But for quality Chinese cuisine they don't come much better.
The Chinese seafood restaurant, in Newport Road, Middlesbrough, has become a particular favourite for my girlfriend, Rachel, and me. It unfortunately suffers because of its location, which is a real shame.
If it was in the middle of Linthorpe Road there is no doubt that business would always be booming.
As it is, we arrived on a Saturday night to find just a small number of other diners enjoying its relaxed and comfortable surroundings.
We were shown to our table and, as usual, the extremely polite staff could not do enough for us.
It may only be a small restaurant but it could show some of the big hitters in the town a thing or two about customer service.
Looking through the lavish and extensive menu, we struggled to make up our minds.
It contained everything from exquisite sounding seafood dishes and house specials to the more usual black bean and sweet and sour courses.
Keen to sample as much of the food as possible, we opted for one of the set banquets at £25 per head.
First we were treated to a delicious bowl of chicken and sweetcorn soup, which contained a generous helping of chicken breast.
Next came a selection of spare ribs, cooked in a fruity hot sauce and served with side salad and garnish.
By this point the red wine was slipping down like water and the staff were more than happy to keep the supply flowing.
The next course was crispy aromatic duck, served with an array of lightly heated pancakes and accompanied with hoisin sauce and a selection of salad.
We always comment that the duck at the Dragon's Pearl is the best around and this time was no different.
Having managed three delicious courses we opted for a slight break before our main meals arrived.
After another glass of wine and some friendly banter with the staff, we were served with two exquisite-looking dishes.
Rachel had lobster with ginger and spring onion. It was topped with roasted vegetables in a tangy-tasting seafood sauce.
I opted for sweet and sour chicken, which contained huge chunks of chicken breast, with mushrooms, carrots, peppers and onions.
Both meals were absolutely delicious and were accompanied by a generous helping of boiled rice.
Once again the Dragon's Pearl proved to be a fantastic meal out, made even better by the quality of service and friendly staff.