Vendor Spotlight: Lotus Thai

Lotus Thai began in 2006 when Pom Quangvan Montague, after previously running a small private catering business, opened her first Lotus Thai location on the corner of John and Talbot Streets in midtown St. Thomas. After a few years there, she moved to 295 Talbot Street, where the restaurant still thrives. They have become a community staple, celebrated by the community for nearly 20 years, and they contribute so much to the tapestry of authentic cultural food experiences in our community. ​

​Born into a family of 12, Pom brings deep cultural roots, Vietnamese, Laotian, and Thai to her cooking. She remembers that, as young as four or five years old, she would work alongside her grandmother, helping to prepare meals for the large extended family. Every recipe is a personal culinary creative expression of hers. Lotus Thai is the epitome of a scratch kitchen; every single dish is made to order, and every sauce is a handcrafted creation, from the iconic Pad Thai to vegan substitutes. The team hand-rolls over 4,000 spring rolls and wontons combined every week. Pete estimates that, over the years they have been in business, they have most certainly made over 1,000,000. No shortcuts here.

Their focus on vegan and gluten-free options has grown steadily in recent years. Pete, who manages operations and customer service, is celiac himself, making Lotus Thai a safe and trusted destination for many with dietary sensitivities. ​

Pom and Pete had previously been friends in the early days of their business, a friendship that blossomed into a partnership in both life and business. Pom leads the culinary side, while Pete manages logistics and customer service interactions. "She's happiest  in the kitchen prepping, cooking and managing the staff." Pete explains, "I manage the three weekly deliveries of fresh meat, produce and supplies. Then during our busiest times, I'll answer the phone to take reservations, pick-up or delivery orders and coordinate them with the dining room needs to provide accurate wait times for the customer." They complement each other.  

Customer care isn’t just a nice idea at Lotus Thai, it’s a philosophy. If an order goes wrong,  they make it right. Pete shared a story about when recently a vegan customer received the wrong dish. To correct this error, he personally drove a new meal all the way to the customer in Aylmer, a  thoughtful gesture earning them not only a glowing review, but the kind of customer service  that earns enduring loyalty. ​

Lotus Thai has been at Horton continuously for 17 years, and their presence here is more than just about sales; it's about community visibility. A way to introduce themselves to a new audience before they even choose to walk through the door of their restaurant. "Some people find us at the market first," Pete says, "and others discover the restaurant and then seek us out on  Saturdays at the market, it goes both ways". Even during COVID, when many restaurants struggled or even closed, Lotus Thai never missed a season at Horton. Pivoting quickly and augmenting their already familiar takeout model, combining loyal regulars with new customers, they made it through just fine.

​As they near their 20th anniversary next year, Lotus Thai continues to grow, and they say that there's no sign of slowing down. This wasn't due to a flashy expansion, but rather consistency, connection, and dedication to customer care, combined with the same high-quality, handmade dishes cooked to order with fresh ingredients that started it all. They've built a legacy one spring roll at a time, and our community wouldn't be the same without them. ​