We’ve been to Spice I Am quite a few times since the first review in September 2005 and in that time we’ve given the menu a right royal seeing to (if you’ll pardon the pun!).

The many ‘specials of the day’ and the house specialties - over that time we’ve certainly found our favourites: the red duck curry with lychee and thai pea eggplant, the crispy pork belly with equally as crispy basil and chilli, the yellow fish curry, steamed inside a banana leaf, simply known as Ho Mok and many others that I can’t remember without a menu in front of me.

However, the same passion for Spice I Am isn’t quite there any more. It’s not because we’ve eaten there too often, nor is it due to spritely wait staff being too eager or the occasional surly staff member being to gruff and wanting to turn your table so the next group can sit.

Far from the above, but I can’t help feel there’s been a decline in the standards – most noticeably with our most recent visit. You have to remember that it’s not a fine diner, so you shouldn’t go back expecting the bar to be raised each time, with something new or something different.

Our lemongrass chicken was overly peppery, with overcooked chicken and lemongrass that once had flavour and fragrance. The open bucket flounder was oily and without much flavour, and the red duck curry with lychee was as tasty as ever, but lacking enough duck content. And, are those servings of Ho Mok getting smaller?

Was it an off night? Perhaps? However, it has been gradually decreasing for some time we feel. Yes, it’s still good, and one would think that since the fuss of the restaurant has died down a little, they’d be able to concentrate in the kitchen instead of working in hyper drive – but I’m not so sure.

Returnability: It’s hard to complain when it will only set you back $25 to $30 per head – really quite hard, but when you get accustomed to what that normally brings, one can have a few words. That said, get a lunch takeaway (Tuesday to Friday) for unbeatable value.
Score: 12/20

Entrees $5.5 to $10.9. Mains $10.9 to $24.9. Dessert $6.5
No bookings. No cards.
BYO (no corkage).
90 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney, NSW.