Only Dim Sum place I've been to was in China Town in New York. My friend and I sat at round table with 4-5 Asian guys. All but one of them was in a group. The lone guy ate and didn't say anything, but the rest of them must have been deaf because they spent the whole time yelling at each other and laughing, as was everyone else in the crowded little place (all men). It was like eating in a room full of chainsaws. I don't remember the food - just the noise.

they are indeed great and everybody used to eat them - every ethnic group

only the French and the Chinese are smart enuff to keep eating them

I know the area that you're talking about. I didn't know or expect any of them to be considered that good by someone like you. Now I just need to know the names of a couple that are great so I can go to the right places.

i am "meh" with dim sum. i like it, just find it too rich. and my MIL orders the stuff like it is a competition.

my family is more traditional. in HongKong, no one really has a home large enough to entertain. so big group meals are dim sum. you sip tea, eat (call them chinese tapas) small plates and talk. my MIL will crush you under the food load..and nobody talks.

as far as ethnicity of the clientele? whatever..i live at ground zero of american diversity. i love seeing other groups dig into chinese food. makes me happy they are not eating chop suey, or egg foo young..both american inventions.

learning about a group of people..a great step is to eat their foods.

just a tip. never stab your chopsticks into a bowl of rice. bad manners. it symbolizes the two incense sticks chinese people stab into bowls of rice grains as a message to ancestors. and dont order coke with your dimsum..ok, you can, but it is weird. greasy food, cold drinks..weird.

If you're looking for authentic you can go to that panda place .....................

;)