In Nibbles, a weekly series, we serve up a run down of the best dining deals, food & drink events and restaurant/bar openings and closings.
Openings/Closings
The coming year, that of the sheep, doesn’t have the best reputation. In fact, being born in that year rarely bodes well for success – especially for bars and restaurants. It’s a competitive world out there, you need all the auspiciousness you can get. And if that means a frantic rush to start business before the clocks strike sheep, so be it. Hence this glut of recent openings from January, which can still consider themselves a dependable horse.
First, local dumpling magnate Mr. Shi – the Colonel Sanders of China, as we refer to him – has transformed his floundering year-old beer and cocktail bar into Mr. Shi’s Noodles. Good move, Shi, stick with what you know. Further down Baochao Hutong, Serbia Burger has just opened, which, as it is indeed a Serbian burger joint, in a country where we don’t imagine demand for Serbian burgers is high or indeed even exists, certainly has the odds stacked against it. Good luck. Also in Gulou, Rager Pies, quite simply the most badass baked goods renminbi can buy, has opened a store in Fensiting Hutong.
Good news going into the new year for lovers of ale that is crafted: Charcoal, from the team behind Arrow Factory beer, is now serving brews up in Shunyi. Lark has also opened a new pub next to Beixinqiao station, while NBeer has finally given us a reason to go to Sanlitun SOHO, with a gleaming new brewpub there.
Kro’s Nest is opening new stores all over Beijing, most recently in Winterless Mall, Dawang Lu, while in Sanlitun, hidden behind Lady Bar Street, is a new pizzeria called Bottega. On Xingfucun Zhonglu, Zui Yakitori has taken the place of Patois – the fourth establishment to take that cursed spot in a year. Both branches of The Rug are closed for Chinese New Year week (Feb 14-25), while Allday’s Café has closed permanently – it shut down in January. Two Guys and a Pie has been successfully resurrected, albeit in spectral online form, for their pie delivery service at twoguysandapie.com.
We visited the new Great Leap Brewing #45 pub just yesterday for the very first time and have only just recovered from all the Honey Ma we drank in celebration of the new digs. What’s the deal with Great Leap #45? It’s the same style as Xinzhong Jie #12, with all the beers you know and love, but the one word on everyone's lips, everyone's plates and dribbling down their chins is: "pizza." Today the That's Beijing staff have a definite case of cheese on the brain.
Behold:
They're a triumph: burly, have a delicious base, are loaded with toppings, and – crucially – go great with beer.
Tonight is the last night of sampling dinners at GLB #45 Brewpub (which is at 45 Xinyuan Jie, 新源街45号) and there's still time to make your reservation. RMB150 gets you three beers and a bunch of food. Walk-ins accepted, but the set menu is only good for groups of 4-8 with a reservation. Starting Friday, hours will be 5-11:30pm, closed Mondays.
Superbowl
If the word ‘Superbowl’ instigates a surge of nostalgia and homesickness, then finding a suitable location to enjoy American football’s biggest game will be a pressing concern. Sure it’s never going to be quite the same here in China, and those Bud Lights don’t slip down quite so well at 5am, but these places do a pretty good job of hosting on game day:
With its hearty American food, a range of beers (if you’re so inclined in the morning), high-definition screens and surround sound, Tim’s Texas Bar-B-Q is as close as it gets in our fair city. The game kicks off at 7.30am and Tim will be offering an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet (RMB50) until 9am with Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers available for RMB25 all day. (If you’re not into American football, be sure to drop this month for a new lunch menu featuring fresh sandwiches, salads, soups and smaller discounted portions of the regular menu items. Free delivery is also now available for customers within 1km of the restaurant.) Open from 5.30am; breakfast from 6.30am.
Home Plate BBQ are hosting a ticketed Superbowl party. RMB300 (RMB275 presale) gets you a hell of a lot of booze and plenty of food – check the details below:
Great Leap Brewing are also opening early for superbowl at their #12 Xinzhong Jie branch, check the info here.
Open Door – Revisited
Horizons, The Kerry Hotel Beijing
Chef Yuan Chaoying has spent over 30 years refining his signature Peking duck and you can immediately tell. Roasted over jujube wood, the dish (RMB208/bird) boasts wonderful crispy skin and flavorsome meat, all served with freshly made pancakes (RMB12/250g) and condiments (RMB6/set). Located on the first floor of Kerry Mall, The Horizon is truly one of the finest spots in the city to find this Beijing classic (in fact, they just won a 2014 Golden Fork award).
But while the duck is undoubtedly superb, be sure to expand your horizons – the restaurant is teeming with beautifully-presented contemporary Cantonese dishes. Our standout dish is the pan-fried diced beef tenderloin with black pepper (RMB288), and don’t only stick to the main menu as there is also a fabulous dim sum selection, from crispy prawn spring rolls and steamed dumplings to rice flour rolls and congee. All of these classics are very reasonably priced at RMB28 per serving.
> Horizons, (click here for listings information)
0 User Comments