Rio R.
Yelp
Once promising, now just passable--a disappointing return to Luscious Dumplings
After craving soup dumplings, we found ourselves back at luscious Dumplings for a second visit--our first being during their soft opening. Back then, the experience was promising, even exciting. Unfortunately, this visit left us wondering what happened.
First Impressions Matter...
The menu book was the first red flag--worn-out, tattered, and sticky to the touch. It gave off more "garage sale" than modern dumpling house. The quirky ceramic dumpling napkin holders that once charmed us now felt like a joke--empty and neglected. We scanned nearby tables and spotted maybe one or two sad napkins peeking out. It's small detail, but it reflects a broader lack of care. Plus what's with these wooden tiny chopsticks, are they discriminating or just simply not being consistent? A number of tables have real chopsticks, not the disposable ones while the rest including our table only have those sad tiny pair of disposable chopsticks.
Food: A Mixed Bag
The scallion pancakes still hold their ground--crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, the chicken and cabbage dumplings were...fine. Serviceable, but nothing worth writing home about.
Then came the sesame noodles, which were unfortunately a compete miss. A bitter aftertaste overpowered the dish, and we couldn't identify what went wrong. My cousin, hungry and determined, managed to finish it--but we both agreed it was a struggle. his pork chop rice dish looked great on arrival but was ultimately underwhelming in both flavor and portion, extremely thinly sliced pork meat. The car cheese puff? Totally forgettable.
Service and Saving Grace
Margarita, though initially reserved, carried herself with professionalism. Toward the end, she shared a warm smile that genuinely improved the way experience--and for that, we're grateful. The nice young lady at the front of the house was also very warm and welcoming. But one or two friendly faces can't fully redeem a place that feels like it's slipping.
It's hard to compare Luscious Dumplings to its sibling restaurant next door, K-pot--where consistency, ambiance, and customer service are clearly prioritized. Unfortunately, Luscious Dumplings, though fairly new is falling behind. Unless things turn around, this may be our last visit--or last resort for a dumpling fix.