If Parkdale drivers seem erratic, don't worry. Residents are distracted, looking under their seats for extra change to cover dinner at Rice and Noodle's new location.

Rice and Noodle, previously at Queen West and Roncesvalles, has made the slightly eastward move into new digs, and this one’s a keeper: A green exterior and white-checkered tile façade makes the gourmet Szechuan and Cantonese restaurant impossible to miss.

The narrow space has less than 10 tables with mod chairs and a window counter with stools overlooking the always-entertaining Parkdale parade. The coloured walls (green on one side and peach on the other) have Chinese knick-knack decorations interspersed with mirrors and photos of their many dishes.

The restaurant vibe varies depending on the time of day that you go. My first visit was a quiet one, lightly soundtracked by the voices of scattered patrons and staff chatting, and the slight clanging of utensils against woks. A subsequent visit welcomed me to a full house and soft pop and R’n’B-lite sounds that would impress any CHFI listener.

Rice & Noodle offers a whopping amount of dishes, deals and dinner combos to select from. They include Savoury Mandarin, chop suey, spicy Szechuan, black bean sauce dishes, curry dishes with coconut milk and many others. In fact, they have over a 150 dishes that include spicy and vegetarian friendly fare.