(Visited in October 2009)
I have known this place for so many years, but have never ventured into until recently as a person I know and who had eaten here has always told me that it wasn't good. I changed my mind, however, as more than one more trustworthy sources informed me that East Pearl is THE best Chinese restaurant in Athens-Piraeus.
It is on Akti Moutsopoulou, not far from the big Carrefour, if you are familiar with the topography of Piraeus. It has 'vagurly' a view to the sea (left), but I won't come here for the view. The interior is neat and clean, much less tacky than many of the Chinese restaurants in Athens.
Waiting staff includes both Chinese and Greek. I guess Greek, English and Chinese (although I don't know which Chinese) speakers are all welcome.
We visited in a Sunday afternoon and the restaurant also buffet, but we ordered dim sum dishes a la carte (if you are serious about Chinese food, I discourage you from Chinese buffet).
Deepfried cuttlefish balls with sweet fruity sauce (plum sauce?). Fine.
Prawn Cheung Fun. Not bad, but I have eatern better ones. I will pass Cheung Fun next time.
Xiao Mai. Very juicy and tasty. I would have these again.
I am a bit hazy about this one, except that it was fine. By looking it now, looks like a deepfried tofu-skin rolls braised in soy or oyster sauce, but I am not sure.
We ordered also a stir-fried vegetable dish from non-dim sum menu.
It was very good and made us feel that we SHOULD try full dinner, although it was pretty expensive for the presumed cost of its row materials.
We ordered also mango pudding. I have not seen it in this format. Again, tasty but expensive.
At the end of the meal we were offered a small glass of Chinese sweet wine and a fortune cookie.
The price was around 30 euros if I remember well. I would expect to pay €20-25 per person, if we order normal (i.e. non-dim sum) dishes.
I cannot tell if this is THE best Chinese in town, but surely it is one of the best in Athens and its suburbs.
And, if you are interested, the food served here is Cantonese.
East Pearl
44 Akti Moutsopoulou, Pireaus
Tel: 210. 4288 215
http://www.eastpearl.gr/
Go to Piraeus Restaurant Index
