Earlier this week, I met up with April for dinner at Lemongrass. Right before we were supposed to meet, the skies opened up and it started pouring. I made the mistake of skipping both jacket and umbrella and ended up arriving soaked to the bone with hair as flat as a pancake. April was smarte. She bought an umbrella on the way and showed up ten minutes later, dry and fabulous.
Lemongrass is the kind of neighborhood spot you wish you had right around the corner. The place was packed when we arrived, with a lively, laid-back vibe. Most tables were small groups or date nights. It felt busy without being loud.
We started with the Lychee Shrimp—big, crispy shrimp in a sweet and tangy lychee sauce that was surprisingly good. The bao with crispy duck was also a hit: pillowy soft buns and slices of tender duck.
After checking that we could handle heat, the staff recommended the Red Hot Chili Seafood. It was a fiery mix of crab, squid, mussels, and bamboo shoots in a spicy sauce that had real depth to it.
Khao Moo Dang wasn’t something I would’ve picked myself. The dish sounded a bit like the old school Danish mock turtle soup; brown gravy, egg, and pork. Though the staff spoke very warmly about it, so we ended up ordering the dish after all, and it turned out to be delicious. Slices of pork belly, with and without crispy skin, came on top of rice and a slightly sweet, slightly sticky brown sauce with egg, and cilantro on the side. It was Thai comfort food at its finest. The portion was huge, so we brought the leftovers home, and I can confirm it made an excellent lunch the next day.
For dessert, we shared the fried bananas with whipped cream. It was ok, but nothing to write home about. There are better versions out there.
April ordered a cocktail—well, two actually, since the first one wasn’t what she ordered, but they let her keep both. I had a mocktail that was lovely, though I can’t remember what it was called. Overall, a solid spot for great Thai food in Brooklyn with a warm, buzzy atmosphere. Lemongrass really nails it.
My Guide to Thai Food & Restaurants in New York City
Lemongrass, 156 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
