China Pearl Restaurant

09/21/2008 Posted by JillyMink

Dim Sum is one of my favorite ethnic options and I have been really curious to try China Pearl after having read so many positive reviews. I appreciated the friendliness and efficiency of the staff, the paramilitary way in which tables are seated and the distinctive Chinatown ambiance. However, the bottom line for me was that the food just wasn't that good. The dumpling wrappers were thick and over-cooked, the fillings themselves lackluster. I also found that there wasn't much variety in the choice of dumplings. Almost all were some sort of shrimp plus something option, just another generic assembalance of the same ingredients in different configurations. If this is truly the best Dim Sum option in Boston, I think I'll skip it and wait until I leave town.

Pros: Efficient service, cheap

Cons: Food isn't up to par

08/05/2008 Posted by tamdel

We had a wedding here of 100 people in the woburn ma location this past weeken(8/2/08) and everyone said to me that it was the best chiense food they ever had and every one went home full ( how many weddings you been to can say that ) ,, and the owner Brian was amazing from day one planning this ,,, they did everything we asked ,, and thety let me decated which ever way i wanted,,,,, and everything was a great price.... this place is great for lunch dinner or a event ,,, thanks again china pearl for a great night "" oh ya and the drinks ,, tell ya one thing no one went home sober lol

Pros: everthing

Cons: nothing

12/29/2006 Posted by b00pi3flak3s

The Dim Sum here is probably among the best in Boston for its fresh variety of delicious dishes. There is a considerable amount of stuff to choose from, however, its recommended that you get what you want quickly before someone else in the immense crowd snags it. The service has been incredibly friendly despite the busy weekends and have been more than accommodating for each occasion. The decor is quite nice, banquet-hall style but Saturday / Sunday afternoons are so crowded that people tend to share tables. The prices are consistent with most Dim Sum places and most importantly are not back breaking. Best recommended for the average Dim Sum foodie who can get here before the noon rush.

Pros: Dim Sum, Service, Prices

Cons: Crowded

08/05/2006 Posted by fantasian

After going to several different dim sum places in Boston, I've found that China Pearl is the best in terms of variety and consistency. For people both new and old to dim sum, it's a great place to try out a large selection of different foods. In particular, I have found that China Pearl has by far the largest selection of vegetarian options, with carts often containing meatless versions of the main staples. The servers in general speak some English, but when all else fails, pointing works too. The main downside is that China Pearl can get very crowded, especially weekend afternoons. Also, if you're seated in one of the wings, not all of the carts will come by, and not very frequently at that. If they put you off to the side, request a table near the center or the 2nd floor if it's busy enough to get all the carts.

Pros: Great variety with vegetarian options, servers speak some English

Cons: Crowded and noisy on weekends

11/08/2005 Posted by nlwing

China Pearl is a great place for dim sum compared to other places in the mini-Chinatown of Boston. It is in a huge two story building and offers many different standard dim sum dishes to please the palate. Going on the weekends is the best but it can also be the worst since that is when you have the most variety of food being offer but you have to wait in line. BUT that is the charm of dim summing: the crowd, the noise, and the ambience of sitting in a loud place while calmly sipping tea and chatting with your freinds

Pros: Great food, Authenticity

Cons: Crowded on weekends

08/17/2005 Posted by kfenol

This is the most consistent place for good dim sum in Chinatown. The service is actually a little better than it was before because the cart servers actually speak some English as opposed to none. The best bet to avoid large crowds is to avoid 11am - 1pm particularly on Sundays. (That's the traditional time for Dim Sum). There's a good spread of dishes to sample, and the price is reasonable.

Pros: Good Dim Sum, Authentic

Cons: No parking, Crowded peak hours

06/04/2005 Posted by haahaahaa98

I always wondered why China Pearl got the props it did; perhaps it's because there isn't anywhere else to eat dimsum in Boston? Nevertheless, the restaurant is a bit crowded, it looks like a mediocre restaurant, the dimsum temperature is a bit . . . mediocre . . the shrimp dumplings are slightly less than succulent . . . adding up to an experience that is . . . well, . . . mediocre.

Pros: Popular, Good for Crowds

Cons: No Parking

02/25/2005 Posted by theduke37

True dim sum atmosphere with an enormous selection and good quality and consistency. If you aren't a dim sum expert, this is the safest place to go because everything is good, whereas the other dim sum places are better in some areas and not as good in others. You need to get here early, or you are definitely going to wait.