A Taste and Sight to Behold: The Delightful Dim Sum of Palette Tea Garden in the Bay Area‼️
On my first day of moving to San Mateo, I ended up in a many-a-folk-recommended gem, the Palette Tea Garden. We got there by 1 PM and found ourselves seated after a mere 10-minute wait. And, darlings, you need to allow me this moment of awe – it was my initial rendezvous with enjoying dim sum while seated at a table embellished with a “small bridge and stream” right here in the Bay Area. The entire experience instantly lifted my mood!
📍Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum, 48W Sailer Dr. San Mateo.CA94403
😋The food might be on the daintier side in terms of size, but it's tantalizingly delicious. Each dish is artfully presented, accompanied by exquisitely brewed tea. Despite the bustling clientele, they didn't keep us waiting for our feast. Below are some of my flirtations with their menu and my take on them.
✅Black Swan Taro Puff:
Savory to its core. The taro mash is filled with salty meat, a first-time indulgence that was quite a surprise. A distinct flavor profile, and oh, how I recommend!
✅Pineapple Bun:
Crisp and sweet on the outside, a bit on the smaller size, but with real pineapple flesh inside. How quaint!
✅Phoenix Talons (Chicken Feet):
Tender to the point of melting, the bones practically slide right out. Authenticity at its best.
✅XO Scallops Seafood Dumplings:
Oh, this one is hard to describe – the casing is topped with a mildly spicy shrimp sauce, and the stuffing seems to be succulent minced shrimp, introducing a myriad of flavors – salty, umami, and spicy all at once. Worth a try.
✅White Swan Durian Pastry:
A beautiful swan-looking pastry that tastes just like your everyday durian snack.
✅Pan-fried Lava Buns:
Pan-fried buns, a tad thick on the outside, and a bit sweet for my taste.
✅Egg Tart:
Delicious! Highly recommended!
✅Coconut and Osmanthus Jelly:
Refreshing, sweet, and bouncy in texture. Ideal for cleansing your palate post-meal. Definitely worth a try.