Pearl Dragon

05/19/08

MARGINAL OVERPRICED SUSHI

by oceanman at Citysearch

If you are a sushi connoissieur , this restaurant definitely fits your budget , if not your taste. Designed for rich Palisadeans who do not want to drive to Santa Monica or Malibu , the portions are small and the quality is so-so. The service is avarage and the wait can be longer than they will promise you. The atmosphere is superb though with lots of blonde babes and handsome guys.

• Pros: Local light food in Palisades
• Cons: Quality , portions, service

11/01/07

Not very good.

by mmc1 at Citysearch

Don't waste your time waiting in line for the sushi bar or the tables. The restaruant is understaffed and overpriced for what it is. It is more like a sushi bar club wanna be. The meat dishes are often overcooked or drowning in teriyaki sauce. The tables and kitchen do not appear that clean and the sushi bar is too small. The management is never there, even on busy weekends. Want good sushi? For these prices, head to Malibu to Nobu or Beverly Hills to Masahitsu

• Pros: none
• Cons: Long wait, lousy service marginal food.

03/24/07

Their food is fabulous & the prices are so reasonable it is shocking!!!

by pam3heart at Citysearch

My hubby & I live in Valencia and we happily drive there; it's that good!!! The ribs and the ribeye are so incredible; better than any fine steakhouse. The garlic sushi rolls are to die for! The cantaloups martini was like drinking from a vodka-filled cantaloupe- so perfect! The dining area is small and can get a little loud occasionaly (thanks to parents who seem oblivious to their obnoxious children) but it's totally worth eating there!

01/15/07

Avoid- Leave the Palisades and get some half-decent sushi somewhere else.

by freakybeat at Citysearch

I guess because Pearl Dragon is the only Japanese place in town, and one of the only places with a liquor license, it can afford to serve over-priced, poorly made sushi in a loud, classless, pseudo-hip atmosphere. That about sums it up. The sushi is too expensive for how average it is. Perhaps worst about it is the obnoxious atmosphere filled with the worst kind the Palisades has to offer: the nouveau riche who think the food is something special and don't even have the sense to waste their money on good food, 40-something mom's who wear the same tight clothes as their 8 year old daughters, whom the clothing is equally inappropriate on.... if you live in the Palisades (and you'd have ZERO reason to go to this restaurant besides local convenience), then you already know what I'm talking about. I went once, and it was a major disappointment; it's a crying shame that the House of Lee, the quintessential restaurant of the old Palisades, was replaced with this soulless monstrosity! Come only if you're too lazy to leave the Palisades and need a stiff drink.

• Pros: It's local, and they have a liquor license.
• Cons: Go across the street to Ralphs, buy a bottle of scotch and a $6 sushi platter. It's the same thing, but cheaper and with a better atmosphere.

Asian fusion eatery with Hollywood glamour and a neighborhood vibe.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
The proprietors of Santa Monica's sexy martini lounge, Voda, have transformed this old haunt with potted bamboo, muted lanterns and gleaming wood tables to create an elegant informality for the laid-back, well-heeled crowd. Lobster dishes such as the Thai lobster salad or the Dynamite are the draw. Raw fish fans indulge in Santa Barbara sea urchin and monkfish liver sashimi.

08/27/06

Overpriced pseudo-asian food, poor/rude service.

by la_reviewer at Citysearch

Basically, the food is similar to Chin Chin's but at 2-3X the price.

***Save your money and eat in Santa Monica.

Some may say it's the best in the Palisades, but that isn't saying much since there is only one other asian-restaurant in Pacific Palisades.

I've eaten here a few times and ordered take-out, and the food is consistently over-seasoned/salty.

The delivery is an even worse experience - taking 2 hours to deliver food 4.5 miles...

and the delivery-guy had the gaul to ask for a tip! Ridiculous.

Also, we were overcharged for each dish (when compared to the most current take-out menu). I'm still perplexed about this...

The only reason why this overpriced places exists, is b/c there is only one other asian-restaurant in the Palisades, and they know the residents are high-income.

Inside, the ambiance is nothing special.

It's clean, but loud and usually full of families with children.

There is a bar, but it only has a handful of seats.

In short, the Pearl Dragon is Chin Chin's at twice the cost. A real shame.

If you want to take guests somewhere, drive a few miles to Santa Monica where the choices are abundant and much more authentic.

• Pros: local for Pacific Palisades residents
• Cons: overpriced and over-seasoned

05/31/06

Great Place To Eat!

by megajusto at Citysearch

The place is attractive to the eye, clean as a whistle, and romantically lit with candles on the tables. The food is nothing short of spectatcular, and it seems to be the only place in the Palisades with a liquor license. I had absolutely no complaints whatsoever on the service, food, drinks, or price. Even kids are ok there, as there were a few families. They seem to know how to seat as well, because they put the couples in a separate area where the children would not be a bother. Simply marvelous. Kudos to the Pearl Dragon ownership.

• Pros: food, very friendly service, good parking.
• Cons: wait times, n/a, n/a

05/23/05

Kick Ass Sushi!

by inahuff at Citysearch

This place is awesome! It is my neighborhood sushi place and the local bar. The ambiance is sexy, the servers are all hot and the food is fantastic. For a sweet drink try The Pearl, a fruity martini served with an orchid. Makes you feel like you are on vacation. And for dessert, try the chocolate lava cake. Sometimes on saturday nights they have a live band or DJ. Everything about the dragon is QUALITY!

• Pros: food, ambiance, waitstaff
• Cons: none

03/16/05

Happy Bhudda!

by bigdaddyzack at Citysearch

Since they lost their chief Sushi chef - the place has gone downhill. Nice decor, average food.

• Cons: Limited Parking

07/30/04

yum!

by redstarr at Citysearch

After being a vegetarian for 10 years, I have recently entered the fabulous world of sushi. I have been very lucky to be exposed to only very fine sushi and I love it. I have to say that after being to all of these wonderful sushi places (including Nobu..which I love), m most favorite experience as been Pearl Dragon. It is my understanding that some of the sushi chefs from the much-missed Something's Fishy are now at this fine establishment. After letting the faublous sushi chef Ricco serve us his sushi picks at random, I was left wanting more. I can't wait to return. Fabulous, creative food...freindly service. A must.

• Pros: wonderful food, friendly service, creative