The Lotus Pond
• 617 Johnson St | Victoria, BC | V8W 3C6
Average User Rating:
8.18/10
8.18/10
Recommended by:
100%
100%
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"Sattvic Supper"
Wendi
May 2012 — "The Lotus Pond is a Chinese food restaurant that specializes in meat-free dishes, using meat substitutes, so convincing that even the most ardent of carnivores can enjoy eating here. Last night, I insisted for mother's day that we order in from here, despite my husband's usual gagging at the thought of vegetarian cuisine. And guess what? He ate it! And I loved it. I didn't know what to order because I couldn't find a menu online, but they were helpful in helping me decide over the phone. In the end we got sweet and sour chicken balls, special house chow mein, ginger beef and black pepper chicken. You can choose white or brown rice. It was delicious, all of it. One of my favourite restaurants in Calgary is Buddha's Veggie, and I have to admit they are my preference. However, the Lotus Pond does a good job. The food is flavourful and not too rich (if you can manage to not overeat, like I did). When I finally did get a menu, the selection was extensive.
Apparently, they feature a lunchtime buffet that is very popular. It seems like a good way to test out a wide selection. The dining room is small and is very basic, like a cafe. But it is clean, and the service friendly.
This is one of Victoria's best kept secrets. If you haven't been here yet, you owe it to yourself to give it a try!
This restaurant is owned and operated by Buddhists in accordance to Buddhist values. There are many Buddhist books and magazines in the doorway, most in Chinese characters."
User Rating
7.60/10
7.60/10
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"I can't believe its not meat!"
Beth
March 2008 — "After spending a long day downtown, my boyfriend and I were famished and looking for a good meal. We wouldn’t have noticed the Lotus Pond if its reputation had not preceded it. It’s a really small and unassuming vegetarian restaurant on Johnson St, run by a group of vegan Buddhists. They offer a large assortment of dishes featuring 'faux' meat that will shock you with how similar they are to the real thing. The staff are all very friendly and understand everything to do with the menu. We ordered the spring rolls, veggie steamed buns, lemon faux chicken, eggplant hot pot and some brown rice. What a feast! The food was made quickly, and arrived one at a time allowing us time to sample each dish, to swoon and salivate before the next dish arrived. The servings were large and the veggies were fresh and plentiful, and most of the dishes were around $10. I highly recommend the lemon faux chicken especially to non-vegetarians and challenge you to tell the difference!"
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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DescriptionThis restaurant serves 100% vegan cuisine. The dishes are based on Buddhist principles.
Location Information617 Johnson St
Victoria
BC
V8W 3C6
