All you can eat – a buffet at reasonable price located at International Building in the heart of Orchard Road . This Indonesian restaurant, which serves an array of Indonesian cuisine, has become a highlight itself.

• The Vibe
  The Rice Table certainly exudes Indonesian vibes with its interior. The walls of the restaurant are painted in a lighter shade of brown with dark brown panels around the restaurant. Such warm colours accentuate the sense of homeliness which Indonesia is also known for. Matching the brown walls are the rattan weaved chairs, which is also yet another trademark of the Indonesians handicraft. Intricate designs and art pieces adorn the walls. As you wait for the arrival of your food, bask in the traditional Indonesian gamelan music, that is playing in the background. The Rice Table models its dining style and name after a Dutch term, “rijsttafel”, which means “rice table”. The concept of this restaurant is that an array of dishes is served and diners would heap a dollop of rice on their plates and then tuck in to the many dishes that await them on the “rechaud”, which is the food warmer. With the presence of the food warmer, diners need not worry about their food turning cold in the air conditioned restaurant.

• The Food
  Be prepared for the myriad of colours and aromas that you will be seeing and smelling on your table once the food arrives. For the price of $13.80++ and $19.80++ per person for lunch and dinner respectively, diners will be able to enjoy 14 different dishes for lunch and 20 dishes for dinner! Be awed as the waiters stack plates after plates of food on the food warmer for your consumption. Take your time to savour the delectable dishes, starting with the Chicken Soup. The aroma of the soup is bound to whet your appetite further. With different sorts of garnishing like spring onions and fried onions and shreds of chicken added, the soup, which has strands of vermicelli added in to it, has a hint of the different sorts of condiments that has been thrown added into the soup. Try the Chicken Satay, served with sweet and salty peanut sauce, which remained tender despite being grilled. Be wary of some of the dishes that are on the table as they look mild but can be pretty fiery. The Curry Tofu was one such dish, which looked harmless but was slightly on the spicier side. The spiciness pounce on you seconds after entering the mouth and the momentarily burning sensation could be felt at the back of the throat. But this is nothing a mouthful of water cannot combat. With the array of dishes that the eyes feast on, be prepared to get many different tastes of Indonesia , from its sweetness to its spiciness! And fret not if a particular favourite dish is finished because the waiters are always on stand-by to replenish whichever dishes that is requested.

The SD Food Advisor's take on The Rice Table
The unique thing about The Rice Table is that diners get to sample a variety of dishes at a pretty reasonable price. Diners also have the option of having a refill of their favourites at no additional cost at all. The ambience of The Rice Table is also very inviting to give you a traditional Indonesian dining experience.