The Rice Barn
1037 Great Plain Ave, Needham, MA, 02492
The Rice Barn Menu
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Appetizers
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Soups
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Salads & Greens
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Entrees
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Seafood
Healthy Meal suggestions for The Rice Barn
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Appetizers
-
Soups
-
Salads & Greens
-
Entrees
-
Seafood
Visit below restaurant in Needham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Needham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1037 Great Plain Ave
Needham, MA, 02492 - Phone (781) 449-8300
- Website https://www.thericebarn.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Ben P.
The food was very good - it was a little less flavorful than ideal, but not problematically so, and that's really not a problem for a $10 lunch. Presentation was beautiful (See photo of rice pyramid), and I received exactly the right amount of food. The service was fast and nice - we walked in with 11 people without calling ahead and nothing got messed up at all. We were out within the hour. The waitstaff was patient and friendly, and it was nice to see that there was no gratuity added on to our bill (of course we tipped appropriately). The restaurant was clean and decently lit, and had a somewhat crisp atmosphere. Although I don't often sit down for meals in Needham, I would definitely return to this place if I find myself able to spend the time again.
(5)Samantha P.
Honestly, the best food I've had in a really long time! Our office gets take out from many places in Needham, but I have to say I've addicted the whole office! Gyozo is superb and delicate, yet filling and the Salmon lunch box is INCREDIBLE! This is a type of place you have to experience for yourself!
(5)Adam G.
While in the area, we decided to stop at the Rice Barn. The space is pleasant and the menu had the standard thai and asian fusion options. I went with the spicy basil noodle, which came with the wide noodles (which I love), pepper and basil. It had a significant amount of spice but was not overbearing. I'll certainly return if I am in the area - it is a convenient location if you are in the Needham area and do not plan on heading into Boston.
(3)Rob I.
Absolutely love this place for work lunch - wish I was in the area more often! Great for take-out or dine-in. Can be a quick option to take with you to the office, but they also have a nice bar and dining room for lunch with business associates. The curry dishes and coconut curry soups are all fantastic!
(5)Imtiyaz M.
Food is ok. Not the best. No other Thai restaurant in Needham results in higher traffic to this place. If you are in mood of Thai food, live in Needham and don't want to drive to Cambridge / Boston for better Thai food, try the rice barn.
(3)Jacqueline C.
Not a fan of the tamarind duck. The sauce is basically sweet and sour sauce with water..and the pineapple chuck doesn't go with it.. We like the spicy basil noodle though! A bit spicy and the taste is on the heavy side. We will certainly go back for other dishes. They do have decent food. Bonus: my friend left his cap at the restaurant and the hostess ran out to find us.
(4)Alliea G.
Fantastic! A++++ I get takeout from this restaurant at least once per week - everything that I have ever had from here has been perfection! Though my food heaven there is the Chiang Mai noodles - the best curry sauce! Its been three hours since I ate lunch and I am still on a food high! Great Service; Great Food!
(5)Jenn S.
We ordered takeout from the Rice Barn on a Saturday night. Since they don't deliver (hence the 4, not 5 stars), my husband ran out to get it. For 4 people, we got 2 orders of Chicken Pad Thai, 1 Ginger Chicken, 1 order of Gyozas and an order of Spring Rolls. We had almost nothing left! Just 1 spring roll and enough Pad Thai and a bit of Ginger Chicken for 1 more meal. We've eaten at a lot of Thai places and are somewhat picky, as we like our Pad Thai and we like it in a specific way. And we loved this Pad Thai! The spring rolls were crispy, the gyozas were flavorful and the Ginger Chicken was delish! This is definitely our new favorite Thai place. When placing the order, I had asked if we could have limes with the Pad Thai and she said she'd have to check. I said "it's ok, no worries." And then limes came (in a separate container - nice detail) with the order! I don't know the price, as my husband paid when he picked it up, but we got a ton of GOOD food, so I think it was worth it. :)
(4)Thu T.
Rice Barn is the best location around the Wellelsley area to get Thai food. It's certainly notches higher in atmosphere and food quality than the resident Coconut Thai and Lemon Thai, which have their fill of college students ordering all hours of the day. Their soups (Tom Yum and Tom Kha) are tasty and come in a good "soupy" size. As for entrees, I enjoyed their Massaman Short Ribs, the Big Bowl Noodle Soup, Pad Thai, and Pad See Ew. I would skip the appetizers since those seem under portioned...and most are not authentic Thai dishes, like the Roti Canai and the Saigon Fresh Rolls. Yeah no...
(4)Julie T.
Really want to support this place.But...funny overall funky bar odor apon entering the restaurant. Host was very nice, drink service slow, food service rather quick so glad we ordered apps first before ordering dinner. The atmosphere is nice,nice music. Now the food...some good some not great. Beef macadamia was very good,rice presentation is nice. soft shelled crab dishes were good, pad thai disappointing. It seemed as though it was not freshly made, no?bean sprouts ?ground peanuts..seemed more like a lo mein dish. crab rangoons were good, potstickers very good. Chilean see bass had a strange presentation,the deep frying took away from the fish...we decided we will give it a try once more, sit at the bar and split a couple of entrees. For Thai does not compare to the food and service at Crystals Kitchen in West Bridgewater, albeit the atmosphere is nicer at the rice barn.
(3)Libby B.
I went to grab some take out here one afternoon. Although the food was great, the service was very lacking and I left feeling like they didn't care that I was there at all. They didn't give me my food when the bag finally came out but rather, they worried more about the people who came after me getting their take out. Didn't make much sense serving the ones just walking in than the one who had already paid.
(3)Katy W.
Wow, this was an unexpected surprise. My mother and I had a challenging day of shopping in the area and were famished. Yelp didn't lead me astray when it brought us here. The decor at The Rice Barn is similar to many Thai places in California that I really miss. The prices were higher than I was anticipating, but they are smart to have noodle and rice staples that are much more affordable. We were here for a relatively quick dinner, but I would seriously consider coming back for a tasty and relaxed meal with my husband. The service was also very nice and attentive without being obtrusive. The pad see-ew I had was absolutely delicious. I order this quite often in Thai places while my husband usually tries the Pad Thai. My mom liked her pad thai which seemed more peanut-based and without the strong red (tomato?) coloring that is so characteristic. Based on my pad see-ew and the different flavors it offered, I trust the pad thai was up to standard. We skipped dessert, but I heard the menu being described to another table and it sounded unbelievably good, not just the kind of items tacked on at the end of the meal. I would save room if you go. The Rice Barn is definitely worth making a destination of its own!
(5)Josh G.
Review for takeout experience only - Rice Barn Fail. We tried to order take out the other night and were told it would be ready in 20-25 minutes. Upon arrival, we were informed that the food had not been started and would be an additional 20 minutes. When we asked why we weren't told that when we called, they said we spoke to the person at the bar, and he didn't know how long it would take. A family friend was also in the restaurant waiting for her food, and informed us she had been waiting for over an hour, and it still wasn't done. So, we cancelled our order. I've had their food many times before. It was fine, not amazing. Probably not going back after this.
(1)Roger M.
My wife and I love this restaurant. This is our third dinner visit. It has some fanatic Thai inspired dishes. It is not a Thai restaurant. Instead, it has the flavors of Asian fusion For example, I had Sable fish in miso sauce over wilted spinach. The fish was delicate and prepated perfectly. The light sauce really brought out the flavor. My wife had deliciously prepated shrimp curry. I REALLY APPRECIATE their desire to accommodate. I restrict my carbohydrates. They not only let me substitute for the rice, they brought an extra salad for the inconvenience. Go. It is worth it.
(5)Mike A.
The food was OK. The problem is, when I walked in there is a table in front of you in the middle of the restaurant with used CD's for sale (yes, compact disks the kind people used to use to listen to music). There were used Rod Stewart and Whitney Houston CDs on sale for $15. This was weird and I felt like I was at a flea market or a garage sale rather than a restaurant.
(2)A C.
What a horrible let down! Roti canai is nothing like the roti canai I thought it would be. It was more like scallion pancake with curry dipping sauce and ridiculously oily...all that for 7 bucks.... The only thing that was fine was the chicken fried rice and Tom yum soup. Pad thai is not my type, way too much sauce. I prefer the dry stir fried noodle. Big bowl noodle soup while it tasted alright/ehh, the portion is kid size....I mean if all you want is soup more than noodles then this would work. Don't bother with the chicken wings. They are the typical breaded wing dings you get at pizza joints. For the price they are charging and the portion I got, I would not come back.
(1)Brian W.
We've heard great things about Rice Barn, but always end up at Stone Hearth when we trek out to Needham. Happy to report that this place lived up to the hype. Great gluten free menu with lots of options. Interesting drink menu and classy setting inside - not some dive take-out Thai place. The food was tasty and the presentation was very nice. It's a bit of a modern twist on some of the classic dishes, but the flavors were still there. While it was a good experience, I don't think it was SO good that we'd choose Rice Barn over our local Thai places.
(4)Gill T.
Have been there twice, I didn't see anything special. And there are always too many people , so we have to wait a long time for service and food.
(3)Scott M.
Always excellent for both lunch and dinner. The food is the closet to real food from Thailand you can get. Nothing is overloaded with vegetables like some Thai places. All the herbs are fresh and flavorful. The Tom Yum Soup and Papaya salad are excellent. For Entrees The shortrib Massaman Curry and and Wok Basil Chicken ga prow are my favorites. For lunch the Chiang Mai Noodles and Duck Noodles soup are amazing. Defiantly the best Thai restaurant around. I come here weekly for lunch!
(5)Matthew J.
Lunch specials were a great value and delicious. Excellent service. Nice environment.
(4)Jamie S.
Like other reviewers, my husband and I both left Rice Barn feeling rather underwhelmed. The food we ate was not bad, but nor was it particularly notable. What was notable was the unfortunately high prices for the food that was being served. I had wok-fried glass noodles with your standard noddle-stir fry accoutrements - $12 for tofo. My husband had Rice Barn's answer to a bowl of pho - $14. Most of the curry entrees started at $19 and went up to $25. The ambiance was nice. The restaurant well designed. The service was friendly, unobtrusive, and nice. But we will not be going back.
(3)Catherine W.
I had a good lunch here, but not a flawless one. I started with the Tom Yom soup, which was served just shy of hot. I almost considered sending it back to be re-warmed. The broth was delicious and flavorful. The tofu, however, was cut into chunks way to large for soup, and I had to break them down with my spoon to eat them. My mom opted for the spring rolls as her appetizer. They were tasty, but not anything better than I've had most places. For my main meal I had the sesame chicken salad. I was pleasantly surprised by how light the dressing was, and how flavorful the chicken was. That said, I think it could have benefited from the addition of one or two more ingredients - maybe some chopped mango or another Thai vegetable - as it was very simple for what I paid. My mom's said her salmon special was tasty, especially the shredded vegetables that came with the dish, but that the salmon itself was very underseasoned. A sauce would have gone a long way.
(3)Amelia T.
