Ate out last night and...

It was very average at best. There were four of us going out together for the very first. We wanted to go to a place that was not a franchise and not too foofy (aka) expensive and small portioned. So we all decided to head to Downtown Raleigh and check out The Duck & Dumpling. This is sort of an upscale eclectic Chinese restaurant in the heart of the city right across from Moores Park. I have eaten there for lunch in the past and really enjoyed the food and service. However this time was a bit different. The place wasn't that busy for a Friday night, maybe that was a sign. We all reviewed the menu and bounced entrees off each other trying to decide what to eat. I will say the menu is on the brave side paring pineapple with curry sauce and adding brussel sprouts to many of the dishes. But It really made the menu pop and gave all of us something to talk about. We had the impression based on the menu that we were in good hands and the Chef really knew his food, Soon to be our food floating around in glory inside our respected bellies. That was not the case at all. We were all looking forward to the dumplings hence The Duck and Dumpling name. BTW there are numerous duck options on the menu as well. Anyway back to the dump-lings, on a scale of 1-10 they were rated a 5 at best. After seeing Bobby Flay on the Food Networks Throwndown show creating fresh made dumplings that look like works of food art with perfect carmelization and perfect dumpling formation. I was really watering at the mouth before they came out. Then bam! there they were screaming let down. I was deflated by the odd hand formed ob longish, squarish shape they had and they were not all shaped equal either. But there was always the taste right? that is what really counts. And counting numbers on a scale of 1-10, I give the taste a 4 very bland boring taste. Now I had these at lunch a few times before and they were quit tasty so it may have been a bad night in the kitchen. We also tried the spring rolls we received two very small and narrow shaped rolls a top two small bundles of lettuce with dipping sauce on the side. Once again these were not very tasty I thought the dumplings were better and that is not saying much. As for the entrees they all looked picture perfect I mean really sexy glistening edible art work straight out of Bon appetit magazine. But they do say don't judge a book by its cover, very true in deed. To keep it short and sweet the entrees where very bland and tasteless. I had the Noodles with summer seafood with a soy ginger glaze and vegetables. Sounds good enough but the portion was small and the sauce really tasted like a watered down teriyaki sauce. It had shrimp and scallops in the dish that were steamed. They should have been pan seared scallops and grilled shrimp to really bring out some flavors. I love Asian noodles but these were fried and served as a bed for the rest of the dish. I was really looking forward to atleast enjoying some noodles as all else had failed me. Eating semi fried noodles with chop sticks doesn't work so well. I had to convert to using a fork and knife to eat them only to realize they were not worthy to rumble in my tumbly. This dinner was very expensive for two of us with only one drink between us the cost was over $90 bucks. best bet for the Duck & Dumpling in Raleigh, N.C. is the lunch fare or go there at night for the drinks & the sites and sounds of Down Town.