RuYi Modern Chinese — Restaurant in Melbourne

RuYi Modern Chinese is an exceptional restaurant that deserves nothing short of a rave review. Located in a bustling neighborhood, it offers a delightful dining experience with its outstanding food, attentive staff, captivating atmosphere, and picturesque surroundings. Whether you're arriving by car or using public transportation, getting there is a easy, and parking is convenient. The food at RuYi Modern Chinese excels at blending traditional Chinese flavors with modern culinary techniques. Each dish is a harmonious symphony of tastes and textures, beautifully presented. From succulent Peking duck to delicate dim sum and mouthwatering Sichuan specialties, every bite makes you want more. The staff at RuYi Modern Chinese is incredibly knowledgeable, attentive, and friendly. They go above and beyond to ensure that your dining experience is flawless, providing insightful recommendations and catering to any dietary preferences or allergies you may have. Their warm and accommodating nature adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the overall experience. When it comes to atmosphere, RuYi Modern Chinese knows how to create an enchanting ambiance. The interior is stylishly designed, combining contemporary elements with traditional Chinese aesthetics. The lighting is soft and warm, setting a romantic mood that makes it an ideal destination for a date night or a special celebration. The comfortable seating arrangements allow for intimate conversations and a relaxed dining experience. The restaurant's surroundings are also worth mentioning. Located in a vibrant neighborhood, RuYi Modern Chinese offers picturesque views of the cityscape. Whether you're seated by the window or at an outdoor terrace, you can enjoy the bustling energy of the area while savoring your meal. Parking is hassle-free, with ample space available nearby. If you prefer using public transportation, the restaurant is conveniently accessible by bus,train, or taxi, making it a convenient choice for both locals and tourists. Considering the quality of the food and the overall dining experience, the prices at RuYi Modern Chinese are reasonable. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option, the value for money is evident in the exceptional flavors, impeccable service, and charming ambiance. RuYi Modern Chinese offers an impressive selection of cocktails. The mixologists behind the bar craft innovative and enticing concoctions that beautifully complement the flavors of the dishes. Whether you're a fan of classic cocktails or eager to explore unique blends, the cocktail menu is sure to impress. In myopinion, RuYi Modern Chinese is a gem among Chinese restaurants, offering an unforgettable dining experience. From the exquisite food and attentive staff to the romantic atmosphere and convenient location, every aspect is thoughtfully curated to create a memorable evening. Whether you're seeking a romantic date night or simply craving outstanding Chinese cuisine, RuYi Modern Chinese is the perfect...

Popped in because the ratings and reviews seemed promising with a menu that showed connection to heritage. However, very disappointed in the food - primary goal of a restaurant. Completely open minded to support modern Chinese and the culinary art in the culture, I appreciate the intended audience and modern / fusion approach to “elevate” Chinese food. But, the execution of flavours for all the dishes fell flat.

Decorations and service were nice as you’d expect a restaurant charging this price to have. Value for money is none. For a restaurant championing Chinese traditions, the rice served was foul. It was soggy and clumped instead of feeling freshly steamed, and smelling fragrant.

Overall, would not come back again. Don’t recommend. Not worth the price. Happy to pay for good fancy food any time but this really did not deliver.

Detailed commentary on things we ordered: Entrees Duck Baos: got these as they’d run out of the duck main. Bao bun was good, wasabi mayo was fusion and non-traditional. Duck serving size was non-existent probably 10g of duck not even the size of my finger’s thickness. Chilli Wontons: looked ok, filling was unseasoned hence bland. Sauce went far too heavy on the Chinese vinegar and soy, not enough other aromatics or chilli oil to say the least. Jade Noodle Salad: very fusion, noodle texture was good. A sour flavour was strong probably went a bit hard on the lemon / lime / vinegar again. Fresh flavours but definitely not close to any authentic Chinese dishes. Quail: not too much to comment. Portion size was small, salt and pepper flavours and crispy skin was well done. Sauce was again far too heavy on Chinese vinegar and soy. Similar to the chilli wonton base.

Mains Caramelised Ribs: I think these were trying to channel an American BBQ ribs feel? Texture of the meat was good, soft and came off easily. Flavour was very salty, heavy soy basting and not much else. Numbing Beef: these if I remembered right were with wagyu? Tender beef but felt the pieces were an interesting size - kinda too large for a bite size but too small to be “steak”. Again very heavy on the soy (dark and light coz like the ribs the colour was extremely dark) thus was mainly salty. Chilli came through but again not much else. No aromatics or much pepper flavour? Numbing? I guess so, not from...

RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL manager/owner (Asian lady in charge). A waiter made an honest mistake, which led a customer to make an honest mistake, and all this woman cared about was placing blame and humiliating the both of them (at a table of 15 ppl)… just so she could save on a plate of chicken. I do not condone this behaviour in a workplace, and recommend that you avoid Ruyi if you feel the same way. My review is not the first complaint about the manager’s horrible behaviour (scroll on Google and Zomato to see more).

The waiter made an honest mistake where he placed a chicken dish in between the 2 of us and didn't make it clear who it was for. We were both expecting a chicken dish and my colleague mistook it for hers and ate it first while I waited for mine. After raising this, the manager scolded the waiter in front of everyone asking if he did indeed put the dish in between us instead of in front of the person. My colleague tried to defend the waiter saying it was probably because we were still eating our entrees. The manager then jumped at this opportunity and said to my colleague in these exact words “OH, SO YOU FORGOT WHAT YOU ORDERED AND ATE YOUR FRIEND’S CHICKEN?”. Oh. My. God. Who speaks to customers this way?! She then goes on to point out “clearly this one is the Crispy Chicken and this is the Chicken Wings” and that it was our fault. I had to tell her first-time customers cannot be expected to immediately know what the dishes look like, especially with names like that, and when the waiter isn’t clear about who the dish is for.

In the end, she was unapologetic. She obviously thinks she has the right to speak to customers and staff this way (when no harm was meant by anyone), and I am not surprised to see other 1 star reviews from people observing how badly she treats the waiters. Go at your own risk, and be prepared for blaming and shaming should a human mistake be made by anyone! Also, the dishes are hit and miss, not worth the price, and the lamps are stupidly low where waiters and customers are constantly bumping...