The Rice House

The Rice House is a Chinese restaurant located at 11982 Dorsett Rd in Maryland Heights, Missouri. As a local establishment within the Chinese restaurant category, The Rice House offers a variety of Chinese cuisine options to the community. Situated at 11982 Dorsett Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, they can be contacted at (314) 733-5301 or +1 314-733-5301 for inquiries or to place orders for takeout or potential delivery services.

Details regarding the specific environment and ambiance of The Rice House are not extensively provided in the customer reviews. However, as a typical Chinese restaurant, it is expected to have a dining area for on-site customers and facilities for preparing takeout orders. The focus is generally on providing a diverse menu of Chinese dishes in a setting that accommodates both individual diners and potentially larger groups.

In terms of services, The Rice House offers both dine-in and takeout options. One review mentioned a group of eleven dining in, indicating that they can accommodate larger parties. However, this same review also highlighted significant issues with the speed of service. The food was reportedly served "one plate at a time" despite the restaurant not being busy, leading to a very slow dining experience for the group. This is a critical point for potential customers, especially those dining with a group or those who are on a tight schedule.

Customer feedback on the food quality at The Rice House is mixed and varies depending on the dish. One customer reported that their own food was "good," but they noted that the bread on their St. Paul sandwich was stale. The St. Paul sandwich is a local St. Louis specialty, and the use of stale bread would significantly detract from the experience of this particular item. Additionally, this customer mentioned that their children felt the General Tao's chicken tasted like it came from a "bottle at the grocery store," suggesting a lack of fresh preparation or a flavor profile that did not meet expectations.

Another reviewer who ordered the sesame tofu combo described it as a "C+" and noted that they had experienced better and worse versions elsewhere. This indicates an average quality for this dish. On a more positive note, they found the white rice to be "nicely steamed." Their feedback on the crab rangoon was also mixed, stating that it had good flavor but very little filling, which could be disappointing for those who enjoy this appetizer.

This same reviewer also ordered "Mexican egg rolls" but suspected they were given regular egg rolls instead. This raises concerns about order accuracy and the potential for miscommunication or substitution of menu items without informing the customer. The fact that they mentioned being willing to return to try other dishes suggests that they found some potential in the menu despite these issues.

Beyond the food quality and speed of service, there were also concerns raised about the attentiveness of the staff. The group of eleven mentioned having difficulty getting refills, including for beer, which they pointed out would have generated more revenue for the restaurant. Furthermore, when they inquired about the small portion size of shrimp in their Hot Braised Shrimp dish (only four pieces, for which they seemingly had to pay extra), the waitress was described as "kinda snotty" in her response. This negative interaction with the service staff is a significant concern for customer satisfaction.

The issue with the Hot Braised Shrimp, where a customer received only four pieces and apparently had to pay extra for it, suggests potential problems with portion control and pricing transparency. The negative reaction from the waitress when this was brought to her attention further compounds the poor experience reported by this customer, leading them to state that they "won't be back!"

In summary, The Rice House in Maryland Heights offers a variety of Chinese cuisine and provides both dine-in and takeout services. However, recent customer reviews highlight several areas of concern. The speed of service has been reported as very slow, even when the restaurant is not busy. The quality of food appears inconsistent, with issues such as stale bread on the St. Paul sandwich and General Tao's being likened to a store-bought sauce. The sesame tofu was rated as average, and the crab rangoon had good flavor but lacked filling. There were also potential issues with order accuracy, as with the Mexican egg rolls. Furthermore, the customer service received negative feedback regarding difficulty in getting refills and a rude response when questioning a small portion size. The combination of these issues suggests that while The Rice House offers a local option for Chinese food, potential customers should be aware of these reported experiences.

For local users in Maryland Heights considering The Rice House, it would be prudent to weigh the mixed reviews carefully. While some dishes might be satisfactory, there are concerns about food quality consistency, service speed, order accuracy, and staff attitude. If you choose to dine here, especially with a larger group or during peak hours, it might be wise to inquire about the expected wait times and to be specific when ordering to ensure accuracy and clarity on portion sizes and any additional charges. The negative experiences reported by other customers suggest that the overall dining experience at The Rice House may be unpredictable.