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Gitlo's Dim Sum Bakery, Allston
Almost two years ago, one of my all-time favorite restaurants, VMajestic, the place that introduced me to Vietnamese food and epitomized my mantra of "cheap, fast and good," went out of business. No fanfare...no explanation...just gone. I've been waiting to see what would take its place. Invariably when my faves disappear, they're taken over by someplace I would never go once, much less become a new fave. But the magic of this tiny spot on Brighton Ave. in Allston may carry over.
I got out of work early yesterday (it's Spring Break at the U.) and wanted to go on a little adventure. So N. and I drove over to Allston, as there'd been an article in the paper this week about how many places were closing. Marty's Liqours, Rangoli, the hot dog place, the burrito place...all victims of this or that vicissitude of the downturn. So we found the magic parking space in front of the Kells and looked in the window at Gitlo's Dim Sun Bakery, a place I'd seen on Foodler.com and read up about on Yelp. Their Yelp page has 15 photos of food..a siren call to my stomach! http://www.yelp.com/biz/gitlos-dim-sum-bakery-allston
The reviews were mixed, the family that runs the place was eating their supper and there was no one in there, so we decided to wander up Harvard Ave. and across Brighton Ave. peaking at empty storefronts, and looked for new possibilities. Both Korean places nearby looked yummy, but at $18.95 for beef bulgoki, it wasn't the place for a late afternoon snack. I was very tempted by Le's Vietnamese, as there was a big table of folks having yummy pho. But I am saving my pho cravings to keep Lady Siam in Arlington in business.
So we walked back to Gitlo's to give it a try. They kept the red tables and chairs from VMajestic, but put up blackboards above the chair rail, where they've written the menu and various art.
They bring hot tea right away. The menu is extensive - almost 100 items. And it is CHEAP. Most of the dim sum is $3.50. Many of the special items are $4.25. They have the familiar Chinese appetizer items plus noodles and soups. We ordered seven items:
1. Cantonese dumplings (deep fried) - I thought these would be Peking Ravioli, but they were more veggie inside. But excellent, thin, crisp wrappers and tasty filling.
2. Pork buns (fried) - covered with sesame seeds, thin, crisp wrapper. Not like the doughy ones I've had.
3. Rainbow noodles with spicy chicken - okay...the noodles look like worms. And taste gummy. But the combo of veggies and chicken (not very spicy) was tasty.
4. Har Gow - shrimp dumplings with the perfect pearlescent wrapper and lots of shrimp paste within
5. Crab rangoons - on special - tiny little postage stamp crisp squares - not much too them
6. Bacon wrapped shrimp paste balls - great idea...bacon was perfect, but the entire effect was too greasy
7. Sesame balls with lotus paste
The portions are small, but I like less for less, and getting to try lots of different items. I'll probably go back to try a different assortment.
The only sauces offered were a very hot sirraca like red sauce, and straight soy sauce. I would have liked at least lo-salt soy, and some ginger sauce or the garlic/soy/vinegar many places offer.
I didn't get any of the MSG buzz/headache I usually get in Chinatown, a big plus for me.
Two tips: Don't plan to go to the restroom here - it is down a ladder into the cellar. And don't go during "dim sum time" which is about brunch hours, as the lines are crazy.
Overall, I'd give it a B+. Not fabulous, not bad, but a good answer when you want cheap, tasty bites of the dim sum sort.
I got out of work early yesterday (it's Spring Break at the U.) and wanted to go on a little adventure. So N. and I drove over to Allston, as there'd been an article in the paper this week about how many places were closing. Marty's Liqours, Rangoli, the hot dog place, the burrito place...all victims of this or that vicissitude of the downturn. So we found the magic parking space in front of the Kells and looked in the window at Gitlo's Dim Sun Bakery, a place I'd seen on Foodler.com and read up about on Yelp. Their Yelp page has 15 photos of food..a siren call to my stomach! http://www.yelp.com/biz/gitlos-dim-sum-bakery-allston
The reviews were mixed, the family that runs the place was eating their supper and there was no one in there, so we decided to wander up Harvard Ave. and across Brighton Ave. peaking at empty storefronts, and looked for new possibilities. Both Korean places nearby looked yummy, but at $18.95 for beef bulgoki, it wasn't the place for a late afternoon snack. I was very tempted by Le's Vietnamese, as there was a big table of folks having yummy pho. But I am saving my pho cravings to keep Lady Siam in Arlington in business.
So we walked back to Gitlo's to give it a try. They kept the red tables and chairs from VMajestic, but put up blackboards above the chair rail, where they've written the menu and various art.
They bring hot tea right away. The menu is extensive - almost 100 items. And it is CHEAP. Most of the dim sum is $3.50. Many of the special items are $4.25. They have the familiar Chinese appetizer items plus noodles and soups. We ordered seven items:
1. Cantonese dumplings (deep fried) - I thought these would be Peking Ravioli, but they were more veggie inside. But excellent, thin, crisp wrappers and tasty filling.
2. Pork buns (fried) - covered with sesame seeds, thin, crisp wrapper. Not like the doughy ones I've had.
3. Rainbow noodles with spicy chicken - okay...the noodles look like worms. And taste gummy. But the combo of veggies and chicken (not very spicy) was tasty.
4. Har Gow - shrimp dumplings with the perfect pearlescent wrapper and lots of shrimp paste within
5. Crab rangoons - on special - tiny little postage stamp crisp squares - not much too them
6. Bacon wrapped shrimp paste balls - great idea...bacon was perfect, but the entire effect was too greasy
7. Sesame balls with lotus paste
The portions are small, but I like less for less, and getting to try lots of different items. I'll probably go back to try a different assortment.
The only sauces offered were a very hot sirraca like red sauce, and straight soy sauce. I would have liked at least lo-salt soy, and some ginger sauce or the garlic/soy/vinegar many places offer.
I didn't get any of the MSG buzz/headache I usually get in Chinatown, a big plus for me.
Two tips: Don't plan to go to the restroom here - it is down a ladder into the cellar. And don't go during "dim sum time" which is about brunch hours, as the lines are crazy.
Overall, I'd give it a B+. Not fabulous, not bad, but a good answer when you want cheap, tasty bites of the dim sum sort.
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