Birthday-ish Brooklyn Dim Sum 2017
posted January 10, 2017 6:57 PM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sat February 4 at 11:00 AM, Pacificana
813 55th St, Brooklyn, NY, USA (Map & Directions)
January is here, so, ferret branca and I want to have dim sum with mefites again, at delicious Pacificana in Brooklyn. The more the merrier (and the smaller the final tab, usually), who's in? (previously) (moved to February so as not to coincide with Chinese New Year's Day)
For anyone who's never been to Pacificana, wait time varies (20 minutes? an hour?) - we gather inside the lobby of the restaurant, give our name to the hostess once we have a confirmed number of people arrived or confirmed to be on their way and due shortly, then throw ourselves on the mercy of fate. The bill usually works out to somewhere around $20 per person.
posted by oh yeah! to Meetup (34 comments total)

Maybe even less than $20! Plus blue and purple dessert buns! Plus great January mefite company! What's not to like! Exclamation points!
posted by ferret branca at 7:27 PM on January 10, 2017 [2 favorites]


Happy birthday! I can't make this but for anyone on the fence, Pacificana is the best. Well worth the $20ish
posted by TravellingCari at 12:20 PM on January 11, 2017


Ooooh!! I just moved here and would love to come! But, that's Chinese New Year - do you think it will be insanely crowded?
posted by umwhat at 4:40 PM on January 11, 2017


It's true! That's Chinese New Year's Day. I would assume it will be hella busy, but I don't know the neighborhood well enough to be sure.

I'd love to go, but I have another engagement that won't let out until 11:30 in Manhattan. But happy birthday anyway!
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:02 PM on January 11, 2017


Oh no, maybe we should reschedule, oh yeah!? I'd be fine with whenever.

If so hope you can come, blnkfrnk!
posted by ferret branca at 5:38 PM on January 11, 2017


Oh no, maybe we should reschedule, oh yeah!? I'd be fine with whenever.

Yeah, I think we'd better. Doesn't seem like we can keep it in January, since 1/21 is probably going to be a rough day for people - either going to post-innauguration protests or staying home in despair - but I'm ok with it being a more belated February 4th, if you are.
posted by oh yeah! at 5:57 PM on January 11, 2017


Yes!
posted by ferret branca at 9:40 PM on January 11, 2017


Ok, event revised!
posted by oh yeah! at 5:22 AM on January 12, 2017 [1 favorite]


Ok, event revised!

Selfishly happy, I may be able to join on 2/4
posted by TravellingCari at 7:03 AM on January 12, 2017


Ooh, Feb 4 might work out for me, and I'd love to meet some fellow Mefites! ^_^ Around what time are you thinking?
posted by skyfarer at 6:21 PM on January 12, 2017


Around what time are you thinking?

The goal is for everyone to be at Pacificana by 11am - and if you're running late or aren't sure how long you'll get stuck in a transit dead-zone to post an "on my way" comment to the thread so we have the head count to give to the hostess to put us on the list to be seated. As far as when we actually start eating, that's in the lap of the gods. Could take anywhere from 30-60 minutes of waiting judging by previous years, just depends on how crowded the restaurant is that morning.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:48 PM on January 12, 2017


Ah, well! I'm working the 4th. But please take pictures!
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:55 PM on January 12, 2017


Anyone know how tricky this is for a vegetarian? Assume I'm not going to worry about the fact that there may be animal products involved in the preparation that we don't know about.
posted by hoyland at 4:37 AM on January 13, 2017


Anyone know how tricky this is for a vegetarian? Assume I'm not going to worry about the fact that there may be animal products involved in the preparation that we don't know about.

Since you're OK with knowing there will be some in prep you can't avoid, you'll be fine. Meats and other similar animal products are easy to identify and avoid. I've always seen enough veg products making rounds to have it be worth whatever share is.
posted by TravellingCari at 6:52 AM on January 13, 2017


There are definitely more meat options than vegetarian, so it may be a longer wait between rolly-carts, but they're there - congee rice pudding, taro cakes, dumplings/buns with bean paste, vegetable shu mai, greens (pea shoot or baby bok choy or something) sautéed in garlic, the sesame dessert buns, etc.
posted by oh yeah! at 8:29 AM on January 13, 2017


Hi hoyland! I can't specifically remember too much in the way of vegetarian options so I think it might not be great. Others might have a better memory though. I know they have greens, which are tasty, and I believe some dumplings and of course dessert but I think a lot of the items have meat. They do have a non-dim sum menu with veggie options but I know that might take away the fun.