This is one of my top five places to go to for a date night, a nice family dinner, or dinner with friends. I was initially lured here by the sign in front proclaiming gluten-free options available, since it is surprisingly hard to find asian food that I can be sure is gluten free. I have never had any issues with gluten here, and this is coming from a celiac. The decor is nice, open, clean, and elegant. A pianist sometimes plays evenings during the dinner time. We usually begin with the chicken satay or saigon fresh roll appetizer. The fresh roll sauce is delicious. For my entree I usually go with (gluten free) fried rice with chicken or tofu. I like it because a) it's presented nicely, b) the rice is always perfectly cooked, and c) I don't feel like there is too much "stuff". It doesn't taste salty or overly fried like a lot of fried rice tends to. I also highly recommend the salmon mango tango (and not just because of the name). I can't speak much for the rest of the menu, but whenever I eat hear my fellow diners always speak highly of their meals as well. Drinks. I love the drinks (again, not just for the names) - recommend razzle dazzle martini and rice barn mai tai. I'm not super picky about specific flavorings and whanot, so I can't really comment on seasonings, etc., but I can say I've always enjoyed the experience here. Only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because it can be on the more expensive-ish side, but that's to be expected.
(4)Eugene S.
Second time. Excellent service and fresh and delicious gluten free food. Nice martini specials.
(4)Stu A.
Having lived in Asia for a while we are always on the lookout for authentic Thai food. We found the Rice Barn very Americanized Thai - food had very little spice (a clear requirement of good Thai food), and for a few dishes it was tough to tell if it was Chinese, Thai or another Asian fare. Add to that, given our weekday visit the restaurant literally shook from the commuter train going by 2 or 3 times during dinner. And how can a Thai restaurant not have Singha beer available? So while the food was overall "okay", it was short of what we hoped for.
(3)Bronwyn B.
Wonderful food. Fresh, authentic and delicious. Gracious and pleasant service. A little on the expensive side for Asian food but worth it. The quality of the ingredients and care in preparation is obvious. I only wish the restaurant were closer to my home.
(5)Jessica S.
One of my favorite places to eat lunch during the week, The Rice Barn is a great spot for some Thai! The bento-style boxes are what I always order, and each time they are delicious and arrive quickly to our table. The thai iced coffee is divine, too. The service is very, very good and even during the peak lunch hours, it's not too packed with people, but just enough so that you know it's a good place. The price is right, the food is great... so I'll keep coming here!
(4)Mark W.
Went for lunch the place is clean friendly service the dishes were just blah even the spicy dishes just had no heat. For me when I think Thai food I think spicy and The Rice Barn just didn't deliver.
(3)Nicholas U.
Went here for a celebration dinner with my girlfriend. Extremely good experience. Wait staff was excellent and very attentive. Our waitress made a mistake on one of our drinks, but she knew her mistake immediately and got out the correct drink as soon as she could so we didn't mind. They had a live pianist playing at the restaurant as well, which set an excellent tone for the experience. We got an appetizer and each got our own dish. My entree was ginger salmon and my girlfriend got a mango/shrimp rice mixture. Both were extremely delicious and flavorful. Would definitely come back again.
(5)Lisa H.
Fresh, quality ingredients, and an extensive gluten free menu. One of our staples for takeout, despite the 20-25 minute drive!
(5)Howie B.
Very solid and dependable Thai in a relaxing, sophisticated atmosphere. Went with several colleagues for lunch. My Pad see-ew was a generous portion in a nice, rich brown sauce. The chicken was really carmelized, but a little dried out. Still, I liked it a lot. They have one of my favorite dishes here - the Flower Cups, which is ground chicken and veggies served in light, crispy shells. These are accompanied by a clear sweet and sour sauce. They are fantastic!
(4)Grant S.
Pretty good Thai food and one of the better spots in the Needham area for Asian cuisine.
(3)Lisa G.
Went here with my mom for dinner the dinner was great with just thpe right amount of heat the only thing that wasn't great was they were really busy forgot my drink and I t was very loud with the piano music.
(4)Tracy R.
We went to The Rice Barn for the first time last night and LOVED it! The food was delicious. I eat strictly vegetarian and my husband eats a lot of meat so this place was perfect for both of us. I had the coconut soup and red curry bowl and both were incredible. Very nice staff. Definitely recommend. We'll be back for sure!
(5)Michael S.
I love Thai food. I eat a lot of Thai food. And rarely, if ever, do I not enjoy my Thai food--most of it falls quite comfortably between "not the best I've ever had" and "the best I've ever had". Until yesterday, in my twenty or so years of eating Thai food regularly in the New York, San Francisco, and Boston metropolitan areas (and, once, for a few days, in Thailand), no-one has ever served me Thai food so bad I wouldn't eat it. Until yesterday. Yesterday, as you might have guessed, I took my family to eat at The Rice Barn. To start, I ordered the Saigon Fresh Rolls. These are the shrimp-and-rice noodle rolls wrapped in mint leaves and rice paper that are served at every Thai restaurant. Except Rice Barn decided to put some avocado and mango in there, along with some basil leaves. Even in California, where they literally put avocado in everything, I never saw anyone put avocado in a Thai spring roll. Imagine a spring roll. Now imagine someone violating that spring roll with some sweet-and-sour shrimp and a California Roll. You're close. They also served it with Hoisin sauce instead of the usual peanut sauce. I would have tried it with chili sauce, but I couldn't get my server's attention. Because I love garlic, I ordered the "Garlic Lover's Chicken" instead of my usual green curry as an entree. Perhaps "Garlic Lover's Chicken" is a case of poor translation from the original Thai? I could not taste any garlic. In fact, there was very little flavor at all (maybe a hint of soy). This is not surprising, given that the chicken was so overcooked that any flavor was squeezed out with along with the last bits of moisture. I was not able to eat even half of it. My wife ordered the cashew chicken, which I tried, and which impossibly was even drier and tougher than mine. Hers had a bit more flavor; unfortunately, it was (a) not a familiar Thai flavor profile and (b) awful. Think soy sauce, the juice from canned pineapples, and sweet vermouth, heavily diluted with water that has been soaking in a burned pan. My kids shared a Pad See Ew. I love Pad See Ew almost as much as I love garlic. Insert your own Pad See "Eeew!" joke here. Definitely the best dish of the three, the Pad See Ew was a solid 4/10. Overcooked noodles, poorly flavored, meh. The rice was fine, and served in interesting little pyramids of half-white half-brown/red rice. I ate all my rice. Oh, did I mention that the service was terrible (the waitress who took our order did not speak very good english, and disappeared for long stretches of time, including after handing my wife the wine list because she said she wanted to order a glass of wine); the waitress who brought our food and drink somehow managed to NEVER make eye contact, to the point where my wife had to call out pretty loudly to get her to stop the third time she came to our table, so that she could put in the darn drink order--the wine came just as we were finishing). And did I mention that the restaurant is on the train tracks so our meal was regularly interrupted by the commuter rail barreling past a few feet from our table? Terrible food? Terrible service? Terrible ambiance? That's OK, because it's also RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED! I would give 0 stars if I could.
(1)Lydia H.
I went to the Rice Barn with my family for my father's birthday dinner. I had told them it was his birthday when I made the reservation, but sadly they forgot to say anything to him - actually, because it was the night before Mother's Day, they mentioned Mother's Day a couple of times instead. Now, I get that it's tough to remember birthdays and holidays, but we had made an effort to focus on Dad this year, so I was miffed that the servers talked about Mother's Day instead. The food was just okay-- the peanut sauce with the satay was apparently tasty, but the chicken was greasy. I had the lemongrass beef salad, and the beef didn't taste that fresh or flavorful... the salad dressing was critical and plenty citrusy, so that was good. My boyfriend didn't much care for his steak entree, but my mother liked her shrimp curry dish. The decor was lovely, and our waitress was friendly, but the service was also a bit slow... Overall, 2 stars it is. I would give it another shot-- maybe it's hit or miss!
(2)Naveen V.
Classy decor. I ordered the Yellow Curry with vegetables and rice - Excellent taste with a mix of sweet and spicy flavors. The presentation of the rice dish in the form of a pyramid was beautiful. Superb value for money place with excellent service.
(5)Jackie K.
Service is always great. Pad Thai is some of the best in Boston area. I'd rather come here then make a trip into the city for the same quality of food. Great value.
(5)Alissa S.
First, I have never and probably will never order anything other than the chicken pad thai, but it is amazing, filling, huge portion, etc. and you can choose whether you want it extra spicy or not. Second, I have to give props to a place that once did this: I called ahead with my order and then got stuck at work longer than expected. When I arrived to pick up my food, the hostess remembered my order and said "Oh, that will be cold by now. They'll make you a new one!". It took maybe 10 minutes for them to make a new batch, which resulted in still getting a hot, delicious lunch. Much appreciated.
(4)L H.
Good thai food, both pricier and fancier than many other restaurants serving Asian cuisine. As a fan of Asian cuisine and in particular authentic Thai food, I have to say that The Rice Barn is one of the more upscale Thai restaurants I've visited. What it lacks in authenticity it makes up for in atmosphere and presentation. Food: Having had both the traditional Thai dishes (pad thai, chicken satay, etc.) as well as more Western-influenced dishes (rack of ribs) in my visits here, I believe that the diverse menu does a good job of catering to diverse tastes. Presentation of the food is beautiful, portions are relatively generous for entrees (less so for the appetizers, particularly the satay), and most importantly, the food tastes pretty good. Atmosphere: The space is small and often lit with candles, a good romantic destination but not really one for large groups. Price: While not too expensive when compared to most Western sit-down restaurants, you can still find better pad thai at more casual, inexpensive places.
(3)Kris S.
As a thai, this must be one of the best places in general to grab thai food outside boston. The restaurant has many signature dishes. I would reccomend the chiang mai crispy noodles, and the ladna. Their food is pretty good in general, and doesnt dissapoint often. Although their drinks are quite pricy, its still well off to other thai restaurants.
(5)Kristina P.
I arrived 15-20 minutes before my friends were expected, and while knowing this, the host was kind enough to give me a table, anyway. He even brought me complimentary tea to enjoy when I realized they were running a little behind and I apologized for having claimed a table already. I had the lettuce wraps, and while I can't recall what my friends ate (maybe pad Thai?), we all enjoyed our choices. The portions were great: two of us finished our meals, and one took home leftovers. While the food was very good, based on that alone, I'd award 3.5 or 4 stars. I'm going with 5, instead, because the atmosphere was so nice and the service was exceptional. I thought the lighting was just right and really appreciated the live music (piano), which wasn't so loud as to be a distraction. Finally, my friends and I lost track of time and chatted until the restaurant was closed. Rather than rush us out, they encouraged us to stay and brought us some chocolates in honor of Valentine's Day. I still felt guilty for lingering, but they couldn't possibly have made us feel more welcome. I look forward to introducing my husband to this place and will certainly recommend it to other friends, as well.
(5)Lynette S.
The pad thai ($14 for dinner) sauce was rich, if you can handle it you will enjoy. It may be too heavy for some. The apps were delicious! Great service, beautiful restaurant.
(4)Matt M.
Food and waitstaff are top notch, however sometimes there is not enough servers. Can be slow. Worth it if you are patient.
