There are so many new bars and restaurants opening up in Beijing every month that sometimes even we find it difficult to keep up. Need a refresher? Here's a roundup of all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our June 2017 issue (out now).
Atta BJ
Expect to see everyone from A-listers to Z-listers in this trendy new Italian restaurant in China World Mall. Sadly, the food isn’t quite as A-List is its clientele, but the tasty, shareable pizzas are a good bet. Unfortunately, the amazing view of the CCTV Headquarters appears to be mostly for people renting the VIP room. But you’re a VIP, right?
See a listing for Atta BJ and read more Mifan/Mafan restaurant reviews
Antlers
Opening a restaurant on Fangjia Hutong right now is really unfortunate timing. But Antlers is pushing on, despite changes to its hip concrete facade. The casual hangout spot serves Taiwan-style gua bao in four varieties – lamb, beef, pork and curried tofu (RMB58 for three) – plus cocktails and a fridge full of ciders and beers, conveniently arranged by price.
See a listing for Antlers and read more Mifan/Mafan restaurant reviews
Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
Owner Wolfgang Zwiener is known as New York’s mustachioed meat master, a man who rose from migrant waiter to proprietor of one of Park Avenue’s hottest restaurants. The Beijing branch of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse brings American-style cuts to the capital. These cuts aren’t for the light-hearted. There are no thin slivers of boeuf with a red wine jus. Wolfgang’s specializes in great hunks of American-style steak, dry-aged on site and grilled to leave its exterior in crispy contrast to its marbled center. The signature porterhouse (RMB600 per person) is a beast of a cut that arrives juice-laden and sizzling. Other offerings include soups, salads, seafood and chops.
See a listing for Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and read our full review here
F Bistronome
Found on the China World Mall's seventh floor, this is an impressive new offering from the team behind Maison Flo and Café Flo. On the casual-to-fine-dining scale, F Bistronome sits somewhere between its predecessors – sophisticated enough to dress up for, laidback enough to forgive you if you don’t. The restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows overlook one of Beijing’s most intensely urban scenes, but it does so in a distinctly Parisian manner. The cuisine strikes a similarly pleasing balance. You can, of course, indulge in the oysters (from RMB118 for three). But this place is more about hearty, unpretentious, home-style cooking, from the divine gratin dauphinois (RMB38) to the perfectly puffed soufflé (RMB78). From under RMB300 a head, the lunch and dinner sets sum up what F Bistronome does best – small plates to share followed by fish, steak and classic desserts.
See a listing for F Bistronome and read our full review here
Ron Mexico
Ron Mexico never fails to surprise us. But even we were surprised when Ron Mexico co-founder Adam Gottschalk asked us to review his bar’s new location as a restaurant. What started as a tiny bar with a wince-worthy name (we’ve explained it in past reviews; give it a Google if you must know) has now transformed into a Beijing institution. But can it now transform into a restaurant? While Ron Mexico is no more Mexican than the eponymous Ron is, fake Mexican food is a time-honored American tradition. And in true American fashion, Ron Mexico serves up buffalo chicken atop a pile of cheesy tortilla chips. And yet, there are culinary surprises here: Sichuan chicken tacos (RMB70 for three), pulled pork tacos and jerk chicken burritos (RMB70). It’s not the most authentic Mexican food, but it doesn’t have to be. The most important thing about these ‘rittos is that they’re there for you.
See a listing for Ron Mexico and read our full review here
Silence Coffee
At Silence Coffee, six people are talking all at once. And yet, you could hear a pin drop. In a city where cafes blast terrible acoustic covers of pop songs, the hush is welcome. But the reason why it’s quiet is what makes it special: The space is run by a deaf couple, and serves as an unofficial gathering place for the hearing-impaired. There are posters on Silence Coffee’s walls, which teach patrons basic signed greetings, as well as coffee terms. (There’s also a picture menu, if the prospect of learning a new language just to order intimidates you.) The space is visually calming, a whitewashed cube with exposed wooden beams, the red coffee mugs serving as occasional pops of color. The menu is simple, consisting of ristrettos, americanos and single-origin brews. The drinks aren't as finely executed as those of nearby third-wave cafes, such as BigSmall and Barista. But the drinks are solid and carefully crafted.
See a listing for Silence Coffee and read our full review here
Nyonya Kitchen
If you’ve already dined at former Nyonya Kitchen locations, you're in for a treat with this new branch. What is different is the restaurant’s slick design and setup in the new China World Mall, as well as a selection of fresh items on the menu, like light and flavorful salads and freshly pressed juices. That said, don’t worry: Favorites like satay skewers, beef rendang and laksa all remain on the menu. The Nyonya-style vegetable cups (RMB28 for six) – crunchy pastry cups filled with carrots, fried onion and peanuts – are a surprise hit, while the red chicken curry (RMB58) also stands out. And we love the teh tarik (RMB22) – a sweet and earthy milk tea poured traditionally at our table for educational purposes.
See a listing for Nyonya Kitchen and read our full review here
Amazing Thai
Beijing has enjoyed a wave of new Southeast Asian options in the past year, and Amazing Thai is just as welcome. The bright, airy restaurant serves a focused selection of Thai favorites at lunchtime prices. And, unlike its competitors, this place offers larb (from RMB42), a delicious fragrant ground-meat salad. The massaman curry (RMB68) lacks punch, and there’s far too much lemongrass in the tom yum soup. But this new Gongti joint largely achieves the delicate balance required of Thai cooking. So, all in all, Amazing Thai isn’t just amazing. It’s actually significantly better than that. In fact, Amazing Thai is thoroughly [insert more imaginative adjective].
See a listing for Amazing Thai and read our full review here
Cafe de Paris
While a basement mall cafe isn’t exactly what comes to mind at the thought of France’s capital, Cafe de Paris is a pleasant spot, ideal for a casual date or meeting. Offering bread, cakes, sandwiches and coffee made with quality imported ingredients, the cafe specializes in both healthy grains and Swiss chocolate-flavored breads. But, as in the original Wudaokou location, Cafe de Paris’ pièce de résistance is a gigantic cup of fresh fruit – great for sharing.
See a listing for Cafe de Paris and read more Mifan/Mafan restaurant reviews
Mian’r Noodle Bar
Where there once stood a dark, greasy noodle joint on Chunxiu Lu, there now stands a bright, smartly decorated one. Focusing on Shaanxi-style noodles, the bowls here are generously sized and reasonably priced (all main dishes cost between RMB16 and RMB25, save for the pricier signature soup noodles). Mian’r is an excellent alternative for those who used to lunch on the recently sanitized Xingfucun Zhonglu.
See a listing for Mian’r Noodle Bar and read more Mifan/Mafan restaurant reviews
Good Bait
Good Bait is putting on a huge calendar of live jazz shows, and its menu has 90 (!!!) original cocktails. This is a book-length cocktail menu, with chapters devoted to different base spirits. It’s filled with photos of jazz musicians and inspirational quotes about music. And if there’s a man in this city skilled enough to master an army of cocktail recipes, it’s Good Bait’s barman Travis Yuan. For years, he has been the mixologist king of the hutongs at Daily Routine on Wudaoying. Cocktails go for around RMB100.
See a listing for Good Bait and read more Mifan/Mafan restaurant reviews
0 User Comments