Dickson Dumpling House has just opened on Cape Street, Dickson, bringing with it Shanghai style cuisine, particularly, (as the name implies) dumplings. The kitchen is open to the plain view of diners, behind large glass panels, as well as from the outside through the glass façade. One can watch a small army of women working methodically, producing dozens of perfectly formed parcels ready for the waiting towers of bamboo steamers. They want you to know: there are no frozen, factory bought dumplings served here!

A word of warning – this is not a yum cha restaurant. Xiaolong bao (little steamer dumplings) are a Shanghai speciality similar to Cantonese dim sum dumplings — delicate steamed packets that cause a delightful little explosion of juice and flavour when you bite into them — but, despite the efforts to show the on-premises origins, the dumplings account for no more than ten per cent of what is on offer.

Though not strictly Shanghainese, there is enough new and different on the menu to give it personality amongst the other Chinese establishments of Dickson. There is still the sweet-and-sour this or the satay that, but that's what the hoi polloi want, so good on them for being so affable and obliging.

Dickson Dumpling House is located at 2 Cape Street, Dickson and is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.