Steam — Restaurant in New York

We went to Steam about a year ago for dinner, and I must say I had the best soup dumplings—super juicy and flavorful. Last Friday, we decided to go for a late lunch around 4 PM, and as much as I hoped to have the same experience, I was really disappointed.

We ordered the pork soup dumplings to start. They were oddly heated; the one in the center was lukewarm, while the ones on the edges were at the perfect temperature. You could tell they had been sitting around for a while, as the dough was on the drier side. Flavor-wise, they were still alright, but I wouldn’t say they were the best this time.

We also ordered the pork buns (Gua Bao), which were good—the pork was juicy, and the dough had a good consistency and felt fresh. However, I wouldn’t say they were great. The combination of cold fresh veggies with the searing hot pork didn’t quite work for me; it felt like a sauce was missing to tie the textures and flavors together.

As we were dining, we had the unfortunate experience of encountering an unwelcome guest 🪳, probably the size of two quarters, crawling across the bench at a table nearby. It caused a bit of a ruckus, though we decided to stay nonetheless, as I was excited to enjoy the flavors this place is known for.

We also ordered sake. I prefer my sake warm, which was offered on the menu, but when I requested it, I was made to feel like it was an inconvenience. Nonetheless, the sake was warmed up and brought to the table. I was offered the option to warm it up more, but I declined, not wanting to bother the staff further after receiving a bit of pushback initially. Unfortunately, it did need to be warmed up more, which somewhat ruined the experience as well.

We also ordered the curry, which had great flavor, and the famous General Tso’s chicken. Both dishes were very well-prepared—served at a good temperature and full of flavor. I don’t think you can go wrong with those anywhere though.

Overall, it wasn’t the best experience. The restaurant wasn’t busy—there were only two parties when we arrived (who were about to leave), and maybe three when we left.

Could it be because we came at...

Great food, but wow is the customer service terrible. I ended up eating here twice in a week, coincidentally.

My first encounter was an order pickup It irks me when people at restaurants/businesses answer the phone and JUST say “hello” and then sound annoyed when you’re like, “is this so and so?” You should at least sound friendly on the phone. The hostess was in a rush to get me off the phone and when I got there to pick up my food she asked what name it’s under. I reminded her she didn’t ask for one. I get my food, I walk out, check the bag and see she gave me the wrong order with pork, which I don’t eat, so I had to wait until she fixed it. She let me keep the pork (which I tossed because I don’t eat it) and added the correct item. Wasn’t an awful encounter. In the same week and my coworker ate in and we were seated and the waiters are both just scrolling on social media. ZERO customer service skills. Had to flag another person to help us when we needed something since the first waiter just dipped. We ordered a lot of food which again was great. Later ordered bubble tea and I said twice that I want boba. He brings it to the table without boba and has to fix it. And when he finally got it right it was not good at all. Then we patiently waited for an extended period before we got a check and no one ever checked on us. If I were someone else I would’ve...

This was our first time at Steam, and what a gem! We actually came here after a really degrading and disappointing experience with the hosts at Roey’s nearby. I'm so glad we found Steam instead! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and genuine kindness from every staff member. The atmosphere was welcoming, calm, and respectful — everything we had hoped for. Our server, Ming, was incredibly patient and sweet, helping us with questions about the menu and offering great recommendations. Two other gentlemen also waited on us and stopped by our table throughout the meal to check in and make sure everything was perfect — which it absolutely was.We ordered a variety of dim sum and appetizers: Shrimp & pork shumai Leek & shrimp shumai Chicken combo soup dumplings Szechuan dumplings Scallion pancake wrap with beef Black lava custard buns. To drink, we had the sparkling white peach, iced green lychee tea, and brown sugar tiger boba — all refreshing and delicious. The total was just over $90, and well worth every penny. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. But more than that, the kindness and hospitality made this one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. Highly recommend this place — not just for the amazing food, but for the incredibly kind people who make you feel valued and welcome. We’ll...