East Pearl

East Pearl Restaurant Review:

Plan to arrive at East Pearl early on Sundays because the dim sum crowd lines up waiting patiently for a seat. Dim sum is available during the week, but the offerings are not as extensive as on weekends. The expected treats are the stars, from steamed barbecued pork buns, black-bean clams, steamed seafood dumplings and bite-size custard tarts. We also like some of the vegetable-stuffed dumplings and get a kick out of the jalapeño peppers stuffed with seafood and Chinese sausage. The style hews to Cantonese, and seafood is a focus. Several large tanks usually are brimming with potential material, including eel. The menu varies from the usual, such as the kung pao preparations, to the unusual, as in a cold dish of spicy salted duck's tongue and jelly fish head. A lengthy list of hot clay pot selections range from fish and seafood to stewed pork belly. Dim sum prices are reasonable, and lunch specials are quite cheap and attract a lot of the nearby office crowd during the week. There's a wine list, but you don't want to dwell on it.