(4)Julia J.
I tried the chicken pad thai since I don't believe a Thai restaurant have good food if the most basic dish tastes bad. The food tastes okay, but I was worried about the amount of sugar and vinegar they put in the food. I might give it a second try and see if I like other things
(3)Teresa B.
Delicious Thai food and great service! The atmosphere is relaxing and upscale without being over-the-top. Mango martinis are great, and fabulous pad thai!
(5)Sonia M.
We have tried coming here a few times but they have kind of weird hours :-) It was worth the wait - the food was awesome. I would reserve it for a special occasion as it's kind of pricey. The kids had the Pad-see-ew which was delicious and so were the ChiangMai noodles. Will be back
(4)Vanessa L.
Visiting from out of town. Nice ambience. It smells a little funny in here, but it seems like no one else notices. Ordered... Saigon rolls with tofu. Upon second bite I realized they were shrimp. I'm glad I don't have a seafood allergy. The rolls were not very interesting as far as flavor. They cod have used a really good sauce to accompany. Maybe a plum sauce? Anyway I always think a seafood mixup is a huge deal because of the legal reactions people can have. Clear soup was good: it isn't complicated. Next is pad see-ew. I don't like it. The chicken and veggies are fresh, but I don't like it. I'm not sure if the shrimp mixup bothers me or why but I don't care for the see-ew. I ordered steamed vegetables...
(3)Michael M.
Pad Thai here was good. Very, very busy during lunch hours and on the weekends. Easily the best Thai restaurant in the area that has a ton to choose from.
(4)Laura W.
The Rice Barn is a beautiful restaurant where Thai food is served very elegantly. I think I ate the best served duck in any restaurant, Asian or not. I don't know how they do it, but the duck was crispy yet very moist. They set it on sauce that delicately matched the duck. Most cooks drown the duck over with sauce, but they set it on top of the sauce instead, preventing the duck from loosing its crispness. Bravo! They do adjust for spice level even though the menu displays the "hot chilly" labels on certain dishes. It is a Thai restaurant, but it is Americanized Thai. The service is very quick and friendly. Thank goodness there is a non conforming restaurant in a sea of generic food.
(4)Chris M.
Pros: My food was yummy. I has the tofu and wonton soup, both were delicious. Cool atmosphere & bar room Cons: My two friends had the mango salmon and said it was a bit dry and bland. It's a bit pricey for what you get Overall: it's a good place to get a tasty meal in a nice restaurant
(4)Robert D.
Great service and great food.
(5)Adam F.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Needham area. I go there for lunch with my coworkers almost every week, and never had a bad meal. My favorite entree is their Chicken Basil lunch plate. And unlike other restaurants, when they say something is spicy, it's actually fairly spicy. Plus if you time it right, you'll get to see the train from Inception while you eat (it's located seriously close to a commuter rail line).
(5)Chris C.
Tasty food and extremely friendly staff. Definitely recommend this place if your stomach is on a quest for a Vietnamese/Thai fusion. Plenty of parking nearby as well.
(5)Lisa M.
This is a wonderful Asian restaurant in Needham Center. I love the Korean stir-fried noodles and they have yummy crab rangoon. It's clean and has a fresh, modern feel. They also have a cute bar area with custom cocktails.
(4)Jessica S.
We've ordered take out from here a few times at work as others have pointed out, there aren't really any other Thai options in Needham. People in the office generally enjoy the food, especially those who have ordered the lunch boxes. Both times I have gotten the Chicken Basil, which at most other Thai places is spicy, but here it really lacks spice and some flavor. Those in the office who ordered the Pad Thai feel that it is so-so. Even though the food hasn't blown me away, I've never had a problem with it being cold, greasy etc so I'll be generous and give it that 3rd star. Whenever I go to pick up the food, it is ready quickly and still hot, so no complaints there. I generally order for 25 or so people and the staff is always friendly enough to help me carry it out to my car, which is definitely appreciated. Not overly familiar with the area so can't say if there is anything near by that is better, but the Rice Barn is an ok choice.
(3)M B.
Not bad at all. We were in a group business dinner. Very nice atmosphere and good service. The food was ok but a bit too sweetened and Americanized. Good, but missing a bit of flavor. But it is a nice place.
(4)Aboud Y.
Pretty decent spot for some Pan-Asian cuisine. You may need to break out some Siracha or salt to add some punch to a few of their blander dishes.
(3)Cindy W.
Got the Pad See You, pineapple fried rice and the papaya salad (med spice). The noodles were great but it seemed like the noodles were a little overly tossed. Papaya salad was spicy and tangy! yum! And as for the pineapple fried rice was sweet and savory as the same time. Only got take. Will maybe give it another shot another time. Thought it was a little pricy for Thai food but then again...it is Needham.
(2)Liz S.
I've gotten take out here a few times and loved it, but when I came here recently for my first dine-in experience I loved it even more! First off they have gluten-free menus, which is pretty much all it takes to enamor me of a place, but their food is so delicious on top of that. There are a lot of lazy restaurants out there that just take their regular menu and put things that can be made into something gluten free by subtracting a necessary ingredient and making a bunch of tasteless so-called meals. Rice Barn's GF menu is not like that, it has some really tasty items! I'm thinking about going vegan, so I ordered a dish with tofu. This was the best tofu I've ever had, so now I'm thinking maybe I can do this vegan thing. Service was great, as I expected from how friendly they were when I got take out.
(5)Todd H.
Love this place. Great Thai cuisine and excellent service even if it is a bit pricey. Worth it.
(5)Jamie G.
Was so excited to finally get food here since I work down the block, but sorry to say that it was a HUGE let down. Got the Saigon rolls- shrimp, basil, lettuce, noodles and carrots. Thick soy dipping sauce Came with 4 and they were huge. They were pretty good, though I've had better. Also got Pad thai with tofu (obivously) and was VERY disappointed! Very greasy. Not very flavorful. Bean sprouts all mixed in so they got soft. Not much egg. Not much green onions. No peanuts. Just mainly noodles and grease. YUCK. ...and it was $20 total. Seemed very expensive for what it was. I will probably not be back here for thai! Which I guess is good, cuz otherwise I'd be spending a fortune here every day if I loved it!
(2)Ilona F.
Met a friend here for lunch while I was visiting the area. The decor was spare and elegant, somewhat surprising for this suburb. The food was served on lovely china; the tea cup and saucer, with a fine basket weave pattern, was noteworthy. I wasn't terribly hungry so ordered the papaya salad with grilled shrimp; it was spicy but also had some odd undertone (or under aroma?) that reminded me a bit of cleaning supplies...somehow, the flavor balance was lopsided in favor of harsh. And it was served with just a handful of medium shrimp. Should I return again, I'll stick with a noodle dish.
(3)Greg L.
Have been to this restaurant often. Owners are always friendly and service is quick and competent. I've tried many of the dishes they have to offer and have never had less than a wonderful meal. Portions are large enough to share easily, but the food is so good you won't want to. Try the Fried Scallops appetizer! Other appetizers I like are the Curry Puffs and the Crab Rangoon (though they're all good). For an entree they have one of the best Pad Thai's I have ever had, but you can't go wrong with the Rice Barn Ribs, Salmon Mango-Tango, Massaman Short Ribs, or Chicken Green Curry. And they make a great martini as well.
(4)A. K.
The service is a bit rushed, and the prices are a bit high. But the food is tasty. I wish they served more veggie with their mains.
(3)C S.
This is terrific place! The food is always wonderful, the wait staff courteous, and the atmosphere is relaxing. This is my go to place for work lunches--I know the people I am inviting there will be happy with the food and the service--and I love coming for dinner with my family. They have always been wonderful with my daughter. Try the lychee martini. We were on the fence about making an offer on a house we had just seen in Needham and stumbled into the Rice Barn for the first time to talk it over. After having a lychee martini we decided to move to Needham. being close to the Rice Barn tipped and that heavenly drink tipped the scale!
(5)Amy R.
Ordered take out here and was so looking forward to a good Thai meal. What a huge disappointment. Shu Mai was wrapped in a dough that had the consistency of paste. Chicken and vegetable dish was bland with tough overcooked white chicken. Barbecued ribs had an off taste that was sweet and bland. We had two cartons of white rice with the order. Two thirds through one carton, the white rice disappeared and It looked like it had been partially filled with some sort of brown gooey rice and then topped with the white rice. As though someone didn't look inside the container before dumping in the white rice. Probably one the worst Thai restaurants I've encountered. Nothing authentic, very Americanized. Perfect for the unadventurous suburban palate that can be fooled by mediocrity.
(2)Arinne B.
The Rice Barn has *the* best Pad See Euw, IMHO. Their pad thai and pineapple fried rice is also pretty tasty. I haven't been blown away by their app's though. I'm not gluten-free, but I notice that they have a menu catering to folks who are. The ambiance is lovely--upscale, modern, clean, and relaxing. Every now and then a train rattles the place when the commuter rail rolls by, but otherwise it's a S. End-like oasis in Needham. I deducted a star because I wish they were better for take out. They don't do delivery and when you do take-out the portions are almost half the size of when you eat-in. When I eat-in, the prices seem reasonable, given the ambiance and service. When I get take out, I'm usually frustrated by the high prices, small portions, and decided lack of protein and vegetables in my "to go" meal. (I once had only 3 shrimp and two pieces of broccoli in my shrimp pad see euw.) Although their food is much better than other thai places locally, I've taken to ordering from Lemon Thai in Wellesley when I want delivery or take out because the portions and prices are more reasonable, while still tasting pretty great.
(4)Rick B.
Consistently great meals. When the in-laws come to town it's the only place we go. Great ambiance, but also excellent as take-out. Pad Thai is spectacular.
(5)Sarah L.
Rice Barn....how I miss thee. Used to come here for lunch as much as possible. Great lunch specials, phenom curry.....they will actually make it Thai spicy if you ask (versus "American spicy" which is really not spicy, more like mild salsa) basically, as most other people on here have said, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jessi E.
Good food. Stupid name. It's like a hot chick named Gertrude or Ethel. Appetizers were tasty and creatively presented. Didn't care for the "flower cups" though, which were rather flavorless and served in some kind of garden tool apparatus. Salmon entrees were generous and looked yummy. My boyfriend's mom got the Alaskan butterfish. Blue Ginger is the only other place I know that serves butterfish, and I think the Rice Barn's was better. Boyfriend and I split the yellow curry. Should have asked for it mild. I felt like I was having hot flashes. I'll be back, Gertrude.
(4)Melissa D.
I have only gotten take out so I have not experienced the restaurant side. It looks like it's easy to get a table. Onto the food - Prices change from lunch to dinner but portions stay the same so that's my only finicky point. My faves: -Chicken Satay -Roti Canai (good portions) -Pineapple Fried Rice -Salmon Basil (so good with this thick spicy jam) -Pad See-ew (my go to lunch choice) -and of course - Pad Thai Food is ready in about 10 minutes and will be true to your order if you want the food really hot or wimpy.
(4)Ben L.
