3 Stars - Some Great Highlights, but the Food Was Hit or Miss…read more
I stopped by Uncle Dumplings around 6 p.m. and had a pretty mixed experience. The location is in a newer development with plenty of parking in a large parking structure and other restaurants and activities nearby, which is a plus.
Upon entering, I was greeted right away. The staff was friendly, accommodating, and attentive. I was dining in, and my server came over quickly to take my drink order and help with my meal. The food also came out fairly quickly.
Unfortunately, the food itself was disappointing in several areas. I ordered chicken fried rice, chicken dumplings, noodles, cucumber salad, and the chocolate dessert dumplings. The fried rice had a different-tasting chicken that I wasn't particularly fond of, and there didn't seem to be much chicken in it.
The chicken dumplings were especially disappointing. They arrived steaming under the lid, but surprisingly, the dumplings themselves were cold. The outer dough was also very thick and dense, making them feel heavy rather than light and delicate. I tried two, hoping the second would be better, but I just couldn't get into them.
The noodles were also much thicker and heavier than I expected. I was hoping for a smaller dish of flavorful, possibly spicy noodles, but after a few bites, I ended up setting those aside as well. Unfortunately, reheating the leftovers the next day didn't improve my experience, and I ultimately threw the rest away.
Now, for the highlights! The cucumber salad was fantastic. It was refreshing, flavorful, and easily one of my favorite items of the meal. I nearly finished the entire plate!
The chocolate dessert dumplings were also absolutely delicious. They were small, delicate, and served warm with steam coming out when opened. Dipping them into the accompanying sauce made them even better. I honestly could have ordered more and kept eating them! I loved their thinner, lighter texture, and I wish the savory dumplings had a similar delicate consistency.
Overall, the friendly service, quick food delivery, parking, cucumber salad, and chocolate desserts were definite positives. However, the cold dumplings and the overly thick, heavy texture of several dishes made the overall meal fall short for me.
I really wanted to love this place, but based on my experience, I would give it 3 stars. I think there is potential here, and I would encourage the restaurant to revisit the temperature and texture of its dumplings and the consistency of its noodle dishes. The chocolate dumplings and cucumber salad are definitely worth highlighting! The restaurant is small but cute had one bathroom inside.