Sure, we could properly introduce Boxing Cat. But we’re quite positive that the pioneer of China’s craft breweries doesn’t need our help to establish itself, especially in the beer department – it’s doing just fine. The Shanghai-based brewery has just unveiled its first Beijing location on Xinyuanli, moving in next door to pizza pros Bottega, with a menu boost to match.
The new digs are spacious: There’s plenty of outdoor seating on the terrace (not to mention an actual waterfall – so extra, but we’ll take it) and wooden tables and chairs dot the room inside. The colossal bar sweeping the back wall features 16 house brews on tap.
Scanning the menu, it's clear Boxing Cat is shifting their focus from the pub to the grub. They’re going beyond the bar-food selections one would normally expect and adding some serious upgrades.
Devised by Colombian chef Juan Mateus (previously the brains behind Mosto’s menu), the substantial list of offerings set themselves apart by distinctive flavors from Thailand to the Mediterranean, bringing an unexpected edge to the tireless East-meets-West concept we’ve grown weary of.
Among the savory snacks and small plates, the standouts are the parmesan cauliflower bites (RMB38) served with warm pesto, whipped beetroot tahini dip with pita bread (RMB48) and the truffled ahi tuna poke (RMB98) with toasted quinoa, crispy seaweed and a kick of jalapenos. Level up your appetizer game with the New Zealand green mussels (RMB68), sautéed in a sweet coconut-chili broth.
With their neighbors already established as one of the city's premier pizza joints, Boxing Cat isn’t interested in moving into any marked territories. Instead, they’re dishing out flatbreads, which are the real showstoppers here. We couldn’t get enough of the Great Thai Pumpkin (RMB68) topped with a red curry sauce, soft pumpkin, roasted eggplant, mozzarella and seasoned with Thai herbs. Don’t miss out on the fan-favorite Ocean’s Eleven (RMB78) – shrimp, bechamel sauce, pesto, capers and sundried tomatoes. Still hungry? Choose from original sides like the nutty stir-fried quinoa (RMB28) topped with miso sour cream. Trying to decide the perfect brew to wash it all down with? Look no further than the suggested pairings, conveniently listed under each item.
They’ve even cooked up a late night menu for you night crawlers featuring some shareable starters to meet your carb-loading needs. Choose from sweet potato fries with honey chipotle aioli (RMB38) and their Contender BBQ Ribs (RMB88) – slathered with their pale ale, passion fruit and pineapple BBQ sauce – as well as some sizable options like the Sichuan Pulled Pork Sandwich (RMB78) featuring pickled daikon and Napa slaw on a toasted sesame bun, and several varieties of flatbreads.
Whatever your craving, Boxing Cat’s new menu is redefining pub food as we know it. So go wild – no sides of guilt served here.
[Images via Valerie Osipov/That's Beijing]
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