Bowl Bowl Sichuan — Restaurant in Melbourne

We started with a Sichuan blush cocktail which had a traditional liquor base with something like 50% alcohol. The waiter referred to as ‘Chinese vodka’ and it made for quite a delicious drink! Being a dumpling house we knew we had to try some dumplings. I chose the chitalian and the chicky prawn and took the waiters recommendation on which should be friend or boiled. The chicky prawn (boiled) had beautiful whole prawns inside and the chitalian was a bit of a take on Chinese Italian fusion with the addition of fennel. Something quite different and very tasty. The waiter explained to us that while they do feature more commercialised Chinese food to cater to the masses they also want to showcase their culture with some really authentic Chinese dishes. My favourite was actually the gorgeously silky tofu. I am not generally a tofu fan as I usually find it quite bland but this one packed a serious punch and presented just beautifully. Definitely keep the water on stand by for the ribs too! Next up duck spring rolls and salt and pepper calamari. My partner was loving the spring rolls and kept those to himself while I devoured the calamari. It was sensationally tender and insanely flavoursome with the most delicate of batters. I could have eaten buckets of it. By this stage we were already full but then out came the large plates. The eggplant was recommended and I’m glad it was for it was somehow perfectly crispy on the outside while managing to be super smooth on the inside and covered in a deliciously well balanced sauce. Luckily we’d had the foresight to ask for a smaller serve of Chinese broccoli as that arrived with both the honey chicken and the Mongolian beef. The Mongolian beef was sizzling and topped with a yummy sweet soy which was a bit of a respite from the spicier early dishes. The honey chicken was presented and composed differently to what the typical perception of this dish is. Its strips of chicken with black honey sauce served with a side of lettuce and avocado and a whipped cream dipping sauce. I quite enjoyed this experience of compiling all the elements together and I appreciated the uniqueness of it too. Great location right by a tram stop and lovely interiors and supreme attention to detail right down to the pretty plates created a wonderful atmosphere. Definitely one to try the next time you’re craving Chinese, and don’t forget they offer so much more...

Had celebrated a friends birthday here, where to even begin. The food was so bland, the spice levels need to be reevaluated as they were literally non-existent. Most of the food honestly was tasteless, wouldn't recommended the wonton volcano the flavor is so bland and the spice/soup was water, the spicy beef brisket on rice was not spicy and tasteless, couldn't even taste salt and/or pepper seasonings, the tofu, oh my lord what a waste of money, its presently so majestically but taste like literal cardboard. safe to say it was left, untouched. The waterbomb, although small, was nice but I cannot justify that price for 6 pieces, Char Kway Teo was nice...thank god.

We were seated in the back where it felt like we were in some shed, dying plants, stagnant air, spiderwebs, the tables are so close to each other we might as well joined the other table.

We were also not told about some booking policy where we had to spend a certain amount for a group booking, it does not stipulate this anywhere in their booking policy. The manager or who I assume was the manager came over as we almost finished our meals to pester us about the "$50" per person minimum spend. We then felt obligated to adhere to this even though it this was not clear. After ordering some drinks, the manager with orange/shoulder length hair belittled our group calling us "babies that needed to be supervised" because the Chinese alcohol they serve was 40%. Because we, late 20's, needed to be called literally babies...that was not only unnecessary but honestly who says that to someone, we barely had any drinks to begin with.

The food, although came out fast, is so mediocre and our night was ruined when the manager came to the table and harassed and harangued us.

The other servers were pleasant, did their job and there was no funny business. They were quite prompt and efficient.

Honestly would never come back, the quality of food and the price is not worth it. Find a better local...

I wasn't going to leave this review because the food was good but I was publicly shamed and embarrassed by the hysterical chef and waiter. I asked for the gluten free dumplings. I then got asked about my PRIVATE medical history in front of all of my friends and the whole restaurant "are you celiac". It's none of their business, but yes I am. That's why people ask for GF. He ran off saying he would ask the chef. I didn't ask for this and didn't want a spectacle distracting us from dinner. She attended in a panic, demanding to know if I'm 100% GF and if so that "we can't have you!". At one point she said if I was at the level I can die I can't eat there. It's not anaphylaxis fgs. The menu said GF, I was happy to have it and I didn't ask for the public hanging. She stood on the other side of our group table and loudly talked where everyone could hear, why not privately approach and explain. You don't do this for diabetics or pregnant people or peanut allergies! Oh are you 100% diabetic? We can't have you. I thought she was going to throw me out. I could feel the pity from everyone around. My group was left shocked and apologised to me. All the kitchen has to do is wash hands and use separate utensils and chopping board to prepare GF food. It should be done with all food, using clean stuff. It's not rocket science and it's not appropriate to approach in such a bulldozer loud shaming way. The dumplings were nice and the other food also...