Rice Paper Scissors

Bold SE Asian share plates and cocktails in a buzzy Hardware Lane hideaway.

Energetic and lively with cool music, exposed brick and stone, hanging bikes, and an outdoor terrace on Hardware Lane. Tables are close together and the music runs loud, so expect a buzzing social atmosphere rather than a quiet dinner. The vibe is fun and inclusive, drawing everyone from couples celebrating anniversaries to big groups on banquets.

Signature banquet menus (4, 5 or 6-share-plate formats) with bottomless jasmine rice included. Outdoor seating with heaters. Strong cocktail and mocktail programme. Staff are notably knowledgeable about the menu and can guide dish selection. Dietary substitutions for vegan, vegetarian, coeliac and allergen needs handled dish-by-dish on the banquet.

Draws on Southeast Asian and pan-Asian flavours. Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian and broader Asian influences are present across the menu. The kitchen does not position itself as strictly authentic to any single cuisine; the creative, share-plate format is distinctly contemporary rather than traditional.

Banquet options ($49-$59pp for 5 dishes with bottomless rice) represent strong value for the quality and setting. À la carte portions divide opinion. some find them generous, others small. Cocktails are well-regarded and competitively priced. The consensus among regulars is excellent value; occasional a-la-carte visitors note the price-to-portion trade-off more acutely.

Summary drafted with AI from public reviews.