Simple but Delectable Western Dishes at New Xingfucun Eatery Kuan’s Bar & Dining
Sitting opposite to beloved Xingfucun watering hole and dining spot The Big Smoke, and two doors down from Frost, Kuan’s Bar & Dining opened on October 1. With neat and simple décor, this cozy restaurant is kitted out with several wooden tables and chairs with black leather-backed seats, unfinished concrete walls, and plants to fill the gaps. The front area is occupied by a small bar, whereas the back is home to a relaxing dining area with Nordic stylistic touches, thanks to checkered cushions from Ikea.
The menu is simple but classic and not too posh, with artisan bread, foie gras as starters, and nine main dishes, including salmon, beef, scallops, octopus, halibut, confit duck leg, and macaroni (RMB 50-86), as well as salads and french fries as sides. To round the meal off there are also three desserts, all priced at RMB 38. They also offer three red and three white wines, three beers, and six classic cocktails (RMB 40-50).
The artisan bread is rustic, simple, and decidedly European, and is served with two kinds of dips: hummus with black sesame, and pumpkin with pumpkin seeds. For a main, we recommend the Icelandic halibut (RMB 86), which is served with clams, cherry tomatoes, and seasoned with a light sauce (without sacrificing its crispy skin) and fennel. If you're a cheese lover, don’t pass on the macaroni (RMB 62), which comes in a steaming clay pot, is doused in cream and smatterings of ham hock, and is covered in a thick layer of Swiss cheese.
It’s irresponsible to just leave without tasting the dessert, which includes chocolate brownies, pumpkin spiced crème brulee, and Chinese spiced pavlova. We chose the latter two – on top of the pumpkin spiced crème brulee sat candied walnuts, pumpkin seeds, cream, peppermint leaves, and powdered sugar. My heart melted as the cracked sugar and crème brulee entered my mouth, the joy of sugary satisfaction coursing through my veins. The crispy, Chinese-spiced pavlova also hit the spot, the crumbled palova balancing well with the crème at the bottom of the dish as well as the thick slices of banana and passion fruit.
The entire experience was impeccable, especially given the excellent quality food. We are thrilled to have this low-key restaurant joining the neighborhood and can’t wait to see how it grows. And one thing's for sure: we'll soon be back to try the chocolate brownie.
Kuan’s Bar & Dining
Mon-Fri 5pm-late, Sat-Sun 12pm-late. 1 Taipingzhuang Nanli (opposite to The Big Smoke), Chaoyang District (177 0122 0285)
朝阳区太平庄南里1号(The Big Smoke对面)
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Photos: Tracy Wang
