Rice Boat Cambridge Reviews Summary

Authenticity

Pros:

• "This is as authentic as it's going to get outside a Malayali's home kitchen."
• "Amazing place for authentic food, every food we tried was wow!"
• "This was authentic Indian food cooked freshly to order."
• "Easily the best expression of South Indian (Kerala) cuisine in UK by far!"
• "Authentic Indian food from Kerala."
• "If you want to try authentic home cooked Keralan food then you have to try this restaurant."
• "Authentic South Indian food (way better than typical UK Indian food), fantastic and speedy hospitality."

Cons:

• "Mediocre kerala food. If you cook well at home, not really worth making a trip to this place."
• "Food taste is just ok, taste may suit locals."
• "The mains tasted bland compare to other southern Indian restaurants I have been to."
• "Dosa was a bit thick and grainy, not light and crisp. Sambar was strangely tasteless."
• "Indian porotta and appam wasn’t fully cooked and we got different curry rather than what we ordered."
• "Not a great experience, it was like eating at someone's house. Sambar was not traditional sambar, it was porridge like."
• "I really dont know how they got this good reviews with this worst customer relations and bad quality food."

Service

Pros:

• "Service can be slow, but only because food is lovingly prepared."
• "Wonderful service, delicious food, lovely restaurant, will be returning."
• "Service was excellent and attentive."
• "The service was just impeccable."
• "The owners are very friendly and gave great recommendations."
• "The staff were extremely friendly and provided exceptional service."
• "Very knowledgeable waiting staff who have the time and patience to explain the menu."

Cons:

• "The food was reasonably tasty but tiny and overpriced portions that took 2 hours to cook."
• "We booked this restaurant a week in advance for a family meal to celebrate my mothers 84th birthday... One very unfriendly waitress and an overstretched chef when there were many in at lunch time."
• "Service maybe be slow since only one person was available for service when we visited."
• "Service is poor. You have to eat whatever the 'chef' has prepared."
• "However we will not be going back."
• "The lady staff’s behaviour was so annoying!!!"
• "The service was appalling. People left the restaurant angry while we were there, as the wait time was so absurdly long."

Value

Pros:

• "More expensive but worth it."
• "I was very impressed by the masala dosa in particular, and student-friendly prices."
• "Got to enjoy genuine, fresh, Indian cuisine for unbelievably reasonable prices."
• "Amazing place owner was very friendly.. reasonably priced! So worth it!"
• "Probably the best Indian food in Cambridge and for a bargain."
• "The food delicious and the price very reasonable."
• "Would highly recommend – great value for money!"

Cons:

• "Very expensive for nothing! Low quantity but too expensive."
• "It also cost £4.50 for a very small portion of rice, which is often included with curry at other restaurants."
• "We made a reservation six hours before arrival only to be told that half of the menu is unavailable."
• "Foods were ok given the prices.. but any meals were served with cheap plates."
• "The food was OK but really lacked substance. Most of it was padded out with sauce. Very expensive and really not worth it."
• "Walked in got told long wait and loads not in menu."
• "The service was appalling. People left the restaurant angry while we were there, as the wait time was so absurdly long."

Ambiance

Pros:

• "The bare wood tables and jazz soundtrack should give a modern laid back vibe."
• "The restaurant is clean and well lit; and the decor also simple and clean."
• "It had a nice chill atmosphere, great for families!"
• "Very spacious restaurant and we had a very relaxing time."
• "The atmosphere was relaxing and calm."
• "Also, it's tastefully decorated - a minor detail but it does add to the experience!"
• "Such a lovely restaurant - we'll definitely be back and would recommend Rice Boat to others!!"

Cons:

• "Been here twice. Both times service was very VERY slow, interior shabby and the food unappealing."
• "The lighting is a touch too bright for my liking."
• "Lots of people being turned away from a mostly empty restaurant at 6:30pm."
• "With a handful of tables occupied the older Indian lady seemed only to engage with a few regulars, I'm not sure whether she was also covering the kitchen or hiding from customers."
• "We obviously came on a bad day, but won't be visiting on our next Cambridge trip."
• "The lady who took orders and prepared food for us was even rude when tried to explain our food experience."
• "The service was appalling. People left the restaurant angry while we were there, as the wait time was so absurdly long."