The Place
Regulars at Ginstar’s Meilin Hai’an Garden location love the establishment for its reasonable prices and casual, comfortable interior. The same folks will undoubtedly be impressed by the chain’s newest shop in Zhujiang New Town, which boasts striking decor and offers city denizens yet another relaxed place to enjoy reasonably priced burgers, pizzas and submarines.
Gorgeous wood paneling and stone tiles line the interior, soon to be joined by pop art portraits of various celebrities, proprietor Kevin Kuang informs us on our visit.
We had previously heard various murmurings around town that the new Ginstar rips off the interior of a certain social hot spot on Huajiu Lu, but in all honesty, we don’t see it.
But enough about interior design and pop art – let’s get down to what really matters.
The Food
Many have come to expect hearty, delicious meals from Ginstar at a fraction of the cost of comparable establishments. Those people won't be disappointed with this newest incarnation, although the prices are slightly higher than in Meilin.
Steak house quesadillas (RMB48) come stuffed with mozzarella cheese, succulent beef, jalapenos, peppers and onions. The dish makes a fantastic snack and works wonders with a frothy pint of craft beer. Our only complaint is that this Mexican-inspired grub does not come with sour cream or salsa.
Find yourself California dreamin’ during an unrelenting evening shift at the training center? Then you, dear reader, are in need of a California cheesesteak sandwich (basically a Philly cheesesteak with fresh vegetables). Composed of Australian Angus beef, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and onions set on an allegedly homemade bun, this submarine will cost you RMB48.
Brimming with potential but slightly missing the mark is the southwest chicken pizza (RMB68), which comes topped with crispy chicken, onions, jalapenos, mushrooms, bacon, mozza and cheddar cheeses. While tasty, it lacks the bite we expect from something with the term ‘southwest’ in its name. Kuang does mention that ranch dressing may soon come drizzled over the cheesy dough disc, which would be a welcome addition.
The Vibe
With a vibe reminiscent of Vancouver-based casual dining chain Cactus Club Café, the interior design is both relaxing and inviting. It’s the kind of establishment you could bring a date, your boozing buddies (for the RMB25 pints of Tiger and super strong Long Island iced teas, naturally), or your younger brother – welcoming, eclectic and just classy enough for us casual folks.
How much: RMB75
Who's going: budget conscious English teachers
Good for: strong cocktails, filling pub grub
Nearest metro: Zhujiang New Town (Exit A1), 10 minutes
Open daily, 11.30am-2am; see listing for Ginstar Zhujiang New Town.
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