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I've only been here a couple of times, but I definitely need to be coming back here more often. The vibe is awesome. Low key yet refined. In the times I've been it has not been terribly busy, but a steady amount of folks. For those interested in visiting it's important to keep in mind that Wednesday's has a slightly different menu than the other nights. There is no chicken wontons brought soup but say the veggie dumplings are steamed not fried. It's just a slight variation in the menu, but it makes for a good change mid week. There is street parking available and a some spots to park in a small lot for those not trekking around on foot. Food and Drink - 5* On my most recent visit I had crab rangoon, which is served in a deconstructed way with it being more of a wonton and dip dish. It's creamy yet spicy especially if you dump chili oil into the dip. Great balance! The siu mai comes with four open face dumplings and they were delicious. The chicken wontons brought it home and was definitely my favorite of the bunch. I could make two or three servings of those as an entire meal. For drinks, I tried the Chai Me A River - nice balanced, but booze forward cocktail served up. Service - 5* Food came out so fast! Holy moly, I had barely ordered and it felt like food started showing up. An area that I thought was a huge win was table side water. I drink a lot of water and one of my most common struggles is a full water glass. Not here, they give you an entire bottle. Pricing - 4* The portions are a little small to the cost, but nothing outrageous. It's made up for in the quality. Ultimately between a cocktail and a few dishes plus tip it was about $55-60. Overall - 5* Anyone who is looking for a chill vibe, great dishes, and some cocktails, sake, wine, or beer - get down here! Definitely will continue to pop in here on my trips to GV.
A must-visit! I've been hearing about Sum Bar for the past year, and just got a chance to make it this summer. It is a small-plate style restaurant, so I suggest go with a group and ordering several things to share. Honestly, everything I've tried on their small but mighty menu is delicious, and they have excellent cocktails as well. My personal favorite are the green beans and the sesame rice balls. I've been twice and can't wait to go back! Got so excited I only took pictures of half the food. The service was excellent both times. Very friendly and helpful, as well as knowledgeable about the menu.
Had such a great time at Sum Bar--huge shoutout to Tyra for making our visit extra special! We tried the Crab Rangoon (dip style) and loved it. The Orange Blossom cocktail paired with the sesame balls was a surprising hit--such a good combo. But the real star for me was the Pom de Replay with pork belly rice ball. So good! Definitely a must-order next time, too. The decor and music gave the place an awesome vibe--stylish but relaxed. Super inviting atmosphere. Can't wait to come back and try more from the menu. Highly recommend!
Looking for a trendy ambiance, quick service and delicious drinks? Be careful or you'll miss Sum Bar downtown. The restaurant is neighbors to a brewery, and parking can be tricky. There's a small lot that you can park in, but if parking is not on your side, there are local garages and side street parking available. Reservations are recommended if you'd like a table, although walk-ins are welcomed. We made reservations through Resy, and had no issues! I loved the small plates that were amazing for sharing. My friend and I ordered these handful of plates to share and make it a family style mean. Hello shareables for a date night, girls night, or a group gathering! First up were the green beans that were perfectly seasoned, still warm, and full of bite. Highly recommend! The duck breast was chefs kiss. Tender, moist, full of flavor and paired well with the chicken and shiitake wontons. The star of the show was hands down the dim sum. CHILLEEE the entire meal was delightful and paired well with my Manhattan that packed a punch. Run, don't walk.
Food- Good! Nice but small selection for the menu. Got it in a timely matter and their chili oil is good. Service- HORRIBLE! Our server hardly came around. Didn't go over the menu whatsoever. They don't offer any takeout boxes. We had to ask our server for refills on drinks several times. We didn't even get a menu when we sat down and had to ask for one. We would ask for something and our server said she would get it and she would go straight to the bar area and lean against the wall and start texting. We had to literally wave her over which I hate doing! Atmosphere-Small and simple. Not kid friendly imo. It was also insanely hot in there. No AC. The concept is good and it is a good addition to GVL but I have no desire to come back because of the horrible service.
I want to give Sum Bar all five stars bc I really do love it for an upscale evening with cocktails. Such great decor and beautiful restaurant to be in. It's just not where we go for the biggest "bang" for our buck. Don't expect big portions. But other than that the service has always been great, cocktails on point and the food & presentation has been gorgeous.
