I visited for dinner with family. We ordered a stir fried rice cake (???) and a few Shanghainese cold dishes and an order of pot stickers (??). All of us were stunned by how delicious, fresh and exquisite the food was.
Best - Smoked fish (??) and pot stickers. The smoked fish at Yu Garden was juicy and a bit softer than the same dish I got at other places, indicating that it was freshly made not so too ago. The pot stickers had soup inside, even thought they were pan fried. They were my favourites of the evening.
Good- Rice cake and soy sauce duck (??). The soy sauce duck was meaty, lean and not oily at all. The sauce was boldly flavoured but there wasn't much flavour in the meat. The rice cake was skillfully stir fried. The texture was firm but in a nice way. The flavour was delicate. I sprinkled salt onto it myself.
Okay - Jellyfish (??). There were too much shredded toppings that their textures overshadowed the natural texture of the jellyfish. Furthermore, there was a slight sour taste in the dressing.
Dessert - Souffle Egg White Balls with Red Bean Paste (????). These balls were freshly made per order, so they came out round and puffy, exactly the way they were supposed to be. I really enjoyed them. They were the second best I have ever had in Toronto. I realize that I am paying for the culinary skills not the ingredients. I still think they are a bit expensive at $8 for 4 balls.
Decoration is nice. Services are attentive and professionally. It reflects the higher end status of this restaurant. I like Yu Garden overall. I feel comfortable to entertain friends and guests who enjoy Shanghainese food here.