Rice Violet — Restaurant in Worcester

We were going to see a show at the Palladium and were looking for a spot to nab a quick bite to eat. Located right off the parking lot we were in was Rice Violet, and so - as we all like Thai food - we stopped in.

The space itself looks like it is in need of an update. We we instructed to sit where we liked, so we sat in a booth and explored the menu.

I wasn't starving, so I decided to just get a couple of apps and a Thai Iced Tea. My wife decided on the Pad See Ew, and my friend opted for the pineapple fried rice.

The menu had pretty much everything you'd expect for a Thai place - noodle dishes, soups, curries - but as I said I wasn't super hungry and I didn't want leftovers to sit while we were at the show, so I decided on Samosa Bags and Chicken Satay.

The Chicken Satay was sufficient. It tasted like every other chicken satay I have ever had. The peanut sauce, once again expected, was competently prepared and was really tasty. The cucumber sauce thing that was also served with it wasn't really doing anything for me.

The Samosa Bags were the highlight. The filling was tasty, but the thing I loved was the format. Typically, samosas are served in a big pouch, and sometimes they can be too dry or too big. These samosas? They come in the same thin dough you'd expect for a spring roll - thin and crispy. The dipping sauce - a bit on the sweet side - was a good accompaniment.

Can I go on about the Samosa Bags endlessly? I could. They were perfect, and I will seek out similar snacklings in my various travels.

The Pad See Ew was good. The ideal mix of noodles and vegetables with protein, it made for excellent leftovers because my wife could not eat all of what they gave her.

The Thai Iced Tea was sweet and tasty, and having the option to add Boba was good.

Now for the bad.

We were almost done with our meals before our drinks came out. We had to remind our server that we ordered drinks. My tea was more of a dessert, and my friend's diet coke (in a can) arrived in time for him to not really want it anymore.

When we were ready to leave, it took a while to flag down our server again, and with the clock ticking down to the doors for the show we were going to see, we almost went up to the register to pay.

So, in summary: good food that arrived in a timely manner, drinks that arrived much later than desired, and a difficult time getting our server to attend to our needs.

If you are stopping in before a show, make sure to give some extra time, because it seems like they were short staffed and unable to deal with the large volume that comes with a sold out...

My wife and I stopped here for lunch between visits to the Van Gogh Experience and The Worcester Art Museum. We were warmly greeted, chose our table, and ordered the appetizer sampler at the time we received our ice water. We checked out the menu, and decided on Broccoli with Chicken, and the Rainbow Paradise with Chicken lunch combination dishes. When we set our menus down on the table, our waitress approached to take our order, and a couple of minutes later brought out the appetizer sampler. The Chicken Satay was hot and delicious -- but the fried items were lukewarm. I suspect the fried items were cooked early and held for a few minutes while the chicken satay cooked on the grill. When we were less than halfway through the appetizer plate, the waitress brought our meals to the table. These were not very hot -- no steam rising, even when opening the center of the chicken/veggie portion, which was very good, but could have been so much better if it was served hot to the table. The waitress did come by to check on us, and I did mention having the appetizer and meal served so close together meant that the food would get cold -- and she offered to reheat my lunch plate -- but I declined. At that point, my wife was still eating appetizers and hadn't even touched her lunch plate. So while I think the quality of food at Rice Violet is very good, they need to work on their timing of delivery to the tables -- so food comes out in proper sequence and hot. As a customer, you may want to wait until you receive your appetizer (or finish it) before ordering...

been there many times and it's been great. this time however... not so much.

I ordered pad thai (my norm for every time I've been there) which smelled like wet dog. after trying to power through a few bites I felt sick. I asked for peanut sauce thinking I could mask it but Hy the time it arrived I felt sick to my stomach. I alerted the server who got someone else to come over who tried to explain why it smelled like wet dog. they left it on the table. they did offer to make me something else but at this point I wasn't feeling well (and still don't) from the few bites I did attempt. the bill came and to my surprise the pad Thai and peanut sauce we're still on there. after the server got the manager or owner she explained that they cooked it so I have to pay for it... after saying I'm not paying for the pad Thai and a little back and fourth, she reluctantly removed it, though I was still charged for the peanut sauce, which isn't a big deal compared to how my stomach feels right now. they left the pad Thai which everyone at my table said smelled awful... on my table until the bill was paid... maybe as punishment? it was awful and I wish they had taken it away and not left it there the entire meal as an excuse to charge for it.

I've been there maybe 10 times and I would give it 5 stars, while this trip would get zero. I think 3 stars is a good middle ground but probably never going back. mezcal is better and you get more for the dollar there.

bummed. I did really like that place before how I was...