Sweet Chive — Restaurant in Austin

Cold sampler and dumplings 4.3stars. I don’t typically leave reviews or submit complaints. But my experience tonight was really disappointing. There were two servers on the floor and 4 tables including myself. I was told there was a wait for sushi, I asked how long, server said 20mins & that it was worth the wait. Great, setting expectations are important when you have hungry patrons.

I ordered everything at once to make it easy. Server didn’t write anything down. Wasn’t skeptical of that, because when you’ve been in the service industry long enough I trust that you are able to pull that off with 4 tables.

Both servers asking me the same questions which means they aren’t communicating. I’m like cool cool cool…I know my order is gonna get messed up now.

Whatever, im not worried about that at this point.

First two items come out great. Waiting on the third……15 mins later, 35 mins after I put my initial order in I ask just want to check on item 3 & 4 .

Server number two says I got item 4 but not item 3. Rings it in.

Item number 4 comes out the previously upsold sushi. It’s mediocre at best. Look, I’ve got high expectations I’ve had a lot of sushi, but this wasn’t sushi it was essentially a shrimp tempura roll with imitation crab, in addition the menu lists both imitation crab and Crab….so I’m thinking for 18 dollars that makes sense didn’t expect a lot of crab but crab no less.

I ate part of it then told server number 1 I was finished. He asked if it tasted alright. I said it wasn’t amazing but it was fine and I am done with it. And then proceeded to explain that this chef is different than the weekday chef and that’s why the quality was different and that if had the sushi made by the week day chef than it may be what I was expecting . So now I’m confused because you upsold me on “sushi” that was not worth the upsell.

Server number 2 sits down and is enjoying his shift meal in my line of sight. While simultaneously remembering that he hasn’t yet brought me item number 3. Hops up grabs it apologized for the delay for the third time.

Eventually brings me my check. Decides to sit down while he is closing me out on a mobile pos and explain the exact same thing that server number 1 did. And essentially blames the sushi as the reason why my entire experience was delayed and sub par.

I paid $70 dollars for a meal and experience that I should have paid $40 including tip for.

Also I can’t stand a service team that does not take any accountability for how shitty there over all service performance was.

No sir it was not only the quality of the sushi and the fact that a shrimp tempura roll took an hour to provide with 4 tables out of the 15 available. It was the fact that there was zero communication between the two staff members on the floor. Not writing down orders and forgetting items. Upselling with out being truthful or having the guest needs met.

Truly miserable experience .

I have been there many other times and I have never had this level of service. So hopefully it’s an isolated incident. Either way I won’t be back to dine in again and certainly will not be recommend dining in,...

On another work trip and one thing great about business trips, you can try out restaurants. I visited this restaurant because after my long drive from Houston, I was craving some dumplings.

I remembered I had dumplings in Portland, OR and wanted to savor buns in my mouth with sauce to dip them in. I was ready!! The restaurant is located in Old East Austin near Juiceland.

About 10 minutes from Tru Hotel near the airport. Thankfully, there was a small parking lot with tight parking spaces.

When I walked inside the very cold temperature of a restaurant, I was immediately told with a smile to sit anywhere. I of course, sat at a small table as it was only me dining in.

There was one other person with a child dining too, so the dining area was fairly quiet. The crowd didn't come until after 6:00 PM as I was leaving.

I ordered the vegan dumplings, a winter melon drink, and a scallion pancake appetizer (vegan).

The appetizer and drink came out first. The drink came out in a Shiner glass. I wasn't sure if it was alcoholic or not; so that was confusing. I don't drink alcohol anymore for health reasons. Graciously, the drink didn't give me a spike. The drink was very sweet, but refreshing. I was given a side water. I liked winter melon drink as I've never had that before, but no refills.

Next time, I'll try a hot tea. The scallion pancake was very tasty. That within itself could have been a meal. I took me back to the days when I attended an Korean Christian church and at break, they served scallion pancake. I miss those days to be honest. The batter was crispy, but not gummy, but chewy. The dipping sauce was divine and within itself could have been a salty drink. Haha!!

I wanted to gobble it up, but I waited until the final meal of dumplings arrived. Surprisingly, the dumpings were absolutely a stunner of deliciousness. Omg, as I was eating it, I thought to myself, these taste so much better than the dumplings I had in Portland. The dumplings at Sweet Chive was packed with so much flavor and the filling was stuffed, but not the point of falling out. The wrapper was neatly formed with slight crisp, the filling well seasoned of what appeared to be tofu and vegetables, and this dipping sauce was the same for the pancake.

I honestly wanted to ask them to jar that up for me to take home. I loved my meal and so badly wanted seconds, but having recently lost 10 lbs I just couldn't chance it.

I'm for sure going to add this Taiwanese restaurant to my list of favorites of Austin. Funny thing, I lived in Austin for a year and having to never visited this place, but frequently went to the Juiceland across the way.

Anyways, the staff was friendly, attentive, and gave great recommendations on the winter melon drink. I'll be back once I'm in Austin again.

I slept like a baby because Sweet Chive made that possible. Keep whipping up...

So I would like to say that I was expecting great things from this restaurant, it just did not end up that way. First it took over 20 minutes to order and there were only like 5 people in front of me and plenty of open tables, but not a huge deal. The lady behind the counter said it would be about 30 min before we ordered so that is what we expected. We ordered the pork pan fried dumplings, steamed dumplings, shaken beef, and mustard greens and tofu. The steamed dumplings came out after an hour... They were super rubbery; they were like the steamed dumplings at Asia Cafe except about half as many of them and more expensive. The steamed dumplings were way too doughy and bland 3/10. Then the fried dumplings came out about 10 min later. These were the best things that we ate 7/10, bright flavors, crispy bottom, but the underside was slightly burnt on some pieces. That all being said if you have had the dumplings at Lin's Asian Bar you will be underwhelmed, as theirs are amazing. Then the shaken beef came out, and I am not sure what it actually was but if was definitely not shaken beef 1/10. It was so bad I will go out on a limb and say it will be the worst meal that I will eat in 2019. The beef tasted off and was so tough. It was not seasoned at all, so if you have had shaken beef in the past you will know that this meal is not shaken beef. Then it did not have the dipping sauce either. We left this dish uneaten. Finally a few minutes later we received the mustard greens and tofu 2/10. Again no flavor and super oily. They just sauteed blanched mustard greens and tofu strips in 1/4 of oil and put it on a plate... The greens were at least cooked well so that is why it got a 2/10. All that being said I would not recommend this...