Mahjong Dumpling
1542 Second Avenue (b/w 80th & 81st Sts)
New York, New York 10075
212-717-7800
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Appetizers:
- (1) Lady Ramen (toasted ramen noodles w/wild bok choy, water chestnuts and toasted sesame seeds) - this was a very tasty dish but I felt like this wasn't anything you couldn't just throw together yourself. It's very simple and therefore I didn't feel like it was a very creative dish. ($4)
- (2) Spring Rolled Up (Napa cabbage, spring onion & carrot w/a red chili dipping sauce) - a typical spring roll, but it was very tasty and very good. =) ($4)
Dumplings ($4.25 for 3 dumplings):
- RUN FORREST (Wild shrimp, lemongrass, ginger, & scallion w/a red chili and tomato salsa) - this particular dumpling was very good! I liked it tremendously, probably the best dumpling they have available.
- RATATOUILLE (Zucchini, japanese eggplant, onion, tomato ragu, zatar yogurt & kalamata olives) - this was my least favorite dish, it was too salty and the combination of the flavors from all the ingredients was just mostly horrific. If you see this and were considering the ratatouille dumpling, i recommend that you pass on this particular choice.
- MOM'S STYLE (Braised pulled beef, caramelized onion and tomato in an au jus sauce) - The pulled beef was too salty and the mix of pulled beef (which has a very strong flavor on its own) certainly didn't mix well with the au jus sauce which also as a dumpling didn't work at all. I didn't like the combination at all, I would pass on this option as well.
DESSERT:
- Monkey want a Banana (Crispy banana dumplings, chocolate sauce and creme fraiche) - this may have very well (other than the the spring rolls) been the best thing I had at this restaurant. It wasn't overly sweet, the bananas weren't too mushy and the dessert was very tasty. ($4)
DRINKS:
Mike - Dogfishhead 90 minute IPA (very good!) - $8/bottle
Sherry - Mahjong Mix Shochu ($8) - this was a very good drink but extremely small. Too bad.
THE REVIEW:
It has a great ambiance, great place for a date b/c the space is very unique. However, if you DON'T want to overpay for dumplings (3 for $4.25) and leave hungry, then I really wouldn't recommend coming here. If you're looking for a very small easy meal then this place is ideal. As a dumpling lover I was not impressed by the seemingly "unique" take on dumplings. While the combinations sounded delicious, the execution and flavors were a COMPLETE MISS!!! =( Quite unfortunate, really. This place, for me, was completely un-impressive. I would not recommend coming here and I would not make any effort in returning. If my friends were to suggest this place I would be sure to warn them of making a dire error if they were hoping for good food and leaving filled with happiness (food-wise that is). I would also certainly excuse myself from attending dinner with them at this place. No offense, really.
