Dumpling Empire

Two years ago, this place was very good and we would always have to wait outside for 10-15 minutes, then we noticed people we no longer going and the food was not as good. For example the dumpling skins started getting thicker, and the spicy beef tendon, usually cut very thin, was getting thicker. Still the service was OK, and the food still tasted pretty good.

Well we just went back there for the first time in 6 months. It was 8PM and pretty busy. A couple of 4 that came after us got to order first. It took about 20 minutes before we got to order (for the 3 of us).

We ordered Shoa Long Bao and were told they were out. That is one of their specialties and they were out at 8PM.. I wish they at least would have told us that when they gave us the menu.

Anyways, we also ordered the thin spicy tendons, and were later told they were out of that too. A little while later the aforementioned table was getting served a huge place of spicy tendon. It took a long time to get everything out for that table and we were served nothing.

Finally, 20 minutes after we ordered, we received 1 out of three dishes. Then another table that came after us started getting served and got two dishes, including one that we had ordered but had not yet received. We did not get the 2nd dish until we finished the first, and a did not get the third until after we finished eating the second. Meanwhile, yet another table that had come in 40 minutes after us started to get all their food served less than 10 minutes after they ordered. All of their dishes came to them right after we received our last dish.

So we never got to try their specialties but I can only guess that they must be very good again due crowded atmosphere. I think a dumpling restaurant gets a pass on other items if their specialties are very good. But the dumplings that we ordered were doughy and chewy. Not good for a dumpling house. And their service for us was pretty bad and were never received any apologies. My wife gave a 10% tip. I wanted to leave 99 cents to make sure that they knew that we were not pleased. Well I am still fuming and writing this instead of leaving a small tip.