HuTong Dumpling Bar

6 Average

Food  9      Ambience  6      Service  2      Value  7     

Recently visited this restaurant as recommended by friends. The greeting at the door was cold and uninviting, not a good start. Luckily the dumplings and main courses were as good as I have eaten and deserved their high recommendation. The dumplings were fresh although we did have to remind them about one course. So food Excellent.

The service on the other hand was shocking except for one young guy. One older guy who served us during the night was sullen and did not smile or offer friendly service once during the night. Service was way way below average. It was noted that when one of the guests at our table went to the bathroom a waitress was seen washing condiment bowls in the bathroom, totally unacceptable even if you are short of space. Because of the service will not rush back at all.

Mar 03, 2012 

5.3 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  4      Value  4     

Just went last night for a 6pm booking and was out by before 7pm. We ordered xiao long bao, won tons in chilli oil, steamed dumplings and prawn dumplings and it took approx. 3 min for them to all come out. (perhaps, next time we will order one dish at a time).

Food was delicious minus the thick skin on steamed dumplings. Service wasn't great, except for the guy who showed you where you sat (he smiled). Value: there are just as nice dumplings in Box hill for a more reasonable price with similar typical asian restaurant service (abrupt/semi-rude, if not used to it/attitude etc.)

Overall, it was average and I don't feel the urge to go back again.

Feb 25, 2012 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  8      Value  7     

Got in here downstairs early on a saturday night. Maybe try book and get upstairs as the tables are small and the stools uncomfortable.

We ordered a few kinds of dumplings which were all great, some pork ribs were good but we did get a sliced beef which was horrible. It was thin slices of beef which had been deep fired, they were inedbile!

If you stick to the dumplings here you are safe as thats the specialty. Service was good and value good too.

Jan 31, 2012 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  8      Value  8     

Must book, and ask to sit upstairs - or downstairs if you want to see some pro-dumpling making. Hutong is known for its xiao long bao, you won't regret ordering an extra serve. Chilli wantons are delicious themselves, but come in a daring fiery sauce (eat them last). Chinese broccoli was a lovely healthy accompaniment (drowned in garlic butter).

Prawn and chive dumplings were also delicious. I found that plain boiled pork dumplings were way too doughy. Food came pretty quickly and the water tasted a bit strange, but nevertheless, a heaven for dumpling lovers.

Jan 25, 2012 

4.3 Below Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  1      Value  2     

The staff at this restaurant are not only unhelpful and crude, they are also completely rude and arrogant. I have gone back for the good food countless times over the last 6 months, trying to ignore the shocking lack of courtesy and hospitality. But today's experience has been the worst of the lot.

We placed our order but instead of the 2 dishes we ordered, we were given 3. We informed the waitress that we had not ordered the 3rd dish and my did she look peeved. She started to argue with us then abruptly snatched the dish and stormed off. Shortly after another waitress came by and bluntly informed us that next time we should make sure we order correctly, then also stormed off.

This level of 'service' would not pass any standards of general courtesy, let alone qualify for the hospitality industry. The dumplings are good, but I certainly had a bad taste in my mouth as I left today. Never going back.

Jan 17, 2012 

4.3 Below Average

Food  6      Ambience  5      Service  2      Value  4     

My friend rang the place to check if we (3 people) needed to make a booking for a6pm dinner. She was told that we did not need to. When we turned up, the lady hostess told us they could not give us any table (and she was rude, put on a sour face). At the end, she asked us to wait until a table was available (we waited for about 30 mins). Anyway, the xiao long bao is good, but the other dumpling we ordered, they arrived cold. Wonton in chili oil is good, too.

Jan 06, 2012 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  6     

I love it when you walk into a restaurant and it has that air of "we know what we're about."

We were greeted by a smart hostess who informed us that we would need to wait. A humming kitchen featuring a row of pots, woks and steamers with steam billowing up the hood lend a theatrical atmosphere to the cosy little space.

Dumplings were sublime. The beef and black pepper sauce was tender, lean and delicious. Desserts were surprisingly moreish. We were really impressed by the wait staff. They were really patient and genuinely helpful taking time to explain the dishes and to assist with serving the food.

Overall 15/20 and well recommended. We'll be back to try more of those delicious dishes.

Dec 30, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  7     

I always like to try something new and different but sometimes you have to allow yourself a favourite on the table, the wantons with hot chilli sauce are quickly ordered. Don’t be afraid, they aren’t that hot! They are a perfect heat that makes the spicy chilli oil draped all over the dumplings a dipping sauce for everything else on the table, it is soooo good! With eight in a serve there still aren’t enough! We should have ordered two!.

Read more on my blog

Dec 18, 2011 

7.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  8     

The difference between this place and a regular run of the mill dumpling bar is the atmosphere. Feels homely like a tea rooms in singapore or hong kong but with a polished look. Wait staff are great in general. Nothing fancy. I like the briskness of approach of chinese waiters, throw plates down, bustle around. I can say I have had friendlier service from far more dodgy places.

The food is great. Huge variety but this is far from a dumpling house. A short selection of dumplings maybe 6 or so and a huge range of chinese cuisine in the back. The xao long bao was great! delicious and soupy goodness and the spicy wantons was excellent also. We also tried a range of vegetable which were also good.

Not a bad place. We had a quick lunch and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Dec 16, 2011 

7 Recommended

Food  5      Ambience  7      Service  10      Value  6     

We came here after seeing good reviews on some tourist brochures but was a bit disappointed by the food though. We ordered the "Shao Long Bao" hoping that it will be good as the name says it all. It wasn't as good as we thought. No juicy enough and the skin is a bit dry.

Tried the eggpland + scallop too, that wasn't too bad but it just doesn't thrill me. The service is good though. Waiters and the managers are very attentive. Our glass was always filled and tables are clean up immediately after we finished.

Sep 30, 2011