"Every once in a blue moon, my family and I will crave "Dim Sum". Dim Sum is a food style where small, bite-sized and/or individual portions of food are served in steaming baskets, plates, or tins. All food is ready-to-serve and 'ordered' when the waiter/waitress comes to your table and want to buy it.
At Grand House, Dim Sum is only served on the weekends 9:00am to 3:00PM. If you are interested in ordering off their main or sushi menu, these options are still available to you, so don't fret about options or feeling obliged to order off the carts and do Dim Sum.
The Dim Sum-Style Set-Up:
Upon first entering, a host will seat you like normal. They generally then ask if you want to do Dim Sum, and if you say yes, they will give you a piece of paper. This is important because each time a person with a cart or tray comes over to you to show their food, and you want to 'eat/order' it, they place it on your table and then stamp that piece of paper. This records and tallies up the cost of the food at the end, and you pay that total. But be forewarned, the paper does not have prices listed on it, only sizes (e.g. Sm, Med, L, XL, XXL, Special). If you need to know, please ask them. They are friendly staff and should be able to accommodate you.
The Food:
As is traditional of Chinese restaurants and Dim Sum-style opportunities, there are going to be A LOT of choices AND you will be asked if you want any off the cart or tray A LOT. This often times can make parties uncomfortable, but if you don't want any, just shake your head, politely say "No" and life moves on. Just be aware that they do push food out a lot and will be visiting your table frequently. Now, if the various Dim Sum dishes aren't too your liking, there's probably more food in the back. Ask the staff about this and they'll personally go into the kitchen and grab it for you.
The food that my family and I generally enjoy here are the Shrimp Balls, Shrimp and Leek Fried Rolls, Pork Congee/Rice Soup (with a little ginger), and Chicken Feet. The food is generally hot (if not steaming) and are decently seasoned. Each variation is nothing compared to the quality that you would get if you ordered each meal in any other authentic Chinese restaurant in Asian District, but in their defense, they are pushing several portions out and its a fraction of the cost outside of Grand House. Also, if you are a picky eater, I'm almost sure you'll be able to find something that you may want to try.
The Service:
Other than staff constantly asking if you want [this dish] or [that dish] during Dim Sum times, the staff are very accommodating and friendly! While I do agree with several other reviewers here that they don't speak the best of English, Grand House looks like they have been hiring new faces that speak English perfectly fine.
The Cost:
Dim Sum-style food can add up FAST. As stated earlier, the cost is not plastered on the piece of paper that tallies the price of your food, but dishes generally range from $3-6 each, depending on how large it is, rare, special, and etc. I find that a family of 4 that tries a lot of dishes can have a bill around $50-60 w/tax easily (which, while it sounds like a lot, is only a little more than ordering separate main entrees at Red Lobster or Olive Garden).
The Restaurant - Interior and Exterior:
The building is located on N. Classen Blvd and can be missed due to it being on a curve. However, just like food the building with a 'teal-tinged' copper-looking roof. The interior is very gorgeous - a mixture of heavy Asian influences and subcontemporary. The restaurant can seat a large amount of people - in fact, I saw a party of nearly 20 easily sit in one of the larger, grandeur rooms before. They also have a bakery inside (immediately to the left side when you come through the entrance) where you can order baked goods to go or cakes for special occasions.
I may be wrong, but I believe OKC only has 2 Chinese restaurants that serve Dim Sum - Grand House and Feng's Kitchen (down the street). Overall, if not for the price and for it being slightly less tasty than if you ordered these dishes (separately) at other restaurants, Grand House is pretty good.
I'd very much recommend this Dim Sum if you are wanting to try something different, nearly unique, and are craving for a "taste of everything"!"
Seared Tuna Tataki
