Sausages, Sandwiches, and Suds: Republic Brings Delectable Pub Grub to Gongti

Building 6 on Gongti Donglu isn’t just for the club crowd anymore. Though the complex is probably best known among laowai and the upwardly mobile Chinese youth as the home of sizzling hot clubs like Sir Teen and One Third – not to mention the mammoth Heaven Bar location that opened last fall and a slew of crayfish and hot pot joints – anyone hankering for a more laid-back evening of suds and sausages can duck into the basement and try the newly opened Republic.

Before unveiling the new bar and eatery, which is currently in soft opening, co-owner Michele Fosci already had a burgeoning reputation as a craft sausage maker from selling his wares at markets and via an online shop.

Hailing from Rome, Fosci uses his family's homemade recipes to give the chicken, lamb and pork sausages a fresh, savory quality with just a hint of spiciness. They're downright delicious, though at RMB 98 for three sausages with a side of salty bruschetta and steamed broccoli and cabbage, they're a little steep. While the intricate texture and rich flavor make them worth a splurge, at that price they'll be a rare treat. 

Though the sausage platter is the most succulently satisfying menu item by a mile, there are other hunger-busting options at a more reasonable price. Deli-style pork and chicken sandwiches, for instance, are available for a very fair RMB 49 each, and feature chunks of hearty diced meat in crisp fresh baguette bread. Their cheeseburger, meanwhile, is only RMB 58 and comes with a side of fries and pickles. 

The atmosphere reminded us of their neighbor Heaven or the recently opened QS in Chaoyangmen – darkly lit, simple diner-style tables, and a long beer fridge to one side. The beer fridge here is smaller than Heaven's but does an admirable job rivaling that more famous venue, thanks to its unique stock of craft imports like Sunshine State brewery Ballast Point's California Amber and Wahoo (for RMB 35 each), or Bell's Brewery's Lager of the Lakes Czech style pilsner for RMB 45, along with other niche selections that elevate it beyond the typical overpriced Brewdogs found at your Beijing bottled beer bar. 

So, while Republic doesn't have the breadth of Heaven's beer selection, it has depth. And while its casual atmosphere is similar to QS', but with steeper prices, it has sausages worth shelling out for. And then there's the location in the basement of the Gongti Donglu Building 6, which is hard to find if you're entering from the front (look for the door just to the left of Tango KTV, then take the stairs, then walk past the row of 麻辣烫/malatang joints until you reach the end of the hall). However, renovations are underway and a more direct entry from the back will make locating Republic easier. And besides, that location is a win for party people looking to charge up before, or recharge after, a night of clubbing. Above all, Fosci's skill in the kitchen makes Republic a standout, and once you try his delectable sausages or generous subs, all other details will be rendered moot.  

Republic
Daily, 6pm-late. B1, 6 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang Qu (700m southeast of Dongsishitiao, Line 2; at the end of the hall from the door just to the left of Tango KTV)
朝阳区工体西路6号B1

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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos: Kyle Mullin