Rice Bowl — Restaurant in Chico

Boy oh boy where do I start? Visited the Rice Bowl with the family, upon arrival we waited about 8-10mins for someone to acknowledge we were waiting for a table. The young lady at the front counter was taking an order on the phone so, no big deal. However, that gave us time to look at the massive pile of boxes/plastic/containers piled all over the place right in front of the kitchen. We found it quite odd that there was so much garbage(?) just sitting there right as you walk in.

Not a great first impression.

We were then seated at a booth in another room with a couple occupied tables. The table we sat at was not very clean but we’re not germaphobes or neat freaks. We took a napkin, wiped off the table and picked up the menus that were tossed onto the table by some lady who didn’t so much as say hi. These menus were…..FILTHY. I’m talking dirt and grime and old food all over them. The plastic case surrounding the menu was old as hell and cracked and falling apart. We wouldn’t even let our kids touch them. Then my wife looks above us and they have these cloth drapes hanging across the ceiling, they were soaked in something, stained all over and collecting some kind of debris that was coming from who knows where?!? The lady returns and immediately asks if we’re ready to order. Very matter of fact-like. We’d been sitting for about 4mins so we told her we needed more time. She then refilled the waters for the table behind us and immediately came back and asked if we’re ready now. Ha! Ok, you’re trying to be efficient, I can get behind that. But she was not happy about something. I don’t know what but she was in a mood.

We looked at each other and decided to get the hell out. That’s the first time I’ve ever walked out on...

Overall 4 stars - the interior was clean and pretty. The service was excellent, efficient, and very fast. The food was okay - some really good and some just okay. I had the peking ribs - I asked the server about them and he describe d the kind of meat correctly and that they are served with thin slices of onion. I didn't know to ask how they are prepared - which is battered and deep fried - not grilled. Then, they are smothered in a tasty, sweet ginger sauce - that has the most red food dye in it that I have ever eaten. They were good but about 10x the calories I was expecting and didn't need ANY food dye, and certainly not the amount in there. My son ordered the General Tao's Chicken - he said it was good. We added on the combos to our meals so they came with soup, rice (either pork fried or steamed), and a small appetizer plate which included 2 fried egg rolls with the requisite bright red dyed sweet/sour dip, 2 fried won ton shells, and two paper wrapped fried chicken pieces which were delicious. We didn't know about the appetizer plate so I had also ordered the vegetarian lettuce wraps appetizer - which is probably the best deal of the night. It is a huge plate of diced mixed grilled veggies, a half head of lettuce, and a savory sauce to drizzle on the lettuce and veggies. We tried it but brought most home for lunch today. There were a bunch of chairs stacked outside one door which was a bit strange - at first we thought maybe they weren't open but finally saw some folks heading in another door so went on in. There is a sushi bar and Japanese menu also - mostly rolls - and the miso soup we got with our meal...

Tonight, I went for dinner to the Rice Bowl and I will never return. I ordered the salt and pepper squid as an appetizer as soon as I sat down along with the potstickers before I ordered my entree'. However, the salt and pepper squid came after the entree. The dish was deep fried, greasy and tasteless. They were big blobs of batter. I took one bite and returned the dish immediately. The waitress was accomodating, and said she would return it and take if off my bill. However, another waitress who was hovering over her heard the conversation, fussed at her and followed her to the kitchen. My waitress then came back with the dish (that I did not want) and said that the owner said he would take half off the bill. I told the waitress to forget it; I would pay the bill because obviously the owner was trying to make me out to be a grifter and did not value my business. I told her to still take the dish back because it was not edible. The dish was only $12. This was about poor service and not valuing me as a customer. My bill totaled $46. I still tipped the poor waitress because it was not her fault, but the overbearing supervisor/owner that was hovering over her was too much. I will NEVER go there again. I hope the $12 was worth it. If your profit margins are so low that you cannot absorb a 12 dollar loss, then there's something wrong. That goodwill gesture would have garnered my return business. I am a repeat customer. I drove from Paradise to eat at your establishment. ...