My sis got the crab cake salad--which was good, but a little weird. My brother got a noodle dish. I got the duck noodle soup, which was very good. We also split an order of basil fried rice--just the right spicy, also very good. Service was good--they were quick on refills and bringing our order to the table. I'd recommend and would return.
(4)Cindy K.
I've been hesitant to try this Thai restaurant in Needham from my gut reaction to its appearance that it's overpriced Americanized Thai food. But we were lazy to leave our area so we gave it a try and I have to say, my gut instinct was right. It was indeed overpriced and mediocre Thai food. I will say that the food presentation was very nice and the decor/ambiance is also very nice. But if you're looking for some authentic Thai food (at more affordable prices), head over to Brookline for Dok Bua.
(3)Catherine W.
This is an unexpected find in Needham! I enjoyed the duck curry, and service was super friendly. Portions were very generous when I was there. I also love the decor; it definitely has a sophisticated, "city, " feel. I would go back again.
(4)Krystyna B.
Love this place! We are Asian food fanatics and Rice Barn passed the test. Great food, lovely service, hippish ambience with gentle prices. As a bonus, we wheeled our 80+ matriarch in, with wheelchair (and some spillage at table) and the staff was totally gracious about it. (Despite senior citizen spillage.) If I could I would eat here daily...pass the word...this place is a find in a somewhat evolving town (hey, I'm from NYC, I can't help being cynical). Seriously, Needham has potential: and with more establishments like this one, it might make a comeback...
(5)Julie B.
Ate here for the first time last night, really good food and friendly service. Very good genuine Thai food in a pleasant and relaxing environment. I will definitely be back.
(4)David H.
It's not often that I feel compelled to go online and share anything with the www, but tonight's meal at the Rice Barn was practically inedible. Thankfully we had started off with appetizers with the plan that we would order more food as we went along....no need - called for the check.....but what crowned the evening, was the almost unapologetic host.....what a c__p experience....poor Needham, Rice Barn goes along with most of the other eateries in the town
(1)Lee H.
Although I was a bit trepidacious at first after seeing the web site with the rather chic decor (I tend to favor family-style high-value places), I gotta say that my meal at the Rice Barn is the best Thai food I can remember. My previous favorites, the King and I and the Amarin, are both very good (and perhaps a slightly better value), but for sheer quality the Rice Barn is tops. The ambiance is clean and elegant. The Thai Spring rolls were hot, crispy, and very, very fresh tasting. The Pad Thai was rich, with layered flavors. Chicken slightly grilled. A good size portion too. My wife's Jungle Tofu was spicy, with wonderfully fresh basil flavors. Even the Thai iced tea was excellent - the tea flavor was not lost in the condensed milk. The only downside is that quality comes with prices about 40% higher than other Thai restaurants. Sometimes it's worth paying extra.
(5)Julie N.
Great Thai iced tea and curries. Can sub brown rice! Box lunches are a good value.
(4)Dianna B.
Update: Downgrading to 2 stars. The fast few times I've eaten from her, I haven't felt well after. Are they using MSG? Does my body not react well to MSG? Hubby still loves their food, though. The decor: very cool, modern vibe. Extremely clean. The food: entrees are good (especially the Chinatown Street Noodle and Spicy Basil Tofu). The apps (only ever tried the dumplings & rolls) are only OK. The services: you never need to wait for a table, the food comes out quick, but the waitresses are otherwise inattentive. Hard to get more water / refill your drink. Prices are reasonable (well, except for the wines) and this has become one of our default places to go in Needham for a quick, good and affordable bite to eat.
(2)Steve R.
My wife and I lived in Needham for about 5 years and dined out often in the area. Although there are a number of outstanding restaurants in Metro-west Boston, the Rice Barn was always our favorite. The food is great - contemporary, fresh, clean Thai-fusion. The service and atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious, and the owner got to recognize us over time and was always very friendly. We now live in an area with a plethora of different Asian dining options, but we still miss The Rice Barn. Try the spicy basil noodles, the lemongrass seafood soup, and if you're lucky enough to be there when it's a special the sea bass and veggies cooked in foil.
(5)Hugh E.
Consistently Awesome! Never had a bad meal here. Staff is always nice too.
(5)Mike F.
Only been here once on vacation, not sure about 5 stars but probably 4.5. Excellent chicken fried rice and another chicken dish my sister let me finish. I'm not very cultured/adventurous about food, and there's no decent (real) Chinese food where I live, but this is very good, in my limited experience.
(4)Andrew M.
They presented our food in a really cute way, so if that's your kind of thing...I have a vague recollection that the service wasn't fantastic, but I enjoyed the food a lot. Mainly, we felt let down because Sweet Basil doesn't take reservations and is ALWAYS crowded...but not a bad econd alternative, I thought.
(4)Erin M.
Rice Barn could easily be four stars if they would turn up the heat just a little. Two out of three times I have gone (i.e. every time I've gone in cold weather), it's been COLD. Like every patron in the restaurant is wearing their jacket and hat cold. I'm not that picky about ambiance, but we were all happy when our food came because of the prospect of something warm. That's too cold. Now for all the good: food is a delicious, in a sort of Asian-American fusion style. Most recently when I went I ordered the Mongolian Fillet Mignon (a special), and it was very tender and flavorful. Everyone I went with agreed that we would prefer a little less salt, but I usually eat low-sodium so that happens in a lot of restaurants for me. The meal comes with a little pyramid of white and brown rice which is of much higher quality than your average Chinese restaurant (I guess that's why they call it the Rice Barn). The food is good to share or to have your own entree.
(3)J G.
I have eaten at the Rice Barn frequently since it opened. I was initially put off by their prices (high for what you would expect of a Thai food place) but it satisfies the whole family's taste buds and the food is very fresh and light. They have plenty of seating so there is never a wait. Plus the decor is very nice. The Roti Canai is super yummy, great to share. I've enjoyed most dishes but the Southern Noodle dish seems colorless and bland. I actually prefer the Rice Barn at lunch time, when they offer lunch boxes at very reasonable prices for the portions, and the food choices are very flavorful. Take out is very efficient there as well.
(4)William F.
After hearing numerous great reviews, I tried Rice Barn this past weekend. The food was very good, the service fast, and the atmosphere welcoming. However, it was kind of on the pricy side, but not outrageous by any means. If you're in the area check this place out.
(4)Rob J.
We love the Rice Barn, the ingredients are fresh and the service is prompt and friendly. I would like a better beer list and the food loses it's freshness when you take out but we will be coming back.
(4)Michele G.
Horrible name, great food, small-ish portions. Loved my drunken basil noodles, and my pal's curry was great, too. Upper scale atmosphere and clean bathroom. Yummy!
(4)Michele B.
While disappointingly not an actual barn, the food is excellent and the service is also good. They welcome children, who will be thrilled when the commuter rail goes by!
(5)Bonnie O.
Best Tofu Pad Thai I've ever had. Minus one star because they're only open for dinner on weekends, and I usually crave their Pad Thai around lunch time.
(4)Jlksdafljsadlfj J.
Been there twice, the dishes were hit and miss. One real disapointment was the roti canai which was obviously the frozen variety.
(4)Matthew K.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant and I have to say it was amazing. I see myself coming back many times. The food was nicely prepared, with healthy portions and utmost attention to the little details (placement, style, decor). I found the wait-staff to be very attentive, ensuring the table was satisfied. When you ask to be seated you can sit near the bar which is secluded or you can choose to sit in the open dining area for a more group appeal. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you receive and the full bar makes for a great dining experience for all that attend. I highly recommend the satay as an appetizer and according to my friend you can't go wrong with the thai spring rolls. For an entree I had the rice barn ribs which were elegantly prepared with a house honey and lightly spiced BBQ sauce. As a dessert I had the fried bananas with chocolate basil ice cream which was an excellent way to end the dining experience at The Rice Barn. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant, a bonus for my party was the call ahead reservations since this location seems to be very popular. The restaurant is located in downtown Needham where you will find lots of little shops, boutiques and plenty of parking.
(5)Michael T.
Place is great, if badly named. All the lunch boxes are good, love the masaman curry and the spicy basil noodles. Get the gyoza as well, good stuff.
(4)Denis F.
We used this restaurant to provide food for a birthday party. They were extremely helpful and easy to work with. The food was just great. Didn't actually eat in the restaurant but my daughter did and she was sure she'd be back many times. Nice to have a great place like this!
(5)T T.
The staff was nice, though not focused. THey forgot our appatizers which were cooked a low heat so they absorbe the oil. I Got kimchee beef...the beef was chewy and overlooked. The prominent flavor was salt. UnInspired at best. Wouldn't go back, Wouldn't suggest, and would warn.
(2)Dan G.
Best Thai in Needham...well, ok, I think it is the only Thai in Needham, but it is pretty good. Tofu Pad Thai is good, not to oily (some places use too much oil), pineapple fried rice is nice as well. I really like the Chicken Panang Curry. I have only had takeout, so I can't say anything about the service, but the food is pretty good. For those in the Needham area, it's a better choice than China Sky in Wellesley.
(4)Lauren S.
I've ordered take out from here a few times and have found the food to be just okay. Certainly not the best Thai I've had and there are other restaurants nearby that are worth the extra time in the car to go get to. Their food is definitely over priced as well.
(2)Chris W.
Best Thai food around hands down. Very friendly staff whether we are doing take out or sitting down for dinner. Apps and main dishes will not disappoint. My wife and I try to come at least once a month. We have tried other local Thai restaurants, and Rice Barn is our go to spot.
(5)Michael G.
Always have a good experience here. Food is very good. Setting is great.
(4)C W.
DELICIOUS! I had the drunken noodle and the egg rolls to start and both were amazing. Definitely coming back here again.
(5)alexandra c.
I have ordered out from The Rice Barn twice - once Pad Thai and once the "Vegetarian Lunch Box". Both meals were amazing. So good, perfect flavors, balance of spices but not too hot. Also, when I ordered the Pad Thai, I was on a very restricted diet and they were perfectly willing to accommodate me. They are very friendly and the food is ready very quickly. And also, although I haven't eaten in the restaurant, while I was waiting for my food, I was noticing how tasteful the decor was - really nice atmosphere.
(5)Tom W.
I've had lunch and dinner at the Rice Barn, and all the visits have been very nice. It is a very nice compliment to Needham, the prices are reasonable, the food is very good and serving sizes are reasonable. I've like the pad tai, but I'm hardly a connoisseur! Service has always been timely, and the atmosphere is clean rather than cozy.
(4)T D.
quite good food! they have a pretty extensive gluten free menu, with options that i actually WANT, not gluten free things i feel i must settle on. everything i've had here has been piping hot and delicious - i recommend the curries especially, though the yellow curry was MUCH spicier than i expected. even the scallion pancakes are gluten free! this place is often what i crave when i'm home for breaks!
(4)Amanda M.
I occasionally get to Needham for appointments and decided to try the Rice Barn. It was good. I got a teriyaki scrimp lunch box and my partner got duck. My lunch box came with two gyosa (fried), a dressed salad, and a lot of teriyaki shrimp with a nice amount of rice. Everything was good. The gyosa were luke warm and the salad might be over-dressed for some (I thought it was fine). The teriyaki tasted a little off (maybe too sweet) when I ate it alone, but on the shrimp it was good. The shrimp were lightly fried and tasty. Next time I will probably head down to the Indian buffet, but this was good to try.
