Hannah H.
Yelp
About a 3-3.5: Shanghai Lounge is a 2-floor Chinese restaurant in the Glover Park neighborhood. Menu is extensive, offering items such as edamame, seaweed salad, Chinese cucumber salad, garlic salad, and small and pepper sol fish; soups; chicken/beef/lamb/pork/seafood/veggie entrees, and dry hot pot.
The hubs and I came here for an early lunch, and we ordered: Dan Dan Noodles (ground pork, stir-fried Chinese sauteed vegetables, and noodles); Spicy Pork Wontons; Sesame Paste with Cold Noodles; handmade Pork Dumplings (xiao long bao); and, pan-fried pork dumplings.
Both the noodle dishes were forgettable, as the noodles were slightly overcooked and were not drained properly, so the sauces and the noodle water made it a bit watered down. Same went for the spicy wontons - the dumplings could have been drained more, or the chili oil could have been more flavorful. The dan dan's sauce and the sesame paste were both bland, and we were disappointed, as we were looking for something spicy and savory.
The xiao long baos were pretty tasty; the skin was thin, and while the broth seemed to have left each of the dumplings, they were still tasty. I just wished that the broth was contained!
The favorite were the pan-fried pork dumplings - these were really delicious and I could have ordered 10 more of these! The skin wasn't too thick, and it was filled with juiciness.
The dishes are quite small - think of shareables/tapas, but literally between 2 people.
Service was very welcoming and friendly, and there are some seating on the main floor and more upstairs.
I'd definitely come back for the pan-fried pork dumplings and the xiao long baos, if in the area.
+pan-fried pork dumplings
+xiao long bao (mostly brothless T___T)
+friendly service
+limited residential parking