I may have found a new go-to place for dim sum: Fancy
Chinese Cuisine. However, I’m hesitant to label the restaurant with the title
as its predecessors over the last few years gradually were replaced – mainly as
the wait times during their special pricing hours became unbearable.
Fancy also has the special (between 8:30am – 11:30am or
after 1:30pm) where anything classified as small, medium or large is $2.98. Nonetheless,
even if you dine during the prime lunch period (11:30am – 1:30pm) prices aren’t
much higher: medium dishes are $3.28 and large/special sizes a mere $1 more for
$3.98.
These relatively stable prices means there’s less people rushing
to get in before 11:30; most visits we were seated within a short wait when
arriving before 10:00am. Finally! A place that caters to my impatient
personality.
Fancy also executes dim sum in an OG fashion. Sure, they’re
not shaped into Instagram friendly flowers or animals, but they do offer strong
flavours and traditional elements. The shrimp dumpling (har gow) and pork dumpling (siu
mai; both L) are solid versions of the favourites – the shrimp not
overcooked and the wrapper relatively thin on the har gow while the siu mai has
the customary juicy pork mixture studded with shrimp.
The shrimp and chives dumpling (L) is also decent: a large
size and the chives adding a herby element to the dumpling.
Rather than layering peas or watercress under the steamed
beef ball (S), the chef opts for a sheet of parchment paper instead, which
makes separating the balls a breeze. The recipe could use a bit more coriander,
but the consistency was bang on. Personally, I prefer the beef ball Chew Chow
style (M), essentially the same meat balls but served in a broth with
watercress. The soup is your typical salty MSG version, but keeps the beef
warmer and moister.
With seven fillings available for rice rolls, there’s
something for everyone. Having tried the steamed shrimp (L) and BBQ pork (M), they’re
both good: enough ingredients so each bite has filling and slits made to allow
the soy sauce to permeate further. Although the rice sheets are on the thicker
side, the wrapper was still silky and soft.
On the other hand, the fried Chinese dough rice roll (M) was
terrible, where the dough fritter was either stale or so over fried that it
shatters into oily shards.
Similarly, the conpoy with dumpling in soup (L) was a
disappointment. The dish was overcooked rendering the shrimp into small bites
of rubber and the actual wrapper mushy.
Normally considered an extra-large dish at other
restaurants, you can still order the beef tendon in special sauce (L) at the
special pricing. Tendon has a soft chewy gelatinous texture that’s an acquired
taste – even for myself, it wasn’t until my adult years that I started enjoying
the dish. Fancy’s “special” sauce is a cross between the sweet red sauce used
with chicken feet, a spice (perhaps curry?), and tons of garlic. The dish
certainly doesn’t lack flavours.
Similarly, the cuttlefish with curry sauce (M) is one of the
more powerful ones I’ve had over the last few years.
The chicken and mushroom steamed rice (L) is served in the
typical clay pot. Despite skimping on the soy sauce (a mere tablespoon),
there’s sufficient amounts of chicken, black fungus and golden needle (a
Chinese herb) to make up for it.
While the mixed meat and seafood congee (L) looks plain,
once you dig into the bowl you’ll find a decent portion of fish and pork rind
mixed throughout – both white ingredients that simply blends right into the
rice. The salted pork and preserved egg congee (L) offers more contrast and I’m
surprised by the large pieces of meat and egg within it, it seemed as if every
spoon was filled with the ingredients.
Fancy’s dessert offerings, on the menu, does seem skimpy
with five choices. However, it’s augmented by options pushed around in carts,
so you may want to save room for those. The dumpling with black sesame paste
(S) was sweet enough with plenty of coconut, peanut and sugar inside. I loved
the sesame casing, which was soft, chewy and fresh.
Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 7750 Kennedy Road
Address: 7750 Kennedy Road
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____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
Is That It? I Want More!
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