! (Yes, I was a waitress for years so I pay attention to this) I actually contemplated leaving and lo and behold, the waitress came over. So we ordered and it was another 20 minutes before our food arrived! There was only one waitress serving the entire dining room. A couple next to us actually did leave. In my opinion, unless you are at lunch at your leisure and not at lunch at work, then avoid this place unless you can be there before 1130 maybe? In review, I did order the Bento box lunch, the lemongrass steak and it was very tasty. You get soup, fresh asian salad, a fresh spring roll, fresh fruit, and main dish all for a good price. If you don't like peanut sauce with your hand roll then you need to specify this. It does not come on the side, your spring hand roll is cut and sitting in it. Also, the dish did not come with rice which was EXTREMELY disappointing. Everything I ate was very sweet and the rice would have been a great balance for the sweetness. (In hindsight, maybe they were so busy they forgot my rice?) So needless to say, for dinner, I would go with 1 person, have room and enjoy my food. For lunch I won't be going back unless I have more then an hour to kill. Good luck.
(2)Bob D.
For this area this is very very good Thai food. Being gluten free by doctors orders, I really enjoyed the Vietnamese Hand Roll for an appetizer. The Thai Bouillabaisse soup. Nice flavor... I really love curry, so I asked what the preference was the waitress was - which was red... So I tried it with beef and was not disappointed. My only comment would be there were a ton of bamboo shoots in the bowl. Much more than I have experienced anywhere else in the world. For this area in downtown Moline, the atmosphere was pleasant and other guests enjoyed themselves and the the food as well. I will be back.
(4)Demitri R.
The service was good. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was charming and beautifully decorated. Loved it!
(5)Hannah J.
This place is really cool, looks nice inside, and has great food. My only complaints lie in the service and price. Granted, this place is a little bit cheaper than Exotic Thai, which is owned by the same people. But still--a spring roll for $5.99? Really? Come now. The service here is really spotty. I went on Saturday for an early-ish dinner, they were fairly busy, but only had two people working, only one who spoke English and did something besides refill water. For example, I asked for some rice to go with my soup and by the time the waitress brought it, we were ready to go. Major problems there, obviously. The food, however, is always so good. They're mostly a Thai place, but they do serve some general-Asian food, like a yakisoba that's pretty tasty and pho, which is delicious. Both Thai iced tea and Vietnamese coffee, too! The pumpkin curry and the coconut soup (served in a bowl or hot pot, with or without noodles) are consistently tasty and please everyone.
(4)Brandon B.
Restaurants in the QC are hit and miss, there are places I've really enjoyed and others... well, not so much. While there are not a lot of options for Thai and Vietnamese food in the QC, it doesn't really matter because Lemongrass Cafe (and the Exotic Thai folks) have it covered. Atmosphere: decorative, sleek, and modern. on the fancier end, yet not so much that you feel you have to dress up to eat there. Service: i ate during lunch service. our server was very attentive, yet not bothersome; very cute, sweet, and pleasant... a solid A for service. Price: very appropriately priced. not too spendy, and well worth every penny. AND ON TO THE IMPORTANT PART: the menu and food... Like the previous reviewer (Jen D.) I couldn't help but try the pho. I love pho, I've ordered it in Portland, I've ordered it Boston, and all places in-between. I wasn't sure what to expect, ya know, pho in the Quad Cities... well, in all honesty, the pho at Lemongrass Cafe competes with all of the best places I've been to. The appetizers we had were artfully plated, very delicious, and the condiments and relishes that accompany them are amazing. The crab cheese won tons are a must. The menu offers a wide variety of food. Some hot, some not (for those that aren't spicy)... which is a bonus when you dine with people that fear that everything will be too spicy. There are a great many things left for me to try (and of-course room for bad dishes) but based on my experience today, I don't think I'd ever be disappointed with the food. (side note: as a cook, i couldn't help but peek my head in the kitchen. it was sparkling clean.)
(4)Dan O.
Huge fan. 4. 5 stars. The first time I went there I recognized a few menu items from time I spent in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I ordered the Tom Yum and the Kai Soi soup and when it came out I said something like "damn, it smells like chiang mai". It tasted amazing and authentic with sweet, rich, salty and tangy flavors that only Thai food can pull off. After the meal I asked our server where they were from and she said "Chiang Mai!" - really funny coincidence. Great place to go for fresh, authentic, delicious food - it has very reasonable prices and you feel good about helping out a sweet, Thai family owned business - they're thrilled to see new people walk in their doors. * Definitely a treat for the Quad Cities.
(5)Adam C.
When here for my birthday and the food was delicious!
(4)Kelly H.
