663161 Wed Oct 28 18:16:47 -0700 2009 13 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 5138952 I've been scouting around Chinatown lately for a restaurant to go to for my birthday with 2 or 3 friends and these 3 restos caught my eye, but seeing as I've never been to any of them I was looking to get opinions on which one is cheapest, which one has the best service and food, etc. Or if you think those places are crap and have other places to recommend too. I'm looking for something inexpensive though, let's say under $30/pers. tips and tax incl. In looking through the chinatown threads on here there seems to be somewhat of a tie between Kam Fung and Red Ruby, but I haven't heard any opinions on Dobe & Andy (right beneath Kam Fung). Also, to what extent service at these restaurants would be affected by not speaking Chinese? The only reason I ask is I saw a comment in another Chinatown thread about getting better service for Dim Sum if you speak Chinese. Thanks! Wed Oct 28 18:16:47 -0700 2009 283302 Chocolatesa 1 5139960 Dobe & Andy is really completely different from the other two -- more of a bakery/cafeteria. Not a place I'd consider for a special occasion. (No recent comments on the food... baked goods are decent as I recall.) If it's dim sum you want, and you want it to be in Chinatown, Kam Fung and Ruby Rouge can both be good choices. Both are about the same price, and if you get anywhere near $30/person for dim sum you'll all have to be carried out on stretchers. Ruby Rouge tends to have a better selection of dishes, but it's also an enormous space with a *lot* of "Siberia" tables. On a weekend, it would really pay to be "in the know" so you can get a prime seat near the kitchen; otherwise it can be pretty frustrating to see the carts after a long run around the dining room (picked clean, or cold). If you get a good table, quality can be good to great. The location of your table is much less critical at Kam Fung; the farthest table from the kitchen would be a pretty good score at RR. Quality is usually pretty reliable. (However, there is a recent dim sum thread you should check out for a bunch of recent reports on various places.) I believe both have private rooms; might be worth looking into. Speaking Chinese is a good thing when visiting a Chinese restaurant, but I've never felt particularly ill-treated for not speaking it. edit: I should add that at either KF or RR, if carts are consistently out of specific items by the time they reach you (or you're just not seeing what you want), you can usually flag down one of the black-vested staffers and ask them to have it brought to you directly from the kitchen. Thu Oct 29 07:58:19 -0700 2009 5138952 13325 Mr F 2 5140822 "and if you get anywhere near $30/person for dim sum you'll all have to be carried out on stretchers" ROFL! Well that's good to hear, I definitely won't go over budget then! Thank you for all the info! Thu Oct 29 12:14:00 -0700 2009 5139960 283302 Chocolatesa 3 5142465 with tip, my boyfriend and i almost always get to almost $30/person at kam fung (once or twice, even over!). never needed stretchers, though we did need a nice, long nap. Fri Oct 30 06:35:58 -0700 2009 5140822 146805 kimberleyblue 4 5142610 I'm astounded at your eating prowess. I'm the most gluttonous person I know and $30 of dim sum would surely put me in the hospital. Fri Oct 30 07:34:47 -0700 2009 5142465 18488 SnackHappy 4 5142667 What SnackHappy said. I don't think I've ever paid more than $20, even after eating myself into a carbohydrate coma. Fri Oct 30 07:55:13 -0700 2009 5142465 10520 carswell 1 5144394 So Kam Fung it is then. I'm hoping they do dim sum in the evenings since none of my friends are morning people, I'm going to call tomorrow to ask. If not we'll eat something else. Anyone have any idea on the availability of dim sum in the afternoon/evening? Fri Oct 30 19:51:12 -0700 2009 5138952 283302 Chocolatesa 2 5144400 I think most places stop serving dim sum around 3 pm, but best to call and ask - I could be wrong. http://www.restaurantlamaisonkamfung.com/ Fri Oct 30 19:53:23 -0700 2009 5144394 66614 kpzoo 2 5144460 they do serve dimsum after 3, but they'll charge you an extra dollar per dish, and they won't be serving it on carts, it'll be served to you from the kitchen. Fri Oct 30 20:36:07 -0700 2009 5144394 1113414 sharkbait88 2 5144503 I wouldn't recommend getting dim sum outside regular hours when there's no cart service. The menu has a lot fewer items and the food is not as good. At least that was my experience at Ruby Rouge. If you want Cantonese food, you should consider Keung Kee, Amigo or Beijing. Fri Oct 30 21:14:25 -0700 2009 5144394 18488 SnackHappy 2 5144803 Ok thanks for the info guys! I guess we'll get one of the combo menus then or something else depending on how many people we are, they have some really good deals! Sat Oct 31 06:57:48 -0700 2009 5144394 283302 Chocolatesa 2 5150604 Sometimes what I do is go have dim sum upstairs at Kam Fung and pick up Chinese pastries to take home downstairs at Dobé And Andy's. Mon Nov 02 16:57:56 -0800 2009 5144394 203842 TheSnowpea 1 5150694 If you are not opting for dim sum, I strongly recommend Beijing for excellent, classic Cantonese style food. The prices are very reasonable and it is really better for dinner than Kam Fung and Ruby Rouge, although if I had to pick between those 2 for non dim sum, I would go with KF. Mon Nov 02 17:30:36 -0800 2009 5138952 269364 chililala 2 5153428 Thanks for the info! I'll have to go there another time though seeing as I've already told everyone we're going to Kam fung and made the reservations. Tue Nov 03 16:02:59 -0800 2009 5150694 283302 Chocolatesa