This was so good! It is very very small inside and spots get taken fast make a reservation! We had a large group with a reservation and still had to wait about 30 minutes but it was well worth the wait and they gave us some appetizers while we waited. We met the manager and our server both were great! The plates were so good we barely had any left (hence the pic of the aftermath of all of us eating) We left very very happy!
We have been wanting to try this and finally made reservations because walk-ins will have difficulty due to limited seating-- FYI!! Anyways even though we had reservations we were seated at the bar ( possibly because we adjusted our reservation and added a person) . Anyways the bar was fun and we learned a lot. They have some fun funky drinks - plus wine beer and sake. The menu is small...just what you will see here and on other reviews and servings are more tapas like. So try many things and order more of what you like later! Our favorites were the green beans and the veggie dumplings... although all are delicious!! Also the crab Rangoon is delicious...now I normally do not like this at other restaurants...but their take on this worked for me with more crab and minimal cream cheese. It's hip little place next to Fireforge brewery with a nice ambiance. Staff and owner were very kind to engage and make suggestions. I personally did not care for the bar chairs/stools as as it only has a small low back (support) but this will not prevent me from returning!
Everything is delicious here! Don't pass up on the green beans or the crab rangoon! Right across the street from Springhill Suites.
Thanks Sum Bar for hosting my 25th B-day dinner! Although a smaller restaurant they were able to accommodate my 12 top reservation +2 unexpected guests the day of. Food was delicious and came out fast for such a large table. They were thoughtful and attentive the entire evening and the round of birthday sake also went down really well! I would highly recommend this place as a stop you should take in Greenville. I look forward to my next visit.
First things first, Sum Bar is not your traditional dim sum place. We started with the tempura mushrooms, which were a disappointment. They were excessively greasy and lacked the usual light, crisp texture and golden color you'd expect from tempura. Next came the dumplings. While not terrible, they were quite uninspired--nothing special compared to what you could get at a fast-food chain like Panda Express. The "famous" crab rangoon also fell short of expectations, featuring imitation crab meat that just didn't hit the mark. Finally, the Siu Mai was quite dry. It lacked the juiciness and flavor you'd find in authentic dim sum. On a positive note, the bartenders were fantastic, and the alcohol selection was excellent, definitely the highlight of our visit. For that reason, I am giving Sum Bar two stars. While it may not impress dim sum enthusiasts, it could still be a good introduction for newcomers. Oh and very expensive, for the quality!
Sum Bar is such a great spot! I love that they have lots of small shareable plates. My table got the shrimp toast, congee, siu mai, butternut squash fritters, and gai lan. All of it tasted great, and I have no complaints. I think the standout was the congee. It was my first time having congee. I loved the simplicity of it and being able to customize bites with the variety of toppings. Make sure to get the sauce tray. I loved adding the chili oil for an extra kick. It was spicy and smokey. The inside was small but felt cozy. It was nice being able to look around and see what others were getting to tack on to our order.
2 months ago
My sister and I tried Sum Bar for dinner last night, and we had such a great experience! It was our first time ever having dim sum, and the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. Our servers were incredibly patient, took the time to explain the menu, and recommended dishes they thought we'd enjoy, and they were spot on! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lively and fun, and everyone made us feel right at home. We can't wait to come back! read more
27 days ago
Went to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, and we are already planning our next visit! From the service, to the atmosphere, to the food... 10/10. Servers weren't just great, but they led with hospitality! We shared about 4 plates and it was perfect. Loved the hotteok dessert! read more
3 months ago
Service was nice it didn't have many staff as it just opened and it filled up quick. Ambiance had subtle decorations which was nice. Food was not good not bad. The crab Rangoon was my favorite part of my dining experience. read more
