New Guangzhou Restaurants: August 2016

By That's PRD, August 15, 2016

Here are all the new restaurant openings we featured in our August 2016 issue:

Aroma Bistro

Few restaurants in Guangzhou have mastered the elite and homely atmosphere as well as Aroma Bistro. With a low-lit interior comprised of angled and lacquered plywood panels, Aroma feels welcoming from the get-go, setting a mood that is, well, very bistro-like. Menu highlights include the seafood chowder (RMB42), roasted flounder fillet (RMB88) and the wagyu beef short rib (RMB198). For those inclined to turn the night into a date with wine and cocktails, Aroma has you covered with an impressive selection of imported wines, an eclectic range of cocktails and the standard beer offerings.

Price: RMB100-200
Who’s going: flounder fans, couples and Guangzhou gastronomy gurus
Good for: romantic evenings, special affairs

Read our full review here. See listing for Aroma Bistro.

Mammamia

Chinese and expat clientele at Mammamia will find its food different – mamma-mia-this-pizza-is-so-good kind of different – because most ingredients and ovens in the kitchen are imported from Italy, no expense spared. Mozzarella is the trattoria’s secret weapon, made in-store with traditional techniques to guarantee its taste. It’s what makes the humble margherita pizza so popular among customers – that, and the abundance of tomato sauce.

Price: RMB120
Good for: a real taste of Napoli, a tomato-charged margherita
Who’s coming: the 1,000 Italians in Guangzhou, curious IFC office workers

Read our full review here. See listing for Mammamia.

Pink Kitchen

Pink Kitchen’s menu is centered around meat, meat and lo and behold, more meat. There are just four ethically sourced choices in Pink’s chilled glass case: American natural pork (RMB30/100g), Australian grain-fed 30-day wet-aged rib eye (RMB48/100g), sirloin (RMB35/100g) and chef-d'oeuvre, slow-roasted beef (RMB60/200g). There are no marinades or condiments other than cracked pepper and pink Himalayan salt, but frankly, none are needed. Select your desired level of doneness (point to 18 for medium and 22 for medium well), pay up and take a seat. Fancy a well-sourced drink? There’s an enhanced beverage program that includes Spanish reds, roses and whites. Head over to the wine dispensers, choose your tipple of choice (RMB28-48/glass), press a button and hold a glass to it. Or five. Or a bottle, perhaps?

Price: RMB100
Who’s going: steak lovers, casual diners
Good for: fresh, affordable slabs of deliciousness, artisanal ice creams

Read our full review here. See listing for Pink Kitchen.

Saraya Gastro Lounge

Formerly Oggi’s 24-hour pizzeria, it’s been rebranded by a team of seasoned restaurateurs who have years of experience crafting home-style dishes. Here, the focus isn’t on presentation, but on age-old recipes, togetherness and depth of flavor. Saraya’s menu is almost entirely meat-based, and those seeking national specialties will not be disappointed. The traditional Bedouin feast-dish mansaf (RMB100) stays true to form: chunks of soft lamb are served on a bed of gloopy rice with pine nuts sprinkled on top and a tart, creamy sauce of jameed (pungent goat’s milk yogurt) on the side. Its pride and joy is hamam mahshi (RMB85/130), or pigeon stuffed with rice, herbs, nuts and spices, and served with soup and salad. Considered to be a delicacy since ancient times, its reputation as an aphrodisiac makes it wildly popular.

Price: RMB100
Who’s going: old companions, Jordanians
Good for: meat and rice, home-style Levantine dishes

Read our full review here. See listing for Saraya.

Sexy Salad

At Sexy Salad, robust salads are sold in women and men’s portions with the total calorie count (including dressing) printed beside each description on the menu. Ingredients are weighed to ensure recipes remain consistent. The Thai king vegan tofu salad with Thai coconut curry sauce (RMB48/58) is the most unique Asian-inspired dishlisted, though the tofu proves too rubbery and the diced purple sweet potatoes share the same consistency as sedimentary rocks. The vaguely spicy coconut curry sauce would compensate for such downfalls if it were a bit creamier. Avoid the attractively named but overpriced power juices (RMB38): the cold-pressed bottles at Tous les Jours (located down the hallway) are tastier and RMB10 cheaper.

Price: RMB80
Who’s going: fad dieters, well-dressed Chinese
Good for: tracking calories, insuring an upset stomach

Read our full review here. See listing for Sexy Salad.