Beijingers, Rejoice: Home Plate Bar-B-Que Is Getting Closer

Rumors have been circulating for some months now, but Home Plate Bar-B-Que officially confirmed with the Beijinger they will open a second location in Sanlitun this fall. The new branch of Home Plate will be on Sanlitun Nanjie in the same building as one of the best new bars in the world, Janes and Hooch. Construction on the space just started and they are looking at a tentative soft opening at the end of September or early October.

At Home Plate's current space, the dining crowd always seems to be spilling over onto the patio, and waiting for a seat isn't uncommon during the colder months. Thankfully, the new venue will be much larger, with indoor seating for around 150 people and an extra 50 outdoors.

The 550 square meters of space leaves plenty of room for a bar. Co-owner and chef Adam Murray tells us there will be a large bar area set up for sports viewing so that “whether you’re in the mood for brisket or a beer and the World Cup,” Home Plate should have you sorted. They will continue to carry about four to five beers from Slow Boat Brewery on tap, along with three additional brands. A special smoked beer for Home Plate is in the works by Slow Boat, so get thirsty for that.

Zach Lewison (formerly of Union Bar and Grille, Park Side and, most recently, 3sums) will be heading up the new kitchen, improving existing items and creating new dishes. Lewison says he is looking to round out and fill in the gaps of the current menu. He and Murray are talking roasted chicken, prime rib, and more salads, although much more is still under wraps.

In many ways, an apt comparison is Great Leap Brewery and their new Brewpub. Lewison says he’s hoping to help take Home Plate to the next level and, in the same way as Great Leap, “take a little spot that had great success, and give it a bigger space, better design and a good location.”

Ultimately the Home Plate team wants to put Beijing on the map and grow its food culture to something like Montreal’s or San Francisco’s. How does Lewison judge that success? "If Anthony Bourdain comes here one day and shoots a film, that’s when we know we’ve made it.”

Even more lofty goals?

"Get the Chinese hooked on barbeque from the American South, see what kind of spin-offs they do and maybe even change chuanr."

Photo: E.P.