BAMBU Asian Eating House — Restaurant in Melbourne

Service was absolutely TERRIBLE. I had made a booking for 2 people, outdoors and requested it be a table that was isolated from other people as it was a special occasion. When we arrived the waitress gave away the isolated table outdoors to a walk in, which is fine no issues. When it was our turn she informed us she had given away our table to the walk in so we would have to sit elsewhere. As there were HEAPS of tables outdoors we didnt mind, until she told us we could only sit right next a large family with little kids who were using the cutlery and making a lot of noise. As this was a special occasion we asked to not sit there because they were screaming and carrying on. The girl huffed and told us there was nowhere else we could sit despite there being heaps of tables. We asked to be sat inside preferably somewhere relatively secluded. We got sat on a table inside very rudely in the main walkway of the restaurant. After that we were alone for a good 15 minutes, we weren't given menus or table water. Thankfully the lady who we assume was the manager took great care of us. Getting us menus and water and taking our drink orders and being super attentive from then on. After ordering entrees and not being served multiple times, we had one entree that was missed and we never received, as well as extremely poor service after ordering entrees. We didnt receive our main dishes well after everything else was given to us and a lot of the hot dishes were served to us nearly cold. I was extremely disappointed considering the steep prices of the food. For the cost of the entire dinner we expected better service than we received. We will never be returning again and I would request that the waitress with butterfly tattoos on her arm be better trained on how to deliver simply customer service. I was also disappointed in the presentation of the staff, for the cost of the food and drinks we would've appreciated for the staff to not be wearing activewear while working. A special mention to the assumed manager who's service was brilliant and its obvious that she is picking up the slack for the rest...

After being told by a few people how good Bambu was, we thought we'd give it a go. The online menu looked good, so why not try for ourselves. Even though it's on the outside of the South Melbourne Market, the parking wasn't hard at all. At night it's easy to find as their signage is bright and inviting. After a little misunderstanding with the waitress trying to seat us, we finally sat down and found the menus stuck to the table under the crockery. You yank it out from under the plates and make your choice. The food itself was ok. It was possibly a teeny bit pricey for what you get, and I've definitely had better fried rice at other places before. The entrees came out in quick timing, and before they'd even cleared away those dishes and given us time to digest that, out came the mains. With such small tables, it was a juggling game trying to receive the new plates with all of the old ones still uncleared. Overall, I found it to be very noisy (not only from the patrons, but the kitchen staff who are yelling out orders all the time - and you can see into the open kitchen which is not only unappetising, but loud), small and very cold inside (even in the middle of winter, sitting outdoors with those outdoor heaters might have been warmer than inside). I felt the meal was very rushed and not conducive to a nice Saturday night dinner. Having said all of that, there are one or two other things on their menu that do sound different and yum, so there's every chance I'd come back again, but I wouldn't come here for a relaxing, quiet dinner. I feel it's more geared for a quick Sunday night meal or a quick...

I knew Bambu was going to be my first restaurant coming out of lockdown because it is consistently amazing from its food to its service so I wanted to write a proper review. The food is rich and smoky, it tastes super authentic thanks to the amazing flavour combos but ALSO because they achieve a super high heat and use an awesome wok that's been around the block. I highly recommend the Okonomiyaki if you want something decadent to tear apart with friends although because it's on the sweeter side I would pair it with the Beef tataki/salad/tartare for the lightness. Their Wonton Taco's are a textural delight and the DIY duck pancakes are a nice balanced side you will annihilate with your friends in less than a minute with happy faces and sticky fingers. If you really like flavours on the smoky side their Char Kwai Tow will totally give you that charred fix you've been searching for since your trip around Asia. All of their curries are mind blowing but some are on the sweeter side so if you aren't used to the Thai style curries just know it will be rich but in a good way. Their cocktails are great and all their drinks are cohesive with their food menu so lots of big asian flavours, they even have a lovely lychee cyder but its a sneaky 8% alcohol so careful if you are driving. I have taken my vegetarian mum here, my friends from Malaysia who love spice, my softer English friends and all loved it. The staff is bubbly right out of lockdown which is always a nice change of pace when everyone is getting over lockdown blues. Still reading? Go book a table and eat it fo...