Bao Bao Dumpling House — Restaurant in Brunswick

I am leaving this review here because Stadler's food quality policy at ZaoZe Cafe certainly applies to Bao Bao too. Be careful if you go here.

After being a customer for many years at Portland’s Bao Bao Dumpling, Brunswick's Tao, Brunswick's ZaoZe, and then Brunswick's Bao Bao, we will never return. I had three bites of my entree today, I found it dismally below the usual standard, and the owner would not refund my money or even let me switch out the food for another because I had tasted it. I would have to buy a new dish if I wanted more food. I asked how I was supposed to know if the food is good if I can’t taste, and the employee just kept repeating that he was sorry and that this was the policy. I confirmed that the owner was there and that this is her position. No one told me this when I brought the food back, and I would have at least eaten the doctored up rice had I known that I would go hungry instead.

I first had gotten the slaw and found the vinegar aside so bland that I used their black vinegar and house chili paste to dress it up (at which point it was very good). Then I received the pork chop fried rice, which was not fried rice at all. It was steamed white rice with some allium underneath about 8 slices of fried pork chop. Fried rice itself is fried with seasoning and mixed with its other components, but this wasn’t mixed at all. The pork looked desiccated from being over-fried, and every piece had large amounts of fat and gristle. The rice was so bland that I added more black vinegar and chili paste, and then it was fine but still only steamed and kind of mushy. I gave my husband one slice of pork to try and I took one small bite of one piece, tugging at it with my teeth because it was so tough. Grease spilled into my mouth.

Enough was enough and I knew I had to bring it back, so I went up to the counter. The man took it and said he would be at my table in a few minutes. When he came over, I said that I would have the dumplings instead, and then he explained that I would have to buy them.

I have never had an experience like this in a restaurant and certainly not at Stadler’s restaurants, at least the way they used to be. Now, the food is disappointing, and they won’t stand by their product, instead having an outrageous policy requiring patrons to assess the quality of a dish without tasting it. I told the people in line that they had better choose wisely because it will be on them if the food falls short. We will never go to one of Stadler’s restaurants again, which is...

This is a review for the new Zao Ze Cafe lunch menu that this restaurant is doing now.

We spent almost 60 dollars for lunch because we wanted to taste everything that looked good. Overall I was disappointed.

Eighty Ate Slaw - This is the same dish I've had at their restaurant. Too much sesame oil and not enough acid. 2/5

You Tiao - This is basically half way between a churro and a breadstick. I also paid extra for the warm soy milk to dip it in. There was nothing wrong with it. It was just kind of bland. 3/5

Baked Pork Bun - I prefer the softer buns they served at the restaurant. These were basically dinner rolls with pork stuffed inside. Still the best out of all their buns. 4/5

Baked sausage, egg, pea shoot bun - The sausage was weirdly sweet in this one. Not terrible but not to my taste. 2/5

Baked spinach bun - I thought it was decent. My wife thought it was way too bitter. 3/5

Baked chocolate bean bun - Subtly yummy. At first I thought it was weird but ended up eating it all and enjoying it. 4/5

Chive Pancakes - Nothing special about these. They tasted like your standard scallion pancakes. 3/5

Roti Canai - This is an Indian dish. You get a big piece of Indian style bread that you dip into potato curry. It was the best thing we got. My only complaint is that the bread was a little oily. 4/5

Sheng Jian Bao - Pan fried dumplings. Filing was good, dumpling dough was thicker than I'm used to, but good. 4/5

Egg Tart Custard Ball - This thing was very small, tasted eggy, and had a weird texture. I thought it was delicious though. 5/5

Pineapple Cake - This isn't a cake but a small...

This place is truly amazing! We've been three times and every time we order the "Chef's Tasting" 15 small plate courses that are well worth the cost ($68 per person)of the experience! Oysters, Dim Sum, Dessert, and more all brought to your table by the chef who prepared it! I admit we didn't care for the presentation of the dessert on our first visit. It was a chocolate cake in log like form, and well it looked like.....you get the picture. It still tasted out of this world, and I will not say that it detracted from our enjoyment of the meal in any way. Their original take on different cocktails is the stuff of legend, and you cannot go wrong ordering the wine pairing with the Chef's Tasting. All in all, Tao's clean, cozy atmosphere, combined with amazing food, and spirits definitely gives it an edge in the local dining scene. Hands down the best restaurant in Brunswick! I would give 10 stars...