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ABC Seafood Restaurant
Master Critic Review
ABC Seafood Restaurant
8.1
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Brunch Bliss Spots
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Hong Kong-style dining destination serving authentic Cantonese dim sum and live seafood from an extensive menu. The elegant dining room delivers freshly made har gow, shumai, and BBQ pork buns alongside specialty seafood dishes like lobster with black bean sauce and honey walnut shrimp.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baked Lobster with Black Bean Sauce, Shrimp Har Gow, Live Maine Lobster
Scores:
Value: 8.7
Service: 7.8
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 8.5
Atmosphere: 7.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.4
What makes it special: Made-to-order dim sum with extensive live seafood selection and grab-and-go counter
Who should go: Families seeking authentic Cantonese dim sum and seafood
When to visit: Weekend mornings for fresh dim sum service
What to order: Dim sum classics, lobster preparations, West Lake-style beef soup
Insider tip: Live lobster priced at $28.99/lb with choice of preparation styles
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Metered street parking on Hill St and Broadway, or paid lot on Alpine ($8-12). Weekend mornings fill up fast - arrive before 10am or use lot.
Dress code: Casual - jeans, sneakers, whatever. This is a dim sum hall, not a date spot.
Noise level: Loud and lively - classic dim sum cart atmosphere with families and groups. Not ideal for intimate conversation.
Weekend wait: 20-30 min wait typical, peaks around 7pm. Weekends busier than weekdays.
Weekday lunch: Minimal to no wait weekdays before 12:30pm. Dim sum service ends around 3pm.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes - solid options including vegetable dumplings, fried tofu skin rolls, rice noodles, and Buddha's delight. Many dim sum items can be made vegetarian.
Vegan options: Limited - vegetable dumplings and steamed greens work, but most items contain oyster sauce or shrimp. Ask server to confirm preparation.
Gluten-free options: Challenging - soy sauce in most dishes, cross-contamination likely. Rice noodle dishes and steamed fish safer bets, but not dedicated prep.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Probably not - it's loud, bustling, and communal-style dining. Great for casual 3rd+ dates if you both love dim sum, but skip for romantic first impressions.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Yes for most times, but expect 20-40 min waits on weekend mornings (peak dim sum hours 9am-1pm). Weekday lunches and dinners are easier. They do take reservations for larger groups.
Is it kid-friendly? Extremely - high chairs available, lots of families, and kids love the dim sum cart experience. Fried rice, BBQ pork buns, and potstickers are crowd-pleasers. All ages welcome.
How much should I budget per person? $25-35 per person for dim sum brunch with tea. Dinner with seafood entrées runs $40-60 per person. Live lobster and premium seafood will push it higher.
Do they have the dim sum carts? Made-to-order system - you mark items on a paper menu rather than traditional carts. Ensures fresher food but less of the classic cart experience.
Best For
Better for: Authentic Hong Kong-style dim sum, large family gatherings (8+ people), and affordable live seafood. Great for introducing kids to dim sum culture or feeding a crowd without breaking the bank.
Skip if: You want a quiet, romantic ambiance, strictly traditional dim sum carts, or modern/trendy Asian fusion. Also skip if your group hates family-style sharing or needs extensive vegan options.