March 17, 2007
A Taste of . . . Chinatown Brasserie
Since opening day, Joe Ng's dumplings have been proclaimed by critics to be the highlight of the Chinatown Brasserie menu. Since opening, the original Chef, Tyson Wong Ophaso, has left, elevating Joe's position in the kitchen. Thankfully, the quality of the dumplings has remained intact through the change. Although you can't expect Chinatown prices (each order of dim sum ranges from $6 to $15 at lunchtime, a buck or two more at dinner), the quality is worth the extra cash. Fresh, high quality ingredients, like pefectly tender shrimp and springy green pea shoots are formed into gorgeous dumplings and presented with a degree of artistry, which fits in nicely with the sleek, carefully crafted surroundings. Formerly the home of Time Cafe/Fez, it's hard to believe that even with a reported makeover budget of $6 million, that Chinatown Brasserie is the same space at all. Fez never had a koi pond, from what we recall.
Chinatown Brasserie
380 Lafayette Street at Great Jones Street
212-533-7000
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Can you stop sucking this restaurants dick
But you really have to stick to the (incredibly overpriced) dumplings. We have been several times and made the mistake last time of branching out. We had Peking Duck ($48), a filet mignon dish ($29) and something called crispy chicken and each was worse than the next. I mean anybody's local Chinese joint is superior to this and half the price! We were very disappointed. And, in fact, the soup dumplings weren't as good as Grand Sichuan so...
We went for dinner, and it was so dark we couldn't even see the dumplings. I know they were going for a trendy look but a big part of eating food like this is about admiring the handiwork. As for the taste, they were yummy but we all agreed dim sum in chinatown is better (and 1/10 the price!). The other dishes were good, but you can find General Tso's chicken for a lot less elsewhere...
New York does a lot of things well. Dumplings are not one of them unfortunately. I'll save my spare case until I'm in San Fran again.
Those dumplings are creeping. me. out.
They look like slimy, half-melted peeps, but with scary eyes.
Dumpling House dumpling owns Brasserie's any day of the week. The cheap hole-in-wall places will always have better food than these overpriced americanized yuppie restaurants.
I've never heard of 6-15 dollar dim sum. That's really high.
Those green walking balls of slime scare me.
They're looking at me!
If you want good dumplings, go to Dim Sum A Go Go-it's the only place worth it in the city. The above restaurant is appalling as well.
omg this place is so ridiculously overpriced and mediocre i cant wait until they inevitably fail.