Pearl Chinese Cuisine   

Susan Lew must love jewelry, because her award-winning Emerald Restaurant's younger sister store was named Pearl. As with Emerald, the fare is upscale Chinese, specializing in fabulous dim sum (served until 3PM daily) and seafood. Lew's specific goal with Pearl is to introduce guests to the contemporary face of China's ever-evolving cuisine, drawing away from most restaurants' reach for tradition. The menu reflects the current trends in the cuisine of the finest restaurants in the most cosmopolitan Chinese cities. You will find exciting, extravagant dishes containing shark fin and abalone, as well as items that require a little bravery from the Western palate, like pickled jellyfish or sizzling eel brochette. Items are served family-style, so order a varied assortment to include the most flavors. Pork steamed in brandy and clams steamed in spicy wine broth are sure recipes for a happy evening. There are plenty of familiar meals, including kung pao chicken, fried rice and orange beef, but the mastery of such dishes as pan-fried lamb chops and lobster baked with garlic demand a step out of your comfort zone. The airy dining room gazes tranquilly out over a duck-filled pond.