At A Glance
In this review of Lotus of Siam, a contributor heads to the off-Strip Red Rock Spa & Resort to dine at this upscale Thai restaurant.
Red Rock Casino
Located in Summerlin, about twenty minutes west of the strip.
Pricing
Two entrees and one cocktail cost around $80, including tip and tax.
Hours
Dinner: Sun – Thurs: 5 pm – 10 pm, Fri & Sat: 5 pm – 11 pm
Lunch: Fri: 11:30 am – 3 pm
Brunch: Sat & Sun: 11 am – 3 pm
Quick Links
Having operated the original location just east of the Strip for decades, members of the same family operate this location in Summerlin. Furthermore, the same restaurant group operates Lotus at Red Rock and the award-winning Naxos Taverna.
As with the original Lotus, this restaurant focuses on Northern Thai recipes passed down through Chef Saipin Chutima’s family for decades. That means more herbs and spices and coconut-less curries. Like the original, this Lotus also has a strong wine list.
Lotus of Siam Red Rock
Elevated Ambiance and Decor
Lotus’ decor is festive and reminds me of a very upscale garden. It also has one of the largest private dining rooms in Vegas, capable of hosting large parties of a few dozen.
Diners can get away with dressing up or down here, although it is a good date spot because of the sharing nature of Thai food. You or your date might also appreciate the thoughtful decor.
Marinated Pork
Food: It’s Fantastic
For this meal, I ate alone at the bar, which has about a dozen seats.
What we liked:
- Moo Yang (Marinated Pork) (4/5)
- Green Curry with Chicken (5/5)
Entrees
Because I was on my own, I skipped appetizers and ordered two main courses. I was pretending I was sharing, but really, I was sharing with myself!
The Moo Yang (Marinated Pork) came with a chili sauce, which was a little sweet but not as hot as the name would imply. The pork was very tender and juicy, melting off my fork–in the best way possible.
Naturally, the best bites were the edge pieces. I didn’t give it five stars because I have had better or similar pork dishes in Vegas, but this was very good. For awareness, the Moo Yang was a bit smaller than a regular entree.
In past meals at Lotus, I have had red and yellow curry, which were phenomenal and lighter than you will have at many Thai restaurants. This time, I decided to try the green curry to complete my curry rainbow.
When ordering, I was given a choice of protein and spice level. I went with chicken for the former and medium spice for the latter. I added a side of rice, but the curry is light enough that you don’t need rice to ‘absorb’ it if you don’t want the extra carbs.
Bottom line: Like the other curries here, ‘the green’ did not disappoint! (Vegas Vacation fans will know what I’m talking about.) The curry flavor was off the charts, and the bell peppers complemented the chicken nicely.
As with other Thai restaurants, the medium spice had a bit of heat, so if you are sensitive, just get it mild. Alternatively, if you like things spicy, I’d suggest going to a higher spice level than medium.
I didn’t have room for dessert and brought about half of the curry home for leftovers.
Green Curry
Drinks & Cocktails
What we had: Hot in the Shade
Lotus is famous for its white wines. However, to really test this place out, I wanted to try one of their specialty cocktails.
I opted for the Hot in the Shade, their take on a spicy margarita. The margarita had ghost tequila, Thai chili, mango, nectar, and lime juice – no salt on the rim. The flavors all blended together beautifully, and it definitely was a nice refreshing drink. It just added a tiny hint of heat.
Premier Tip: If I hadn’t gotten the margarita, I would have gotten the lychee blossom, vodka with elderflower, liquor, and lychee. They also had a Thai martini that looked interesting.
lotusredrock.com
Staff and Service
The service from the bartender was very attentive even though she was serving a few other parties at the bar as well as making drinks for other diners in the restaurant.
Throughout the meal, she engaged all of the customers in a professional and friendly manner. She explained the specialty cocktails and made recommendations. When the food arrived, she checked in on me a few times. All in all, it was very good all the way around.
Final Notes on Lotus
This Lotus is definitely worth visiting. It is a bit further from the Strip than the original Lotus, but the food and atmosphere live up to the restaurant’s strong reputation. There are also a great casino and bars outside of the restaurant where you can grab a drink before or after your meal.
Interested in other reviews of upscale Asian restaurants? Check out our review of Wing Lei at Wynn.
DISCLAIMER: This review was written by a real Las Vegas local. If you are interested in writing reviews for Premier Vegas, please contact us here.
