Good Authentic Italian Food
- Joined: Aug 10th, 2007
- Posts: 71
I am looking for a good Italian restaurant... not wanting to go to Annie and have very generic, unauthentic Italian food.
Not too worried about the prices but with a suggestion and price range would be nice. Directions are super helpful as well!
THanks! 
Watson
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
I like the chicken raviolli at the Pass By Bar, but like I said in another thread I heard Gisa is good, but my friends have also complained that the portions are small
admin
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
As an American I am not entitled to express an option about where to find truly authentic Italian food. However, our readers give high marks to Assaggi and Cepe
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chai
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
Interesting that Gisa is still open since I had a rather disappointing dinner there.
I can't think of any really good Italian restaurants in Beijing except Cepe perhaps.
Has anyone tried Alla Osteria yet, btw?
cowbi2
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
i like aperativo. their menu is not extensive, but what they have is made really well.
chai
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
I enjoy having coffee there. Although I haven't tried their salad, having a sandwich there was enough for me to never order food again.
Franz Joseph
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
Chicken Ravioli ?
that must italo-american, never heard of ravioli with chicken in italy... well actually i can't remember a single dish with pasta and chicken .. chicken is considered gross, beef and pork are the usual mix used in ravioli or tortellini.
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REAL italian food in BJ ?
i've reaaaaallly no idea, the few ones who look genuine are grossly overpriced and serving tiny portions, moreover they look too snotty and sophisticated, average and unpretentious italian food should be found in any Osteria or Trattoria, i just can't stand this trend of selling a pasta dish in a 5 stars restaurant like it was something special... i can cook some decent pasta with 5-6 rmb actually, i'll let them stick their 70rmb spaghetti al pomodoro in their greasy ass....
besides, where to find a REAL french restaurant ?
i mean, even a simple steak and potatoes, or a croque monsieur...
chai
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
Pass By Bar's food is decent. But, it's far from being authentic Italian I must say. I don't think I have found any affordable Italian food that is actually good in Beijing.
About french restaurant, it's the same. Go to inauthentic french restaurants with not so fresh ingredients or go to upscale and overly sophisticated french restaurants with tiny portions but good food.
Franz Joseph
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
it's very hard to find genuine western food abroad.
and especially for french and italian having fresh (or homemade) herbs and ingredients is the key, otherwise it just tastes different.
there was recently an uproar when the Quanjude announced they'll switch to electic ovens to cook their peking ducks ... customers were horrified the ducks will taste like KFC
chai
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
You can get those rotisseri chickens at Carrefour.
Living in Beijing, best and the most fresh home cooked western meal you can get is at your own home.
lebowski
Re: Good Authentic Italian Food
i agree, it's usually disappointing eating out for western food. cost to delicious ratio is very poor. i do think Morels does a decent job though, especially the mussels and au gratin potatoes. for italian i have had some nice dinners at Metro, really good atmosphere. at least it's not in a hotel. had terrible dinners at st regis italian place, and friends have complained as well. when i have been there it's nearly empty, terrible atmosphere, total SOE service, kicked us out at 10 sharp bc they wanted to close. the japanese restaurant there was poor as well.
bleu marine is not too bad, sit outside in the summer.