Just Open: Dumplings and Beer, Potts Point

Dumplings and Beer is a new restaurant in Potts Point specialising in – you guessed it – dumplings and beer.

"When we looked at registering a name we found that no one had taken the name 'Dumplings and Beer'," says co-owner Alex Ly. "We thought 'why don't we just use that one so people know exactly what we're selling?'."

Ly says the dumplings and beer concept came from his sister Rose, who wanted somewhere simple to have a meal and a beer without having to eat at one of the big Chinese restaurants.

Dumplings and Beer currently seats up to 25 people.

The menu focuses on northern Chinese-inspired dumplings, along with a mix of flavours from Shanghai and Beijing. Soup-filled xiao long bao pork-dumplings (four for $8) make an appearance as do crackling pork belly sliders (two for $8), roast duck steamed buns ($3 each), and gluten-free gow gees filled with prawn and chives (three for $5).

Dumplings and Beer is still waiting on a liquor license (the transfer process should be completed mid to late February) so for now it's more of "Dumplings and BYO Beer".

Once the restaurant can sell its own booze, the opportunity to BYO beer will cease but Ly promises to stock a wide array of local and imported craft brews when that time comes.

There is no charge for BYO beer while the restaurant is license-less but wine corkage is $5 a bottle.

Shop 2, 9 Ward Avenue, Potts Point, 9380 4744, Mon-Sun midday-10pm, dumplingsandbeer.com