Sum Bar

This place always hits! We visit about every 2 months (we live in Boiling Springs), but if we lived closer we’d be there every weekend! The food is always delicious, the staff is so friendly, & the restaurant is clean! We love the cozy atmosphere & small plates that allow us to try almost everything. And the cocktails are a must!! Love that they offer many mocktails options as well. Truly our favorite spot!!

Came in for an anniversary celebration with my boyfriend and had an amazing time. The food was delicious and the service was fantastic. I am really surprised by some of the ridiculous reviews that I’ve read being that our experience was perfect. We will definitely be back!

We had such a great dinner here! Don't sleep on the veggies - the green beans and the cucumber salad were both incredible. Remington was a fantastic bartender and the servers were all knowledgeable and pleasant! We'll be back soon for sure. Such a treat to have an excellent dinner in Greenville.

I am a Chinese American who grew up on dim sum and have had the privilege of traveling the world trying different restaurants. Sum Bar was one of my top 3 restaurants for a while but was recently disappointed. The Shumai was delivered luke warm and missing the fish eggs on top. I had to notify the waiter. The egg tarts were delivered Luke warm as well. Overall the food and experience was not what this restaurant started out as and truly hope quality control is stepped up for my next visit.

We had the BEST experience here for Chinese New Year!! The drinks were creative and delicious. The food was to die for! I could literally swim in the bean paste that came with the pork belly special. Everything was authentic and well executed. Would totally recommend and 100% come back! Service was quick and friendly. Tried several of the drinks and all of them were fantastic. 10/10 add it to your list.

We were craving dumplings and water so we stopped in for dumplings and water. Service was fast and the dumplings were great. The menu is not very large but good spot for snack and drinks.

Let me start by saying the food was yummy! We tried lots of the small plates, favorites were the crab rangoon dip with wontons and the charred green beans. Service seemed a little off, lots of people doing specific things, but everyone was friendly and we didn't mind the slower pace of dining. Also, it is small, which is fine, but one of the tables was SO LOUD it felt like it created a chaotic vibe. Certainly not the restaurant's fault, just sharing that space is limited, make reservations!

My husband and I came for date night and we had a reservation for the bar. They were able to sit us within 10 mins. The service was phenomenal! You normally don’t get such great service from younger staff but everyone was very attentive from the host to the bar tenders and waitresses. The music was so good, we had to ask for the playlist and they sent us the link for it. We will definitely be back. The atmosphere was perfect too. We asked to speak to the chef to give compliments but he was very busy which was understandable because it was packed! We hope you all stay around and are successful. We will be back!

Incredible food and service. Had the cucumber salad, crab rangoons, green beans, siu mai, pork dumplings, veggie dumplings, and char sui bbq pork and it was all phenomenal!

A must-visit! I've been hearing about Sum Bar for the past year, and just got a chance to make it this summer. It is a small-plate style restaurant, so I suggest go with a group and ordering several things to share. Honestly, everything I've tried on their small but mighty menu is delicious, and they have excellent cocktails as well. My personal favorite are the green beans and the sesame rice balls. I've been twice and can't wait to go back! Got so excited I only took pictures of half the food. The service was excellent both times. Very friendly and helpful, as well as knowledgeable about the menu.

My wife and I ate at Sum Bar tonight while on vacation in Greenville. It was outstanding! Something that Columbia badly needs: a Dim Sum restaurant. I was tipped off that Greenville has a new Dim Sum restaurant by a WYFF TV 4 story that the owner of Sum Bar is the topic of an James Beard Foundation awarded documentary about her opening the restaurant about 18 months ago. The food was outstanding! The best Dim Sum that we have eaten since vacationing in Boston's Chinatown. We shared Pork Dumplings, Siu Mai with Roe, Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Wontons, Steamed Bao, Char Siu Pork, Egg Tarts and Sesame Balls with Red Bean Paste. Each of these items were delicious, well presented and had a nuanced blend of spice and heat. I heartily recommend trying Sum Bar. You will be not be disappointed.

