I had lunch yesterday with four Chow-friends at Harbor Village in the Embarcadero Center. This was a most excellent lunch, but it was also a bit bittersweet --certainly a universal emotion—- but normally not a Chinese taste. Almost three years ago, a Sunday lunch at Harbor Village was my second Chowhound event, and my introduction to serious dim sum. This Sunday, August 28th, Harbor Village will close.
Our repast included: Steamed scallop dumpling, Braised tofu skin rolls, Steamed book tripe, Boon tong gau in soup, Shrimp rice crepe, Steamed black bean riblets, Har gau, Siu mai, BBQ baby back ribs, Cantonese roast duck, Stuffed eggplant, Fried tofu skin roll, Pan-fried radish cake, and Egg yolk layer cake.
Almost every dish we had was bursting with flavor, devoid of grease, and a delight to pop into the mouth. Even the Steamed black bean riblets which are often full of gristle and grease were tender and deeply flavored. We went all out with the tea, ordering guk bo, or pu erh blended with chrysanthemum blossoms.
I visited Harbor Village for dim sum five or six times after my Chowhound introduction. The food here was never bad, and almost never mediocre, most often it was excellent. But it was never better than yesterday, and I have never had better dim sum. The room is the best of the dim sum palaces with a row of windows looking out on to the Embarcadero - you can even eat dim sum outside on their patio. Anyone who has loved Harbor Village, or has somehow missed it should make it a point to have lunch there this week.
