I now know the decent overall rating this place received on yelp is due to it's affordability and not much anything else. The wife and I checked out this place yesterday. We ordered: beef tendon, deep fried squid legs, shrimp chow fun, hotpot lapchong rice, preserved egg and pork congee and the lobster & chow mein special. The total bill came out to $30 approx. (including taxes).
If you know anything about dim sum, or chinese food, you would agree, this overall total is very very cheap for what we ordered.
However, food to me, isn't about being just cheap. If you are going to part ways with your hard earned dollar, make sure you get 'value' in return. When it comes to food, the term 'value' includes the yummy-factor and not only the cost.
The wife and I generally go for dim sum at Royal Tea House, Dragon Boat or Spring Villa. Three of the top dim sum joints in Richmond Hill and Markham for the price. Compared to the quality and amount of food we get at these three dim sum joints, Fisherman Villa is a grave disappointment.
Summary:
1. Come here if - you are a starving student on a fixed income; or, if you know how to speak Cantonese and don't mind the rough service you get from some of the staff (a certain woman in particular).
2. Don't come here if - you value taste, quality and portion size as being more important than saving $2-$3 per dish; or, you want a clean, modern ambiance to eat and relax in
Final Words:
This place is a poor representation of dim sum in terms of quantity and quality of dishes served. Of course it's cheap, they give you nothing. The egg in the congee was diced so small it was probably 1/10 of the entire egg. The XXL squid legs were so soggy and oily and without flavour - not to mention tiny in portion size; I had to force myself to finish it on account of the fact there are starving children in North Korea....
FOODIES - do not come here. Spend the extra $2-$3 more and go to Royal Tea House in Markham or Spring Villa on Woodbine/Steeles. You won't regret it.