Dumpling restaurant and Rachel's Mediterranean to open in Henrietta

Be still my beating heart: A restaurant dedicated to dumplings in arriving in Henrietta.

Signage is up for Dumpling House at the former Mighty Taco at 410 Jefferson Road. The website is also up at dumplinghouseroc.com. The website features a variety of dumplings, from the foodie favorite soup dumplings, or Xiao Long Bao that squirts a bit of broth when you bite into it, to potstickers (pan-fried dumplings).

Dumpling restaurants are a presence in major cities with large Asian populations. Taiwan-based Din Tai Fung is well-known in the U.S., Hong Kong, Japan and the United Kingdom. Dumplings are also a holiday favorite for Asian families, as making dumplings is a communal activity. 

In my youth in Taiwan, we'd visit restaurants dedicated to dumplings of many different varieties. When I inquired about the possibility of such a concept in Rochester with the owners of the former Shanghai restaurant, they noted that Americans tend to think of dumplings as an appetizer. In Chinese households, dumplings are eaten as a meal. Consider ravioli and pierogies.

Tsingtao's new menu

Nearby the soon-to-open Dumpling House, Tsingtao House at 2831 West Henrietta Road in Brighton is under new ownership. Wei Chen, who was formerly chef at Dragon Palace at the Marketplace Mall and the former Shanghai Restaurant and Party House in Henrietta, recently purchased the restaurant. There are several menu changes. Gone are the varieties of dumplings and homemade noodles that are a northern Chinese specialty.

Chef Chen is Cantonese and is introducing his own flair to the revamped menu. There's a focus on Sichuan cuisine of the southwest region of China as well as clay pots. Dining with my vegetarian daughter, we tried the tofu hot pot stewed with lotus root, cauliflower and scallions. It was enough for two — a bargain at only $12. We nibbled on scallion pancakes as a snack. 

The restaurant now features Chinese American dishes such as kung pao chicken and chicken with broccoli. Authentic home-style dishes are also available, including the savory beef brisket noodle soup and shrimp wonton soup.

New Rachel's at old Qdoba

Rachel's Mediterranean is set to open at the former Qdoba at 300 Hylan Drive in Henrietta. The family-operated business has several locations in the Buffalo area and is also planning a restaurant at the former Starbucks at 5 State St. in Pittsford.

The restaurant concept offers healthy Mediterranean foods, in wrap form and bowls. Some of the offerings include a romaine salad bowl using chopped, locally sourced lettuce with a side of Greek dressing and a grilled pita. There are also white rice bowls and brown rice bowls.

In the same plaza at 300 Hylan Drive, craft store A.C. Moore will close by Dec. 15 as part of its nationwide chain closing.

Another Henrietta closing to report: Itacate Express inside the gas station at Mobil at 1477 Jefferson Road is now closed. 

Bargain of the week

Do you love an artful bargain? RIT’s College of Art and Design has brought back its traditional holiday sale after many years. Artful gifts made by RIT students will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, in the Student Alumni Union, 92 Lomb Memorial Drive.

The sale will feature a wide variety of items, including glass paperweights, jewelry, scarves, laser-cut ornaments, photo prints, lamps, glassware and old editions of Draft magazine, an annual student-run publication that features the work of students from RIT’s School of Photographic Arts and Sciences.

In years past, I've been able to pick up art jewelry made by student artists that are one-of-a-kind at reasonable prices. I've also picked up glass ornaments and pottery.

Happy shopping.

Mary Chao is the retail and real estate reporter at Democrat and Chronicle. Email tips to mchao@Gannett.com.