(3)Howie B.
Very solid and dependable Thai in a relaxing, sophisticated atmosphere. Went with several colleagues for lunch. My Pad see-ew was a generous portion in a nice, rich brown sauce. The chicken was really carmelized, but a little dried out. Still, I liked it a lot. They have one of my favorite dishes here - the Flower Cups, which is ground chicken and veggies served in light, crispy shells. These are accompanied by a clear sweet and sour sauce. They are fantastic!
(4)Grant S.
Pretty good Thai food and one of the better spots in the Needham area for Asian cuisine.
(3)Lisa G.
Went here with my mom for dinner the dinner was great with just thpe right amount of heat the only thing that wasn't great was they were really busy forgot my drink and I t was very loud with the piano music.
(4)Tracy R.
We went to The Rice Barn for the first time last night and LOVED it! The food was delicious. I eat strictly vegetarian and my husband eats a lot of meat so this place was perfect for both of us. I had the coconut soup and red curry bowl and both were incredible. Very nice staff. Definitely recommend. We'll be back for sure!
(5)Lydia H.
I went to the Rice Barn with my family for my father's birthday dinner. I had told them it was his birthday when I made the reservation, but sadly they forgot to say anything to him - actually, because it was the night before Mother's Day, they mentioned Mother's Day a couple of times instead. Now, I get that it's tough to remember birthdays and holidays, but we had made an effort to focus on Dad this year, so I was miffed that the servers talked about Mother's Day instead. The food was just okay-- the peanut sauce with the satay was apparently tasty, but the chicken was greasy. I had the lemongrass beef salad, and the beef didn't taste that fresh or flavorful... the salad dressing was critical and plenty citrusy, so that was good. My boyfriend didn't much care for his steak entree, but my mother liked her shrimp curry dish. The decor was lovely, and our waitress was friendly, but the service was also a bit slow... Overall, 2 stars it is. I would give it another shot-- maybe it's hit or miss!
(2)Naveen V.
Classy decor. I ordered the Yellow Curry with vegetables and rice - Excellent taste with a mix of sweet and spicy flavors. The presentation of the rice dish in the form of a pyramid was beautiful. Superb value for money place with excellent service.
(5)Jackie K.
Service is always great. Pad Thai is some of the best in Boston area. I'd rather come here then make a trip into the city for the same quality of food. Great value.
(5)Alissa S.
First, I have never and probably will never order anything other than the chicken pad thai, but it is amazing, filling, huge portion, etc. and you can choose whether you want it extra spicy or not. Second, I have to give props to a place that once did this: I called ahead with my order and then got stuck at work longer than expected. When I arrived to pick up my food, the hostess remembered my order and said "Oh, that will be cold by now. They'll make you a new one!". It took maybe 10 minutes for them to make a new batch, which resulted in still getting a hot, delicious lunch. Much appreciated.
(4)Michael S.
I love Thai food. I eat a lot of Thai food. And rarely, if ever, do I not enjoy my Thai food--most of it falls quite comfortably between "not the best I've ever had" and "the best I've ever had". Until yesterday, in my twenty or so years of eating Thai food regularly in the New York, San Francisco, and Boston metropolitan areas (and, once, for a few days, in Thailand), no-one has ever served me Thai food so bad I wouldn't eat it. Until yesterday. Yesterday, as you might have guessed, I took my family to eat at The Rice Barn. To start, I ordered the Saigon Fresh Rolls. These are the shrimp-and-rice noodle rolls wrapped in mint leaves and rice paper that are served at every Thai restaurant. Except Rice Barn decided to put some avocado and mango in there, along with some basil leaves. Even in California, where they literally put avocado in everything, I never saw anyone put avocado in a Thai spring roll. Imagine a spring roll. Now imagine someone violating that spring roll with some sweet-and-sour shrimp and a California Roll. You're close. They also served it with Hoisin sauce instead of the usual peanut sauce. I would have tried it with chili sauce, but I couldn't get my server's attention. Because I love garlic, I ordered the "Garlic Lover's Chicken" instead of my usual green curry as an entree. Perhaps "Garlic Lover's Chicken" is a case of poor translation from the original Thai? I could not taste any garlic. In fact, there was very little flavor at all (maybe a hint of soy). This is not surprising, given that the chicken was so overcooked that any flavor was squeezed out with along with the last bits of moisture. I was not able to eat even half of it. My wife ordered the cashew chicken, which I tried, and which impossibly was even drier and tougher than mine. Hers had a bit more flavor; unfortunately, it was (a) not a familiar Thai flavor profile and (b) awful. Think soy sauce, the juice from canned pineapples, and sweet vermouth, heavily diluted with water that has been soaking in a burned pan. My kids shared a Pad See Ew. I love Pad See Ew almost as much as I love garlic. Insert your own Pad See "Eeew!" joke here. Definitely the best dish of the three, the Pad See Ew was a solid 4/10. Overcooked noodles, poorly flavored, meh. The rice was fine, and served in interesting little pyramids of half-white half-brown/red rice. I ate all my rice. Oh, did I mention that the service was terrible (the waitress who took our order did not speak very good english, and disappeared for long stretches of time, including after handing my wife the wine list because she said she wanted to order a glass of wine); the waitress who brought our food and drink somehow managed to NEVER make eye contact, to the point where my wife had to call out pretty loudly to get her to stop the third time she came to our table, so that she could put in the darn drink order--the wine came just as we were finishing). And did I mention that the restaurant is on the train tracks so our meal was regularly interrupted by the commuter rail barreling past a few feet from our table? Terrible food? Terrible service? Terrible ambiance? That's OK, because it's also RIDICULOUSLY OVERPRICED! I would give 0 stars if I could.
(1)L H.
Good thai food, both pricier and fancier than many other restaurants serving Asian cuisine. As a fan of Asian cuisine and in particular authentic Thai food, I have to say that The Rice Barn is one of the more upscale Thai restaurants I've visited. What it lacks in authenticity it makes up for in atmosphere and presentation. Food: Having had both the traditional Thai dishes (pad thai, chicken satay, etc.) as well as more Western-influenced dishes (rack of ribs) in my visits here, I believe that the diverse menu does a good job of catering to diverse tastes. Presentation of the food is beautiful, portions are relatively generous for entrees (less so for the appetizers, particularly the satay), and most importantly, the food tastes pretty good. Atmosphere: The space is small and often lit with candles, a good romantic destination but not really one for large groups. Price: While not too expensive when compared to most Western sit-down restaurants, you can still find better pad thai at more casual, inexpensive places.
(3)Kris S.
As a thai, this must be one of the best places in general to grab thai food outside boston. The restaurant has many signature dishes. I would reccomend the chiang mai crispy noodles, and the ladna. Their food is pretty good in general, and doesnt dissapoint often. Although their drinks are quite pricy, its still well off to other thai restaurants.
(5)Kristina P.
I arrived 15-20 minutes before my friends were expected, and while knowing this, the host was kind enough to give me a table, anyway. He even brought me complimentary tea to enjoy when I realized they were running a little behind and I apologized for having claimed a table already. I had the lettuce wraps, and while I can't recall what my friends ate (maybe pad Thai?), we all enjoyed our choices. The portions were great: two of us finished our meals, and one took home leftovers. While the food was very good, based on that alone, I'd award 3.5 or 4 stars. I'm going with 5, instead, because the atmosphere was so nice and the service was exceptional. I thought the lighting was just right and really appreciated the live music (piano), which wasn't so loud as to be a distraction. Finally, my friends and I lost track of time and chatted until the restaurant was closed. Rather than rush us out, they encouraged us to stay and brought us some chocolates in honor of Valentine's Day. I still felt guilty for lingering, but they couldn't possibly have made us feel more welcome. I look forward to introducing my husband to this place and will certainly recommend it to other friends, as well.
(5)Lynette S.
The pad thai ($14 for dinner) sauce was rich, if you can handle it you will enjoy. It may be too heavy for some. The apps were delicious! Great service, beautiful restaurant.
(4)Matt M.
Food and waitstaff are top notch, however sometimes there is not enough servers. Can be slow. Worth it if you are patient.
(4)Jane S.
I tried the chicken pad thai since I don't believe a Thai restaurant have good food if the most basic dish tastes bad. The food tastes okay, but I was worried about the amount of sugar and vinegar they put in the food. I might give it a second try and see if I like other things
(3)Teresa B.
Delicious Thai food and great service! The atmosphere is relaxing and upscale without being over-the-top. Mango martinis are great, and fabulous pad thai!
(5)Sonia M.
We have tried coming here a few times but they have kind of weird hours :-) It was worth the wait - the food was awesome. I would reserve it for a special occasion as it's kind of pricey. The kids had the Pad-see-ew which was delicious and so were the ChiangMai noodles. Will be back
(4)Vanessa L.
Visiting from out of town. Nice ambience. It smells a little funny in here, but it seems like no one else notices. Ordered... Saigon rolls with tofu. Upon second bite I realized they were shrimp. I'm glad I don't have a seafood allergy. The rolls were not very interesting as far as flavor. They cod have used a really good sauce to accompany. Maybe a plum sauce? Anyway I always think a seafood mixup is a huge deal because of the legal reactions people can have. Clear soup was good: it isn't complicated. Next is pad see-ew. I don't like it. The chicken and veggies are fresh, but I don't like it. I'm not sure if the shrimp mixup bothers me or why but I don't care for the see-ew. I ordered steamed vegetables...
(3)Michael M.
Pad Thai here was good. Very, very busy during lunch hours and on the weekends. Easily the best Thai restaurant in the area that has a ton to choose from.
(4)Laura W.
The Rice Barn is a beautiful restaurant where Thai food is served very elegantly. I think I ate the best served duck in any restaurant, Asian or not. I don't know how they do it, but the duck was crispy yet very moist. They set it on sauce that delicately matched the duck. Most cooks drown the duck over with sauce, but they set it on top of the sauce instead, preventing the duck from loosing its crispness. Bravo! They do adjust for spice level even though the menu displays the "hot chilly" labels on certain dishes. It is a Thai restaurant, but it is Americanized Thai. The service is very quick and friendly. Thank goodness there is a non conforming restaurant in a sea of generic food.
(4)Chris M.
Pros: My food was yummy. I has the tofu and wonton soup, both were delicious. Cool atmosphere & bar room Cons: My two friends had the mango salmon and said it was a bit dry and bland. It's a bit pricey for what you get Overall: it's a good place to get a tasty meal in a nice restaurant
(4)Robert D.
Great service and great food.
(5)Adam F.
One of my favorite restaurants in the Needham area. I go there for lunch with my coworkers almost every week, and never had a bad meal. My favorite entree is their Chicken Basil lunch plate. And unlike other restaurants, when they say something is spicy, it's actually fairly spicy. Plus if you time it right, you'll get to see the train from Inception while you eat (it's located seriously close to a commuter rail line).
(5)Chris C.
Tasty food and extremely friendly staff. Definitely recommend this place if your stomach is on a quest for a Vietnamese/Thai fusion. Plenty of parking nearby as well.
