This post is completely self-serving, a new restaurant specializing in dumplings, aptly named Dumplings & Beyond opened in Glover Park, and these dumplings are pretty impressive for DC standards. I'm not going to call this place a "hole in the wall", it's not, but it is basic - think bamboo decor, a simple menu with dishes you'd find on most Chinese menus. But the dumplings are worth shouting about. Not that this place wasn't busy on the Sunday evening I visited, at its peak nearly half of the tables were taken with diners, it just deserves to be busier. I want it to do well.
With a full appetizer, entree and noodle menu in addition to the dumplings there is a lot to choose from here, but it is a dumpling spot so that's why you're going to want to go - at roughly $9 for 10 pieces it's value for money, with an interesting array of flavors to choose there's certainly reason to try out a few of them - Beef and Celery, Shrimp and Chives. I mistakenly only ordered the one, splitting a plate of Steamed Chicken and Cilantro as an appetizer with my dining companion, they were simple, meaty and full of flavor, just enough bite to the cilantro mixed with gently seasoned chicken. I added a touch of chili to the plate which I used as a dip, however the dumplings are easily enjoyed without any condiments. My only gripe, it's an additional $1.50 for pan fried over steamed, and it's an all or nothing kind of deal, I wanted half seared but that wasn't to be.
We also tried the Cucumber, Chili and Garlic Salad, which was fresh, crunchy and had a subtle kick to it, a nice balance of sweet and spice. The entree dish we ordered was the Singapore Rice Noodles, a bowl full of vermicelli, with a ton of chopped shrimp, chicken and vegetables coated in curry. The ingredients were fresh, light and had an almost healthy feel to them, if that can be believed. But we did leave full and satisfied.
Delivery is a $25 minimum within a three mile radius, by my calculations that'll just about get a delivery as far as Logan Circle.
Dumplings & Beyond, 2400 Wisconsin Ave., NW Washington, DC (not metro accessible)