Looking for a trendy ambiance, quick service and delicious drinks? Be careful or you'll miss Sum Bar downtown. The restaurant is neighbors to a brewery, and parking can be tricky. There's a small lot that you can park in, but if parking is not on your side, there are local garages and side street parking available. Reservations are recommended if you'd like a table, although walk-ins are welcomed. We made reservations through Resy, and had no issues! I loved the small plates that were amazing for sharing. My friend and I ordered these handful of plates to share and make it a family style mean. Hello shareables for a date night, girls night, or a group gathering! First up were the green beans that were perfectly seasoned, still warm, and full of bite. Highly recommend! The duck breast was chefs kiss. Tender, moist, full of flavor and paired well with the chicken and shiitake wontons. The star of the show was hands down the dim sum. CHILLEEE the entire meal was delightful and paired well with my Manhattan that packed a punch. Run, don't walk.

Thanks Sum Bar for hosting my 25th B-day dinner! Although a smaller restaurant they were able to accommodate my 12 top reservation +2 unexpected guests the day of. Food was delicious and came out fast for such a large table. They were thoughtful and attentive the entire evening and the round of birthday sake also went down really well! I would highly recommend this place as a stop you should take in Greenville. I look forward to my next visit.

Food- Good! Nice but small selection for the menu. Got it in a timely matter and their chili oil is good. Service- HORRIBLE! Our server hardly came around. Didn't go over the menu whatsoever. They don't offer any takeout boxes. We had to ask our server for refills on drinks several times. We didn't even get a menu when we sat down and had to ask for one. We would ask for something and our server said she would get it and she would go straight to the bar area and lean against the wall and start texting. We had to literally wave her over which I hate doing! Atmosphere-Small and simple. Not kid friendly imo. It was also insanely hot in there. No AC. The concept is good and it is a good addition to GVL but I have no desire to come back because of the horrible service.

This place is a fun fusion twist on Dim Sum. I'm from California, where authentic dim sum is everywhere, from little Chinese cafes to fancier sit down dim Sum spots. But this place was different than either. It's more of a fusion date night spot. Focus is on the atmosphere, good cocktails, and the upscale Dim Sum menu being only tapas (small plates to share.) With that atmosphere and focus, also comes the price tag. Lol Because it's all tapas plates, it can get pricey and adds up quickly. So prepare for that. If you are hungry, this spot may break the bank and you'll still leave needing to eat something else lol (happened to us). I'd say it's more a date night, special occasion place, where you can enjoy the ambiance, a drink, have a couple appetizers/ small plates. Perhaps eat at home before you go haha. That's our plan for next time lol. After tip, our bill was $140 - and that didn't include a free entree they gave us (super nice of them!). We did order a good amount, and two drinks, but it was 4 of us. Really only 3 of us ate. My picky kid only ate 3 dumplings and wasn't too impressed w the rest lol. Our host and server were both amazing- so friendly, so helpful, attentive, and very hospitable. Like I said, they got us a free plate for waiting longer than expected. The ambiance inside was so relaxing and nice. Old people eyes couldn't read the menu though since too dark lol . Our favorite was the green beans. Dim sum green beans have such a unique and satisfying flavor! We all loved them. The shu mai and dumplings were both good-- nothing to write home about though. Only four per plate so not enough for the price/ our bellies in our opinion. We're used to Dim Sum places giving on average, 8 per steam basket. The shrimp sesame herb roasts were good- flavorful. Again, only a small four little toasts. The shrimp Rangoon was a dip w wonton chips instead of little filled pouches- interesting spin on them. Flavorful but again, not filling enough. All three of us only got a couple bites each. The cucumber salad was refreshing and the perfect crisp to them. The pork was flavorful and delicious, but again, very small portion to share. The drinks were good. There was live music next door in the room to the left where the bathrooms are. It shares a space w another restaurant next to it. The live music was fun-- like a banjo bluegrass type. Great crowd. Many bathroom stalls also. Small little restaurant, cozy and great people watching. Nice windows all around to see the main strip. Brewery next door that just got a new chef to do their food menu -- he was a 5 star chef and just started there for revamp the foodie menu. We'll have to try that too! Anywho, parking was tough for a Friday night about 7, and reservations best- call ahead. Finally found parking in a little $5 lot across the street and down. We'll be back for date night perhaps, but like I said, we'll eat a pizza before we go and leave the fam at home lol. But then again, the menu was so small, that we ordered the whole menu pretty much.. lol, so may be awhile before we go back.