(I LOVE Buddha Bodai for all-vegetarian dim sum, as I always tell Mefi. I would have a meetup there sometime if there's interest. It's not a dim sum *experience* like Pacificana though; you order from menus not carts and it's not huge.)
posted by ferret branca at 9:05 AM on January 13, 2017


(D'oh, not sure how I missed the earlier, more helpful comments.)
posted by ferret branca at 9:32 AM on January 13, 2017


I'm moving in to my new apartment on the 1st so I think I'm getting furniture delivered (hopefully?) the 4th. But I'll update sooner to the date if I can come - sounds like fun!
posted by umwhat at 10:36 AM on January 14, 2017


I'm really more of a lurker but have been wanting to meet all of you. I'm on call that Saturday but if I end up not working, could I get in touch with someone the night before? :)
posted by theappleonatree at 3:44 PM on January 17, 2017


could I get in touch with someone the night before? :)

Absolutely! And if you're not sure until that morning it's fine too, that's when we need to get the head count truly confirmed (the max # of people who can fit at one table at Pacificana is around 10, and with small groups the restaurant may seat two different groups at the same table, so there might not be room for someone arriving late & unexpected if we only end up with 5-ish mefites. Also the bill can creep up if we don't all start eating at once, since late-starters may cause the early-goers to get a second wind).
posted by oh yeah! at 4:30 PM on January 17, 2017


Having been to Pacificana a few times, I just want to recommend that everyone get there by 11:00, and before if possible. The place fills up and they might make us wait if we don't have our full complement.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 6:53 PM on January 23, 2017


I'm new in town. Looking forward to Dim Sum! See you there
posted by vert canard at 7:09 AM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]


Oh this looks awesome, though I am a little afraid of the gluten situation, food-wise. Lemme see if I can figure something out.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:43 PM on January 30, 2017


Couldn't make it after all. :( I hope I could make it to the next one.
posted by theappleonatree at 6:15 PM on February 2, 2017


Ok, so, the headcount as of tonight:

*In-thread and/or checkbox Yes = 5: me, ferret branca (+1), The Pluto Gangsta, vert canard
*In-thread comment maybe = 4: umwhat, skyfarer, hoyland, TravellingCari
*Checkbox-only maybe = 10: andoatnp, SpaceWarp13 (+1), 1970s Antihero, SansPoint, Wretch729, Hactar, unknowncommand, thegreatfleecircus, Mavri
posted by oh yeah! at 6:40 PM on February 2, 2017


I don't think I'll be able to make it. Happy birthdays!
posted by TravellingCari at 7:33 AM on February 3, 2017


Bah, the furniture guys could only come at noon tomorrow, and I can't handle another day of sleeping on an air mattress. I'm bummed I'm going to miss it! Hope to meet some NYC mefites soon! Happy belated to you both!
posted by umwhat at 5:08 PM on February 3, 2017


Sorry to everyone who can't make it this time!

I'm gassing up my car now, will be back on the road shortly, will update the thread when I make it to the lobby.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:28 AM on February 4, 2017


I hit far less traffic than I expected, made it here already. Plenty of empty tables inside, and nobody waiting in the lobby yet, fingers crossed it stays that way until 11.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:13 AM on February 4, 2017


I'm a no. Spending my socialising resources for the day on a demo later.
posted by hoyland at 7:18 AM on February 4, 2017


I'm on my way. Will probably be about 15 minutes late.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 7:30 AM on February 4, 2017


Pluto Gangsta, we went ahead and got seated, we're all the way in the back
posted by oh yeah! at 8:16 AM on February 4, 2017


I'm embarrassed, but I took meds last night and I just woke up this moment. Looks like I have to cancel.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 8:17 AM on February 4, 2017


Sorry you couldn't make it, Pluto.

For reference in guesstimating the tab in future dim sum excursions - the bill came to only $63 plus tip, working out to $15 each between the five of us.
posted by oh yeah! at 10:26 AM on February 4, 2017



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