Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar — Restaurant in Seattle

I remember when I first came here in 2015, on a visit to Seattle. The guy working the lunch shift was super friendly, and recommended the Traditional, with the mix of potato and beef dumplings. Since I was waiting for my hostel room to be ready, I ordered my food “for here.” The dumplings were in a rich, chilly powder sauce, hearty portion, albeit a bit less than what I thought would come with, with two small pieces of a rye or pumpernickel bread. A little pricey, for my Small size, $8 + tax, I think was what I paid, but again, it was a decent experience.

Since moving to Seattle (Fremont) in 2016, every instance since then just feels like when I go to Tzars, [which have all been weeknights, say 7-10pm], the one person working always acts like they don’t want to be there, and it’s not just one individual. Like, regardless of the employee, they’re just not friendly nor greet folks coming in. They just kinda stare at you when you order, run your total, and eventually set your order on the side counter and yell your name when it’s done. Only once did the handoff feel warm/respectful, and that was also the only to-go order where I got the side of bread with the dumplings on top (maybe that’s just not something they do anymore?). The last time I went in back in 2017, I was pretty disappointed all around by service, flavor, etc. Came by the other night, May 2018, around 9:45pm. Got the Classic Regular Beef dumplings, no cilantro. $11.01 (which included tax). Counted 11 small dumplings in all, with a small dollop of sour cream. Barely fills half a container size.

Overall, if it was on customer service alone, I’d rate a 1-star. Food has great diversity of flavors. So 4-stars there. Cost: at $1 per 1” dumpling, it’s a steep price for a bite. Don’t exactly expect to get full off them. 2-stars there. Overall, I might tell folks to give it a try once for the experience and unique flavors, but cost and service provided always prevent me from recommending it to folks. :-/ Maybe their Cap Hill location has...

I'm giving this one star because of a very particular issue I have with this business's practices, not their food. In fact I adore their food and I've been a regular for years. I love coming here.... BUT! ...and this is especially during the pandemic: it pains me to see ONE WORKER pouring drinks, working the register, handling online and phone orders, AND making meals simultaneously. I am a server and bartender, I can empathize with the current labor shortage, but I have experienced this on more than one occasion. The poor worker handling so many responsibilities always seems overwhelmed and had to deal with irritated and angry customers who may not have as much industry experience and empathy as I do. In my opinion this person either needs to be paid for the labor of the three person team they are compensating for or the restaurant needs to actively search for more staff. Barring not finding this staff I believe the restaurant should adjust their hours. This kind of behavior that obviously takes advantage of servers/cooks/bartenders (or in this case, all three in one person) has run rampant during the pandemic and I am appalled. I myself have been subject to skeleton crew situations, desperately trying to fill the gaps to keep the business afloat while literally risking my life and health being exposed to too-many-to-count points of contact for Corona transmission, but even in the worst of shifts I've never had to take on so many responsibilities at once. I can't see why this situation is acceptable and why I've personally seen it firsthand on more than one occasion in...

I decided to visit this place after my beyond stellar experience at their booth at the Bite of Seattle which could only be described as tasty AF potato dumplings served by friendly people in a family-operated-esque setting quickly. Rich, buttery, generously served potatoes that burst with flavor with every bite.

My experience over here was the complete opposite- and I think on the basis of the giant red glad that was the sole worker's rude attitude as I walked in- I should have not even ordered anything and left immediately.

As I entered, she glanced over to look at me, and immediately spent a few minutes tending the pot behind her and then answering a phone. When she did get to me, she took my order in the most unenthusiastic manner, and when she asked me to spell my name and I proceeded to do so, she quite literally told me- "I'm not a travel agent" and handed me the pen to write it on my own- it was quite literally as though she didn't want to be there.

When my food did arrive- it was the polar opposite of what I experienced at the event- it was way too over peppered to the point of being inedible- I could literally scrape the excess powder with a fork- what you're seeing is from 3 dumplings- the rest of them shared the same fate of literally dripping with that powdery peppery mess that overwhelmed each bite to taste like, well- pepper and nothing more.

The only employee present there had an attitude that was bad enough to me not to recommend it- but the food I experienced leaves me to say avoid this place...