Flamme Goes Out in Sanlitun; Indigo Location Gets Snuffed Next Week

Today brings sad news for carnivorous Beijingers: Flamme International Grill is fizzling out. Assistant marketing manager Carrie Lei told the Beijinger this morning that the steakhouse's Sanlitun branch has already been shuttered, and that its Indigo branch will follow suit on Monday. 

Flamme opened in Sanlitun's Taikoo Li in August 2010, and was an immediate hit with foodies thanks to its Australian tenderloin steaks, along with sides like matchstick fries and gingered carrots. Drinkers also loved the restaurant's mojitos and its mammoth Titanic cocktail.

At the time, the Beijinger blogger Jen Leung wrote: "There are no shortages of steakhouses in Beijing, but Flamme offers service and style for a relative bargain." She went on to tout the sides as much as the steaks, and took a special liking to the bruschetta and the roasted beet salad, the latter of which was "sliced up tableside and tossed with fennel and oranges."

Later, Flamme expanded with a second location, this time in Indigo Mall. Along the way the restaurant won accolades for their steaks in our annual Reader Restaurant Awards, most recently as a runner up in the Best Steak (Casual) category in our 2015 Reader Restaurant Awards.

This year Flamme put up a commendable fight in the the Beijinger's Burger Cup, thanks to the imported double beef patties and homemade buns of their signature burger, which we told you about not 10 days ago. Flamme made it through two rounds before finally being doused by Home Plate ahead of the Elite Eight. 

For a last taste of Flamme you can hit up their Indigo location before it closes next week. After that, Beijing carnivores will have plenty of other options for the beef fix, but there's no doubt that we'll be nostalgic for this longtime member of the Beijing F&B scene.

Flamme is not the only competitor in this year's Burger Cup to close before the contest was done; we also got word that Twilight, the hole-in-the-wall Japanese bar in Jianwai Soho that also was known for its food, closed in August.

Photo: bloodandsand.com