Mathew S.
Yelp
Really great dumpling joint. Good variety, though the subtlety of the flavors in the dumplings get a bit lost in presentation (if that makes sense), as well as the accompaniments.
Inside is a bit spartan; some decoration and reflective of the task at hand, but not the focused lack of aesthetic that other 'sanitized to the point of "stark"' popular dumpling domiciles I've been. Contrast this with the patio and the sunroom that can't be accessed from the main dining room, and it's an interesting setup.
So the food, as the question begs:
The novel rift that got crossed, for me, was that the fried dumplings came scraped off the flattop with the batter tying them all together. Meaty but loose inside, crispy crunchy base, and chewy dumpling outers put the texture contrast at the forefront. The sauce for the pizza dumplings was a bit overpowering, but still remarkably good. The peanut butter dumplings were sensational. I don't know if it's bastardized Thai, but don't skip on these, no matter your aversion to peanuts (save that if anaphylaxis and death, but they've got meds for that now, right?). Don't get me wrong here, I found the meal exceptional. Some fine tuning would have found my socks rolling up and down.
Single best thing I had: the Asian pickled cucumbers. Savory, slightly sweet, umami abound; a delicate crunch of the cucumbers- I'm not sure if they're all that healthy, but I didn't care. Let me make a point here: I swear allegiance to meat. Meat is where cooking occurs- art and science all in one. Baking? Science and protocol. Cold dishes (salads)? Merely slicing and serving. The application of heat to protein (and this probably applies to the starch realm of dumplings) is where the epicureans get separated from the mailed meal kit mavens takes place. You cook meat well, and we're bigger friends that you probably bargained for. That detour aside, when I say the best thing I had had nothing to do with muscle or sinew, that's a BFD to me.
Oh, and order more than remotely necessary. They make for fantastic leftovers, hot or cold. The purveyors know this all too well, as to go boxes are made readily available, self-serve.