(5)Lisa M.
This is a wonderful Asian restaurant in Needham Center. I love the Korean stir-fried noodles and they have yummy crab rangoon. It's clean and has a fresh, modern feel. They also have a cute bar area with custom cocktails.
(4)Jessica S.
We've ordered take out from here a few times at work as others have pointed out, there aren't really any other Thai options in Needham. People in the office generally enjoy the food, especially those who have ordered the lunch boxes. Both times I have gotten the Chicken Basil, which at most other Thai places is spicy, but here it really lacks spice and some flavor. Those in the office who ordered the Pad Thai feel that it is so-so. Even though the food hasn't blown me away, I've never had a problem with it being cold, greasy etc so I'll be generous and give it that 3rd star. Whenever I go to pick up the food, it is ready quickly and still hot, so no complaints there. I generally order for 25 or so people and the staff is always friendly enough to help me carry it out to my car, which is definitely appreciated. Not overly familiar with the area so can't say if there is anything near by that is better, but the Rice Barn is an ok choice.
(3)M B.
Not bad at all. We were in a group business dinner. Very nice atmosphere and good service. The food was ok but a bit too sweetened and Americanized. Good, but missing a bit of flavor. But it is a nice place.
(4)Aboud Y.
Pretty decent spot for some Pan-Asian cuisine. You may need to break out some Siracha or salt to add some punch to a few of their blander dishes.
(3)Cindy W.
Got the Pad See You, pineapple fried rice and the papaya salad (med spice). The noodles were great but it seemed like the noodles were a little overly tossed. Papaya salad was spicy and tangy! yum! And as for the pineapple fried rice was sweet and savory as the same time. Only got take. Will maybe give it another shot another time. Thought it was a little pricy for Thai food but then again...it is Needham.
(2)Liz S.
I've gotten take out here a few times and loved it, but when I came here recently for my first dine-in experience I loved it even more! First off they have gluten-free menus, which is pretty much all it takes to enamor me of a place, but their food is so delicious on top of that. There are a lot of lazy restaurants out there that just take their regular menu and put things that can be made into something gluten free by subtracting a necessary ingredient and making a bunch of tasteless so-called meals. Rice Barn's GF menu is not like that, it has some really tasty items! I'm thinking about going vegan, so I ordered a dish with tofu. This was the best tofu I've ever had, so now I'm thinking maybe I can do this vegan thing. Service was great, as I expected from how friendly they were when I got take out.
(5)Todd H.
Love this place. Great Thai cuisine and excellent service even if it is a bit pricey. Worth it.
(5)Jamie G.
Was so excited to finally get food here since I work down the block, but sorry to say that it was a HUGE let down. Got the Saigon rolls- shrimp, basil, lettuce, noodles and carrots. Thick soy dipping sauce Came with 4 and they were huge. They were pretty good, though I've had better. Also got Pad thai with tofu (obivously) and was VERY disappointed! Very greasy. Not very flavorful. Bean sprouts all mixed in so they got soft. Not much egg. Not much green onions. No peanuts. Just mainly noodles and grease. YUCK. ...and it was $20 total. Seemed very expensive for what it was. I will probably not be back here for thai! Which I guess is good, cuz otherwise I'd be spending a fortune here every day if I loved it!
(2)Ilona F.
Met a friend here for lunch while I was visiting the area. The decor was spare and elegant, somewhat surprising for this suburb. The food was served on lovely china; the tea cup and saucer, with a fine basket weave pattern, was noteworthy. I wasn't terribly hungry so ordered the papaya salad with grilled shrimp; it was spicy but also had some odd undertone (or under aroma?) that reminded me a bit of cleaning supplies...somehow, the flavor balance was lopsided in favor of harsh. And it was served with just a handful of medium shrimp. Should I return again, I'll stick with a noodle dish.
(3)Greg L.
Have been to this restaurant often. Owners are always friendly and service is quick and competent. I've tried many of the dishes they have to offer and have never had less than a wonderful meal. Portions are large enough to share easily, but the food is so good you won't want to. Try the Fried Scallops appetizer! Other appetizers I like are the Curry Puffs and the Crab Rangoon (though they're all good). For an entree they have one of the best Pad Thai's I have ever had, but you can't go wrong with the Rice Barn Ribs, Salmon Mango-Tango, Massaman Short Ribs, or Chicken Green Curry. And they make a great martini as well.
(4)A. K.
The service is a bit rushed, and the prices are a bit high. But the food is tasty. I wish they served more veggie with their mains.
(3)C S.
This is terrific place! The food is always wonderful, the wait staff courteous, and the atmosphere is relaxing. This is my go to place for work lunches--I know the people I am inviting there will be happy with the food and the service--and I love coming for dinner with my family. They have always been wonderful with my daughter. Try the lychee martini. We were on the fence about making an offer on a house we had just seen in Needham and stumbled into the Rice Barn for the first time to talk it over. After having a lychee martini we decided to move to Needham. being close to the Rice Barn tipped and that heavenly drink tipped the scale!
(5)Amy R.
Ordered take out here and was so looking forward to a good Thai meal. What a huge disappointment. Shu Mai was wrapped in a dough that had the consistency of paste. Chicken and vegetable dish was bland with tough overcooked white chicken. Barbecued ribs had an off taste that was sweet and bland. We had two cartons of white rice with the order. Two thirds through one carton, the white rice disappeared and It looked like it had been partially filled with some sort of brown gooey rice and then topped with the white rice. As though someone didn't look inside the container before dumping in the white rice. Probably one the worst Thai restaurants I've encountered. Nothing authentic, very Americanized. Perfect for the unadventurous suburban palate that can be fooled by mediocrity.
(2)Arinne B.
The Rice Barn has *the* best Pad See Euw, IMHO. Their pad thai and pineapple fried rice is also pretty tasty. I haven't been blown away by their app's though. I'm not gluten-free, but I notice that they have a menu catering to folks who are. The ambiance is lovely--upscale, modern, clean, and relaxing. Every now and then a train rattles the place when the commuter rail rolls by, but otherwise it's a S. End-like oasis in Needham. I deducted a star because I wish they were better for take out. They don't do delivery and when you do take-out the portions are almost half the size of when you eat-in. When I eat-in, the prices seem reasonable, given the ambiance and service. When I get take out, I'm usually frustrated by the high prices, small portions, and decided lack of protein and vegetables in my "to go" meal. (I once had only 3 shrimp and two pieces of broccoli in my shrimp pad see euw.) Although their food is much better than other thai places locally, I've taken to ordering from Lemon Thai in Wellesley when I want delivery or take out because the portions and prices are more reasonable, while still tasting pretty great.
(4)Rick B.
Consistently great meals. When the in-laws come to town it's the only place we go. Great ambiance, but also excellent as take-out. Pad Thai is spectacular.
(5)Sarah L.
Rice Barn....how I miss thee. Used to come here for lunch as much as possible. Great lunch specials, phenom curry.....they will actually make it Thai spicy if you ask (versus "American spicy" which is really not spicy, more like mild salsa) basically, as most other people on here have said, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Jessi E.
Good food. Stupid name. It's like a hot chick named Gertrude or Ethel. Appetizers were tasty and creatively presented. Didn't care for the "flower cups" though, which were rather flavorless and served in some kind of garden tool apparatus. Salmon entrees were generous and looked yummy. My boyfriend's mom got the Alaskan butterfish. Blue Ginger is the only other place I know that serves butterfish, and I think the Rice Barn's was better. Boyfriend and I split the yellow curry. Should have asked for it mild. I felt like I was having hot flashes. I'll be back, Gertrude.
(4)Melissa D.
I have only gotten take out so I have not experienced the restaurant side. It looks like it's easy to get a table. Onto the food - Prices change from lunch to dinner but portions stay the same so that's my only finicky point. My faves: -Chicken Satay -Roti Canai (good portions) -Pineapple Fried Rice -Salmon Basil (so good with this thick spicy jam) -Pad See-ew (my go to lunch choice) -and of course - Pad Thai Food is ready in about 10 minutes and will be true to your order if you want the food really hot or wimpy.
(4)Ben L.
My sis got the crab cake salad--which was good, but a little weird. My brother got a noodle dish. I got the duck noodle soup, which was very good. We also split an order of basil fried rice--just the right spicy, also very good. Service was good--they were quick on refills and bringing our order to the table. I'd recommend and would return.
(4)Cindy K.
I've been hesitant to try this Thai restaurant in Needham from my gut reaction to its appearance that it's overpriced Americanized Thai food. But we were lazy to leave our area so we gave it a try and I have to say, my gut instinct was right. It was indeed overpriced and mediocre Thai food. I will say that the food presentation was very nice and the decor/ambiance is also very nice. But if you're looking for some authentic Thai food (at more affordable prices), head over to Brookline for Dok Bua.
(3)Catherine W.
This is an unexpected find in Needham! I enjoyed the duck curry, and service was super friendly. Portions were very generous when I was there. I also love the decor; it definitely has a sophisticated, "city, " feel. I would go back again.
(4)Krystyna B.
Love this place! We are Asian food fanatics and Rice Barn passed the test. Great food, lovely service, hippish ambience with gentle prices. As a bonus, we wheeled our 80+ matriarch in, with wheelchair (and some spillage at table) and the staff was totally gracious about it. (Despite senior citizen spillage.) If I could I would eat here daily...pass the word...this place is a find in a somewhat evolving town (hey, I'm from NYC, I can't help being cynical). Seriously, Needham has potential: and with more establishments like this one, it might make a comeback...
(5)Julie B.
Ate here for the first time last night, really good food and friendly service. Very good genuine Thai food in a pleasant and relaxing environment. I will definitely be back.
(4)David H.
It's not often that I feel compelled to go online and share anything with the www, but tonight's meal at the Rice Barn was practically inedible. Thankfully we had started off with appetizers with the plan that we would order more food as we went along....no need - called for the check.....but what crowned the evening, was the almost unapologetic host.....what a c__p experience....poor Needham, Rice Barn goes along with most of the other eateries in the town
(1)Lee H.
Although I was a bit trepidacious at first after seeing the web site with the rather chic decor (I tend to favor family-style high-value places), I gotta say that my meal at the Rice Barn is the best Thai food I can remember. My previous favorites, the King and I and the Amarin, are both very good (and perhaps a slightly better value), but for sheer quality the Rice Barn is tops. The ambiance is clean and elegant. The Thai Spring rolls were hot, crispy, and very, very fresh tasting. The Pad Thai was rich, with layered flavors. Chicken slightly grilled. A good size portion too. My wife's Jungle Tofu was spicy, with wonderfully fresh basil flavors. Even the Thai iced tea was excellent - the tea flavor was not lost in the condensed milk. The only downside is that quality comes with prices about 40% higher than other Thai restaurants. Sometimes it's worth paying extra.
(5)Julie N.
Great Thai iced tea and curries. Can sub brown rice! Box lunches are a good value.
(4)Dianna B.
