Rice Bar & Food Ohakune — Restaurant in North Island

Rice is the new restaurant for the Snowmans Lodge in Ohakune. The restaurant isn't very big and is always full. We managed to make a booking for a lateish evening session at 1930. The place was packed when we arrived and was starting to empty when we finished. They do a range of interesting Thai fusion food. They also have an interesting cocktail menu. We were interested in the massaman lamb shank curry but they had already sold out. We ended up grabbing a few things to share. Of the dishes we got, I really liked the prawn cake and the pad ped crispy pork, with the crispy pork paired with a tasty curry sauce. I also quite liked the spiced beef cheek with the interesting sauce and potatoes. The pad Thai was ok but was a bit on the bland side for me. The cashew nut chicken was very different to what I had expected, more like a mild curry with crushed cashews. We also grabbed the Thai dessert platter and the pandan custard was really nice. The yellow bean cake was interesting. A booking is needed if you were wanting to try this place. It is quite worthwhile as the food is quite nice and very interesting. I am quite interested in the Massaman lamb shank so will probably try to go...

We only chose this place as we booked a room and saw the menu in the room. We booked a table and made a phone order just to reduce wait times. When we went there the wait staff said ohh your order is takeaway and it’s been made. To our dismay 😩 the staff said you may sit here but eat from takeaway as your order has already been made. Humiliation…We told them that we booked a table and did not ask for takeaway then they took all the takeaway containers from our and replated the already prepared dish. We ordered fried chicken which was served first. We ate from quarter plates. Then mains was served. We continued to eat from quarter plates. The wait staff had no consideration to check if we needed proper dinner plates. They are supposed to notice around and offer dinner plates. Wait staff made sure other tables had the right plates, sufficient cutlery. We ordered three teas but got served two. Indifferent treatment…worst...

This place is super cute and has a cool little vibe. The wait staff are lovely an Cocktails where yummy, Mocksville not so much. The food was touch and go - I enjoyed my green curry but the sauce was separated and watery rather than creamy and curry like, flavour wasnt the best, it was ok but I wouldn't get it again. The beef cheek was the dish of the night hands down, juicy and pull apart we all had food envy. So much carrots on everything. Cashew stir fry wasn't great and neither was the lamb shank. We had a great time in a cute spot, but the food wasn't what we where hoping for I'm afraid. 4 starts cause staff where lovely and the venue was cool as heck other wise a...