2010 Dec 16 Capital Bites: New Eats
In Chaoyang, Cornerstone is a new stylish Italian restaurant serving pizzas and more in the World Financial Center. The generous portions and great lunch deals should make this place a hit with the CBD business crowd.
In nearby Central Park, Gori, an international eatery with everything from Thai to terriyaki has been opened by the much-loved Igosso/Pekotan team.
Comptoirs de France has opened an eighth location on Xingfucun, shortly after its new Pacific Century store.
Another new patisserie is Waffle Boy in Sanlitun Soho, baking up some superbly aromatic pastries for those in the neighborhood. Right downstairs, Tribeca now offers diners international cuisine, from sushi to steaks, as well as some solid set menu deals.
Pretty soon there will be no shortage of cheap burgers in the CBD. The Burger King in Shinkong Place is finally open, so those of us on the east side can enjoy Whoppers with ease.
As if that wasn't enough for burger fans, Fatburger is also opening a second location in nearby China World arcade in March. A little further south, Grinders is a new restaurant and bar in Shuangjing, serving sandwiches, beer and more.
By Houhai near Gulou Dongdajie, there are a smattering of cute new dining options. Yoshi Izakaya offers a variety reasonably-priced Japanese fare in a spare and cute setting; Guitar Bar and Restaurant has also opened up in its new location.
Following popular Dali Courtyard's model of elegant courtyard/set menus, Life List offers Hunnan food in a spacious and lovely courtyard setting. While it's too chilly now to fully enjoy the space, it will be a pleasant place to eat once it warms up. Little Yunnan likewise offers a cozy hutong atmosphere, with Yunnan specialities and home-brewed rice wine a little further south by Meishuguan.
Le Petit Gourmand has been closed for renovations, but has reopened this week and celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new look and a new attached bar, Le Zinc.
Closed is nearby Kiosk – the Serbian sandwich shop’s other, bigger location in Gongti remains open, so not to worry. Ottoman Turkish and Swagat have both closed their doors as well.
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Gao Gao Spicy Hot Pot: Cook-It-Yourself With a Taiwanese Twist
Beijing isn’t lacking for hot pot spots, so when a new one appears, even enthusiasts might ask “Why bother?” Gao Gao answers that question with high-quality ingredients and a commitment to recreating the freshest Taipei hot pot.
Fit For a King: Feast Offers a New All-You-Can-Eat Option
The first thing that strikes you about Feast is that it’s a fine-looking restaurant. Of course, nobody really comes to a place like this to enjoy the design, so it’s just as well that the all-you-can-eat offerings deliver. Mix up your own salad to ease yourself in, and try not to overindulge in the bread and cheese selection – you’re going to need every inch your stomach allows.
Malay Day: Malaysian Cuisine at Little Nyonya
Since the term nyonya refers to the women of Chinese communities in Malaysia and Singapore, pretend with me for a second that Little Nyonya, the restaurant, is an actual woman. She’d be the kind of gal you could take home to meet your mom: reliable and demure, not the most glamorous, but someone you can settle down with. She does, after all, know how to cook.
Stylish Sichuan: Syringa Opens at China Central Place
If you love the food at Chuan Ban, but find the environment a little too “authentic” for out-of-town visitors or a date, Syringa may be your best new alternative. The kitchen is staffed with Chuan Ban alumni, but the setting is cleaner, fresher and has a certain rustic-chic meets cliché-contemporary-art charm.
Back in the Flo of Things: The New Brasserie Flo
Brasserie Flo opened the doors of its new location on Xiaoyun Lu in late March, but the team got off to a quiet start as it settled into its new home. We dropped by for dinner last week and were awed by the restaurant's ability to act as a haven from the pressures of the city.
The walk up to the new Flo sets the tone. On the way in, you pass the windows of the main dining room, looking in on the diners you're about to join. It's an uncanny experience that's augmented by the hazy glow of the lighting and the classic decorations. I know it sounds dramatic, but if you let yourself get caught up in the nostalgia of it, entering Brasserie Flo feels a bit like time traveling or teleporting to another reality.
