Rice Rice Baby — Restaurant in North Island

This used to be a 5* review. Unfortunately Google only permits 1 review therefore I have to amend this to fit today's experience. I will leave the once former review down below for comparison.

Something must have change. The management, or leadership perhaps. It's not the same experience we've been expecting. This was our 3rd visit. This time our 3pax family was put in a corner table fit for 2pax whilst a larger 4pax table was available. We asked if this was normal and told yes. We even asked for an additional stool, none available. Meanwhile our child was being squished and the meal barely manageable. We found that inappropriate. No offers to join the nearby 2pax table to ours either. We were the second table to sit in the entire venue just for context. There were ample choices to sit us in a more appropriate arrangement. Meals were good as always. The springrolls could have been crispier on this occasion. Oh and the music! My goodness it was horrible this time around and unfit for the venue. I wholeheartedly agree with the previous review on that. Save that R&B rubbish for the pubs or whatnot. Just not the warm authentic experience we remembered. We don't feel like returning after this if this is the new RRB.

old 5* review Vietnamese perfection. Dined as a family of 2A+1C. Deep Fried Springrolls were on point. Banh Mi was the best I've had in NZ. Chilli is the real deal. Strap in. My wife enjoyed her Pho and I loved the special soup. Everything was optimal in flavours, the ambiance is a classic street side Vietnamese, the service is excellent, and prices are very appropriate. Definitely...

Y U M M Y ! Possibly the most authentic Viet place in Tauranga. Beautifully stylized interiors with a rustic vietnamese look with a modern kiwi twist. Food was good, lots of flavor, good temperature, decent portion size and easy on the wallet too. Tried the Beef pho and Veg wontons. The stock was simply scrumptious. Noodles were well cooked. Beef was tender. None of the elements overpowered each other. The sauces provided worked well with the respective dishes. Visually, very appetizing dishes. 9/10

Pro Tip 1: Hit that pho with some sriracha sauce that is available on the table and transform your soup into a magical experience, straight to the heart of Vietnam! Pro Tip 2: Wash everything down with a Vietnamese Coffee after your meal. Made with vietnamese coffee and condensed milk, available hot or over ice. They make a great pairing to wash down that spicy sriracha feeling that has your lips tingling!

They also have Hanoi and Saigon beer, which is quite a pleasant change to the regular brews that we have come to know and love. Everything from the menu to the tablecloth and cutlery was reminisce of Vietnamese markets and food stalls. The staff were polite and very friendly. The decor was bright and colorful, the music not too loud and the wait times were minimal. A very good experience overall if you're looking to experience true Viet cuisine. A full 5 stars and a definite...

"The Good: The food was presented wonderfully and tasted delicious. There was a great resemblance to the traditional pho soup base in the rest of the dishes our group (6 families seated outside) ordered. The waiting time to be seated and for the dishes to be served was acceptable, especially considering it was a holiday - 01/04.

The Bad and Ugly: However, when it was our turn to order, a female staff member, whose name starts with "S" and ends with "t", approached us to take our orders and bluntly stated, "Please order quickly, I am needed inside." This is an unacceptable and rude response, especially for a brand that specializes in Asian Cuisine. Hospitality should be the top priority, regardless of the appearance, color, or nationality of the customer.

I would rate this experience as 1 star solely because of the rudeness displayed by one of your female wait staff. However, due to the professionalism and courtesy of the rest of the staff in the kitchen, at reception, and the other wait staff, I will increase the rating to 3 stars.

I have shared this experience with my peers and friends living in Mt. Maunganui. Please ensure that your employees maintain good manners, whether during non-peak or peak...