Red Lotus Kitchen & Bar is expected to open as early as the first week in April — with gold Chinese calligraphy on its walls, dim sum on its tables and silk lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

Chef Buu "Billy" Ngo and partner Peter Kwong are opening the contemporary Asian-fusion restaurant at 2718 J St. following their success with Japanese restaurant Kru, a few blocks down the street. The restaurant initially was expected to open in December in the spot where G.V. Hurley's closed its doors in September. A liquor license transfer held up the opening of Red Lotus, Ngo said.

Following a restaurant trend toward small plates of food or "tapas," the restaurant will focus on small dishes, primarily dim sum, and serve no entrees. Red Lotus also will serve fried rice, noodles, and adventurous dishes such as Peking quail with crispy skin and mandarin pancakes, oxtail soup, braised beef tendon and beef tongue.

"I know that'll be a little weird, but I like the stuff," Ngo said.

But he said he draws the line at chicken feet, another Asian specialty.

"I love chicken feet, but I don't know how well that's going to go," he said. "So I'm going to keep that off the menu. For now."

Dim sum comes from Southern China, while the crepelike pancakes come from Northern China, which produces much more grain than rice. The idea is for people to order one or more plates of dim sum, as well as fried rice or noodles, and then share, Ngo added.

Bartender Erick Castro, considered by some to be the "godfather" of Sacramento's cocktail scene, will take a break from tending bar in San Francisco to develop Red Lotus' cocktail program over the next two weeks. Staff will make all syrups and juices used in the drinks.

The restaurant has undergone minor remodeling to create a contemporary urban Asian vibe, with red, yellow and black walls and paintings of Buddhas and lotuses. Booths and chairs were reupholstered in silver and black, and new furniture will fill the back patio and front terrace.

Ngo is working with a friend's father, who does Chinese calligraphy, to choose proverbs that will be painted in gold on the restaurant's walls.

Ngo and Kwong bought the business from Hurley's owners, whose operation had conflicts with neighboring residents.

The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control postponed transfer of the liquor license until owners of Red Lotus and Hurley's cleared up problems. The license-transfer process moved very slowly, said Ngo, adding Red Lotus will open once the transfer goes through, which is expected soon.

Ngo and Kwong consider alcohol sales important to the restaurant's success. However, their emphasis will be on food, Ngo said. Red Lotus will be open daily from 4 p.m. to 10, except on Fridays and Saturdays, when hours will extend to 2 a.m. and the restaurant will close at midnight. Ngo expects to add lunch and a weekend brunch.

Red Lotus will rotate the menu, choosing among many dishes that can be found at dim sum establishments. But there's one thing found at dim sum restaurants that Red Lotus won't have, Ngo said.

"We're not going to have ladies with the carts," Ngo said.

Photo by Suzanne Hurt, a staff reporter who covers business and development for The Sacramento Press.