So I told my friends I was coming back to visit them in Madison, but that's not exactly true.\n\nIt was really for the dumplings.\n\nAs a college SAFEwalker in the early oughts, little hole-in-the-wall Pel Meni served as my dinner often more than once per week.  $5 for a heaping plate of dumplings, sour cream, rye bread, and a soda was a ridiculous deal, and getting to spin records on the regs didn't hurt either.\n\nFast forward: shady business takeover::boycott::restaurant closes\n\nNearly a decade later, beloved original owner Paul reigns victorious. Re-opens cafe, and eventually re-opens right off State, now at Henry & Gorham.\n\nIs it a little more expensive now?  Sure.  But it's still $6.50 for over 50 dumplings, and $5 if you buy 'em frozen with all the fixin's, and it's open til 3am - genius.  I was so sad after my pel meni hajj when I finished savoring my final dumpling that I went ahead and bought a bonus frozen order to eat for breakfast the next day.\n\nHalf and half.  The works.  If you don't get em spicy you're doin it wrong.\n\nI've had pelmeni in NYC at Russian restaurants and bought them frozen from Russian groceries now here in my fair home of Boston, but they're always a disappointment by comparison.  Listen up Paul - if you ever open up shop/a food truck in Boston, I will dedicate my existence to ensuring your success.\n\nBest meal of 2013, hands down.  Nothing tastes better than nostalgia - especially when the product is even better than you remembered.\n\nI will be back - please please stay in business forever.  I cannot face a world without Paul's pel meni again.