I didn't want to like this place. Too fancy for Chinatown and the prices oh so slightly more than the other holes-in-the-walls in the hood. After reading reviews on the soup dumplings, I had to go.
Random Notes:
1. Pork soup dumplings - pretty damned good but it's no 'Joe's Shanghai' in NY. Only six (smaller) dumplings to an order (most places have eight) and more than $1 per. Quality was quite good, but not as soupy as I like. Still, very good.
2. Kung Pao chicken did not illicit a reaction nearly as memorable as George's from Seinfeld, but was a tasty dish nonetheless. I suspect the peppers were either flash deep fried or cooked in a lot of oil.
3. They actually serve the dan-dan noodle. They tasted like they could be house made. That being said, they're not very flavorful. This dish is forgettable but not regrettable.
4. Thursday at 9:30pm = empty.
5. Good -- seeing a lot of good service from Asian places lately, this scares me.
I like this place a lot. Going to try dim sum there soon. Maybe even try a UYE on for size!