I seem to associate the word 1900 with grandeur and epicness (it is in the urban dictionary), but maybe I just set myself up with high expectations. Although the food is good, we would probably keep shopping for other Chinese spots. The place is a little edgy with its high black ceilings and pinks walls, but the service is warm and inviting. They have fresh fruit juices, which I love, and the tables and booths have wide spaces between them. No crowding in this joint.
Hubby controlled the menu selection and (quite unfortunately) we ended up with all pork dishes. It was my first time to try Xiao Long Bao. The broth inside the dumplings was quite tasty but I didn't care for the filling much. The Braised Pork Belly was good, but I felt the vegetables underneath were leftover scraps, hehe. It would've been nice to have some texture or flavor to contrast the fatty richness of the soy pork belly. And finally we had the Garlic Spare Ribs. We felt they lacked garlic and spices but the upside is that there was definitely a lot more meat than flour on those bones. I kinda missed having a little crunch though.
We were the only non-Chinese peeps that night, I always take that as a good sign. When I went on a tour in China, I noticed the cuisine up north was more subdued in flavor and spices. This cuisine would definitely fall in that category - perfect for people new to Chinese food or allergic to salt. I'd be more of a Southern gal (in China). More soy and pepper please.