I read good things about this place, and upon moving to Beijing it was one of my first ports of call. The Xinjiang restaurent in Shipin Dao (off Nanmenwai Dajie) in Tianjin is probably my favourite restaurant in the whole of China, so I was hoping for something similar. Instead I found a rather cheerless restaurant, inhospitable waiting staff (not actively rude, just not welcoming or friendly), and so-so, overpriced food.

There are many better Xinjiang restaurants in Beijing, I have since found - so can we get rid of this popular notion of Crescent Moon being a popular or quality example of Xinjiang dining in Beijing? It is neither.