The One - Chinese Cuisine

The One......as in the Matrix?  Haha, not exactly the most creative name for a restaurant, but here we are with a review of this place because I actually tried it.  Actually, we were planning on going to Golden Ocean Seafood in Kerrisdale but the line up was out the door, and half-way down the stairs so we left.  In an act of desperation, we decided to try this place out. 

I know the banner hanging there says "Grand Opening", but that sign has been there for as long as I can remember.  I have no idea how long this place has been there, but they are way past their grand opening.

It didn't look good from this view as there were no line ups, nobody crowding around outside waiting to get in, as with most Dim Sum places.

Actually, it wasn't very busy when we got there, but it did pick up by the time we left.  There still wasn't a line up outside, but at least the restaurant was full.

It wasn't exactly a full-dim sum menu, there were a lot of things missing, and......no dim sum girls.

Fancy tea pots.

We didn't order this, but it looked really good.  The waitress said they were XO Sauce Radish Cakes. 

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Stuffed Eggplant, which were massive.  As you read on, you will find that Massive is an ongoing theme at this place.

They look tasty, unfortunately, they were so big that the centre of the eggplant was completely flavourless.  Any kind of dipping sauce would have helped with these. 

Green Onion Pancake - the outside was nice and crispy, the inside was nice and moist, but unfortunately, these were also lacking in the seasoning department.  There weren't a lot of green onions either.

The shao long bao wasn't too bad actually.  On the menu, they're called Shanghai Dumplings.  There was a lot of "soup" inside, enough to fill a spoon.  These little guys were pretty tasty.

I think the guy in the window was putting them together.

The hagao/steam shrimp dumplings(xiajiao, or ebi-siumai....depending on where you're from) were massive.  Big in every way, the four of them barely fit inside the steamer.  But being this big, the skin had to be a bit thicker to keep the whole assembly together.

As you can see, they fill an entire standard-size Chinese rice bowl. 

The Steam Pork Shaomai again were huge, but lacking in the flavour department. 

Steam Spare Ribs....also huge, also favourless.....unless you like the natural taste of pig meat without seasoning.

The best way to describe this place is it's the the Sushi King of Sim Sum.  The portions are huge, the price isn't over the top.  The restaurant tries to be a bit upscale, judging by the lack of plastic table sheets and the precense of fancy teapots and large serving plates for some of the dishes.  The service wasn't all that bad - less than enthusiastic and not so friendly, but not horrible.  Would I go back?  Probably not...not for oversized dim sum that has no seasoning.