The decor of this soulful little restaurant a block north of the Bell Tower is equal parts rustic teahouse and friend’s living room. The old-style wooden menu (in Chinese only) offers a hodgepodge of regional comfort foods. Try the whole braised fish (RMB 39), the potato vermicelli with homemade sauerkraut, beef and chilli (RMB 26), and the divine lao Beijing-style frozen hawthorn jellies.

Once Beijing’s glitziest restaurant, The CourtYard’s glow has diminished of late. That’s why owner Handel Lee has brought in maestro chef Dan Segall (Louisiana, RBL, Domus) to overhaul the food. We caught up with Dan in the restaurant kitchen just two hours before March 8th's menu launch to find out more.

It’s been an age coming, but the CBD’s luxury Fairmont hotel is up and running. Lunar 8 is one of its food outlets – a large, pan-Asian a la carte restaurant in the vein of IFW and Made in China.

Since launching our 2010 Reader Restaurant Awards just three weeks ago, we’ve witnessed more comings and goings than [insert gag here]. First and foremost is the unexpected closure of Juliette's in Sanlitun, which earned nominations for Restaurant of the Year and Best French. What’s more, Juliette’s chef Guillaume Galliot (previously at Jaan in the Raffles Hotel) returned to France on Monday – this time for good. Word is he has work lined up in England, which is a small tragedy for Beijing diners, who have come to regard him as one of the city’s best, nominating him as such in our awards. And now we’ve reported that in the last few days Chef Rey Lim (also nominated as Best Chef in our awards) has left The CourtYard– see here.

Celebrity Chef Rey Lim has hung up his apron at Beijing's famous The CourtYard restaurant, leaving just after Chinese New Year to pursue other projects. And here's a tasty rumor - we've hard that maestro chef and Boston native Dan Segall might be getting involved at the near-legendary restaurant beside the Forbidden City.

Popular but far-flung Beijing duck eatery Xiheyayuan is waddling its way downtown to compete with other notable new Beijing duckeries Lunar 8 and Peking Duck Private Kitchen. The Zhongguancun hotspot will be opening a new restaurant in the IFC Mall adjacent to The Westin Chaoyang. Ducks will cost RMB 138 with all the trimmings, and the mall is scheduled to open in early March.

Here’s a round-up of restaurants going the extra mile to help you seal the deal this Valentine’s. Click the restaurant titles for maps and user reviews, and don’t forget to call ahead for reservations. Also, only propose publicly if you’re at least fairly sure your partner won’t laugh in your face. It happens. She wasn't worth it anyway. I'm better off without her.

At 8pm this Sunday, The Boat will stage Beijing’s inaugural St Valentine’s Day Burrito Eating Massacre. RMB 100 buys you entry into the contest where you compete for a big cash prize to down the most quarter pounder burritos. Said Mexican snacks are provided by Tommy Gun’s, a Beijing based burrito maker who sells in over 35 locations around town. All guests get free burrito samples and a drink with their RMB 40 entry ticket.

Dish #9: 伤心凉粉 shangxin liangfen ("heartbreak cold noodles")

Know what it feels like to have your heart broken? Tears stinging the eyes, the numbness, and so much pain it’s like you can’t breathe? Whoever named this dish obviously had a few rocky romances.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but not all of us are lucky enough to have a lover, wife, "special friend" to share meals with. Need a table for one? Don’t wither under the smirks. Hold your (sniveling) head high and tuck in at one of these singles-friendly establishments.