Dim Sum Cafe — Restaurant in Mesa

I have been looking for a decent dim sum place that matched what I had experienced in San Diego so when I saw the reviews for Dim Sum Cafe, I was super hopeful. My husband and I drove from Laveen to Mesa to try the food. We arrived at 7:40. Upon entering, we were pointed to a booth. The young man came over, told us that they stop taking orders at 8 PM, set our menus down and took our drink orders. We acknowledged that we understood about the kitchen closing and we had looked at the menu online before driving out to Mesa. We had planned to take the food to go but decided to sit when we saw that there were only two other tables being tended to. He left to give us a minute to firm up our choices. In that time, a lady came to our table to tell us that we needed to order quickly because they close at 8:30 so the kitchen stops cooking at 8. We told her that we knew that and we were in the process of writing our order on the ticket. She then walked away. She came back shortly after that to reiterate that we only had 10 minutes to order, pulled the order slip toward her to read it, told us that she had to check with the kitchen about the chicken wings before pushing the slip back to me to finish writing. By 7:53, our order was in. Our food started coming out at 8:03. The Beef Chow Fun was okay. Then the jalapeño chicken wings came out. The garlic sauce was strongly flavored but not in a good way. You couldn’t taste any of the subtleties in flavor from the other seasonings such as the jalapeños. The vegetables spring rolls were pasty in the center. The chicken egg rolls were better but they were the quality that you could expect from a frozen egg roll. The bbq pork steamed buns and the soup dumplings also tasted like pre made, frozen items. We tasted each item before placing it in a to go container to bring home to our children. During the time between having the food dropped at the table and us leaving at 8:20, the staff started the closing clean up. I would not have minded if the lady hadn’t started mopping near us with strong smelling cleaning products. The smell did not improve the flavor of the food at all. We spent $121 on mediocre food and mediocre customer service that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. It definitely wasn’t worth the 30 minute drive from my home for...

I recently visited a quaint cafe in Mesa, Arizona that, despite being named after dim sum, offers a rather unconventional approach to this beloved culinary tradition. It's important to note that if you're seeking an authentic dim sum experience, this might not be the ideal place for you.

Firstly, the cafe's limited space and small size may not accommodate larger groups comfortably. However, the cozy atmosphere does have its own charm and can create an intimate dining experience.

One aspect that stood out was the departure from the traditional dim sum service style. Instead of the customary cart service, where servers push carts laden with a variety of dim sum dishes, customers are required to order directly from the menu. This deviation might disappoint those seeking the interactive and dynamic nature of selecting dim sum dishes at their own pace.

When it comes to the dim sum itself, I found the flavors to be somewhat ordinary. While the selection was decent, it didn't quite capture the authenticity and complexity that one would expect from traditional dim sum establishments.

On a positive note, I did try the Beef Brisket & Tendon Noodle Soup, which showcased tender pieces of beef brisket and tendon cooked in a special chee hou sauce. The dish was served on flat rice noodles in a flavorful soup base, and it provided a satisfying and hearty option for those seeking a different taste experience.

In summary, if you're looking for an authentic dim sum experience with bustling cart service and exceptional flavors, this might not be the ideal spot. However, if you're open to a unique twist on dim sum and appreciate a cozy ambiance, you might still find something enjoyable...

I am not entirely sure how I would rate this place. I have been coming to this restaurant, for a few years. The dim sum is awesome! That being said, I wanted to try something new. Long story short, I tried a couple pieces of this dish, and told the server that I didn't care for it. I ordered (and paid) for 8 other items, mind you.

The way this was handled, was completely unprofessional. First of all, they made a big deal about taking it off the bill. Secondly, I asked for the manager, because the server (of all people) explained to me, that next time they may not be able to take it off the bill. So, be sure you know you want something before you order it. (As if, to suggest I had done something wrong.) Well, this put a sour taste in my mouth. Why would the server, (who works on tips) be the one to suggest such a thing, to the customer?

I asked to see the manager. I was told he would be 1-2 minutes. I said, fine. After 15 minutes, he finally shows up. (I understand he was one of the cooks, so I patiently waited.) He preceeded to tell me that they said, you ate half. (I assure you I did not.) I said, oh no. I did not eat half. I had 2 pieces and decided it was not for me. And, I explained to him that it is unprofessional to have his server come talk to me about how I order my food, next time. I told him, (as someone who has owned a restaurant in the past) that that is HIS job, NOT the server's.

If you ever want to own a restaurant, there is a reason, the old saying goes, "the customer is always right." It is because smart owners/managers think long-term.

I want to give this restaurant 5 stars, but with that experience, I...