I've only been here a couple of times, but I definitely need to be coming back here more often. The vibe is awesome. Low key yet refined. In the times I've been it has not been terribly busy, but a steady amount of folks. For those interested in visiting it's important to keep in mind that Wednesday's has a slightly different menu than the other nights. There is no chicken wontons brought soup but say the veggie dumplings are steamed not fried. It's just a slight variation in the menu, but it makes for a good change mid week. There is street parking available and a some spots to park in a small lot for those not trekking around on foot. Food and Drink - 5* On my most recent visit I had crab rangoon, which is served in a deconstructed way with it being more of a wonton and dip dish. It's creamy yet spicy especially if you dump chili oil into the dip. Great balance! The siu mai comes with four open face dumplings and they were delicious. The chicken wontons brought it home and was definitely my favorite of the bunch. I could make two or three servings of those as an entire meal. For drinks, I tried the Chai Me A River - nice balanced, but booze forward cocktail served up. Service - 5* Food came out so fast! Holy moly, I had barely ordered and it felt like food started showing up. An area that I thought was a huge win was table side water. I drink a lot of water and one of my most common struggles is a full water glass. Not here, they give you an entire bottle. Pricing - 4* The portions are a little small to the cost, but nothing outrageous. It's made up for in the quality. Ultimately between a cocktail and a few dishes plus tip it was about $55-60. Overall - 5* Anyone who is looking for a chill vibe, great dishes, and some cocktails, sake, wine, or beer - get down here! Definitely will continue to pop in here on my trips to GV. read more
3 months ago
11 months ago
A must-visit! I've been hearing about Sum Bar for the past year, and just got a chance to make it this summer. It is a small-plate style restaurant, so I suggest go with a group and ordering several things to share. Honestly, everything I've tried on their small but mighty menu is delicious, and they have excellent cocktails as well. My personal favorite are the green beans and the sesame rice balls. I've been twice and can't wait to go back! Got so excited I only took pictures of half the food. The service was excellent both times. Very friendly and helpful, as well as knowledgeable about the menu. read more
1 year ago
Had such a great time at Sum Bar--huge shoutout to Tyra for making our visit extra special! We tried the Crab Rangoon (dip style) and loved it. The Orange Blossom cocktail paired with the sesame balls was a surprising hit--such a good combo. But the real star for me was the Pom de Replay with pork belly rice ball. So good! Definitely a must-order next time, too. The decor and music gave the place an awesome vibe--stylish but relaxed. Super inviting atmosphere. Can't wait to come back and try more from the menu. Highly recommend! read more
2 years ago
Looking for a trendy ambiance, quick service and delicious drinks? Be careful or you'll miss Sum Bar downtown. The restaurant is neighbors to a brewery, and parking can be tricky. There's a small lot that you can park in, but if parking is not on your side, there are local garages and side street parking available. Reservations are recommended if you'd like a table, although walk-ins are welcomed. We made reservations through Resy, and had no issues! I loved the small plates that were amazing for sharing. My friend and I ordered these handful of plates to share and make it a family style mean. Hello shareables for a date night, girls night, or a group gathering! First up were the green beans that were perfectly seasoned, still warm, and full of bite. Highly recommend! The duck breast was chefs kiss. Tender, moist, full of flavor and paired well with the chicken and shiitake wontons. The star of the show was hands down the dim sum. CHILLEEE the entire meal was delightful and paired well with my Manhattan that packed a punch. Run, don't walk. read more
8 months ago
Food- Good! Nice but small selection for the menu. Got it in a timely matter and their chili oil is good. Service- HORRIBLE! Our server hardly came around. Didn't go over the menu whatsoever. They don't offer any takeout boxes. We had to ask our server for refills on drinks several times. We didn't even get a menu when we sat down and had to ask for one. We would ask for something and our server said she would get it and she would go straight to the bar area and lean against the wall and start texting. We had to literally wave her over which I hate doing! Atmosphere-Small and simple. Not kid friendly imo. It was also insanely hot in there. No AC. The concept is good and it is a good addition to GVL but I have no desire to come back because of the horrible service. read more
I want to give Sum Bar all five stars bc I really do love it for an upscale evening with cocktails. Such great decor and beautiful restaurant to be in. It's just not where we go for the biggest "bang" for our buck. Don't expect big portions. But other than that the service has always been great, cocktails on point and the food & presentation has been gorgeous. read more
This was so good! It is very very small inside and spots get taken fast make a reservation! We had a large group with a reservation and still had to wait about 30 minutes but it was well worth the wait and they gave us some appetizers while we waited. We met the manager and our server both were great! The plates were so good we barely had any left (hence the pic of the aftermath of all of us eating) We left very very happy! read more