Update: Downgrading to 2 stars. The fast few times I've eaten from her, I haven't felt well after. Are they using MSG? Does my body not react well to MSG? Hubby still loves their food, though. The decor: very cool, modern vibe. Extremely clean. The food: entrees are good (especially the Chinatown Street Noodle and Spicy Basil Tofu). The apps (only ever tried the dumplings & rolls) are only OK. The services: you never need to wait for a table, the food comes out quick, but the waitresses are otherwise inattentive. Hard to get more water / refill your drink. Prices are reasonable (well, except for the wines) and this has become one of our default places to go in Needham for a quick, good and affordable bite to eat.
(2)Steve R.
My wife and I lived in Needham for about 5 years and dined out often in the area. Although there are a number of outstanding restaurants in Metro-west Boston, the Rice Barn was always our favorite. The food is great - contemporary, fresh, clean Thai-fusion. The service and atmosphere is relaxing and unpretentious, and the owner got to recognize us over time and was always very friendly. We now live in an area with a plethora of different Asian dining options, but we still miss The Rice Barn. Try the spicy basil noodles, the lemongrass seafood soup, and if you're lucky enough to be there when it's a special the sea bass and veggies cooked in foil.
(5)Hugh E.
Consistently Awesome! Never had a bad meal here. Staff is always nice too.
(5)Mike F.
Only been here once on vacation, not sure about 5 stars but probably 4.5. Excellent chicken fried rice and another chicken dish my sister let me finish. I'm not very cultured/adventurous about food, and there's no decent (real) Chinese food where I live, but this is very good, in my limited experience.
(4)Andrew M.
They presented our food in a really cute way, so if that's your kind of thing...I have a vague recollection that the service wasn't fantastic, but I enjoyed the food a lot. Mainly, we felt let down because Sweet Basil doesn't take reservations and is ALWAYS crowded...but not a bad econd alternative, I thought.
(4)Erin M.
Rice Barn could easily be four stars if they would turn up the heat just a little. Two out of three times I have gone (i.e. every time I've gone in cold weather), it's been COLD. Like every patron in the restaurant is wearing their jacket and hat cold. I'm not that picky about ambiance, but we were all happy when our food came because of the prospect of something warm. That's too cold. Now for all the good: food is a delicious, in a sort of Asian-American fusion style. Most recently when I went I ordered the Mongolian Fillet Mignon (a special), and it was very tender and flavorful. Everyone I went with agreed that we would prefer a little less salt, but I usually eat low-sodium so that happens in a lot of restaurants for me. The meal comes with a little pyramid of white and brown rice which is of much higher quality than your average Chinese restaurant (I guess that's why they call it the Rice Barn). The food is good to share or to have your own entree.
(3)J G.
I have eaten at the Rice Barn frequently since it opened. I was initially put off by their prices (high for what you would expect of a Thai food place) but it satisfies the whole family's taste buds and the food is very fresh and light. They have plenty of seating so there is never a wait. Plus the decor is very nice. The Roti Canai is super yummy, great to share. I've enjoyed most dishes but the Southern Noodle dish seems colorless and bland. I actually prefer the Rice Barn at lunch time, when they offer lunch boxes at very reasonable prices for the portions, and the food choices are very flavorful. Take out is very efficient there as well.
(4)William F.
After hearing numerous great reviews, I tried Rice Barn this past weekend. The food was very good, the service fast, and the atmosphere welcoming. However, it was kind of on the pricy side, but not outrageous by any means. If you're in the area check this place out.
(4)Rob J.
We love the Rice Barn, the ingredients are fresh and the service is prompt and friendly. I would like a better beer list and the food loses it's freshness when you take out but we will be coming back.
(4)Michele G.
Horrible name, great food, small-ish portions. Loved my drunken basil noodles, and my pal's curry was great, too. Upper scale atmosphere and clean bathroom. Yummy!
(4)Michele B.
While disappointingly not an actual barn, the food is excellent and the service is also good. They welcome children, who will be thrilled when the commuter rail goes by!
(5)Bonnie O.
Best Tofu Pad Thai I've ever had. Minus one star because they're only open for dinner on weekends, and I usually crave their Pad Thai around lunch time.
(4)Jlksdafljsadlfj J.
Been there twice, the dishes were hit and miss. One real disapointment was the roti canai which was obviously the frozen variety.
(4)Matthew K.
This was my first time visiting this restaurant and I have to say it was amazing. I see myself coming back many times. The food was nicely prepared, with healthy portions and utmost attention to the little details (placement, style, decor). I found the wait-staff to be very attentive, ensuring the table was satisfied. When you ask to be seated you can sit near the bar which is secluded or you can choose to sit in the open dining area for a more group appeal. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you receive and the full bar makes for a great dining experience for all that attend. I highly recommend the satay as an appetizer and according to my friend you can't go wrong with the thai spring rolls. For an entree I had the rice barn ribs which were elegantly prepared with a house honey and lightly spiced BBQ sauce. As a dessert I had the fried bananas with chocolate basil ice cream which was an excellent way to end the dining experience at The Rice Barn. Overall I highly recommend this restaurant, a bonus for my party was the call ahead reservations since this location seems to be very popular. The restaurant is located in downtown Needham where you will find lots of little shops, boutiques and plenty of parking.
(5)Michael T.
Place is great, if badly named. All the lunch boxes are good, love the masaman curry and the spicy basil noodles. Get the gyoza as well, good stuff.
(4)Denis F.
We used this restaurant to provide food for a birthday party. They were extremely helpful and easy to work with. The food was just great. Didn't actually eat in the restaurant but my daughter did and she was sure she'd be back many times. Nice to have a great place like this!
(5)T T.
The staff was nice, though not focused. THey forgot our appatizers which were cooked a low heat so they absorbe the oil. I Got kimchee beef...the beef was chewy and overlooked. The prominent flavor was salt. UnInspired at best. Wouldn't go back, Wouldn't suggest, and would warn.
(2)Dan G.
Best Thai in Needham...well, ok, I think it is the only Thai in Needham, but it is pretty good. Tofu Pad Thai is good, not to oily (some places use too much oil), pineapple fried rice is nice as well. I really like the Chicken Panang Curry. I have only had takeout, so I can't say anything about the service, but the food is pretty good. For those in the Needham area, it's a better choice than China Sky in Wellesley.
(4)Lauren S.
I've ordered take out from here a few times and have found the food to be just okay. Certainly not the best Thai I've had and there are other restaurants nearby that are worth the extra time in the car to go get to. Their food is definitely over priced as well.
(2)Chris W.
Best Thai food around hands down. Very friendly staff whether we are doing take out or sitting down for dinner. Apps and main dishes will not disappoint. My wife and I try to come at least once a month. We have tried other local Thai restaurants, and Rice Barn is our go to spot.
(5)Michael G.
Always have a good experience here. Food is very good. Setting is great.
(4)C W.
DELICIOUS! I had the drunken noodle and the egg rolls to start and both were amazing. Definitely coming back here again.
(5)alexandra c.
I have ordered out from The Rice Barn twice - once Pad Thai and once the "Vegetarian Lunch Box". Both meals were amazing. So good, perfect flavors, balance of spices but not too hot. Also, when I ordered the Pad Thai, I was on a very restricted diet and they were perfectly willing to accommodate me. They are very friendly and the food is ready very quickly. And also, although I haven't eaten in the restaurant, while I was waiting for my food, I was noticing how tasteful the decor was - really nice atmosphere.
(5)Tom W.
I've had lunch and dinner at the Rice Barn, and all the visits have been very nice. It is a very nice compliment to Needham, the prices are reasonable, the food is very good and serving sizes are reasonable. I've like the pad tai, but I'm hardly a connoisseur! Service has always been timely, and the atmosphere is clean rather than cozy.
(4)T D.
quite good food! they have a pretty extensive gluten free menu, with options that i actually WANT, not gluten free things i feel i must settle on. everything i've had here has been piping hot and delicious - i recommend the curries especially, though the yellow curry was MUCH spicier than i expected. even the scallion pancakes are gluten free! this place is often what i crave when i'm home for breaks!
(4)Ben P.
The food was very good - it was a little less flavorful than ideal, but not problematically so, and that's really not a problem for a $10 lunch. Presentation was beautiful (See photo of rice pyramid), and I received exactly the right amount of food. The service was fast and nice - we walked in with 11 people without calling ahead and nothing got messed up at all. We were out within the hour. The waitstaff was patient and friendly, and it was nice to see that there was no gratuity added on to our bill (of course we tipped appropriately). The restaurant was clean and decently lit, and had a somewhat crisp atmosphere. Although I don't often sit down for meals in Needham, I would definitely return to this place if I find myself able to spend the time again.
(5)Samantha P.
Honestly, the best food I've had in a really long time! Our office gets take out from many places in Needham, but I have to say I've addicted the whole office! Gyozo is superb and delicate, yet filling and the Salmon lunch box is INCREDIBLE! This is a type of place you have to experience for yourself!
(5)Adam G.
While in the area, we decided to stop at the Rice Barn. The space is pleasant and the menu had the standard thai and asian fusion options. I went with the spicy basil noodle, which came with the wide noodles (which I love), pepper and basil. It had a significant amount of spice but was not overbearing. I'll certainly return if I am in the area - it is a convenient location if you are in the Needham area and do not plan on heading into Boston.
(3)Amanda M.
I occasionally get to Needham for appointments and decided to try the Rice Barn. It was good. I got a teriyaki scrimp lunch box and my partner got duck. My lunch box came with two gyosa (fried), a dressed salad, and a lot of teriyaki shrimp with a nice amount of rice. Everything was good. The gyosa were luke warm and the salad might be over-dressed for some (I thought it was fine). The teriyaki tasted a little off (maybe too sweet) when I ate it alone, but on the shrimp it was good. The shrimp were lightly fried and tasty. Next time I will probably head down to the Indian buffet, but this was good to try.
(3)Rob I.
Absolutely love this place for work lunch - wish I was in the area more often! Great for take-out or dine-in. Can be a quick option to take with you to the office, but they also have a nice bar and dining room for lunch with business associates. The curry dishes and coconut curry soups are all fantastic!
(5)Imtiyaz M.
Food is ok. Not the best. No other Thai restaurant in Needham results in higher traffic to this place. If you are in mood of Thai food, live in Needham and don't want to drive to Cambridge / Boston for better Thai food, try the rice barn.
(3)Jacqueline C.
Not a fan of the tamarind duck. The sauce is basically sweet and sour sauce with water..and the pineapple chuck doesn't go with it.. We like the spicy basil noodle though! A bit spicy and the taste is on the heavy side. We will certainly go back for other dishes. They do have decent food. Bonus: my friend left his cap at the restaurant and the hostess ran out to find us.
(4)Alliea G.
Fantastic! A++++ I get takeout from this restaurant at least once per week - everything that I have ever had from here has been perfection! Though my food heaven there is the Chiang Mai noodles - the best curry sauce! Its been three hours since I ate lunch and I am still on a food high! Great Service; Great Food!
(5)Jenn S.
