On my last trip to Cambridge we all went to Liutaio. It’s a music café on Mill Road where you can buy classical and Baroque violins, violas and cellos and they also do repairs and restoration.
Live music performances are regularly hosted at the café and they offer a delicious menu of food.
We stopped by around lunch time to try out their Dim Sum menu. They start serving food at 11am and you can visit all through the day and into the evening (they lost at 11pm).
I think they offer something for everyone, they even have over 30 vegan options. I was pleased to hear that they use local produce and are always adding seasonal dishes to their menu.
Liutaio translates to ‘lute maker’ which in modern day terms is used to describe a stringed instrument maker. The decor gives a real feel of an ancient tea house, or what I presume one would have been like.
The staff are friendly and helpful so if you’re not sure what to pick just ask them for their tips.
The café has a very calm and relaxed atmosphere during the day and is a real treat to escape to for a spot of lunch.
I opted for fresh mint tea, always a sold choice. We then picked a selection of different plates to share between the 3 of us. As well as a wide selection of teas you can also opt for beer or wine – there really is something for everyone.
They offer both vegetable and pork buns. They’re both *so* good. The buns are soft and fluffy and there’s lots of filling inside. I wish I was eating these right now.
We went for the spring rolls which came with both a sweet and creamy dip. These are ideal for sharing and are perfectly crispy and fresh.
We also shared these tasty prawn dumplings. I’m not normally a fan of dumplings but these were fantastic and I can’t wait to have them when we visit again.
If you’re in Cambridge and looking for somewhere new for Dim Sum then give Liutaio a try. The food is lovely, the staff are friendly and the atmosphere is very calming. Let me know if you have the chance to visit when they have their live music.
Location: 224 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3NF