We have been wanting to try this and finally made reservations because walk-ins will have difficulty due to limited seating-- FYI!! Anyways even though we had reservations we were seated at the bar ( possibly because we adjusted our reservation and added a person) . Anyways the bar was fun and we learned a lot. They have some fun funky drinks - plus wine beer and sake. The menu is small...just what you will see here and on other reviews and servings are more tapas like. So try many things and order more of what you like later! Our favorites were the green beans and the veggie dumplings... although all are delicious!! Also the crab Rangoon is delicious...now I normally do not like this at other restaurants...but their take on this worked for me with more crab and minimal cream cheese. It's hip little place next to Fireforge brewery with a nice ambiance. Staff and owner were very kind to engage and make suggestions. I personally did not care for the bar chairs/stools as as it only has a small low back (support) but this will not prevent me from returning! read more
1 year ago
Everything is delicious here! Don't pass up on the green beans or the crab rangoon! Right across the street from Springhill Suites. read more
2 years ago
Thanks Sum Bar for hosting my 25th B-day dinner! Although a smaller restaurant they were able to accommodate my 12 top reservation +2 unexpected guests the day of. Food was delicious and came out fast for such a large table. They were thoughtful and attentive the entire evening and the round of birthday sake also went down really well! I would highly recommend this place as a stop you should take in Greenville. I look forward to my next visit. read more
2 years ago
First things first, Sum Bar is not your traditional dim sum place. We started with the tempura mushrooms, which were a disappointment. They were excessively greasy and lacked the usual light, crisp texture and golden color you'd expect from tempura. Next came the dumplings. While not terrible, they were quite uninspired--nothing special compared to what you could get at a fast-food chain like Panda Express. The "famous" crab rangoon also fell short of expectations, featuring imitation crab meat that just didn't hit the mark. Finally, the Siu Mai was quite dry. It lacked the juiciness and flavor you'd find in authentic dim sum. On a positive note, the bartenders were fantastic, and the alcohol selection was excellent, definitely the highlight of our visit. For that reason, I am giving Sum Bar two stars. While it may not impress dim sum enthusiasts, it could still be a good introduction for newcomers. Oh and very expensive, for the quality! read more
Sum Bar is such a great spot! I love that they have lots of small shareable plates. My table got the shrimp toast, congee, siu mai, butternut squash fritters, and gai lan. All of it tasted great, and I have no complaints. I think the standout was the congee. It was my first time having congee. I loved the simplicity of it and being able to customize bites with the variety of toppings. Make sure to get the sauce tray. I loved adding the chili oil for an extra kick. It was spicy and smokey. The inside was small but felt cozy. It was nice being able to look around and see what others were getting to tack on to our order. read more
2 years ago
My wife and I ate at Sum Bar tonight while on vacation in Greenville. It was outstanding! Something that Columbia badly needs: a Dim Sum restaurant. I was tipped off that Greenville has a new Dim Sum restaurant by a WYFF TV 4 story that the owner of Sum Bar is the topic of an James Beard Foundation awarded documentary about her opening the restaurant about 18 months ago. The food was outstanding! The best Dim Sum that we have eaten since vacationing in Boston's Chinatown. We shared Pork Dumplings, Siu Mai with Roe, Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, Chicken Wontons, Steamed Bao, Char Siu Pork, Egg Tarts and Sesame Balls with Red Bean Paste. Each of these items were delicious, well presented and had a nuanced blend of spice and heat. I heartily recommend trying Sum Bar. You will be not be disappointed. read more
3 years ago
A modern take on your classic shanghai esc cuisine. Lots of chili oil, dumplings, buns, and seafood options. It was amazing and I'll be back! Drinks were great too. The physical restaurant is quite small so make sure to get reservations. read more
1 year ago
As a fusion restaurant, this was a pretty enjoyable experience! - 3.5/5 As an authentic dim sum restaurant, I was a little disappointed. - 1.5/5 I was visiting from out-of-state to visit a friend for a week and knowing that I love my Asian food, she had made a reservation for us here. I'm Chinese and have lived in multiple Asian food hotspots, so I've had my fair share of dim sum with diverse influences. Since it was just us two, we didn't get to try too many dishes but we got a few of my favorites: Crab Rangoon, Siu Mai, Char Siu BBQ Pork, and Gai Lan. I enjoyed them all, and it satisfied my craving for dim sum, so I'll give them that! However, it's worth mentioning that all the dishes leaned heavily on the salty side. The Char Siu BBQ Pork, in particular, was covered in such a strong sauce, I could barely taste the pork itself. That being said, Sum Bar definitely has a unique twist I haven't quite tasted elsewhere - quite tasty but not what I had in mind for traditional dim sum. read more
3 years ago
