Rice Bar (But Not Only Rice)

This bustling corner cafe has had several short-lived incarnations in the past at its current location but it has really hit its stride in the last few years being known as Rice Bar (But Not Only Rice).  There's not a lot to distinguish Rice Bar from other similar Asian cafes around Melbourne : the ever-present flasks of Chinese tea, the extensive laminated menus and the utilitarian design of the dining room. But perhaps the thing that makes Rice Bar stands out is how it lets its dishes speak for itself.

Being in close proximity to the University of Melbourne, Rice Bar has a regular stream of international students through its doors despite the appearance of competitors in recent years.  Their menu, which has changed very little over the years boasts the familiar standard dishes (Singapore noodles, Beef in black bean sauce, etc.) but refreshingly Rice Bar also offers something different for the more adventurous, among them pan mee, a noodle soup served with mushrooms and anchovies or bak kut teh, a popular Chinese dish of pork ribs, slow cooked in a spice-infused tea broth.

Only after several visits to Rice Bar can you gain appreciation of another of its virtues: consistency.  It's easy to pick out favourites from their extensive menu of Malaysian, Indonesian, Hakka, and Cantonese dishes.  Regular patrons of Rice Bar know that such favourites will rarely ever drop in quality.  Most main dishes are priced at around the $10-12 dollars and portions are generous.  

All in all, Rice Bar's variety in their offerings and consistent quality keep the regulars (such as myself) coming back.  The service is almost always fast, friendly and accommodating, regardless of the time of day or how busy they get.  You'd be hard-pressed to find a place you'd be willing to frequent... except maybe, another Rice Bar.  W.V.