Last night we wanted to try out the Red Bamboo, and ventured into the restaurant. Sadly the experience was nothing that I expected. Red Bamboo opened up a while ago in the same place where Butta Cup Lounge used to be. That was always a favorite of mine, and so when it closed down Red Bamboo moved in its place.
I personally am not vegan or vegetarian, but would not mind vegetarian food once in a while. Hence I looked forward to this experience. However a look at the menu left a lot to be desired.
For any restaurant to base its whole menu on trying to imitate meat and fish dishes is a little weird.
The reason I would want to eat vegetarian food is because I want vegetarian food. And if I wanted to eat shrimp I would go to a restaurant that served shrimp. Why take some veggie, and make it look like a shrimp in shape and then deep fry it and call it Cajun Shrimp.
Same with the dish that had mashed potato around a sugarcane stick and wanted to be taken seriously as a lamb shank (or something on those lines).
The décor of the place is nice, nothing spectacular. The seating could have ben a bit more creative. The lighting definitely needs working on.
The bar had no beer on tap. And the bottle selection was the regular stuff. Even among the Caribbean beers, only Red Stripe was represented.
The restaurant was nearly empty on the inside, but even then our server took a long time in getting our orders.
We ordered the cajun “shrimp” as an appetizer, and one bite into a rubbery mass was enough for me to pass on the dish. The missus however liked it so she polished it off.
The same was with our entrees. The flavours were nice but I wish they would try to make the dishes as real vegetarian or vegan dishes with their own identities instead of imitation the non vegetarian ones.
All in all I would not go back to this restaurant unless they changed their menu, one with its own identity. Especially since there are so many other interesting options all around.
Red Bamboo: [Restaurant Website]
Red Bamboo Picture Galler [Flickr]
Another Opinion [Gridskipper Review]
6 responses to “Red Bamboo Disappoints”
I’ve had several friends who have tried Red Bamboo, none of them vegetarians, and they all gave it the same exact review you did!
They only tried Red Bamboo hoping for some innovative vegetarian dishes, not fake meats, and said that if they wanted to eat [insert animal product here] then they would go to a place that served [said animal product].
Good review and good writings. Keep it up!
i wonder if this is an off-shoot of the vegetarian resaurant of hte same name in the village?
i’m a vegetarian myself, and while it does seem a little counter-productive to order a tofu steak, the sort of menu you describe is the often norm at a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. i understand your feelings on the fake meats, but red bamboo isn’t hte only one to do this–although they seem to do this to a high degree.. i suppose it’s either ‘tofu steak’ or ‘slab of seasoned tofu.’ you’re right, though: that doesn’t mean they should be creative…
thanks for the review/warning–now i know this place is around!
BrooklynJay
Thanks for your encouragement. Hope to see you often on this blog.
tee
You are welcome. if you ever land up at red bamboo, I would love to hear a vegetarians review of this place.
BrooklynJay
Thanks for your encouragement. Hope to see you often on this blog.
tee
You are welcome. if you ever land up at red bamboo, I would love to hear a vegetarians review of this place.
BrooklynJay
Thanks for your encouragement. Hope to see you often on this blog.
tee
You are welcome. if you ever land up at red bamboo, I would love to hear a vegetarians review of this place.
I echo your sentiments. I’m fine with eating meatless, and even welcome it now and then. But don’t over-spice tofu to leave a bad aftertaste in my mouth. “Buffalo Wings” are meant to be made of meat.
Worst is, there is hardly anything on their menu that’s not a “fake meat” product!