Unique Dumpling - East Cambridge

[Taralli]

Had yesterday afternoon off, so fellow hound & I shared: spicy lamb soup(really mostly not very flavorful broth w/meager small pieces of lamb & some cilantro), 5 spiced beef that was very tender & kinda sweet, fried pork stuffed eggplant hot from the fryer, garlic flavored cucumber(cold) - really garlicky and cold steamed eggplant w/garlic that had a nice vinegar punch. We asked for hot pepper paste, & they also brought a savory vinegar dip. We dipped everything into these & added it to the soup. I really wanted to try some dumplings, but we had more than enough, & DC not a big dumpling fan. Since a dozen dumplings are only about $6 and 50 around $12-$15, I may stop back to pick some up for take out. I'm sure if we had our regular Saturday lunch crew with us, we would have tried many. Be sure to ask for the Chinese menu vs. the American one - BIG difference. This one: http://www.uniquedumpling.com/

[Dave MP]

Any updates on this place? Just came across it today....I don't see the part of the website where it says anything about a Shandong noodle master. But that'd be great if it's true.

How are the dumplings? Any experience buying these for cooking at home?

Dave MP

[itaunas]

The restaurant space in Cambridge is now a Thai restaurant, the owner had another restaurant in Allston and is bringing some of the recipes over. Nab and others have been reporting on that.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7328...

[jgg13]

It's long gone, although there's another outpost in allston. they go by the name 'unique food'

[Jenny Ondioline]

Or Ravioli, depending on which of their fliers gets poked through your mail slot.

[Dave MP]

Ah! Great, thanks!

I'm excited to try this place!!

When's the chowdown?

Dave MP

[Jenny Ondioline]

I don't think there could be a chowdown here. There's maybe a dozen seats in the entire place. It's primarily a takeout joint.

[kobuta]

Interesting - never heard of the place though I don't work far away. The website you provide shows only more authentic Chinese food, no Americanized stuff in sight. The website reads that there's a Shandong "noodle "master" in their kitchen and they specialize in northern-style foods. It makes me really interested in their dumplings and noodles. They offer the "hand made knife-shaved noodles", like they used to offer at Noodle Alcove. Will have to stop by after work one day.

[Aromatherapy]

Former Wisteria location. Which noodles are the handmade ones?

[kobuta]

If you click on the noodle soup section of the website, the Chinese next to "Big Bowl Noodle Soup" are the hand made knife-shaved noodles. It also reads the the soup is made from bones (presumably pork, etc.).

[Taralli]

They have 2 completely separate menus. The large being the typical Americanized menu; the small, that I posted, - the authentic Chinese menu.

[barleywino]

tried the soup dumplings ("steamed juicy pork buns") which were quite decent, as much soup as Jo Jo Taipei's but with slightly thicker skins. Also tried their pork/leek/shrimp dumplings which were a bit on the salty side but otherwise good. Their beef scallion pancake and peking meat sauce noodles were also fine, tho a bit salty. the fried cruller was very bready, not puffy/crisp as it should be.

[jgg13]

Hah. On Foodler they go by "unique food". I've ordered from them (they seem to only have the standard americanized stuff), and even considering what it is, they're as far from unique is possible. Interesting that they have more real stuff available.

[fredid]

Some details - This is NOT the Allston Unique Food. (Not sure if the two are related, or if the Allston one also has a "secret" menu)

Also - We ordered a bunch of what they call $3 plates - so it's also inexpensive.

Sorry about missing the dumplings, Taralli!

[jgg13]

As far as I can tell they are related - e.g. Foodler lists them as one company with two separate addresses, which is what they do for such things.

I've seem them referred to by about a half dozen names now, at least one of which didn't even have "unique" in the name.