| Venue name: | Vanessa’s Dumplings | Contact: |
|---|---|
| Address: |
220 E 14th St New York 10003 |
Cross street: | between Second and Third Aves |
| Opening hours: | Daily 11am–11pm |
| Transport: | Subway: L to Third Ave; N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 to 14th St–Union Sq |
| Price: | Average order: $2. Cash only |
| Do you own this business? |
Average User Rating
3 / 5
Rating Breakdown
- 5 star:0
- 4 star:2
- 3 star:0
- 2 star:0
- 1 star:1
Some of the best dumplings I have had in NYC. They are cheap, delicious and fast and nothing is quite as satisfying as a giant plate of dumplings covered sauce. The classic pork dumplings are amazing, and all varieties are served either steamed, fried or in soup (all of which are delicious). You can also buy a large package of the frozen dumplings to recreate your meal at home, though definitely not as good.
The one downfall of Vanessa's is the interior - it's cramped, kind of dirty and overall a bit questionable but the delicious dumplings overshadow a little East Village grime.
If you're looking for cheap and delicious dumplings and sesame pancake sandwiches, this is the spot for you. The steamed pork and chive dumplings are my favorite but the dessert dumplings are also quite good. The sesame pancakes are warm and comforting no matter what you fill them with. Sauces are readily available on the tables. Tiny napkins make personal cleanliness a small challenge. This place gets pretty busy but with a little patience I've found you can usually get a table. Also, like many of the best dumpling houses in the city, Vanessa's is a bit grungy (to say the least). It can be a little off-putting to out-of-towners but most seasoned New Yorkers will chow down at this joint without a care in the word. This is not a good date night spot for a hoity-toity couple from Park Ave. It's for down-to-earth, dumpling loving dudes and dudettes.
Firstly, let me state that i love, love, love the original location on Eldridge Street. The food is fantastic, cheap and the staff, even though their command of the English language is limited, is usually friendly and helpful. The new location in Williamsburg is great too. BUT (always the but) i regret to say this, the 14th street location leaves much to be desired. The staff there is surly at best and plain rude if i am being completely honest. The facility is untidy and often smells really bad. I have seen staff members put dirty cleaning buckets with chemicals, next to food trays (they were already starting clean-up when food was still being served). Some staff touches/prepares the food (seasame pancakes) with bare hands. It's just a total mess over there. Overall, the quality of food is much worse than in the other locations and puts a damper on their good brand equity. Ironically, it's the most expensive location out of all. Go to the original location or else get a slice of Pizza somewhere.
