Lake Wylie Dining: Lotus Eatery in Gastonia

Several years ago, my husband and I were staying in a bed & breakfast up in Vermont. We asked one of the fellow guests, a gentleman who stayed at the inn quite frequently, to recommend a restaurant in the area. He obviously was,  um, more sophisticated than we, as he replied, "Well, I wouldn't exactly say there are good restaurants in the area. A few nice eateries, perhaps . . ." (You really need to throw in the upper crust accent to get the full effect.)

When I saw the name of the Lotus Bar & Eatery in Gastonia, I had to smile. Leave it to my Shelby girlfriends to select an EATERY for a girls' night out. I adjusted my expectations accordingly . . .

I arrived before the rest of the group, and had a chance to peruse the menu and chat with the waiter before their arrival. I knew that once these girlfriends were all at the table, I'd be immersed in fascinating conversation and didn't want to risk making a snap decision, especially considering this was just an eatery. I might end up with fish sticks or something.

I need not have worried. Jason, the waiter, was most helpful in an entree selection (he recommended the wild striped sea bass, which sounded amazing) and confirmed my selection for a glass of Four Graces wine (a Pinot Gris from Oregon, touted as elegant and refined, which I decided sounded like yours truly.)

The rest of the girls arrived, and it took us more than half an hour to calm down and order. Jason was oh-so-patient and delightful. After hearing my friends rave about the sushi, I decided to order the Lotus roll (I'm a big believer in ordering something that carries the restaurant - - or eatery's - - moniker. It's gotta be good, right?). I also ordered an appetizer portion of the House-Made Butternut Squash Ravioli, with Spanish marcona almonds and a sage-brown butter sauce.

The sushi was beautifully presented, and very tasty. My friend Jill tried a piece (her first encounter with sushi) and had a religious experience with the wasabi. I'm not sure she'll try it again, but if you're already a sushi convert, you won't be disappointed!

The squash ravioli was absolutely over the top. Amazing. Ho. Lee. Cowabunga. Next time, it's definitely the ENTREE portion of the ravioli for me.

The rest of the group enjoyed other selections of sushi, chicken pesto flatbread pizza, and crabcakes (all reported as fantastic.)

Being ladies of delicate appetites, we were planning to pass on dessert until Jason announced that as it was my birthday, I had my choice of a complimentary dessert of creme brulee or blah blah blah. . . (I didn't hear the rest. He had me at creme brulee.)

We shared the dessert (being ladies of delicate appetites), and with a hint of orange, crunchy topping, and perfect creamy consistency, it was fabulous.  The "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate syrup was a nice touch. So, for you northwestern Lake Wylie residents (Belmont, Pole Branch Road, etc.), the Lotus Bar and Eatery should definitely make it to your list for a special night out for fine dining. For all of you other Lake Wylie folks, make the trek! It will be well worth the trip. Wonder if "eatery" means something different in our part of the country?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lotus Bar and Eatery is located at 1941 Hoffman Road, Gastonia, open for lunch and dinner.  Dinner entrees range from around $14 to $24.  To make comments on this blog, please visit Lotus Eatery - Gastonia blogsite.

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