The solar disappeared behind the horizon as we stepped over the edge of Drunken Dumpling, a small Asian fusion sit-down restaurant on Park Avenue. The very first thing I seen, other than the purple, paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling was the homey really feel of the restaurant.
The room was heat, which was welcome as a result of cool temperature exterior, the tungsten lighting added to this sense. We have been then greeted warmly, myself and Garrett Hartman, my important different, and requested if we solely wanted two seats. We have been then directed towards one of many many open tables.
As I sat down, our server introduced us menus and paper-wrapped chopsticks. I used to be ready to have a look by means of a row of huge home windows with white fabric curtains on the left facet of the restaurant. It supplied a view of the broken road and close by properties, not probably the most nice view, however nice for people-watching. A bar-like desk was positioned on the window with tall chairs and small, cherry blossom tree lights. The opposite facet of the restaurant had varied spices on show in glass jars on steel racks behind an precise bar topped with varied knick-knacks.
Drunken Dumpling, which began as a meals cart in 2018, has come a great distance. They opened up a restaurant location and have received a number of awards, together with CN&R’s 2021 Best New Eatery Award, which might be seen framed on the wall subsequent to the bar.
The menu itself was simply as inviting and personable because the restaurant. The descriptions of the meals included small symbols signifying which dishes have been vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.
We particularly loved this easy-to-read menu because of Hartman’s gluten restrictions. Most eating places we dine at don’t have this courtesy. Earlier than ordering we have been introduced a blue glass bottle stuffed with water and two brief glasses. The 21-year-old Hartman ordered the $3 Home Sake, which is on the completely happy hour menu, out there Tuesday by means of Friday from 4-6 p.m., I ordered a Topo Chico, a drink that reveals how intent the Drunken Dumpling is on combining meals from a number of cultures. For instance, dishes just like the Fijian Rice Bowl, which is described as a traditional Hawaiian rice bowl, Nor-Cal fashion.
The traditional Hawaiian rice bowl had greens served with crisply-cooked spam and curry, priced at $14. The latter packed a heavy punch with its closely seasoned palate, including coloration and taste to the delicate white rice, topped with broccoli, carrots, a tangerine and seasoned spam. The meat’s savory, and barely smoky taste, tasted particularly fascinating when dipped within the curry and topped with a little bit of the white rice. Regardless of being a rice dish, it was not thought-about to be gluten-free because of among the substances used, corresponding to soy sauce.
Because the small candle on the desk melted away, our server delivered 5 superbly plated Takoyaki, a sort of octopus dumpling described on the menu as “Saucy and scrumptious…A Japanese deal with!,” priced at $4. The katsuobushi flakes danced on high of the dumplings that have been drizzled in Takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayo. Much like meatballs in look, their taste was very totally different. The skinny dough layer gave approach to an explosion of sauce, which was stunning, I used to be anticipating a chewy texture. As a substitute, the small bits of rubbery octopus supplied that anticipated texture. Perhaps there’s such a factor as too saucy, but it surely was fairly scrumptious.
We additionally tried the Spicy Pork Dumplings, it will be remiss to not strive dumplings at someplace with “dumpling” within the title. They have been served with home ponzu and priced at $7.50. These dumplings have been the precise reverse of the Takoyaki. The dough was thick and supplied a chewy texture alongside the minimal quantity of pork inside and was bland compared to the greens surrounding it. The purple, orange and inexperienced surrounding the ponzu-doused, beige dumplings virtually distracted from the shortage of filling. It was spicy because the title signifies, however was not overly in-your-face. You could possibly very simply style the spice, as an alternative of simply feeling it.
This stage of spice was per the Attractive Spicy Noodles as nicely. The virtually candy and undoubtedly spicy gochujang glaze made the noodles pop. The tofu and veggies atop the noodles added some wanted coloration and protein. The tofu was properly marinated, however total pointless within the dish. The latter added a crunchy side to the delicate and chewy noodles. This was simply my favourite dish.
One other spicy dish, the Spicy Malaysian Prawns, priced at $16, was one of many few gluten-free meals. Rising up, my dad labored at Crimson Lobster, and generally my household would go to the restaurant and feast on seafood. Drunken Dumpling’s prawns might not have been on the identical stage as Crimson Lobster, however have been completely cooked and added dimension to the dish. Hartman was not overly impressed by the prawns.
“You understand shrimp is shrimp, prawns are prawns, however the curry is absolutely good,” Hartman mentioned.
This was nonetheless his favourite dish of the evening. The curry introduced a excessive stage of spice to our palates, in all probability the most well liked dish we tried. A robust style of onion is also tasted within the curry, virtually rivaling the spice.
The final essential dish that we tried was the Kimchi Bao, priced at $6.50. The plated dish jogged my memory somewhat of Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors, nonetheless the dish itself was removed from horrible. Steam billowed from the candy supple bao bun because it was positioned on our desk. Inside, there was quite a lot of hidden flavors.
“The candy and the savory pairs nicely with the bitter of the kimchi,” Hartman mentioned.
Much like the pork dumplings, the pulled pork on this dish appeared to take a backseat to the opposite substances, together with the kimchi.
As our evening got here to a detailed and the desk candle had virtually utterly melted, it was time to order dessert. A nice chatter crammed the room as Serena Faith Kuhn, an area singer-songwriter, began to arrange on the Tiny Dumpling Desk, with Banksy’s “Girl With Balloon” portray as her backdrop. A black curtain held on the wall to Kuhn’s proper, revealing the shop room. Presumably finished for worker comfort, it did barely disrupt the move of the restaurant’s flooring plan. When she began acting at round 6 p.m. her voice and amped acoustic guitar created a delicate atmosphere beneath the conversations circling the room. Sadly at first, few seen her presence, evident by the shortage of applause.
By the point our pear cashew cakelette, priced at $5, had reached our desk, applause turned a daily prevalence that sprang up throughout the restaurant after Kuhn’s songs. The cakelette arrived superbly plated. The small cake sat in the course of a pool of cream with a dusting of sugar. It virtually appeared prefer it belonged at a five-star restaurant.
My preliminary thought was that it was going to be dangerous, as a result of stereotype of small parts, however the cake was scrumptious. The caramelized pears on high of the cake have been candy and chewy, which was very totally different from the dense cake that turned infused with the cream surrounding it, including much more sweetness to it. My candy tooth could also be exhibiting by means of, however this cake has turn out to be my favourite dessert at any native restaurant.
The overall of the evening ended up being slightly below $90, earlier than tip. Contemplating the quantity of dishes that we tried, and the excessive meals high quality and enormous parts, this was fairly a shock. The one critique I might supply is to incorporate extra gluten-free choices, other than that, I look ahead to the following time I’ve the chance to dine there. When you’re on the lookout for someplace that’s cheap and tastes nice, go to Drunken Dumpling, if not only for the meals, then for the homey environment and enjoyable performances as nicely.
Ariana Powell might be discovered at [email protected].
