Dining Review of Lotus Bar and Eatery, Gastonia NC

It was a relatively late flight to Charlotte on the recent trip to the Biltmore Estate, so we stopped in Gastonia for a late dinner.  The restaurant was Lotus Bar and Eatery, kind of an Asian fusion place in a plaza.  The menu looked good online, and it was close to our first hotel.  Turned out to be a good choice as we liked it.

The decor is pretty cool, although it was night and somewhat dark inside.  It’s bigger than it looks, with a large upstairs dining area they were not using as it wasn’t crowded on a Wednesday night.  As such we got a comfy booth and settled in.

The menu is good, and quite varied.  I felt like something lite and opted for a California Roll and some white tuna Nigiri.  Cheri had a crab cake and a plate of sauteed spinach on the side.  I would say the sushi was top notch, very fresh, well prepared and nicely presented.  There is a sushi bar on the first floor that

The Sushi Bar

seats about 8 or so at quick glance.  Cheri thought her crab cake was excellent, and that the spinach was the best she had ever had.  I can’t offer an opinion as I can’t eat cooked spinach.  But, overall, the food was quite good.  It would be worth going back if we’re in the area to dive more deeply into the menu.

The wine list was really cool, offered lots of more eclectic choices, and offered 4 reds and 4 white wines by the glass and a bunch by the carafe.  You could get a carafe of Corvina, Nebbiolo, Aglianico or a Priorat.  On the bottle side there were multiple Albarinos, Gruner Veltliners, Vouvrays and Verdejos.  They also had four Tannat bottles, but these were all South American and there was no

Interior Lighting – very cool!

elusive Madiran wine.  More traditional choices were also available, and you could get a 2008 Caymus Special Selection Cab ($225) or a Paul Hobbs “Beckstoffer Dr. Crane” ($300).  It was really a pretty interesting wine list, and makes Lotus a great stop for the more adventurous wine lover.

Cheri had a glass of the Pascual Toso 2012 Cabernet.  This Argentinian Cab was young and very fruit forward.  It had some good depth and was very pleasing.  I

Wine and Beer store across the street

opted for a local craft beer instead, and enjoyed my Appalachian Extra Special Pale Ale from Bryson City.  There must have been 100 beers on their list.  It is a very beer and wine centric establishment.  Right across the street is a pretty cool little wine shop as well, called Grape and Barley.

Our wallet is out and we’d love another shot at Lotus Bar and Eatery.  I imagine it gets a lot more crowded on weekends.

A votre sante!

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