So apparently this is owned by Exotic Thai, but in my opinion, it's nothing like Exotic Thai. Lemongrass is not overpriced and the food is really good. I usually stick with the Buddha Rolls and Pad Thai and always enjoy every last bit of it. I've ordered the same-ish items at Exotic Thai and they had so much less flavor and were more expensive. Unfortunately, Thai food in the Quad Cities costs about twice as much as in Chicago and other big cities, but Lemongrass is much more reasonably priced for the area than Exotic Thai. Lemongrass has a daily lunch special but also offers a lunch sized portion alone, which is good for those of us who don't want the salad and soup.
(4)John D.
Just tried this place the other night for dinner. It was fantastic albeit a bit cramped. The place wasn't too busy for a Saturday evening but the table that we were given for a party of 4 was a small 4 top by the wall, not too small just a little cramped for 4 people and drinks and food dishes. The food was outstanding and is some of the finest Asian food I have ever had in the Quad Cities. Also, they have some really interesting drinks on their menu. I had the sakejito and it was amazing. Has a huge menu that I look forward to checking out again in the near future. Owned by Exotic Thai, better than Exotic Thai, cheaper than Exotic Thai, better ambiance than Exotic Thai. You would do well taking a date here.
(5)Rachel F.
Eating in or eating out, Lemongrass Cafe gets it right! Of course the lunch menu is slightly cheaper (around $7-$8 per entree) but the portions are similarly sized to the dinner portions. Nice variety of items: spicy, not spicy and in-between. There's not a children's menu, but there are plenty of items to choose from. My kids loved the Tangerine Chicken. I highly recommend the Singapore Noodles w/ Tofu. So tasty and filling. Lunch & Dinner items come with complimentary salad and soup. Everything I've tried so far has been delicious. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!
(5)David H.
Excellent. Very tasty, unique dishes. Doesn't look like much from the outside and thought it was closed when we walked up. Pretty nice on the inside. Rama with chicken was great. Service good.
(5)Jeff M.
Stopped in during a brief visit to Moline from Chicago, mostly because of the reviews on Yelp. We were not disappointed. Other than ordering too much, we had no complaints. The TomYum soup was great, as were the Vietnamese spring rolls. The Tango Mango Shrimp was recommended, and was very good. The Panang curry was also excellent. Would go back.
(4)Devin R.
Awesome food! Great service and calm atmosphere.
(5)Andrew N.
By the reviews this place might have been good when it first opened and then they cost reduced the menu to make more money. The meat they used tasted like dogfood...no joking!! If you want authentic Vietnamese head to Saigon Bistro across the river.
(1)Wendy W.
Great qc Thai
(5)Holly W.
Ate here with my son for lunch. We had the sate, (excellent but the chicken was a tad overcooked and thus dry), green salad (that peanut salad dressing might be the best I've ever had), egg drop soup (very good with lots of scallions), and for entrees, I had the pho (incredible) and my son had a bento box with pad woon sen (phenomenal). You can't go wrong here. Excellent prices, excellent service, excellent atmosphere, dynamite food.
(5)Patrick S.
Love this place. I've eaten here a number of times, and it's been good every time. The thai bouillabaisse is phenomenal, has a great broth with hints of ginger and kaffir lime. Love the cafe/bistro feel. The service has always been good.
(4)Jon W.
Great place for a date. I never had to ask for water. They refilled it automatically. Great service. Better food. Reasonably priced.
(5)IdahoPotato o.
We were not from the area and decided to stop there for lunch while driving by on a Friday. We kept thinking about this place and the good food all the way in our long drive. Very nice ambience. Very friendly staff. Not too big and they had quite a crowd. Even with the number of people there, the service was timely. We are vegetarians and we surprisingly had a lot of options on the menu for us. The waitress was kind enough to suggest a few of their special dishes for us. We ordered lettuce wraps, lemongrass soup, Rama and Pad kee mao. Everything tasted really good and had a wonderful, fresh and unique flavor. The food clearly stood apart from many other Asian restaurants. Way better than many other popular restaurants for the price and quality. Oh, the Presentation of the food gets a 5 star too.
(5)Jen D.
Yay! We have pho in the QCA! Lemograss Cafe is a new offering from the Exotic Thai restaurant group. This restaurant is very charming, great for dates or business lunches. The aforementioned pho is very good - savory broth, not too many noodles and plenty of sliced beef & those tasty vietnamese meatballs. But the stars are the condiments and relishes you add to the broth. Along with very fresh basil, lime, sliced chilis and sprouts, you are served a little bowl of dark chili paste and what I think is plum sauce. That can really go in wholesale. Then there is a little caddy with different peppers floating in vinegary suspensions that are just plain delicious. Some spicy, some not, they all add dimension and texture to the pho. Give pho a try - especially if you feel a cold coming on! I also recommend the shu mai - their perfect little forms are wrapped in wonderfully thin rice noodle and served with a tasty sweet sauce with a hint of spice. The pad woo sen is also very tasty and benefits from that delicious condiment caddy as well. Next time I go for lunch I want to try the bento box specials, if I can tear myself away from that delicious pho!
(5)