Robert B.
Yelp
Sometimes, it pays to take a chance...
My wife and I had a hankering for congee, and we didn't want to schlep all the way to Chinatown and deal with the parking hassles. My AI suggested this place, and we thought we'd give it a whack. From the outside, this place doesn't look very impressive, but as you know, you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover, and sometimes those 'holes in the wall' can have some pretty good food.
THE ROSES: While it has no dedicated parking lot, DSH is located on a part of Beacon Avenue that's a boulevard with parking in the middle. The prices are reasonable, the servings are generous, and the food is actually pretty good! For a small restaurant and small kitchen, the menu is remarkably broad and comprehensive with classic Cantonese cuisine. It is clear that this place is popular with the local community, because as we got closer to the lunch hour, it got real busy with local families and groups! It appears to also do a fairly brisk takeaway business. The service, while a bit brusque, was efficient and thorough.
THE THORNS: From the outside, this place honestly doesn't look that promising. It definitely has a 'hole-in-the-wall' look to it. This isn't the place you'd take someone you wanted to impress (unless they're adventurous and dedicated foodies like you!). It doesn't help that the food safety placard on the door indicates DSH could only eke out an 'Okay' rating (the lowest rating you can get and still stay open) doesn't exactly boost one's confidence. Still, I've eaten in places a lot more grotty than this, and outside of the venue looking quite old and 'well-loved', the spaces I saw certainly looked clean enough. The dining room is a bit on the small side, and when it's busy in here, it can get quite loud.
WHY FOUR STARS: Yes, the place *looks* like a pit, but when it comes to the food, Dim Sum House delivers the goods! For me, the food is foremost, so four stars for these guys.
THE VERDICT: The adage, 'You can't judge a book by its cover' is no more true than here. If atmosphere and being in an Asian restaurant where you want to 'See and be seen' is important to you, I suppose you can always go to Chef Morimoto's Momosan in Chinatown, but for me, when I go to a Chinese restaurant, find it full, and note that I'm the only white guy there, I'm fairly sure I'm in for some decent chow. Dim Sum House did not disappoint.
Recommend.