There's a lot of controversy in the reviews for this place(and many others of course). Some think they are great, other's not. Some like their staples while others don't believe they are authentic. I do however have a counter argument to all this. Firstly, although we often have an appetite for fat and sodium not all taste buds are alike; hence we have variety. Secondly, what is authenticity? Because the very idea of that is absurd. Our food has evolved just as much or more than we have and it needs to continue to evolve like everything else. But when it comes down to it, I believe, taste is mostly all that matters.
This place tastes great!.... for the most part. Their soups and snacks all taste delicious. In comparison, I would put them slightly above average when compared to long standing Shanghainess institutions like Ding Tai Fung. Unfortunately, their steamed soup dumplings (xiao long bao) is slightly on the disappointing side. The filling is fantastic but the skin on the dumpling is unusually thick; knit picking really but that's how I am.
All in all, a go to Shanghainess place....just not for xiao long bao!