The Rice Bowl- Lavelle road — Restaurant in Bengaluru

A Disappointing Visit to an Old Favorite – The Rice Bowl, Lavelle Road

The Rice Bowl holds a lot of sentimental value for me. It’s a restaurant I grew up visiting with my parents, a place that once served great food and had a reputation for being one of Bangalore’s classic spots for Chinese cuisine. However, my recent experience there was nothing short of disappointing, and it pains me to say that this iconic restaurant has lost its charm.

Service Issues Right from the Start

Zomato mentioned that the restaurant opens at 12 PM, so we arrived around 12:25 PM. However, upon arrival, we were told they would check if the restaurant was open and whether the chef was ready before seating us. This itself was unusual, but we waited patiently. After some time, they confirmed that we could dine in.

Unfortunately, the service throughout our meal was frustratingly poor. Despite charging a service fee, the staff was inattentive. My father had to request water five times before anyone even acknowledged it. Basic hospitality was lacking, which was disappointing for a restaurant of this stature.

Food Quality – A Complete Letdown

Since we were already there, we decided to go ahead and order. We started with crispy baby corn, which was quite good and gave us hope for the meal. However, everything that followed was an absolute disaster.

We ordered: • Vegetable Fried Rice • Hakka Noodles • Chicken Manchurian Gravy • Gobi Manchurian

From the first bite, it was clear that the food was far from fresh. The noodles had a strange, almost rotten smell, and the rice was moist and sticky—not the texture of freshly prepared fried rice but rather rice that seemed to have been sitting overnight. Both the main dishes lacked even the most basic seasoning—there was no salt, and the flavors were completely off.

The food was so unappetizing that we could barely eat it at the restaurant. Since the portions were large, we packed the leftovers, but even after bringing them home, the food had already spoiled—further proving that it was not fresh to begin with.

A Sad Decline for a Once-Loved Restaurant

The Rice Bowl was once a place of great memories, but after this experience, it’s hard to believe it is the same restaurant. For a premium-priced establishment, serving food that tastes spoiled and providing poor service is unacceptable.

The only positive was the ambience and location, but when the core elements of a restaurant—food and service—fail so terribly, even nostalgia can’t save the experience.

This visit was incredibly disappointing, and I truly hope the management takes steps to bring back the quality this...

This legendary place is synonymous with  lip smacking desi Chinese food since a long time. Having earned its well deserved place amongst the top Chinese restaurants in the city, the outlet has recently gone through a menu revamp and ambiance renovation. Now it looks classier with an old world charm thats hard to come across these days. There is valet service available as well.

I went here for a weekday lunch with a large group of friends. We relished a lot of their classic dishes accompanied by some well concocted drinks. Started off with the manchow soup which was warm and delicious. In drinks, I tried blue Hawaiian which had vodka, lemon juice, lichi, blue curacao and topped with sprite. Quite liked  the cocktail and it went fabulously with the appetizers to come. Some other drinks I would recommend will be green apple martini, spicy guava and shirley temple.

In the appetizers, we tried chilli garlic prawns, chilli mustard fish, crackling spinach chicken, tai pai chicken, red  and green chilli lamb and steamed chicken momos. The veg folks ordered Singapore paneer, salt and pepper corn, mushroom manchurian, veg fried wonton and steamed veg momos. To be honest all the dishes were very delicious and on point when it comes to flavours. Still I would give a special shoutout to crackling spinach chicken, tai pai chicken and momos in non veg, and Singapore paneer, veg wonton and steamed  momos in the veg section. Must have dishes here.

In mains, the order comprised of egg schezwan fried rice  chilli garlic noodles, pad Thai, shredded chicken in red and chilli sauce and veg American chopsuey. Noodles and pad Thai were too good and I couldn't stop eating them even after being completely full.

I was not expecting much from the desserts but I was proved completely and utterly wrong. The mango cheesecake is an absolute treat. It should not be missed. The mango flavour is bold and pronounced in it. Banoffee pie was not overly sweet and turned out to be quite enjoyable . Caramel custard was decent as well. Stellar desserts to end the meal on a high note.

Overall, couldn't have asked for more.  Food and drinks were fantastic and the service was immaculate.  Bookmark and visit it at the earliest.  Highly...

Absolutely delighted to share my experience of an unforgettable vegetarian Asian dinner that surpassed all expectations—not just due to the delicious dishes, but also because of the exceptional service and warmth extended by the restaurant’s incredible team.

From the moment I arrived, the ambiance set the tone: elegant, calm, and welcoming. What truly elevated the evening, however, was the impeccable hospitality and attention to detail shown by the service staff, especially Ms. Prabita, Mr. Nagarjun, and Mr. Subendhu. These three team members deserve nothing short of high praise!

As someone who is both vegetarian and particular about flavors, I was initially overwhelmed by the variety of Asian dishes on offer. That’s where the team made all the difference. Ms. Prabita was a true gem—gracious, knowledgeable, and incredibly respectful of dietary preferences. She listened to my taste preferences with care and guided me effortlessly.

Mr. Nagarjun, with his deep understanding of the menu, explained the ingredients and cooking styles of each recommendation. His enthusiasm for the cuisine was infectious! Mr. Subendhu, equally exceptional, ensured that each dish was served with perfect timing.

Now, the food—it was nothing short of divine. Every dish was a celebration of flavors—from the flavourful Veg Manchow soup to crispy veg dragon Chopsuey, both dishes were creatively crafted without compromising vegetarian values. Not once did I feel like I was “missing out” on flavor; rather, each bite was an exciting new experience.

It’s rare to find this level of synergy between culinary excellence and heartfelt service. There was thoughtful attention at every touchpoint—from personalized dish suggestions to warm follow-ups ensuring me enjoying my solo dining experience.

In a world where dining is often rushed, this was a reminder of what hospitality is truly about. ✨

A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Prabita, Mr. Nagarjun, and Mr. Subendhu—you transformed my meal into a memory. For anyone seeking a vegetarian Asian meal that’s not only delicious but meaningfully curated to your taste, this is the place to be. Highly,...