I reeeeally wanted to love it because we were so excited about Greenville getting a dim sum spot. It's more trendy fusion style and not authentic but that's fine with us. The cocktails we got were pretty good, but a bit underwhelming. The menu selection was a bit small and we did try a few things we really liked (crab Rangoon dip was my favorite) but a most of the dishes just didn't wow us. There was nothing bad - just not standout to make us want to return. Service was ok, server seemed overwhelmed so was just a bit slow. For the price and hype when it opened I think we just expected a bit more. Hopefully we can try it out again in the future one day and maybe have a more exciting experience read more
We came here for our 6 year anniversary and we will definitely be back! I've patiently waited for the right time to come here, and it did not disappoint. The food was fantastic. A must have are the crab Rangoon wonton nachos. And our personal favorite dish was the chicken wontons, but not if you can't handle spice. Our server, Sarah truly made our anniversary visit an amazing time. And the space is just perfect for a small but unique downtown Greenville experience. Plus, check out my cute panda time glass the Yu Gin Sum, Yu Lose Sum came in! read more
A great place to sample and share small dishes. They have a small menu that you can order from. We made reservations for mother's day and there were 13 of us in our party. We ordered pretty much everything on the menu and shared it with everyone. The plates are all small tapas portions so don't expect large serving portions. We did enjoy everything we got and I think my fave is the green beans. They have a great cocktail menu. With several of us ordering drinks we had a taste of all the cocktails. In my opinion, out of all the baijiu cocktails, the best one is The Last Character. Dining is still by reservations only. I think I'll be back for the cocktails. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
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3 years ago
We finally got into Sum Bar last night. They are still reservations only and typically open them on Sundays. If you wait for the email list to tell you that reservations opened...then you're probably too late to get a spot. The service was wonderful. Everyone from the host to the waitress to the woman that cleaned up the glass I broke () was so kind. The food was really good and came out quickly. The shrimp and pork dumplings were my favorite. If you have your heart set on something that you see on the online menu it might be a good idea to call ahead because about half the menu was different. We missed the pork bao but part of this restaurant's experience is trying what's fresh. One thing we missed was on the menu was that the "optional roe" on the Siu Mai dumplings. There was no price attached and the waitress didn't mention it. It ended up an extra $2 per order. The cocktails were good. I got the As Told By Ginger (cause 90s Nickelodeon kid) and my partner got the spiced old fashioned. We ordered 7 things and 2 drinks and spent about $100 before tax and tip. My partner was still a little hungry afterward. We'll be back soon to check out whatever the latest menu is. read more
This is a great place to share plates. I was surprised at the size of the menu, there was more to offer than I was expecting. The atmosphere was intimate and created a nice ambiance. I sat at the bar with a friend and the bar tender was friendly. Overall- the food was good and I would go back. Be warned- they don't have to go boxes so take a container of your own to bring left overs. They encourage you to do so! read more
3 years ago
Wow. Sum Bar was worth the wait. Because we've been trying to get a reservation for a while, we decided to go ahead and try the entire menu. It did not disappoint. From the cocktails to the starters to the Dim Sum. The food and drink experience was top tier. You can tell everything was specifically curated for goodness and flavor. Favorites: Crab Rangoon Dumplings Char Sui BBQ pork The service, from the moment you walked in, was kind and accommodating. We sat at the bar and were able to experience the full dining experience. Our bartender/ server, Kristen was a delight. She answered all of our questions and gave us her recommendations. I felt like we had an interaction with all of the servers and bartenders at some point. Everyone was so attentive. Overall, I will definitely be back. I'm grateful we have places like Sum Bar here in Greenville that bring culture and good food to our little big town. Thank you Sum Bar for an incredible dining experience. I can't wait to return. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
i have been wanting to try sum bar for quite some time and i was not disappointed! the chai mocktail was zesty and refreshing, the food was amazing- the pork dumplings were our favorite- and the vibe was so fun and lowkey. we had the best servers at the bar- they were lovely and friendly! perfect for a date night or girls night. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
We had the Gai Lan, Crab Rangoon, Char Siu BBQ Pork, Dumplings, and Veggie Dumplings. If you're used to traditional dim sum this is definitely a more modernized take. read more
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