The sesame pancake, and this eatery's recent makeover, left me flat.
After a half-dozen visits I've still never tried the namesake Northern Chinese dumplings, usually on account of the sesame beef pancake ($1.75), a wedge of bread sliced endwise and layered with beef, carrots, and cilantro. This time it was tired, even though the bread was fresh the griddle. As for Dumpling House itself, the previous digs (below, with the curved awning) always oozed energy, perhaps because there was seldom room for the customers or even the cooks. The expanded operation (at bottom) lacked finishing touches, like a sign out front, and most of the staff seemed to be in a haze.
On other occasions, before the renovation:
The chive and egg pancake (not shown; $1.25) was a half-moon similar to a sealed pita, lightly lined with glass vermicelli and stuffed with egg-flecked chives. A little oily, though the wrapper held up till the last bite.
Udon noodles with warm "mashed sesame sauce" ($2.75), decked out with a generous helping of sliced cucumber, were more elaborate than the "free noodles with your $10 delivery order," and certainly fresher — but how would they fare after a night in the fridge?
Dumpling House
118A Eldridge St. (Grand-Broome Sts.)
212-625-8008
Have you been to the dumpling storefront on Essex I believe just below Delancey? They only have dumplings (5 for $1 last time I tried) and a beef noodle soup. Great dumplings, but I pass on the soup.
P
Posted by: Peter C | August 23, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Sorry, the machine for the chive and egg pancake broken a long time ago.
Posted by: Chung-chieh Shan | August 24, 2007 at 04:21 AM
Thanks for the comments. It had been a long time since I'd tried the pancake, and I've updated my post accordingly. I'll keep a lookout for that other dumpling storefront, too.
Posted by: Dave Cook | August 24, 2007 at 10:35 AM
Have you ever been a small roasted pork shop on Christie St. between Hester and Grand Sts. They have only $2 lunch special, roasted pork or chicken over rice with vegetable. I love this place! It's so cheap and so yammy. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of this place. I even couldn't read the sign.
Posted by: yukita | October 03, 2007 at 01:23 PM
I've passed by quickly any number of times, but I've never stepped inside. Good to know, though; thanks!
Posted by: Dave Cook | October 03, 2007 at 02:04 PM
Next time you pass by,please try their Roasted Pork(they call "Cha-shu") with veg lunch special. It's available all day long! I'm sure you'll like it.
Posted by: yukita | October 03, 2007 at 02:31 PM
I love sesame beef pancake from Prosperity Dumplings, always get 2 when they are fresh...have you tried it (or anything else) there?
Posted by: olia | February 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Agreed on the sesame pancake with beef at prosperity--one of NY's great buck-fifty snacks. I haven't tried them at Dumpling House.
Posted by: Peter Cherches | February 27, 2008 at 08:01 PM