Another excuse to get together and have a scrumptious meal: a belated celebration for Paul's birthday last week. We went to Hu Tong Dumpling, definitely our favourite dumpling restaurant in Melbourne.  This time I made sure I took pictures of each dish we had.

I have been to this restaurant countless times.  Each time with varying degrees of customer service.  This time the service was courteous and friendly.  Although they didn't miss our order (we had to wait an extra 15 minutes for a misplaced order last time we were here) a dish that we didn't order was brought to our table, which we promptly rejected.

Shanghai Fried Noodles ($8.00)
Tasty with lots of vegetable and mushrooms.

Shredded Turnip Pastry (3pcs - $5.80)
Very nice. I have had this many times in the past, but never this good. The pastry was flaky, thin and crispy.

My favourite dish.  The sauce is heavily flavoured with Sichuan peppercorns.

For menu, click here.

Update 7 March 2010: Went back for a quick lunch. We were lucky to get in before the crowd on a Sunday afternoon.  Seated on the ground floor just in front of the kitchen, we could watch the chefs in action.  However, I was really disappointed by the rude and impersonal service. Having had the Shao Long Bao many many times before, with everyone of us get our own little saucer of ginger (ie.4 people, 1 basket of baos, 4 saucers of ginger), I was disappointed to have the Shao Long Bao and one little saucer being plonked rudely on the table with no words of acknowledgement whatsoever.  Waving the waiter back, I asked for more ginger and was given the line "This is for two people!"  Oh yeah????  Told him I would pay for it, he replied with "We are running out of ginger."......Nice service Hu Tong, not!