Julia G.
Yelp
I was so startled my first time to this little mom and pop modest eatery, when I approached the order counter and didn't even speak yet, when the owner (the husband) suddenly blurted out in an "unexpected surprise" tone of voice, "Are you Shanghainese?"
Wow, yes, I am Shanghainese. He said it as if my Shanghainese looks smacked him in the face, like he was taken aback to see me, a Shanghainese, standing at the counter. That was months ago, and I didn't think to ask him what made him blurt that out. I do agree, I look Shanghainese. I am tall for Asian 5'7", and am not short with round face (Cantonese). REAL Chinese know what provinces in China other Chinese came from only by their looks.
I have eaten here about 4 times alone. One time, the wife was sitting at the next table having her meal, and I started speaking Shanghainese to her. She asked me in Shanghainese, "What part of Shanghai are you from"? I told her in same language that I never even been to Shanghai, I was born in NYC! She commended me to be born here and speak Shanghainese so well. I told her I learned from speaking to both my Shanghainese grandmothers, who didn't even speak Mandarin or English, only Shanghainese.
I enjoyed all the dishes I ordered enough to order them again. They are
1. Braised Pork Belly 4.5 stars (I ordered this several different times, cos I love pork belly)
2. Beef noodle soup 4 stars (broth could be richer, but noodles taste homemade and chewy)
3. Lion's head ("Sze tse dur" in Shanghainese) called meatballs #82 on the menu (a little bland and the plastic noodles absorbed the broth, which was thin) pretty inexpensive dish for 4 meatballs $9.99.