Bamboo Basket

In keeping with the sleek Grey Street precinct, Bamboo Basket has made a big effort on appearances. From the two stone warriors guarding the door to the imposing scarlet and black interior it all feels a bit theatrical. While the decor is unashamedly contemporary, the dumplings and noodles here are made just as they have been for centuries. There is often a crowd gathered on the footpath outside to watch the flour flying as chefs skilfully pinch dumplings and pull noodles in the open kitchen. There's a staggering range of dumplings, steamed buns and pancakes on the dim sum menu but the house specialty of Shang Hai xiao long bao (soup dumplings) is a great place to start. Soft little parcels burst in the mouth, releasing pork mince in a delicate broth. Hand-pulled noodle soups are highly recommended. Lan-zhou noodle soup with beef is a rich, meaty broth with thick, perfectly cooked fresh noodles.