Jason King
AmyHuangBamboo Dumpling Bar - Asian tappas in a weird sort of way
July 10th 2011 08:52
I hope Jason doesn't mind me hijacking the forum once more to share some of my latest dining experiences in Sydney. When a deal on one of those daily discount sites came up for Bamboo Dumpling bar, I had to get myself a voucher to try it.
The brand is spread across four locations - Balmain, Surry Hills, Potts Point and the newest branch in Newtown. Each of them are tagged onto a pub (except for Potts Point) and has this alternative, funky oriental feel about it. I use the word 'oriental' on purpose. While it describes something that is of Asian style and appearance, it is only ever used when it isn't fully Asian. You wouldn't describe a traditional yum cha restaurant as oriental for example, but you would describe somewhere with bits and pieces of the orient (not quite fully Japanese, not quite fully Chinese, and not quite fully European...) as 'oriental'.
So, we visited the Surry Hills branch, which is in the Royal Albert Hotel. \This place was 'oriental'. The decor had a picture of Chairman Mao and a few words (odd words that didn't really make sense) in Chinese on the wall, with a few bamboo sticks and wooden bird cages as ornaments.
As the name suggest, the menu is full of dumplings. Pork & Chive, Prawn, Chili chicken, Vegetarian and Mushroom dumplings, just to name a few. Then, a few dishes of speciality and at last, chocolate dumplings to end with. The dumplings are really nice, and the Chilli prawn spring rolls were divine - compared to the standard yum cha dishes - these ones were none greasy with a touch of glamour as dumpling dishes are not served in bamboo baskets, rather, in long white plates. It's a funkier way to have 'yum cha' and a more sophisticated way to try Chinese cuisine - to top the weirdness off - you are not served by trolley pushing waitresses in a hurry, and you are tended to carefully by the dumpling 'bar staff'. Dishes are slightly on the pricy end - at $9.80 per dumpling dish (5 per serve) and $15 per house special dishes (think... salt and pepper squid type food), however it certainly is worth the visit, and a great place to meet up with friends if you are just feeling a little peckish.
Sorry, I don't have the habit of taking photos when I am eating away......
www.bamboodumplingbar.com.au
The brand is spread across four locations - Balmain, Surry Hills, Potts Point and the newest branch in Newtown. Each of them are tagged onto a pub (except for Potts Point) and has this alternative, funky oriental feel about it. I use the word 'oriental' on purpose. While it describes something that is of Asian style and appearance, it is only ever used when it isn't fully Asian. You wouldn't describe a traditional yum cha restaurant as oriental for example, but you would describe somewhere with bits and pieces of the orient (not quite fully Japanese, not quite fully Chinese, and not quite fully European...) as 'oriental'.
So, we visited the Surry Hills branch, which is in the Royal Albert Hotel. \This place was 'oriental'. The decor had a picture of Chairman Mao and a few words (odd words that didn't really make sense) in Chinese on the wall, with a few bamboo sticks and wooden bird cages as ornaments.
As the name suggest, the menu is full of dumplings. Pork & Chive, Prawn, Chili chicken, Vegetarian and Mushroom dumplings, just to name a few. Then, a few dishes of speciality and at last, chocolate dumplings to end with. The dumplings are really nice, and the Chilli prawn spring rolls were divine - compared to the standard yum cha dishes - these ones were none greasy with a touch of glamour as dumpling dishes are not served in bamboo baskets, rather, in long white plates. It's a funkier way to have 'yum cha' and a more sophisticated way to try Chinese cuisine - to top the weirdness off - you are not served by trolley pushing waitresses in a hurry, and you are tended to carefully by the dumpling 'bar staff'. Dishes are slightly on the pricy end - at $9.80 per dumpling dish (5 per serve) and $15 per house special dishes (think... salt and pepper squid type food), however it certainly is worth the visit, and a great place to meet up with friends if you are just feeling a little peckish.
Sorry, I don't have the habit of taking photos when I am eating away......
www.bamboodumplingbar.com.au
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