San Francisco
Situated up and back, deep in the Square in the Mustard Building, this full-service Chinese restaurant takes an artistic approach to dim sum. Fresh seafood is a menu highlight at Palette Tea House, and many visible fish tanks hold live specimens.
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| exterior of Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
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| interior of Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
Dishes are in general attractive and colorful, but dim sum is what wows the cameras. Diners are presented with a plate that mimics an artist’s palette, with small round indentations across the top that are perfect for holding condiments. One of the most artful menu items is the spectacular black swan taro puff, which is served on a rustic handmade plate strewn with colorful flower petals. The empty plate left behind is like a piece of art itself. I only wish I had ordered a second portion. Additional particularly vibrant and tasty dim sum include the very green Crystal Jade Vegetarian Dumpling and the orangey-red XO & Shrimp Dumpling. Also, the Palette Soup Dumpling “XLB” Sampler features five colorful bites--a relatively boring white with original filling, a yellow with crab and pork, a red with beet and beef, a green with kale and pork, and a black with truffle and pork.
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| black swan taro puff dim sum at Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
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| empty plate of black swan taro puff dim sum at Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
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| crystal jade vegetarian dim sum at Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
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| XO & shrimp dumpling dim sum at Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
In addition the menu offers delicious classic soups, entrees, and noodles. A don’t-miss dessert is the colorful Mango Pudding Supreme made with fresh mango, coconut sauce, and popping boba--a grape-like, unchewy fruit. Though a cup of hot tea is the drink of choice at lunch, creative cocktails are popular in the evening. Set menus and daily specials are also offered.
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| mango pudding supreme at Palette Tea House in San Francisco, California |
Wow, they don't cook, they paint. That's a restaurant review where photos are as important, if not more, than the review itself.
ReplyDeleteThis restaurant is Instagram friendly, if I may say.