We ordered takeout from the Rice Barn on a Saturday night. Since they don't deliver (hence the 4, not 5 stars), my husband ran out to get it. For 4 people, we got 2 orders of Chicken Pad Thai, 1 Ginger Chicken, 1 order of Gyozas and an order of Spring Rolls. We had almost nothing left! Just 1 spring roll and enough Pad Thai and a bit of Ginger Chicken for 1 more meal. We've eaten at a lot of Thai places and are somewhat picky, as we like our Pad Thai and we like it in a specific way. And we loved this Pad Thai! The spring rolls were crispy, the gyozas were flavorful and the Ginger Chicken was delish! This is definitely our new favorite Thai place. When placing the order, I had asked if we could have limes with the Pad Thai and she said she'd have to check. I said "it's ok, no worries." And then limes came (in a separate container - nice detail) with the order! I don't know the price, as my husband paid when he picked it up, but we got a ton of GOOD food, so I think it was worth it. :)
(4)Thu T.
Rice Barn is the best location around the Wellelsley area to get Thai food. It's certainly notches higher in atmosphere and food quality than the resident Coconut Thai and Lemon Thai, which have their fill of college students ordering all hours of the day. Their soups (Tom Yum and Tom Kha) are tasty and come in a good "soupy" size. As for entrees, I enjoyed their Massaman Short Ribs, the Big Bowl Noodle Soup, Pad Thai, and Pad See Ew. I would skip the appetizers since those seem under portioned...and most are not authentic Thai dishes, like the Roti Canai and the Saigon Fresh Rolls. Yeah no...
(4)Julie T.
Really want to support this place.But...funny overall funky bar odor apon entering the restaurant. Host was very nice, drink service slow, food service rather quick so glad we ordered apps first before ordering dinner. The atmosphere is nice,nice music. Now the food...some good some not great. Beef macadamia was very good,rice presentation is nice. soft shelled crab dishes were good, pad thai disappointing. It seemed as though it was not freshly made, no?bean sprouts ?ground peanuts..seemed more like a lo mein dish. crab rangoons were good, potstickers very good. Chilean see bass had a strange presentation,the deep frying took away from the fish...we decided we will give it a try once more, sit at the bar and split a couple of entrees. For Thai does not compare to the food and service at Crystals Kitchen in West Bridgewater, albeit the atmosphere is nicer at the rice barn.
(3)Libby B.
I went to grab some take out here one afternoon. Although the food was great, the service was very lacking and I left feeling like they didn't care that I was there at all. They didn't give me my food when the bag finally came out but rather, they worried more about the people who came after me getting their take out. Didn't make much sense serving the ones just walking in than the one who had already paid.
(3)Katy W.
Wow, this was an unexpected surprise. My mother and I had a challenging day of shopping in the area and were famished. Yelp didn't lead me astray when it brought us here. The decor at The Rice Barn is similar to many Thai places in California that I really miss. The prices were higher than I was anticipating, but they are smart to have noodle and rice staples that are much more affordable. We were here for a relatively quick dinner, but I would seriously consider coming back for a tasty and relaxed meal with my husband. The service was also very nice and attentive without being obtrusive. The pad see-ew I had was absolutely delicious. I order this quite often in Thai places while my husband usually tries the Pad Thai. My mom liked her pad thai which seemed more peanut-based and without the strong red (tomato?) coloring that is so characteristic. Based on my pad see-ew and the different flavors it offered, I trust the pad thai was up to standard. We skipped dessert, but I heard the menu being described to another table and it sounded unbelievably good, not just the kind of items tacked on at the end of the meal. I would save room if you go. The Rice Barn is definitely worth making a destination of its own!
(5)Josh G.
Review for takeout experience only - Rice Barn Fail. We tried to order take out the other night and were told it would be ready in 20-25 minutes. Upon arrival, we were informed that the food had not been started and would be an additional 20 minutes. When we asked why we weren't told that when we called, they said we spoke to the person at the bar, and he didn't know how long it would take. A family friend was also in the restaurant waiting for her food, and informed us she had been waiting for over an hour, and it still wasn't done. So, we cancelled our order. I've had their food many times before. It was fine, not amazing. Probably not going back after this.
(1)Roger M.
My wife and I love this restaurant. This is our third dinner visit. It has some fanatic Thai inspired dishes. It is not a Thai restaurant. Instead, it has the flavors of Asian fusion For example, I had Sable fish in miso sauce over wilted spinach. The fish was delicate and prepated perfectly. The light sauce really brought out the flavor. My wife had deliciously prepated shrimp curry. I REALLY APPRECIATE their desire to accommodate. I restrict my carbohydrates. They not only let me substitute for the rice, they brought an extra salad for the inconvenience. Go. It is worth it.
(5)Mike A.
The food was OK. The problem is, when I walked in there is a table in front of you in the middle of the restaurant with used CD's for sale (yes, compact disks the kind people used to use to listen to music). There were used Rod Stewart and Whitney Houston CDs on sale for $15. This was weird and I felt like I was at a flea market or a garage sale rather than a restaurant.
(2)A C.
What a horrible let down! Roti canai is nothing like the roti canai I thought it would be. It was more like scallion pancake with curry dipping sauce and ridiculously oily...all that for 7 bucks.... The only thing that was fine was the chicken fried rice and Tom yum soup. Pad thai is not my type, way too much sauce. I prefer the dry stir fried noodle. Big bowl noodle soup while it tasted alright/ehh, the portion is kid size....I mean if all you want is soup more than noodles then this would work. Don't bother with the chicken wings. They are the typical breaded wing dings you get at pizza joints. For the price they are charging and the portion I got, I would not come back.
(1)Brian W.
We've heard great things about Rice Barn, but always end up at Stone Hearth when we trek out to Needham. Happy to report that this place lived up to the hype. Great gluten free menu with lots of options. Interesting drink menu and classy setting inside - not some dive take-out Thai place. The food was tasty and the presentation was very nice. It's a bit of a modern twist on some of the classic dishes, but the flavors were still there. While it was a good experience, I don't think it was SO good that we'd choose Rice Barn over our local Thai places.
(4)Gill T.
Have been there twice, I didn't see anything special. And there are always too many people , so we have to wait a long time for service and food.
(3)Scott M.
Always excellent for both lunch and dinner. The food is the closet to real food from Thailand you can get. Nothing is overloaded with vegetables like some Thai places. All the herbs are fresh and flavorful. The Tom Yum Soup and Papaya salad are excellent. For Entrees The shortrib Massaman Curry and and Wok Basil Chicken ga prow are my favorites. For lunch the Chiang Mai Noodles and Duck Noodles soup are amazing. Defiantly the best Thai restaurant around. I come here weekly for lunch!
(5)Matthew J.
Lunch specials were a great value and delicious. Excellent service. Nice environment.
(4)Jamie S.
Like other reviewers, my husband and I both left Rice Barn feeling rather underwhelmed. The food we ate was not bad, but nor was it particularly notable. What was notable was the unfortunately high prices for the food that was being served. I had wok-fried glass noodles with your standard noddle-stir fry accoutrements - $12 for tofo. My husband had Rice Barn's answer to a bowl of pho - $14. Most of the curry entrees started at $19 and went up to $25. The ambiance was nice. The restaurant well designed. The service was friendly, unobtrusive, and nice. But we will not be going back.
(3)Catherine W.
I had a good lunch here, but not a flawless one. I started with the Tom Yom soup, which was served just shy of hot. I almost considered sending it back to be re-warmed. The broth was delicious and flavorful. The tofu, however, was cut into chunks way to large for soup, and I had to break them down with my spoon to eat them. My mom opted for the spring rolls as her appetizer. They were tasty, but not anything better than I've had most places. For my main meal I had the sesame chicken salad. I was pleasantly surprised by how light the dressing was, and how flavorful the chicken was. That said, I think it could have benefited from the addition of one or two more ingredients - maybe some chopped mango or another Thai vegetable - as it was very simple for what I paid. My mom's said her salmon special was tasty, especially the shredded vegetables that came with the dish, but that the salmon itself was very underseasoned. A sauce would have gone a long way.
(3)Nicholas U.
Went here for a celebration dinner with my girlfriend. Extremely good experience. Wait staff was excellent and very attentive. Our waitress made a mistake on one of our drinks, but she knew her mistake immediately and got out the correct drink as soon as she could so we didn't mind. They had a live pianist playing at the restaurant as well, which set an excellent tone for the experience. We got an appetizer and each got our own dish. My entree was ginger salmon and my girlfriend got a mango/shrimp rice mixture. Both were extremely delicious and flavorful. Would definitely come back again.
(5)Lisa H.
Fresh, quality ingredients, and an extensive gluten free menu. One of our staples for takeout, despite the 20-25 minute drive!
(5)Amelia T.
This is one of my top five places to go to for a date night, a nice family dinner, or dinner with friends. I was initially lured here by the sign in front proclaiming gluten-free options available, since it is surprisingly hard to find asian food that I can be sure is gluten free. I have never had any issues with gluten here, and this is coming from a celiac. The decor is nice, open, clean, and elegant. A pianist sometimes plays evenings during the dinner time. We usually begin with the chicken satay or saigon fresh roll appetizer. The fresh roll sauce is delicious. For my entree I usually go with (gluten free) fried rice with chicken or tofu. I like it because a) it's presented nicely, b) the rice is always perfectly cooked, and c) I don't feel like there is too much "stuff". It doesn't taste salty or overly fried like a lot of fried rice tends to. I also highly recommend the salmon mango tango (and not just because of the name). I can't speak much for the rest of the menu, but whenever I eat hear my fellow diners always speak highly of their meals as well. Drinks. I love the drinks (again, not just for the names) - recommend razzle dazzle martini and rice barn mai tai. I'm not super picky about specific flavorings and whanot, so I can't really comment on seasonings, etc., but I can say I've always enjoyed the experience here. Only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because it can be on the more expensive-ish side, but that's to be expected.
(4)Eugene S.
Second time. Excellent service and fresh and delicious gluten free food. Nice martini specials.
(4)Stu A.
Having lived in Asia for a while we are always on the lookout for authentic Thai food. We found the Rice Barn very Americanized Thai - food had very little spice (a clear requirement of good Thai food), and for a few dishes it was tough to tell if it was Chinese, Thai or another Asian fare. Add to that, given our weekday visit the restaurant literally shook from the commuter train going by 2 or 3 times during dinner. And how can a Thai restaurant not have Singha beer available? So while the food was overall "okay", it was short of what we hoped for.
(3)Bronwyn B.
Wonderful food. Fresh, authentic and delicious. Gracious and pleasant service. A little on the expensive side for Asian food but worth it. The quality of the ingredients and care in preparation is obvious. I only wish the restaurant were closer to my home.
(5)Jessica S.
One of my favorite places to eat lunch during the week, The Rice Barn is a great spot for some Thai! The bento-style boxes are what I always order, and each time they are delicious and arrive quickly to our table. The thai iced coffee is divine, too. The service is very, very good and even during the peak lunch hours, it's not too packed with people, but just enough so that you know it's a good place. The price is right, the food is great... so I'll keep coming here!
(4)Mark W.
Went for lunch the place is clean friendly service the dishes were just blah even the spicy dishes just had no heat. For me when I think Thai food I think spicy and The Rice Barn just didn't deliver.
(3)