Here, a roundup of things we ate and gossiped about this month – for journalism, for research, for you, readers.
Drama. That’s the word that comes to mind this winter. Intrigue on Maizidian. Suspense in Sanlitun. Not only did Migas (Sanlitun) suddenly close forever (!), so too shuttered the doors of many other restaurants across our fair city.
Palms LA Kitchen & Bar announced the closure of its original Gulou location, so it’s official: Everyone’s evacuating the hutongs. By the end of 2018, all that will be left in Gulou will be a lone beer fridge and a handful of sad, confused English teachers. (Palms is keeping their Sanyuanqiao location open, though – so don’t freak out, kimchi burrito fans.)
Andingmen bar Ron Mexico is also set for the chopping block – or shall we say the blender? New ownership plans on mixing it up, and while we know little about the new management’s plans, we do know that the place will no longer go by an NFL player's sordid nickname (Google it).
It's been real, Ron Mexico
Why the big change? We’d venture a guess that it has to do with Adam Gottschalk, the bar’s former owner and personality, who has since decamped to Queenie’s – you know, that sandwich-shop-turned-bar on Yonghegong that’s never not crowded. Gottschalk has helped open the second Queenie’s (AKA QS) in Chaoyangmen (#reviewcomingsoon).
Queenie's
The good news is some restaurants cannot be killed. Punjabi, Beijing’s favorite Indian restaurant, and one of its longest running, announced its closure last month, when owner Giresh Padrurry decided he’d be leaving for India in 2018. Public outcry was swift, and new ownership and funding soon saved the restaurant from closure. The restaurant will live on (though sadly without Padrurry’s antics).
But where are things opening?! you ask. Weirdly, Wangfujing. Beijing’s very first Cheesecake Factory is almost open.
A sneak peek at Beijing's very first Cheesecake Factory.
Happy Spring Festival to us all.
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