Rickshaw Oriental

I felt like just giving up.
Take my money! I don’t need lunch, I just want to get out of this place.
I walked past on my lunch break and someone outside was giving out flyers. The flyers were highlighting Rickshaw’s £5.00 lunch menu. Brilliant, I could now test this place out for just £5.00.
I should have just eaten the £5.00.
When I returned with my flyer in hand, I was shuffled inside by the person who was outside handing out flyers. I genuinely believe she was shocked that anybody had considered the offer that was on the flyer. I had thrown her a curve ball. They now actually had to serve me food!
She put me in front of the bar then started to shout some stuff in a language I didn’t understand. I could not see who she was directing this information at.
There were two people sat behind me who looked like they were having a business meeting. They weren’t eating. In fact, they could have just been using the place as a meeting room. I don’t think anyone would have realised.
The shouting woman smiled at me, then said some stuff I didn’t understand and then left me at the bar. She seemed nice.
A minute or so later, a lady came out of what I think is the kitchen.
She smiled at me and then also looked surprised that I was even there. I think she thought I was a health inspector or something.
I showed her the flyer and said that I would like to order a £5.00 lunch. I pointed at the words «Chicken Teriyaki».
I asked if it came with rice.
She looked at me, smiled and then she went quiet.
I didn’t know how to interpret this silence, so I didn’t. Despite being immediately aware of the fact she didn’t understand what I had asked, she was unwilling to give me any visible or verbal indication that she didn’t understand me.
Until finally…
«Ummmm»
Hurrah. She made a noise.
Then she smiled.
I did what anybody else would do. I just repeated myself.
Then she repeated her silence.
I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. I was suddenly in a position where I was questioning whether or not I was a bad person. I knew I was going to have to really earn my lunch.
After repeating the above process three times, she eventually went outside and grabbed the flyer woman.
The flyer woman came in, looked at me and smiled.
Silence.
What was odd at this stage is that the flyer woman gave me a look like she had never seen me before.
At this point, I thought they might just put me into a state of psychological bewilderment between them both and rob me.
I repeated the whole «Chicken Teriyaki» thing.
Then the flyer woman grabbed some kind of floating iPad from above the bar and proceeded to explain to me what she was doing as she was doing it.
It was as if she was asking for my approval as she was doing it.
I just agreed and kept saying «yup» and «mm».
Eventually, it appeared as though she had successfully ordered my lunch through this special app. She said some more stuff to the other lady and went back outside.
The smiling silent lady then disappeared off back into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, she came back out and said that it would be about 10 minutes, and I should wait.
So I did, I listened to the business meeting the two people were having. It was about PR.
I was also trying to listen to any food making sounds from the kitchen, as if that would ease my fear about actually receiving food.
Yes! The smiling strange lady is here with my food! It was in a white plastic bag, which was wrapped up.
I just wanted to get out at this point, so I left without even checking the food.
So — the food…
It wasn’t worth the experience.
There was some watery teriyaki source which sort of looked like when someone makes gravy really thin.
Then there was some soaking sad, wet carrot and pak choi floating around the bottom.
On top of that, lay chicken which was «meh».
Oh and I got the answer to my only question… there was no rice.

I have been here many times and this place has never disappointed. Recommend the Pad Thai as it is top shelf.
Thai chefs work in the kitchen and truly care about their product.
We thoroughly enjoy this place and recommend for all others to try. Try it once and you will return.
Update 8.5.2015. The food has changed over the last few months. New chef or cook. it Hit or miss with the dinner orders. Taking a pass for a few months to see if they figure it out.

Having just opened nearby, I’ve wanted to try this place out for weeks. As soon as I walked past the menu and spotted sushi, I was desperate to give the place a go. So, last night when my housemate and I were in need of food, bellies rumbling, we decided to head over to Rickshaw Oriental and give it a shot.
The interior has been designed beautifully, with atmospheric lighting, comfortable seating and elegant décor. We were seated quickly, as it was relatively quiet and the waitress was friendly enough. My friend ordered a glass of the house white which was apparently nice and, at £4, a much more reasonable option. I had a sparkling water which was, well, a sparkling water, so no complaints there!
As we were given our menus, the first disappointment came. There was no sushi at all available, much to my dismay, and there was limited sashimi options as well. As someone who’d come for the sushi, this was a little disheartening, to be honest, but hey! The show must go on.
After fair consideration, my friend and I both opted for the satay sauce dish with chicken. There was lots of appealing sounding stuff on the menu, including your typical Thai Green Curry and Pad Thai, for those wanting their more familiar Thai dishes.
Now bear in mind, as I said, our stomachs were rumbling, so when our food came out and we spied the rather small portions we were inwardly a little gutted. Not only were the portions small, but there was a distinct lack of quality to the food, which quickly became apparent, that was really disappointing. The sticky rice was hard and almost inedible, whilst the chicken satay was a little dry and lacking a certain excitement. Truth be told, the dish was more filling than expected, but it really was not the nicest food I’ve ever had.
Coming in at around £13 a main, too, it was not what we would have expected, standard wise. I’m not one to relish giving such a low rating, and I do accept that, having just opened, these guys might be experiencing some simple teething problems, but I really was very underwhelmed by the entire meal and so think it is a fair assessment. I’m going to return in a few months and hope they’ve found their feet, so I can update my review and hopefully add a star, but until then I’m afraid I won’t be recommending this place.