A Michelin-star dim sum spread in Singapore is not out of reach if you save enough for a fine dining experience at Summer Pavilion!

The Cantonese restaurant offers a creative and luxurious dim sum menu served daily at lunch. I spied many office workers and families when I sat down for a weekday lunch here, but luckily, the place didn’t feel cramped. 

I owe it to the resto’s sophisticated ambiance. The vibe seemed to rub off on the customers, making them more subdued and soft-spoken (besides the energetic children).

And while the place is elegant, it doesn’t shy away from providing comfort to guests. We got comfy seats, and the servers ensured our teacups were always full.

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We ordered the abalone/dried scallop and poached prawn/chicken dumplings. The dishes cost $22 and $10.50 for three pieces, but I’m glad we went ahead with the order. 

Biting into these dim sum servings was amazing. I experienced an explosion of flavors and textures inside my mouth in the best way possible!  

Moreover, partnering the luxurious dim sum with the Lychee Oolong and Momo in Black was chef’s kiss.

However, not all dim sum here wowed me. I had expected the steamed prawns and pork dumplings to be extraordinary due to their high prices, but I think the taste wasn’t superior to similar, more affordable dim sum options.

Also, the selection here is quite small compared to other restaurants.

And since dining in Summer Pavilion could break the bank, we think it would be better to visit here only for special occasions. 

Many flock to The Dim Sum Place for its Halal-certified offerings and affordable prices, us included.

Must-try dim sum dishes here include the chicken char siew bun and spinach dumpling. Both were comforting and filling for us (they were so yummy we had to order a second serving).

The dishes are generally affordable too, so we didn’t feel guilty ordering more than usual.

Big eaters would particularly like the pricing, as its affordability would allow them to order more servings to satiate their cravings. 

We also love that the restaurant is easily accessible, as it’s close to public transportation. 

And if you have kids in tow, know that The Dim Sum Place is child-friendly and provides high chairs for little customers. 

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That said, coming here might not always be a pleasant experience, as you might have to queue. Walk-ins are particularly prone to long waits and being cut in line by customers with prior reservations.

As the restaurant tends to be crowded, the ambiance may not be always to your liking. Expect a bit of noise especially if you’re close to a table with dining kids.

But if you don’t mind the background noise, you would enjoy coming here for your dim sum fix, as the place has friendly servers.

Moreover, the restaurant is open until late on Fridays and Saturdays, which is favorable for people who want a midnight snack outside of their homes.  

We fell in love at first sight with Kai Garden’s glamorous interiors and remained enamored thanks to its extensive dim sum menu. 

While many fine-dining restaurants offer a limited selection, this one serves a generous selection of steamed dim sum (over ten dishes) and a decent array of baked and fried types.

All the fried dumplings here are consistently crispy on the outside and irresistibly juicy on the inside. Stand-outs with interesting flavors and textures include the deep-fried yam and pumpkin, sesame ball with durian mousse, and scallops with mango roll.

If you want something oozing with meaty goodness, try the resto’s xiao long bao. Kai’s version is one of the most divine xiao long bao iterations I’ve ever tasted.

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Like other restaurants, Kai Garden serves its dim sum menu during lunch. You’ll have to make a reservation to ensure you get a seat, as many people dine here mid-day despite the high prices.

When last I was here, the restaurant was full of diners and I felt rushed while observing the servers and customers. 

Urgency is not bad, but too much of it can be distracting, especially if all you want is to eat your dim sum in peace.

Background noise could become too loud at times as well.

That said, you can avoid crowd-related issues if you book a table outside public holidays and peak hours. 

Sum Dim Sum’s casual vibe and affordable prices can be the perfect option for dim sum lovers on a budget.

The place is simple, and I daresay ordinary-looking for my taste. That said, I love the bamboo steamers decorating the restaurant’s walls. 

The design made the place feel warm despite the lack of cushiony furniture and interior embellishments. 

As for the dim sum, I found several stand-outs, including the juicy xiao long bao, tasty prawn dumplings, and comforting pan-fried carrot cake.

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Despite the affordable price, the restaurant does not skimp on dish presentation. The pan-fried carrot cake and crispy pork buns are visually appetizing!

However, it bums me out that despite being called Sum Dim Sum, the selection lacks unique, creative creations. The closest to a different dim sum is the fresh prawn hargow because it’s dyed blue.

Meanwhile, the restaurant’s customer service could use some improvement. When I last visited here, the wait was so long and the restaurant was so busy, the staff had a hard time controlling people who jumped ahead of the queue.

I also overheard a few customers complaining about a 30-minute wait for their orders to arrive. While I didn’t experience that, I understand how frustrating it is to wait for your dishes for such a long time on a hungry stomach.

Know that these misses happened at peak hours. If you want to avoid waiting long, visit the place at later hours.

Madame Fan’s dim sum selection impressed me with its range, creativity, and taste. 

I couldn’t order everything from the menu when we visited because of the high prices, but I sure loved all the dim sum I sampled!

The restaurant’s xiao long bao was meaty and comforting, while the mooli puff was flaky and filling! I love that these dishes lived up to their reputation as Madame Fan’s signature dumplings.

Other dim sum picks we thoroughly enjoyed were the scallop shumai, glutinous rice ball, and barbecued pork bun.

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Madame Fan also has a “Dim Sum, Drink Sum” offering every Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays, where you can pair your dumplings with drinks, from cocktails to champagne. 

The free-flow drinking lasts two hours, enough to sample the resto’s liquor selection. 

But while we love guzzling unlimited drinks for a set time, doing so at Madame Fan was a bit frustrating, as the servers seemed to struggle to keep up with our orders. We attribute this service miss to the place being so crowded that day.

We’re a bit disappointed because we were expecting exemplary service given the $100 price tag of the drinks and dim sum buffet.

We can see Madame Fan earning more patrons if it could up its waiting staff game. Its tasty dim sum is already an excellent start, so keeping the diners happy with flawless service should complete the magic.