Sum Bar is such a great spot! I love that they have lots of small shareable plates. My table got the shrimp toast, congee, siu mai, butternut squash fritters, and gai lan. All of it tasted great, and I have no complaints. I think the standout was the congee. It was my first time having congee. I loved the simplicity of it and being able to customize bites with the variety of toppings. Make sure to get the sauce tray. I loved adding the chili oil for an extra kick. It was spicy and smokey. The inside was small but felt cozy. It was nice being able to look around and see what others were getting to tack on to our order.

As a fusion restaurant, this was a pretty enjoyable experience! - 3.5/5 As an authentic dim sum restaurant, I was a little disappointed. - 1.5/5 I was visiting from out-of-state to visit a friend for a week and knowing that I love my Asian food, she had made a reservation for us here. I'm Chinese and have lived in multiple Asian food hotspots, so I've had my fair share of dim sum with diverse influences. Since it was just us two, we didn't get to try too many dishes but we got a few of my favorites: Crab Rangoon, Siu Mai, Char Siu BBQ Pork, and Gai Lan. I enjoyed them all, and it satisfied my craving for dim sum, so I'll give them that! However, it's worth mentioning that all the dishes leaned heavily on the salty side. The Char Siu BBQ Pork, in particular, was covered in such a strong sauce, I could barely taste the pork itself. That being said, Sum Bar definitely has a unique twist I haven't quite tasted elsewhere - quite tasty but not what I had in mind for traditional dim sum.

Pure trash, I wouldn't recommend it even if the food was free. The world worst service.

On July 5th, I made reservations for four people, but two canceled last minute. I called Sum Bar, and the lady on the phone was very professional and updated our reservation to two people. After our call got disconnected, she sent me a personal text to confirm the changes. When we arrived, our table wasn't ready, and we waited 30 minutes past our reservation time, which was concerning because we had a babysitter and hadn't been on a date in two years. However, the host (whose name I unfortunately don't remember) was incredibly helpful, found us a table, and promised to "make it up" to us. Soon after, we were surprised with complimentary champagne, crab Rangoon, and green beans. We ended up ordering a variety of dishes from the menu, and everything tasted fantastic, freshly made and flavorful. The overall experience was great, with wonderful vibes, and we definitely plan to return. Highly recommend Sum Bar!

Not a large menu but the food was very good. Friendly service and fun ambiance. 10/10 recommend the cream cheese wonton nacho app

We have been wanting to try this and finally made reservations because walk-ins will have difficulty due to limited seating-- FYI!! Anyways even though we had reservations we were seated at the bar ( possibly because we adjusted our reservation and added a person) . Anyways the bar was fun and we learned a lot. They have some fun funky drinks - plus wine beer and sake. The menu is small...just what you will see here and on other reviews and servings are more tapas like. So try many things and order more of what you like later! Our favorites were the green beans and the veggie dumplings... although all are delicious!! Also the crab Rangoon is delicious...now I normally do not like this at other restaurants...but their take on this worked for me with more crab and minimal cream cheese. It's hip little place next to Fireforge brewery with a nice ambiance. Staff and owner were very kind to engage and make suggestions. I personally did not care for the bar chairs/stools as as it only has a small low back (support) but this will not prevent me from returning!

Awesome dinner at Sum Bar. The service was as great and the food is exceptional. I loved the crab Rangoon dip to start and the dumplings were so good. Definitely recommend this place if you love Asian food and dim sum. Really wish there was a similar place back home in Charleston.

I reeeeally wanted to love it because we were so excited about Greenville getting a dim sum spot. It's more trendy fusion style and not authentic but that's fine with us. The cocktails we got were pretty good, but a bit underwhelming. The menu selection was a bit small and we did try a few things we really liked (crab Rangoon dip was my favorite) but a most of the dishes just didn't wow us. There was nothing bad - just not standout to make us want to return. Service was ok, server seemed overwhelmed so was just a bit slow. For the price and hype when it opened I think we just expected a bit more. Hopefully we can try it out again in the future one day and maybe have a more exciting experience

No where like this in Greenville. Everything on their menu is perfection. Their cocktails are so fun and get you to try something a little different! Great and simple wine bottle menu which I love. Their menu is the perfect size to try so many amazing dishes - grandmas green beans being one of the bestttttt. Great service - great owner and just love what this place and these people are doing in Greenville. Their pop ups that they've had in the restaurant are so good and love seeing them support others starting out and needing space!

