Ginger Tree

At first glance, it's obvious that Ginger Tree serves authentic dim sum: the clientele is largely native Chinese. Dim sum, the name for traditional Chinese brunch, is a popular weekend draw in Chinatown, where restaurants can charge up to $20 per person. Usually dim sum is served by waiters who wheel around carts of various steamed and fried foods. But in Brookline, Ginger Tree does things a bit differently, offering instead an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $7.95 per person, tea included. Odds are you won't be able to identify the food (unless you're skilled at identifying Chinese food), but don't be timid. Among the best items: sweet-and-sour pork, Peking ravioli, and dessert pastries. The carts pushed around the aisles here contain steamed shrimp or beef dumplings. A wide variety of beverages is available, but if you've ever wondered what flowers taste like, try the chrysanthemum tea.

Ginger Tree, located at 1366 Beacon Street, in Brookline, serves dim sum Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Expect a short wait in the afternoon. Call 277-6869.

-- Theresa Regli