"Mu Lan is the answer to all of your group dining anxieties. Big round tables draped in white tablecloths and crowded with plates from family-style feasts dot the always-bustling dining room. There are even a few cordoned off private rooms, free to reserve if you plan ahead. Start with West Lake soup, a savory and warming broth thickened with egg, and flaky scallion pancakes with sliced beef. Look for house specials marked on the menu, like the braised pork shin in brown sauce, which is silky, savory, and has so much collagen you can feel your nails and hair improving with every bite. To counteract the meat-heavy dishes, try the stir-fried pea pod stems or water spinach, and if you’re looking to splurge (and aren’t afraid to get your fingers dirty wrestling cleavered crustaceans from the shell) indulge in the scallion ginger twin-lobster special. photo credit: Joe St. Pierre photo credit: Joe St. Pierre photo credit: Joe St. Pierre photo credit: Joe St. Pierre" - Catherine Smart
