Oh, what we do for craft beer. This month, the pursuit led us to a new branch of Lazy Beer in Fashion Tianhe Plaza – an endless underground maze of shopaholics, polyester stuffed animals and stinky tofu that feels more or less like the worst place on earth. Don’t believe us? Start at Tiyu Sports Center Metro Station, Exit D3, and try to find Lazy Beer. You’ll understand what we mean soon enough.
After a solid 15 minutes of aimless searching, we were about to give up on the premise that a bar in Fashion Tianhe is never worth reviewing, when the neon lettering ‘Lazy’ emerged in the distance. Approaching the entrance, we found ourselves in the sole company of a minion, who was also checking the place out. Perfect.
Sitting down in a far corner – so as not to be seen by anyone we knew (though chances of that happening were already quite slim) – we opened the menu and flipped hurriedly to the craft beer page. Three of four varieties were sold out, of course, so we opted for the only one available: wheat beer (RMB38). The waiter assured us that brown lager, Ayrshire dark and double IPA would be available the next day.
The beer arrived promptly, which reflected the service overall: fast and astute. Rich, foamy and subtly bitter, it was clearly a homemade brew. The delayed watery aftertaste, however, convinced us that a return trip would never be necessary.
The food was hilarious, in a word. Our mango salad (RMB38) was edible save for the chicken, which tasted like a dusty pantry. The ‘baby back ribs’ (RMB108), however – photographed smothered in sweet BBQ sauce on the menu – were prepared Hong Kong-diner-style. Strips of pink, fatty meat encircled a giant bone, their skins crispy and dry. A small bowl of clear, faintly sugary liquid was placed on the side of the platter – the ‘sweet sauce.’
We picked at the meat, idly devouring a side of fried potato wedges that tasted heavenly in comparison. At this point, more young patrons started to trickle in, taking turns at the pool table. No one seemed to be eating – a point we wished dianping.com had clued us in on.
In retrospect, the place wasn’t unbearable. The spacious interior would suit large parties seeking craft beer, foosball and darts. Just be sure to come full and be open-minded about the fellow minion clientele.
Price: RMB60
Who’s going: Young Chinese posses, obnoxious shoppers
Good for: Free access to pool, foosball and darts
> See listing for Lazy Beer.
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