This is a great place to share plates. I was surprised at the size of the menu, there was more to offer than I was expecting. The atmosphere was intimate and created a nice ambiance. I sat at the bar with a friend and the bar tender was friendly. Overall- the food was good and I would go back. Be warned- they don't have to go boxes so take a container of your own to bring left overs. They encourage you to do so!

Excellent Dim Sum... This is a new place in Greenville. We have been watching the construction since about a year ago or more, anticipating some great Chinese dumplings. We tried the place out last night and were as pleased as we could possibly be. From the moment we walked, in the staff was friendly and accommodating. Our server was quite helpful in selecting our food and drinks. She placed the orders electronically from the table, and was still able to make some small changes as we discussed the meal. The place is practically brand new so it's clean and neat. There is bar seating and a number of tables. Not too loud, not too big... Nice modern atmosphere. I ordered some great Saki. On the menu as Sumo Saki, it was "junmai style"... sounds impressive, as if I know what that means. It was good. My wife says it was the only Saki she has liked. It does have pear and almond overtones, was 18% alcohol... the menu says 300ml but that's a misprint and it's a 200ml bottle, which is around 7oz... We started with the Crab Rangoon which was a real treat... crispy chips with crab meat mixed with sour cream? Very good... We followed that with Siu Mai which is a dumpling with shrimp, pork, ginger and scallion. Make certain you add roe to it. Probably the best dish in the house... We had the green beans which were delicious... Topped that with the Sesame Balls which are fried rice balls covered with sesame seeds with red bean paste they are slightly sweet and well worth trying. To top it all off we had an egg custard tart topped with fruit. The crust was a graham cracker concoction that was delicious. All considered this was a superb experience. I will definitely be back for more.

A great place to sample and share small dishes. They have a small menu that you can order from. We made reservations for mother's day and there were 13 of us in our party. We ordered pretty much everything on the menu and shared it with everyone. The plates are all small tapas portions so don't expect large serving portions. We did enjoy everything we got and I think my fave is the green beans. They have a great cocktail menu. With several of us ordering drinks we had a taste of all the cocktails. In my opinion, out of all the baijiu cocktails, the best one is The Last Character. Dining is still by reservations only. I think I'll be back for the cocktails.

We finally got into Sum Bar last night. They are still reservations only and typically open them on Sundays. If you wait for the email list to tell you that reservations opened...then you're probably too late to get a spot. The service was wonderful. Everyone from the host to the waitress to the woman that cleaned up the glass I broke () was so kind. The food was really good and came out quickly. The shrimp and pork dumplings were my favorite. If you have your heart set on something that you see on the online menu it might be a good idea to call ahead because about half the menu was different. We missed the pork bao but part of this restaurant's experience is trying what's fresh. One thing we missed was on the menu was that the "optional roe" on the Siu Mai dumplings. There was no price attached and the waitress didn't mention it. It ended up an extra $2 per order. The cocktails were good. I got the As Told By Ginger (cause 90s Nickelodeon kid) and my partner got the spiced old fashioned. We ordered 7 things and 2 drinks and spent about $100 before tax and tip. My partner was still a little hungry afterward. We'll be back soon to check out whatever the latest menu is.

We love dim sum, but had not been able to find a spot in Greenville where the food was both authentic and delicious. Sum Bar definitely fills that gap! Offering not only delicious food, but also an impressive selection of craft cocktails, Sum Bar is definitely a spot you don't want to miss. Everything we had was fantastic, but the crab rangoon, dumplings, and char siu bbq pork stand out as favorites. Be sure to top it with their house made chili crisp - it is fantastic! In addition to the great food, the service was impeccable. All of the employees worked together to create a smooth flow of taking orders, refilling drinks, and clearing empty dishes. We had a fantastic experience and will definitely be back!

