Lavender: an Asian fusion jewel
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Banana Shrimp is one of this critic’s favorites
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Dining With Sweet T.
By Terry and Lynne Mays
LAWRENCEVILE - Lavender has the most consistently delicious Asian cuisine in the area. There…we’ve said it.
There is no doubt that Scenic High-way is fairly exploding with new stores and restaurants. So a sweet dining spot, perched in the middle of a tiny strip center, just out of the way of the hustle of The Avenue might just go unnoticed.
But if you are a fan of Chinese or Thai food, you will be missing plenty if you don’t seek out this Asian fusion jewel.
Take, for example, the dynamite dinner with friends we enjoyed recently at Lavender.
On the Specials board this particular evening was Banana Shrimp - not a combination one would generally run to find, but wonderful nonetheless. This treat was Polynesian in character and presentation, lightly battered and served with a unique tarter sauce.
From the menu, we ordered one of our favorites: Larb. This funny sounding dish consists of ground chicken, cilantro, chili paste, and fish sauce combined to be rolled, by the diner, into lettuce leaves, burrito-style. Larb is refreshing and would make a terrific light lunch if you manage to carry leftovers out of the restaurant.
Next we had rainbow chicken which is chicken cooked with red bell pepper, pine nuts, carrots, and mushrooms and crispy pork with sesame seeds, garden vegetables, cucumber, and a delicate fruity sauce which one of us remarked, “had a little ‘zing’to it.” Each of these healthy dishes was served with a selection from the house’s remarkable wine selection. From the lovely flowers that grace our plates to the beautiful glassware used, dedication to detail and beauty of presentation is obvious in every bite and every sip.
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Come to Lavender not only for the ambience, but for the marvelous dining experience and fabulous food.
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The “star” of the evening goes to Young Ginger Duck made with snap peas, red pepper, water chestnuts and soybeans, which won raves from our entire group. Duck is notoriously difficult to prepare well, but was in very good hands at Lavender this night.
Our final selection was the Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles which came with lobster claws, mussels, scallops, and shrimp, poured over amazingly delicate Rama noodles; angle hair thin and doused with a mild sauce. So good and overflowing with flawlessly cooked treasures from the sea.
For dessert, the Lavender signature trio of ice creams - coconut, green tea, and mango. Everyone in our family has a favorite of these three, which is good so that we don’t come to the inevitable Spoon War over the coconut.
We remain amazed that Lavender has managed to keep prices so reasonable in spite of challenging economic times, dedication to the finest quality ingredients, and willingness to pull out all the stops to fulfill customers’ culinary wishes.
As restaurant reviewers, we get to sample some of the best of Gwinnett and surrounding counties. But when it comes time to take a group to a particularly special evening - birthday, graduation, and so on - we almost always agree that the place to celebrate is Lavender. We count on dinners to die for and spot-on, perfect service.
To tempt you even further, Lavender offers a free birthday dinner with identification of your special day!
If it’s been a while since you dined with the fine folks at Lavender, please return. The Specials menu is overflowing with new taste treats and established standards like the Red Curry Shrimp have no rival in this area.
If you’ve never tried Lavender - what in the world is keeping you?
Lavender Asian Bistro
1195 Scenic Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
770-982-3887
www.lavenderasianbistro.net
