Skip to Content
  • Fri Jun 01 2012
  • Welcome Guest!

Live Users (last hour): 1,224
Registered Users: 170,808

Smoke Free Restaurants

Forum Home » Food and Drink » Dining Out
Posted Feb 5, 2008 11:47am by jetblack

rather than join the slightly obscure "should Beijing ban smoking" thread - just thought I'd start one on restaurants who are already non-smoking.
Before opening SALT two months ago we had a big debate on which way to go - and decided to make a non-smoking restaurant with a small smoking area near the bar (away from the kitchen and diners). The response has been really great. Even smokers are commenting on the enjoyment of not having a neighbouring smoker exhale all over their meal. There are two small tables within the bar area if smokers really want to smoke and eat at the same time. I think it will take a little time to change habits, but in the long run, getting up to have a smoke and drink at the bar is working well with many smokers saying that they enjoy a little break from the table.


Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: coeurdelion on Feb 5, 2008 12:09pm

Hey Gaby,

I think you're absolutely right. I stopped smoking shortly after you opened SALT so I had the opportunity to look at it from both sides. As a smoker, I have to admit there's always this small setback when you ask for an ashtray and the waiter tells you this is a non smoking table. However, it has encouraged me to build a "Aperitif culture" that I'm still sticking to as a non smoker - having that first glass of Kir or Pimm's or Prosecco somewhere else (with or without a cigarette) to get you in the mood for food and shorten the waiting time.

As a brand new non-smoker, I actively seek restaurants like yours to help me get over those first months, so - thanks a lot!

FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: chai on Feb 5, 2008 1:19pm

So is that woman the owner of Salt? Wasn't she defending the restaurant before but never claimed she was one of the owners?

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: microphonehead on Feb 5, 2008 1:27pm
chai wrote:
So is that woman the owner of Salt? Wasn't she defending the restaurant before but never claimed she was one of the owners?

I think she claimed alameda was one of the world's top restuarants last time.

Big Grin

Love the lunches though - I usually ago about twice a week. That's got to be the best value for money around sanlitun/gong ti at lunchtime. Lovely cheesy bread.

Smoking at the bar thing is a good idea too, as I smoker I don't mind unless they make you go outside and/or look at you like it's so outrageous and disgusting to ask to smoke.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: expat13 on Feb 5, 2008 1:35pm

Didn't she also have the thread about the Pavillion?

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: badr on Feb 5, 2008 2:12pm

jetblack and Gaby are two different persons.

BeijingDaze.com: Live Music & Underground Rock from Beijing
The Noodle Diaries: Tales of Food & Noodles from China

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: chai on Feb 5, 2008 2:14pm
microphonehead wrote:
chai wrote:
So is that woman the owner of Salt? Wasn't she defending the restaurant before but never claimed she was one of the owners?

I think she claimed alameda was one of the world's top restuarants last time.

Big Grin

Love the lunches though - I usually ago about twice a week. That's got to be the best value for money around sanlitun/gong ti at lunchtime. Lovely cheesy bread.

Smoking at the bar thing is a good idea too, as I smoker I don't mind unless they make you go outside and/or look at you like it's so outrageous and disgusting to ask to smoke.

I agree with what you are saying about Alameda. But, Salt or Alameda being Beijing's top restaurant was utterly hilarious.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: coeurdelion on Feb 5, 2008 3:18pm
badr wrote:
jetblack and Gaby are two different persons.

Sorry, my mistake...

FXZL - Up-to-date visa Information for China
fxzl.blogspot.com

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: chai on Feb 5, 2008 3:21pm

If Jet Black is a pr representative for Salt or Alameda, they should fire her immediately. She's not helping the business.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: The Gnus on Feb 5, 2008 3:37pm
chai wrote:
If Jet Black is a pr representative for Salt or Alameda, they should fire her immediately. She's not helping the business.

Being smoke free is.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: Arcturus on Feb 6, 2008 7:38am
The Gnus wrote:

Being smoke free is.

Pffft. I won't eat in a non-smoking restaurant. It's creepy.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: The Gnus on Feb 6, 2008 1:16pm
Arcturus wrote:
Pffft. I won't eat in a non-smoking restaurant. It's creepy.

You won't be missed - place is always packed.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: jetblack on Feb 6, 2008 2:44pm
chai wrote:
If Jet Black is a pr representative for Salt or Alameda, they should fire her immediately. She's not helping the business.

Hi,
look I'm not sure what I have done to personally offend you, ever. I have no idea what your grudge against Alameda, SALT, or anyone involved in any of these restaurants are. They are both small businesses trying to do their best in the Beijing community. May I suggest you pull your head in and stop making trouble for the sake of it.

Back to the thread topic.... it was a hard decision to make (non-smoking), but it is working quite well - I know it might feel "kreepy" to begin with, but most people are pretty happy. It's always hard to strike a balance and please everyone - but most restaurateurs try!

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: coffeeandtea on Feb 6, 2008 2:53pm
Arcturus wrote:
The Gnus wrote:

Being smoke free is.

Pffft. I won't eat in a non-smoking restaurant. It's creepy.

guess you wouldn't want to go out to eat in New York city then :roll:

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: chai on Feb 11, 2008 2:22pm
jetblack wrote:
chai wrote:
If Jet Black is a pr representative for Salt or Alameda, they should fire her immediately. She's not helping the business.

Hi,
look I'm not sure what I have done to personally offend you, ever. I have no idea what your grudge against Alameda, SALT, or anyone involved in any of these restaurants are. They are both small businesses trying to do their best in the Beijing community. May I suggest you pull your head in and stop making trouble for the sake of it.

Back to the thread topic.... it was a hard decision to make (non-smoking), but it is working quite well - I know it might feel "kreepy" to begin with, but most people are pretty happy. It's always hard to strike a balance and please everyone - but most restaurateurs try!

I have nothing against Salt nor Alameda. However, they certainly don't deserve to be the best restaurant of the year nor the world-class restaurant as you have referred before.

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: lebowski on Feb 16, 2008 3:47pm

this place has great sichuan food and is non smoking, Meizhou Dongpo 眉州东坡酒楼
http://english.cri.cn/4026/2008/02/05/1241@320893.htm

Re: Smoke Free Restaurants

Posted by: Arcturus on Feb 16, 2008 4:53pm
coffeeandtea wrote:
Arcturus wrote:
The Gnus wrote:

Being smoke free is.

Pffft. I won't eat in a non-smoking restaurant. It's creepy.

guess you wouldn't want to go out to eat in New York city then :roll:

It was a joke. ROFLcopter @ Gnu's response.

Copyright 2009 True Run Media. All Rights Reserved. 京ICP备11039980号
Powered by CANDIS Infrastructure Services