Wow. Sum Bar was worth the wait. Because we've been trying to get a reservation for a while, we decided to go ahead and try the entire menu. It did not disappoint. From the cocktails to the starters to the Dim Sum. The food and drink experience was top tier. You can tell everything was specifically curated for goodness and flavor. Favorites: Crab Rangoon Dumplings Char Sui BBQ pork The service, from the moment you walked in, was kind and accommodating. We sat at the bar and were able to experience the full dining experience. Our bartender/ server, Kristen was a delight. She answered all of our questions and gave us her recommendations. I felt like we had an interaction with all of the servers and bartenders at some point. Everyone was so attentive. Overall, I will definitely be back. I'm grateful we have places like Sum Bar here in Greenville that bring culture and good food to our little big town. Thank you Sum Bar for an incredible dining experience. I can't wait to return.

Well, had high hope for Sum Bar but it was more like below the bar. Disappointed. 3 dishes, in order of likability. First, the Shu mai.. assuming it was homemade it was not terrible. Steamed correctly and good flavor. Hard to screw these up however. Next was the shrimp toast.. or so it was called. Not even a semblance of shrimp flavor here. Was like a stale piece of bread with sesame seeds somehow adhered to the top and stuck in a salamander (not fried in oil as traditional) and overcooked, with that off putting flavor of burnt seed on top. Almost inedible. Thirdly was the Char Siu. Had good color when it arrived and my expectations were high. However when I went to smell it there was no aroma. Odd, I thought. Took a bite and then knew why- was cold. Not tepid, not even room temperature, but cold. Couldn't get thru two pieces and never got the flavor that could have been had it been served properly. Bartender couldn't have been nicer and was attentive and I think the place has promise but needs a to work out some pretty major things first.

Saturday evening about 8pm.. was walking by and saw the sign out front that said" Walk ins welcome". So proceeded to go in.. no one greeted us@ make shift hostess stand.. we go to two empty chairs at the bar. Dirty glass wear still there from previous guests, no big deal. There were at least 4empty high top tables. As we are sitting down, a bartender comes over and asks if we had a reservation/for the bar? We said,no, we thought walk in we're welcome. She goes to check if it's ok.. but doesn't come back. We decided to leave, because we obviously were not welcome. I will not be going back. And I will tell others how rudely we were treated.

We had great service , drinks, and food presented nicely. Some items we liked , some were so-so, and the cucumber salad to us on this day was much more than a little hot. I'm sure this varies by prep and by tastebuds. If you are in the mild and number 1 hot scale you may should avoid it. The Saki was silky smooth! Some mentioned the heavy crabmeat in the Rangoon but we were the opposite with a lot of cream cheese and a little crab.

A modern take on your classic shanghai esc cuisine. Lots of chili oil, dumplings, buns, and seafood options. It was amazing and I'll be back! Drinks were great too. The physical restaurant is quite small so make sure to get reservations.

The whole experience was amazing. Excellent staff and delicious food and beverages. Cannot recommend enough!

We have loved our dining experiences at Sum Bar. We've been lucky enough to go more than once--lucky because it's popular and reservations are hard to come by. Each time we've attended with a small group (3 or 4 people) so we were able to try a large portion of the menu, sharing the small dishes. The food is fantastic, the drinks are unique, and the concept brings something new and different to Greenville. I truly loved everything we ate. Not to mention, the restaurant has a very cool aesthetic. We can't wait to go back!

Everything was superb, but the Crab Rangoon and Egg Tarts are so good that I immediately wanted them again as soon as we walked out the door. Also make sure you use the house chili oil. If it's ever bottled, I will be the first in line. The ambiance is so lovely, the music is great, the servers are so kind, and service is so fast! Truly a gem!

Everything we ate was delicious! The bar staff was super friendly. Our favorite item was the crab rangoon- sooo yummy! We will definitely go back.

Maybe we caught this place on an off night. Service was good but the food was flavorless. The shrimp sui mai was ok but everything else was much like store bought frozen dumplings (and were served cold). The sauce on the broccoli was like store bought sauce. Pork ribs over rice were flavorless (flavorless pork?!). Rice was gummy. Wife and I left food on the table. Not impressed at all.

Overall a great experience! The staff were very helpful and friendly. The watermelon Margarita was very unique. Fresh and delicious. The menu is small but everything we got was fantastic. We hope that this new place does well. Greenville needs Dim Sum!

