03/31/09

Awful - avoid!

by hemoed67

I have a feeling that this place isn't even a legitimate restaurant. It has the feel of being a front for some other operation.

We should have taken as a warning sign the DJ booth at the entrance and the smell of incense as we walked in. Instead we decided to make the commitment and give the place a chance. Huge mistake.

The food was flat out awful and the service was painfully slow, albeit polite. We started with shrimp in wonton wrappers and fried calamari. Having waited about 45 minutes for the appetizers to arrive, we were starving when the food showed up. The shrimp was edible, but old-tasting and greasy. The calamari was flat out disgusting, like it had been pulled from the back of the freezer after having sat there for 20 years. It was practically burnt on the outside, coated in a dark shell of doughy crust, and underdone, tough and sometimes raw on the inside. Oh, and while we were sitting there waiting for our apps, we noticed someone walking back into the kitchen with take-out food. Apparently the cook doesn't even eat there.

The entrees were at least edible, but not much better than boxed thai food you can get from the supermarket.

Shame on anyone who wrote this place a good review. Never going back.

• Pros: It is next door to Rangoon, which is a great restaurant.
• Cons: Everything else

12/03/08

Stay Away

by franktheyank

Absolutely Terrible. Confirmed reservation earlier in the day but failed to mention that they were out of wine. We, a birthday party of 10, arrived to be told as a matter of fact that there was no wine today. After going round and round with the manager about a ?cork charge? for bringing in our own bottle, I took a cab to a Liquor Store to buy a few bottles for the table. They were out of at least 8 out of 10 beers they should behind the bar and there was ?no lite beer today?

Service was slow and poor. The menu showed chicken patties as an appetizer. Trying to explain to the waiter that they were fish and not chicken was like a scene form a sitcom. Me: These are fish? Waiter: Yes, fish. Me: but the menu said chicken. Waiter: Yes we make with fish. Me: but it said chicken?! Waiter: yes we make fish.

I understand that for a small place a party of 10 can be a bit much and all entrees may not be out at the exact same time. But the first of our party to receive their dinners were finished, had time to go to the bathroom, go outside and have a smoke, and return prior to the last of our party even getting their food. This is not an exaggeration.

I explained to the owner what had happened and he half heartedly apologized but lied and told us that they were not out of wine when they called to confirm the reservation but rather another party had drank all of the wine. He offered to reduce the bill by 15%. When the bill arrived I was confused but the 26% gratuity that had been added. Back to the owner and he tried to explain that waiter shouldn?t be held responsible for the kitchen being too busy, so they left the original tip (18% against the original bill). Of course the waiter should not get an 18-20% tip- he was horrible and not helpful at all. I was done fighting so I paid the bill.

10/12/07

Not authentic, worst service ever!

by minkas

I am Thai, I've been to Thailand every year for the last 20 years of my life. I speak Thai and English fluently and this place as much as everyone would like to think, is not authentic nor is it an example of how friendly Thai people really are. I can cook Thai food myself but every once in while I like to grab some Thai food at an authentic Thai restaurant. Nothing about this restaurant was authentic. The food is horrible. There is one particular waitress that was so rude that the whole time I was there I saw all 3 of the other tables make comments about her rudeness. It was a horrible experience. The only nice thing about the place were the colorful cushion display, one Thai waitress with reddish brown highlights, and the bartender who is not Thai. Also, they didn't even have chicken with mint leaf, a traditional Thai dish, that should say it all!

Editorial Review by Citysearch Editors

by Contributor

Upscale Thai restaurant in the Loft District turns clubby at night with daily specials, a full bar, late-night DJa and a solid wine list.

11/28/06

Seriously Overrated!

by thecheesiest

I love Thai. I have given Siam Lotus many chances (at least 8), tried many dishes and can only come to one conclusion. It has been majorly overrated by other city searchers. Possibly the reason for this is that decent, authentic Thai food is very hard to come by in the city of brotherly love.

If you must go, go for lunch. The Pad Kee Mow is the only really good dish they make. (and its not available for dinner!)

• Pros: lunch is a good deal.
• Cons: over priced. mediocre. annoying "chatty" bartenders

09/27/06

Simply the Best!!!

by janinew

Siam Lotus has the best Thai cuisine anywhere in Philadelphia - hands down! No matter what you order from the menu, it's mouth watering. The drinks are fabulous and the bartenders are great looking! The service is extremely friendly and just right. The wait staff is very willing to help with choosing a dish from the menu. At night there is a DJ playing great tunes to get you hopping right over to the bar after dinner. This is my favorite Thai restaurant and I'm now a regular at Siam Lotus! Go there!! You won't be disappointed!

• Pros: Food, Service, Drinks
• Cons: NONE!

05/11/06

What a find! (not hard to find either)

by tafara

Where to start? This place is a great find! If you're looking for a nice, low-key spot for drinks and good atmosphere, forget Olde City! (and you won't find Sinha, the strong Thai beer there, either) Spring Garden may seem remote (there is little else happening), but Siam Lotus is worth a look. They have a very friendly ( and good looking) waitstaff, and they often bring in very cool dj's and video projection. Some nights there are parties where it seems everyone is invited. The owner is a very gracious host. All that is good - but the food is the REAL DEAL! The food is absolutely wonderful, and they include a vegetarian menu!! The pineapple rice and sweet and sour tofu are sublime. I love the place.

05/10/06

cute place...friendly faces

by vonajuls

First time i went there, i almost didn't find the place. But once i got there, i fell in love with the food, the decorations, and the atmosphere. That was two years ago and I am still in awe. The place is small and cozy, also a little romantic and the staff is always friendly. I was always greeted with a great smile. My overall experience of this place is very pleasant.

• Pros: cozy, friendly, lively
• Cons: small

05/09/06

Always an amazing experience.....

by gretchmcha

I had dined at Siam Lotus 1 or 2 times (always a lovely experience) when my best friend chose this location for her 30th birthday celebration. From the first phone call to the end of the party the staff was attentive, accommodating, and a pleasure to work with. The ambiance: romantic and sexy, the food: amazing, the staff: courteous, and the birthday girl felt that she, her friends, and family were treated wonderfully. Highly recommend!

03/27/06

Seating Management

by 44453

I felt that I was treated poorly from the minute I walked in. Since, I didn't have a reservation I had to sit at the bar, while there were plenty of tables available for me to sit at. During the whole time that I was there to eat dinner there were tables emty that I could have sat at. Oh, three other parties came in that did not have reservations but got to sit at a table without a problem. This made my experience to Siam Lotus a diassapointment. I felt I was treated unfairly. It was not fair that at the time that I came in was the least busiest time for them and I was not able to get seated,but at their busiest they were able to accomindate other people very easily. This made my overall experiece a bad one. Now I will not go back.