Story

Business spotlight on Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar

Originally published in the Nov. 7, 2007, West Knox edition of the News Sentinel

nOwners: Peter Dong and David Dai

nLocation: 9117 Executive Park Drive

nContact: 865-539-8059

nWeb site: www.mylemongrass.com

By Lesli Bales-Sherrod
bales-sherrodl@knews.com

"It's the 21st century. Why not try something new?"

That's the attitude of Peter Dong, co-owner of Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine & Sushi Bar on Executive Park Drive. Dong, who also owns the Lemon Grass location in Maryville, likes to introduce his customers to new flavors.

"If you don't like it, don't worry; we'll take care of you," Dong said. "But try a new experience because, if you don't try it, how will you know if it's good or not?"

Customers don't have to take Dong's word for it. Lemon Grass in Maryville has taken home the first-place award in Taste of Blount for four years, and it also was named Best Blount County Restaurant runner-up this year by readers of the News Sentinel.

Dong, who is originally from China, moved to the United States 15 years ago and found his calling working for restaurants.

"I was cooking and making specials, and when customers liked it, it made me happy all day," he said.

Dong opened Lemon Grass in Maryville in 2002 and expanded to Knoxville on Aug. 22, at the urging of his Knox County customers.

"Maybe we will save some people some gas," Dong said, laughing. "Just kidding!"

Joking aside, one of the advantages of the new location is its additional space. Lemon Grass in Maryville is just 1,800 square feet, Dong said, while Lemon Grass in Knoxville is about 7,000. Dong is using half of it for the restaurant's day-to-day business and the other half for a "party room" that he estimates can accommodate up to 70 people.

Other than more space and a shorter drive for its Knoxville fans, the new Lemon Grass location stays true to the principles that have made the restaurant successful in Maryville.

"Our food is very fresh, and we try to build a relationship with our customers," Dong said.

Lemon Grass's menu boasts 47 Thai items and 51 choices on its sushi menu. Offering both Thai cuisine and sushi allows the restaurant to cater to different tastes within the same family or party of friends, Dong said.

"Some people think Thai food is too spicy, but we offer mild," he added. "You don't need to worry about the food being too spicy because you get to pick here."

Indeed, the menu has a guide to help customers ensure their food has just the right amount of heat for them. Choices include mild, medium, hot and Thai hot.

Lemon Grass also allows vegetarians to substitute tofu for any meat on the menu, Dong added. Curry especially works well with tofu, he said.

But Thai food isn't only curry and stir fry, Dong stressed.

The most popular appetizers at Lemon Grass are the vegetarian spring rolls and the Lemon Grass golden cups, edible crispy golden cups filled with minced gulf shrimp, chicken and sweet corn, Dong said.

Most popular entrees range in flavor from pad thai to walnut shrimp to grouper that is pan-fried with spinach, pineapple and a "sweet spicy sauce." And for those who want their food just sweet, not spicy, teriyaki chicken is always a winner, Dong said.

Favorite desserts include the Thai roti with blackberry (a crepe made with brown sugar, honey and milk) and the traditional fresh mango with sticky rice.

One way to try new things is to visit Lemon Grass for its lunch specials, available 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays. In addition to the 23 Thai items, seven sushi specials and five Japanese noodle soup choices, the lunch menu also includes a "daily lunch box special" that includes soup, salad, sushi roll, entree and jasmine rice. The lunch box special is different each day, Dong said.

Dong also likes introducing customers to sushi.

"When people think about sushi, they think 'raw fish,' but there is some that is cooked and some that is baked," he said. "And you don't have to worry about the raw because it is very good quality."

California roll, for example, is a good choice for beginners, he said. This roll includes crab meat, cucumber and avocado.

Lemon Grass's menu, which is available at www.mylemongrass.com, describes what is included in each dish. Only desserts and drinks are not listed on the Web site. Lemon Grass has a beer and wine license, Dong noted.

"We want customers to try our food," he said. "It is good food and healthy food, and we want to make our customers happy and healthy."

Lemon Grass is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and 5-10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 5-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-10 p.m. Sundays. To-go orders are available by calling ahead.