Waitara Rice Thai Restaurant

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

We used to dine here often, but hadn't been for a while after reading some recent reviews. We thought we would try it again last night and we were very pleasantly surprised! The host and her family have owned the business for a couple of months and have made some big improvements.

The menu has really improved (all our favourites were there), the wait service was very good and the host was perfect in her role. The phone orders came in constantly while we were there, and they provide home delivery to a wide area. We had a lovely dinner and will definitely be back!

Apr 01, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

I went there with my friend. We loved the place and food. I had Chiang Mai Thai and she got the Jungle curry but we ended up sharing as they were both delicious. The owner came over to our table to chat and the waitress was very nice and attentive. I will be back again.

Feb 01, 2012 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  8     

Was hesitant to visit due to previous bad reviews, but had a great evening with friends. The service was friendly and the food exellent. Will definitely return in the new year.

Dec 14, 2011 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  7      Service  9      Value  8     

This is the best Thai food in the Hornsby district and surrounds. I took my two boys and good lady to Rice Thai Monday night. It was not busy and I can see from previous reviews why. Well I am pleased to say Rice Thai is back better than ever before.

The food was outstanding, our chosen entree special was Miang Kham. I haven't tasted anything else like it. The blend of prawn, coconut, ginger, fresh betel leaves, peanut, lime and chile is a sensational flavour. The kids loved the Thai Lamb Kebabs, Money bags and the excellent Pad Thai noodles. Another authentic new dish for us was the deep fried barramundi in Choo Chee sauce. Authentic fresh and rich Thai flavours smothering generous pieces of fresh Aussie Barra. Awesome.

Jenet is the new owner and she was a very gracious host indeed. Rice Thai is my new favourite for our region. Very good value for money and great food and service.

Mar 02, 2011 

3.5 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  2     

Nov 2007: One of the best Thai's on the North Shore. We always go here if we feel like Thai. Food 10, Ambience 8, Service 9, Value 9.

Oct 2010: We have been back here twice recently and I don't know what has happened but it is not the same. In fact the experience was such that we won't be back. Service was unpleasant almost to the point of rudeness.

The food was also not the same, I started to want to leave when one dish came out with 3 lamb chops! I can cook this at home! What was upsetting about this dish was that there were 4 of us. One of us had to go without. How hard is it to remove the meat from the bones? Apparently too hard.

I guess I should have been warned when it was a Saturday night and the place was empty. One of the Best? Not any more. More like one of the worst now. And that has upset me.

Jan 06, 2011 

5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

Rice has indeed changed. My first visit was in August (see below). New menus are single sheet and look like they belong in a fast food place. The signature dish Pad Cha has been destroyed.

Service was slow and each request, such as water for the table, had to be repeated. We received the wrong bill and it took half an hour to get attention from anyone to correct the problem, two staff outside tidying up a single table, senior staff(?) sitting chatting to a fellow at a table and other staff in kitchen washing up.

Such a shame, I really liked this place. Same sentiment as Mea below, Goodbye Rice.

My first experience here on 14 August. Really enjoyed it. Place was very quiet so service wasn't any problem, indeed, it was attentive without being over bearing and very pleasant.

Tried a couple of dishes that were new to me and they were delicious. The Pad Cha was really excellent. Price $54 for two including corkage was great. Will definitely be back.

Dec 17, 2010 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  4     

Rice has changed, the menu is new, so is the chef, owner is still the same. Entrees have only 3 pieces in a serve which is ridiculous when even numbers are dining. The menu isn't as extensive and many of the favourites have disappeared. Still the same silly set up with the rice servings where you have to chase a waitress for extra rice which you have paid for.

We went December 4th, service was terrible, the hostess put you at a table then forgot about you, she was too busy counting money adding up bills and taking take away orders from phone calls, she was also doing the home delivery. The staff on the night were inexperienced though they worked very hard they had no direction. When the hostess returned she was rude and aggressive to them.

Our meal arrived after an hour wait, it was disappointing, I received rice on the run because the waitress had to run and answer the phone! Rice would be better to look after the customers that dine in, you seem to get better service if you order take away. Time for us to find a new favourite Thai, goodbye Rice.

Dec 05, 2010 

4.3 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  5      Value  5     

I used to come here a lot, and in the past I had great experiences here. Recently it has been greatly under staffed, and as I can appreciate the hard work of the wait staff, it cannot cover a busy friday night sitting.

The food is also different, I think they may have changed chef's/management because the meals are not the same as they were about a year ago. It is definitely not as good as previously, the ingredients are not fresh and the meat was not tender. What ever they have changed has made this restaurant worse. I think I'll have to change my local Thai, it's just not good enough anymore.

Apr 24, 2010 

5 Average

Food  6      Ambience  4      Service  4      Value  6     

Had dinner with 2 friends here on Saturday night. The service was really slow, we sat there for nearly 15 minutes before I could catch someone's eye to get menus, but that's probably because they were completely understaffed, with only 2 people serving the whole restaurant. They squished the 3 of us onto a 2 person table (our fault, we didn't book), and then forgot to bring any extra tableware until I finally had to ask.

We were really excited by all of the unfamiliar dishes on the menu and ordered 3 dishes. 1t was amazing and unlike any Thai dish any of us had had before, the other two were mediocre and tasted the same, even though they should have been quite different.

Corkage was a bargain at $1pp. The dishes weren't cheap ($19 for a prawn dish), but they weren't over the top either. I won't bother eating here again, but I'll definitely get the Chiang Mai prawn to takeaway.

Apr 19, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  8     

Waitara Rice Thai is the place to go if you want some real flavorsome Thai food. We eat here occasionally when we want something a little different to the fare close to home. They do home delivery which is great. Serving sizes are reasonable though the large rice is more like a small. This aside the food is great. Try the crying tiger, panang curry, BBQ chicken or lime curry.

Dec 07, 2009