Sum bar is a hidden gem in greenville. The atmosphere is laid back, the decor is simple and elegant, nothing pretentious. They don't hide behind the idea of high end but rather let their personal service and delicious unique flavors speak for itself. Truly a must try!

This place rocks !! The food is over the top! Sam the bartender is amazing! Thank you for the great food !!

Fun, with flawless service and oh-so-delicious food! Getting a reservation was a challenge, but we were glad we persisted.

The oyster mushroom salad was the best thing on the menu. It was perfect and complex in flavors in every single way. Everything was delicious. Do yourself a favor and initially order 2 to 3 seasame rice ball orders. They were devine. Service is also fast. Will be back.

Wonderful amazing attentive friendly service and fantastic drinks! We were already plan on our next trip before we got our check. Get all the veggies (green beans and gai lan) and finish with sesame balls.

Food for the most part was excellent and fresh. Audrey was our server and she is an amazing person. We asked to sit outdoors as it is a bit noisy for me. We tried virtually everything on the menu. Everything was outstanding with the exception of the shrimp toast. The crab Rangoon was a unique surprise and I would highly recommend starting with this. Booked our next visit already!!!

My wife and I have been here twice. It is really good! We have tried everything on the menu. Amazing dumplings, crab rangoon nachos mind blown! Cocktails are delicious. My favorite egg drop soup in my life, it needs nothing, I usually add soy sauce to flavor, not needed. Staff is always friendly and tentative. Love to see Greenville get Dim Sum, Sum Bar thank you!

The Pepsi I got was flat , the food was Ok but I would rather go to the Asian market , the service was average the waitress did not even ask how food was , the ambience was good in a good location .

I've been waiting for a Dim Sum restaurant to open here in Greenville and finally was excited to try this place. But was quite disappointed..the atmosphere was not there and service was just ok. The food was mostly a miss except for Siu Mai, that was good. Must say was disappointed with the bbq pork and overall limited menu. Do not even bother with veggie dumplings as they are fried and too hard to bite into..

first time here and it was amazing!! i've been a lover of dim sum my whole life and Sum Bar is definitely at the top. this is the first dim sum restaurant in Greenville and i'm so happy it's here. delicious drinks too, can't wait to go back!

This was without a doubt the best meal in Greenville, heck in anywhere in a long time. We went here based on a locals residents recommendation and it was excellent (definitely get reservations). We ordered everything on the menu (yes, not an exaggeration) and then ordered doubles of several things. Each item was excellent. Highly recommend this restaurant.

So happy to have a dim sum restaurant in Greenville! The food was delicious and there was a great variety of options. The atmosphere is cozy and modern and the staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. We can't wait for another chance to visit.

I've been waiting a long time for a dim sum place in Greenville! Tonight, on the eve of Chinese New Year, Sum Bar had their opening night. A sampler of dumplings, shu mai & mini sesame balls was offered for about $14 a plate. Homemade dumplings and shumai were fantastic. The sesame balls (absolutely my favorite dim sum dessert) had a sweet red bean paste - unfortunately they weren't quite up to par, with regard to size, texture and flavor, with the ones you might find at a Chinatown bakery or at one of the big city dim sum places. But hey, not complaining at all! I'm looking forward to future visits at Sum Bar to try their full array of dim sum.

Fantastic, come have a great beer at Fire Forge and order their Din Sun. Amazing, unbelievably tasty. Sam is great, very helpful and I'm confident this place is going to succeed. Check it out!

Just ate at Sum Bar for the first time...unbelievably good. Everything we ordered was fantastic. The pork dumplings exploded with flavor in my mouth. Just moved to Greenville from Los Angeles and I can tell you this will be my go to restaurant for Asian food. The service is terrific. The drinks are wonderful. The manager Remington was so friendly and personable. I highly recommend this place.

Amazing food! The owner is so nice and welcoming! Just booked our second round of reservations!

Shu mai, sesame balls, and the cucumber salad are a must! Big fan of the Oh My Gourd cocktail as well. Came here to celebrate my birthday and had a fantastic time, everyone who works there was so kind and we had a seamless dining experience. Couldn't recommend more! Run don't walk to sign up for a reservation ‍

Everything was amazing! Food was off the charts. Our server was awesome. Drinks were very good. Owner is pleasant and very engaged. And this place just opened up a few days ago. They have a bright future ahead of them.