Sum Bar — Restaurant in Greenville

This place is a fun fusion twist on Dim Sum. I’m from California, where authentic dim sum is everywhere, from little Chinese cafes to fancier sit down dim Sum spots. But this place was different than either. It’s more of a fusion date night spot. Focus is on the atmosphere, good cocktails, and the upscale Dim Sum menu being only tapas (small plates to share.)

With that atmosphere and focus, also comes the price tag. Lol Because it’s all tapas plates, it can get pricey and adds up quickly. So prepare for that. If you are hungry, this spot may break the bank and you’ll still leave needing to eat something else lol (happened to us).

I’d say it’s more a date night, special occasion place, where you can enjoy the ambiance, a drink, have a couple appetizers/ small plates. Perhaps eat at home before you go haha. That’s our plan for next time lol. After tip, our bill was $140 - and that didn’t include a free entree they gave us (super nice of them!). We did order a good amount, and two drinks, but it was 4 of us. Really only 3 of us ate. My picky kid only ate 3 dumplings and wasn’t too impressed w the rest lol.

Our host and server were both amazing- so friendly, so helpful, attentive, and very hospitable. Like I said, they got us a free plate for waiting longer than expected. The ambiance inside was so relaxing and nice. Old people eyes couldn’t read the menu though since too dark lol 😆.

Our favorite was the green beans. Dim sum green beans have such a unique and satisfying flavor! We all loved them. The shu mai and dumplings were both good— nothing to write home about though. Only four per plate so not enough for the price/ our bellies in our opinion. We’re used to Dim Sum places giving on average, 8 per steam basket. The shrimp sesame herb roasts were good- flavorful. Again, only a small four little toasts. The shrimp Rangoon was a dip w wonton chips instead of little filled pouches- interesting spin on them. Flavorful but again, not filling enough. All three of us only got a couple bites each. The cucumber salad was refreshing and the perfect crisp to them. The pork was flavorful and delicious, but again, very small portion to share. The drinks were good.

There was live music next door in the room to the left where the bathrooms are. It shares a space w another restaurant next to it. The live music was fun— like a banjo bluegrass type. Great crowd. Many bathroom stalls also.

Small little restaurant, cozy and great people watching. Nice windows all around to see the main strip. Brewery next door that just got a new chef to do their food menu — he was a 5 star chef and just started there for revamp the foodie menu. We’ll have to try that too!

Anywho, parking was tough for a Friday night about 7, and reservations best- call ahead. Finally found parking in a little $5 lot across the street and down. We’ll be back for date night perhaps, but like I said, we’ll eat a pizza before we go and leave the fam at home lol. But then again, the menu was so small, that we ordered the whole menu pretty much.. lol, so may be awhile...

Thoroughly disappointed. My husband and I have been wanting Sum Bar to succeed since it opened - we were there for dinner opening night. But we’ve become increasingly disillusioned each time we’ve come, and after a very disappointing Valentine’s Day dinner, we’ve decided we won’t be going back. It feels like the mark was missed on almost everything - service, food, and price. Our bartender was aloof to the point of rudeness and completely unfamiliar with the menu. Granted, this was a Valentine’s Day special menu, so it may have been the fault of management for not properly training the staff, but a question as simple as “Does the mapo tofu come with rice?” required a congressional investigation to answer. (Turn out, it was like 90% rice!) Our neighbor asked which specials the bartender recommended, and the answer was an unfriendly “I don’t know, I haven’t tried any of it.” The biggest disappointment, though, was the food. The scallop special was tasty and the dumplings were decent, as usual, but the yakitori came out cold and the mapo tofu was a travesty. We ordered two and almost laughed when it arrived. First of all, it should not have been called mapo tofu, because there was nothing mapo about it. Instead, we received two plates of dog-foodish mushroom chili over rice with 1.5 pieces of tofu each. Tasted nothing like mapo, no ma-la flavor at all. Secondly, the plating/portion control was atrocious. My husband’s plate had twice as much rice as mine and half as much “topping.” We were really looking forward to having mapo tofu, so this was especially depressing. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate dumplings, which came out as three tiny dumplings (who serves three of something for a Valentine’s Day special?!) that tasted like… ingredients? Like they had wrapped a dumpling skin around some semi-sweet chocolate chips and steamed it. For these three tiny dumplings, we paid $12. We don’t mind spending money on good food, but the portions and prices at Sum Bar are simply not justified by the food quality.

I am Taiwanese and my husband and I have both lived in Taiwan and Japan. We wish so badly that Sum Bar would stop trying and failing to “elevate” Chinese food and just serve some solid dim sum and Chinese food that you can’t get in Greenville. We are just baffled by the decisions. We would happily have paid more than we did to enjoy a hearty bowl of mapo tofu while drinking a beer in the cool, chic environment they’ve created. We would be happy to pay higher than usual prices to eat dim sum while sipping cocktails and feeling hip. Instead, we’re offered haute cuisine portions of mediocre inventions from a dim sum menu that barely features dim sum. We are so disappointed because Sum Bar could be great, but...

I recently visited Sum Bar, a dim sum restaurant that presents itself with an upscale twist. My experience here was a mix of highs and lows, culminating in a modest rating of 3 out of 5.

The most notable downside was their policy on missed reservations. The charge for not showing up seemed excessive, which can be a bit off-putting for potential customers. Such policies, while understandable from a business standpoint, might not sit well with everyone, especially if unforeseen circumstances arise.

Moving to the food, Sum Bar offers a variety of dim sum dishes. The quality of the food was decent, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The dishes seemed to lean more towards an 'upscale' flavor profile rather than offering the authentic taste that dim sum connoisseurs might be seeking. It's a fine line to tread, and while the attempt at sophistication is apparent, it may not resonate with those who prefer traditional flavors.

Another aspect that was a bit disappointing was the value for money. The pricing felt steep, especially considering the portion sizes. When dining out, particularly at a place that offers tapas-style servings like Sum Bar, one expects either reasonable prices or generous portions, if not both.

On the brighter side, the ambiance of Sum Bar is quite appealing. It's a nice spot for those who are looking to enjoy dim sum in a more refined setting. The decor and overall vibe make it a suitable choice for a chic outing or a special occasion.

In conclusion, Sum Bar offers an upscale take on traditional dim sum with a modern twist. While it falls short in authenticity and value for money, it could be a good choice for those who prioritize ambiance and a more westernized taste profile in their dim sum experience.

EDIT:

Thank you for taking the time to respond and for considering my points. I acknowledge that my initial assessment may have been a bit harsh. My personal rating system is somewhat stricter, where I consider 3 stars as average and 2 stars as below expectations. In this instance, the experience didn't quite meet my expectations, which I think was influenced by the surrounding hype and my initial high hopes for your restaurant. However, given your thoughtful and detailed reply, I am open to revisiting your establishment in the future. As a result of this, I am also adjusting my...