(650) 615-9879
Parking: street parking
Last Visited: May 23, 2012
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 2 to 3 stars
Service: 1 to 2 stars
Price: $ to $$
Aunt Stella recommended we try Sunny Shanghai for some authentic Shanghainese cuisine.
When we arrived, the bell on the door made a noise, but there was only one table of patrons. Since a friend had recommended the place, we didn't let this deter us, but we were surprised that nobody came out to seat us. We picked our own table and grabbed a couple of menus that were sitting on the table closest to the door. After two minutes, a lady peeked her head out from the back hallway and then proceeded to go right back into the hall. Another minute later, she brought out a pot of tea and came to our table with it. There wasn't much of a greeting even at that point, and unfortunately, the tea had no flavor.
The waitress came back to take our order and then she disappeared again. Since it appears to be her and the chef only, when she is not in the room, it's a pretty seemingly empty place. As other patrons came in, they received a similar reception - nobody came out for a few minutes and everyone comes in looking a little lost wondering if they should sit or just wait.
Food came out about ten minutes after ordering, but the strange feeling continued as each dish came out on average at ten minute intervals. Only two of the plates came even close to arriving within five minutes of each other.
- Salted Vegetable and Pork with Rice Cake - The quantity on the plate seemed small, but the flavor was good. The salted vegetables are fresh in the sense that they are preserved, but don't come from a can. The rice cake is just the right texture, and the flavor is present. Since the serving plates are so large, it makes the amount served seems even smaller. If it were presented on a different sized plate, it would seem like a better value. Still good and worth ordering. $6.95- Green Onion Pancake - This is a great bargain - eight pieces at a very reasonable price. The outside of this savory pancake is crispy and the inside is tender with a nice green onion flavor that isn't overwhelming. $2.95
- Pork Steamed Dumplings (xiao long bao) - Eight pieces are served in a steamer along with vinegar. The texture of the dumpling wrapper is tender, although the top where the dough is twisted together is a little thick. The pork inside is flavorful, but could have a little more soup. Good. $4.95
- Pork Potstickers - Six potstickers are lightly browned on the outside. The filling is the same as that of the pork steamed dumplings. The potsticker dough was a little too thick which makes it harder for the dough to crisp properly. While the flavors are okay, I probably would get something else next time. $4.95
- Hot and Sour Soup - There is plenty of soup to serve four and even perhaps six people. More sour than hot, I found it hard to drink more than one serving of soup. The usual ingredients, egg, carrots, onions, mushrooms, and black fungus were present, but I've had soup with a better balance of flavor. The soup has the right consistency though - just lightly coating the back of my spoon. $5.95
The first three dishes above are definitely worth getting. While the xiao long bao are no match for famous Ding Tai Fung XLB, it's pretty good compared to local places. It's pretty clear - some food is okay and some is better than okay. Service is mediocre, but you'll see her smile on occasion. There is a lot of opportunity to improve both the service and the atmosphere. Lastly, don't be in a hurry - the average time for food to come out is about ten minutes per dish - with this estimate you'll be close to accurate for the amount of time needed to eat.
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