We love our readers, especially the ones that take the time to help us help you. Here we have a great review of new-to-DC Ping Pong Dim Sum by Ellen Lovelidge, who we hope to be hearing more from soon.
Words by: Ellen C Lovelidge (aka DJ Lil El)
When I think of "dim sum", San Francisco pops into my head with it's huge open space venues containing all kinds of wonderful eats, carted around in a visual display letting you take your pick! It gives you a real chance to devour with your eyes before committing your stomach. In this experience, if a carted plate does not suit you, you pass and wait for the next cart. Ping Pong Dim Sum (900 7th Street NW), a new dim sum spot in Chinatown, is based on it's original London ties putting a modern spin on the dim sum experience, skipping the carts, providing a wonderful bar selection, and uncomfortable seating.
It was my second time at Ping Pong, the first time was a happy hour during its soft opening. My latest experience took place after a Georgetown basketball game, as it is conveniently located for any post-Verizon Center event eats and drinks. At around 9:30pm Ping Pong was about half full with a chill crowd. Music selection was definitely on point but not in a dancing kind of way. Seated at a table in the bar area against huge windows overlooking 7th Street, it provided very fun people-watching! Wait staff were nice, but nothing memorable, however I could not ignore the hostess on the phone while walking in failing to greet us. Kind of a pet peeve, but greeting customers in person should be a top priority for hosts and hostesses.
(image via Prince of Petworth)
The bar menu is one of my favorites in all of the city and the Lemongrass Limeade is among my favorite drinks. It is a must try, amazing and light tasting, will make you feel like Spring has finally arrived! After putting in our orders, it took an obnoxious amount of time to get our drinks but because of the deliciousness and amazing presentation including actual lemongrass, it turned out to be well worth the wait. Over the course of my two visits, I had sampled several of Ping Pong's dishes on their sushi-style menu. Crispy Asparagus came as advertised; very crispy asparagus and quite tasty! The soy sauce poured out of tiny pitchers was a great aesthetic addition. The vegetable steamed bun was tasty and a unique soft texture I had never experienced before but quite enjoyed. All the dishes tried were worth trying, it's hard to find any items on the menu that would be unpleasant; the food is very well prepared and offers a high quality vibrant taste with each bite.
(image via readysetDC)
Prices are a bit steep during regular dinner hours; the Lemongrass Limeade was $10 and the small portioned dim sum dishes ranged between $4.50 and $7. For the most bang (and taste) for your buck, I would recommend taking advantage of their happy hours: every day from 4-7pm (selected food items, $3; selected cocktails, $4-6) and a late night happy hour Thursday through Saturday, 10pm until Closing, with only a few items discounted, however still good for a late evening hangout.
The décor is heavy on modern, too much for my liking as it is more about form than function considering how incredibly annoying it was sitting on the wooden stool-like chairs.
Come check out the happy hour to enjoy some of the creative and tasty drinks at manageable prices as well as the tasty food. It would be great if in the near future Ping Pong would have live music instead of the stereo system. Ping Pong would really benefit in drawing a larger crowd combining entertaining music artists with their happy hour. It's a concept to consider that would enhance the Ping Pong experience and if executed well enough would justify this remix of traditional dim sum in Washington, DC.
(Image from Zagat)
God loves a cheerful giver.
I've been really enjoying Ping Pong. I take a couple of exceptions to this review and want to add a couple points. My experience with the service has been pretty good. On my first trip there, I considered the waiter we had to be one of the best ever. It's kind of unfair and perhaps irresponsible as a reviewer to make assertions about the entire waitstaff like "nice, but nothing memorable." I even left an item there and retrieved it almost two weeks later. When I asked my waitress two weeks later about the item she know immediately what I was referring to and brought it to me.
Furthermore, I thought I'd add that I've had no problems with the seats personally. Finally I should mention that I've found the service to be very efficient. They bring out the food exactly when it's prepared and teams of servers come one after another to bring your dish and clear your plates.
I thought I might add that in terms of "bang for buck" they have a very good vegetarian lunch special. For 10 dollars you get like 25 dollars worth of food at dinner hour. Also, you neglected to mention their teas. They have a selection of teas that literally bloom before your eyes. It's hard to explain, but let's just say, they come in a little package and once you pour water on them they explode into a chain of flowers. It's truly unique.
Awesome! Thanks for the suggestions Jeremy. I will definitely check out their lunch special and teas. This was my first submission to BYTeats so I will definitely take your constructive criticism into account for future reviews.
Love the food here, hate the service. I went here for the second time this past week and was really appalled. My first experience was Happy Hour in the bar and I had great service. Eating in the main dining room is a different story.
Our table of 7 had one miniscule bottle of soy sauce that was used up before it even made it to the third person, and though we asked several time for more, a member of our party actually wandered into the kitchen to get more.
We also asked several times for a knife to split some of the items we ordered, and again a member of our party was forced to go looking in drawers on the side of a restaurant until she found one.
We counted at least four instances of a waiter/waitress dropping and breaking plates or glasses throughout are dinner. I mean I'm usually a very very understanding person, but we paid a steep price for not great service.
Oh and our waitress did finally bring one knife... with the check.