Ricci Cafe: Italian Cafe Offerings in Haidian

Annachiara Bondi | Jul 7, 2012 12:00 pm | 4 comments | 2206 reads

Ricci Cafe has much in common with its namesake, the Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci – it’s bright, friendly and an excellent example of how Italian sensibilities can meld peaceably into a Chinese context. Most of the cafe’s offerings are displayed right next to the counter. This includes salads, sandwiches, wraps and a large variety of sweets and desserts.

The generous portion of the Ricci Bolognaise spaghetti (RMB 48) was enough to fill me up, but it still felt light thanks to the delicate sauce. The Ricci croissantwich (RMB 38) – filled with fried eggs, bacon, and lettuce – was cold and a little bit flavorless, but the sun-dried tomatoes gave it a pleasant twist. On the other hand, the Sichuan spicy chicken focaccia (RMB 45 includes salad and Chinese pickles) was anything but bland. The mayonnaise was the only thing that didn’t fit in, but the focaccia provides a delightful rosemary-flavored crunch.

So far, this was nothing more than decent cafe food. But their desserts … now these are the real deal. The three chocolate layers of the cinnamon chocolate mousse (RMB 22) mingled perfectly with the punchy spice, while the jasmine banana cream pie (RMB 22) was a creamy delicacy covered with crumbled cookies. The espresso (RMB 17) was authentic and strong, but equally good versions can be found for less in the area.

If you’re around Wudaokou and looking for something more grown-up than the ordinary student hangout, Ricci Café is a good alternative for a quick lunch. Or even better, skip the lunch and enjoy a sweet treat.

Also try: Moment Cafe, Lush

Ricci Cafe Daily 8am-9.30pm. 1/F, Bldg D, Tsinghua University Science Park, 1 Zhongguancun Donglu, Haidian District (8215 8826) www.riccicafe.com 海淀区中关村东路1号院清华科技园D座1层

Click here to see the Beijinger July issue in full.

Comments

New comments are displayed first.

Comments

marilynmai's picture marilynmai Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/10/2012 - 16:59

We spoke with a manager who tells us they're taking a break to run an extensive training program for their fuwuyuan. This seems to be the same line they're using on the sign they've posted on their door. They assured us they'll be up and running again in early September. We'll keep you posted.

charpanda's picture charpanda Submitted by Guest on Sun, 07/08/2012 - 18:56

Ricci Cafe is the first legitimate upscale cafe in Wudaokou. What the million other so called "western" cafes in Wudaokou are trying to achieve with their imitation western food, Ricci Cafe is actually successful in achieving. I ardently disagree that Ricci serves nothing more than decent cafe food. If the above reviewer had been to any other cafes in Wudaokou they would notice a huge difference in quality. I can safely say that I have ordered 85% of the items on the ricci menu and have tried samples of the other 15%. The food, drinks and desserts found at Ricci are nothing short of a miracle for Wudaokou. This is a real cafe with real western food, salads, sandwichs, coffee, and desserts. It shows lush food and other wudaokou food for the overpriced imitation jokes that they are. Upon spending a long enough time in wudaokou that you branch out to other areas of beijing you realize how expensive places like lush and the bridge are for the quality of food delivered. Ricci produces high quality, delicious western food and service, so much so that it would be successful not just in wudaokou but in places like chaoyang where there is real western food, not the convenient imitation found in wudaokou consumed by the undiscriminating students who live in the wu and have just arrived to Beijing.

Some of the highlights of Ricci cafe are the Sichuan spicy mocha coffee, the short bread cookies, yogurt and raspberry parfait, waldorf salad, any of their soups, croissants, and of course the roasted vegetable panini (my personal favorite).

The only things on the menu that I found bland were their Bolognese, which is severely lacking in sauce and any sort of spices: oregano, rosemary, etc something needs to be added here if they want to skimp on sauce and their smoothies which taste a lot like coconut juice and not like the fruit they are supposed to. But that being said, this place was magical and a real addition to the food and coffee available in wudaokou.

I am truly upset that there hasn't been more information about when they are re-opening up again. I understand that this was just a soft opening for ricci but I would really appreciate it if the owners were more straight forward about when their grand opening will be as like the person above, I have also wasted trips to see if it was back in business. It has been closed since the 24th of June and owners if you're reading this and you have a time line when you plan to reopen, i'm sure customers would appreciate that information on your weibo or website. Thanks you for opening this awesome cafe, one of a kind in the wu and a sincere improvement on the food available here! It has been dismal without you! You got me hooked and disappeared!

jtg0007's picture jtg0007 Submitted by Guest on Sat, 07/07/2012 - 14:24

Ricci Cafe is definitely excellent cafe, but I have been frustrated ever since the following message has been posted on Ricci's door:

Ok, that's fine. I've only had 2 wasted trips to Ricci so far. So today I see Ricci profiled on the Beijinger; naturally, I assume that they have finally re-opened. Not true. The message is still there. So now, we're up to 3 wasted trips, an e-mail that was never replied, and numerous unanswered phone calls. All of this frustration would be eliminated if Ricci would simply state WHEN it is going to re-open. How can this be advertised and profiled on the Beijinger when people will show up to a CLOSED cafe?

Validate your mobile phone number to post comments.