Beijing Boyce

The Tuesday night brain teaser of Beijing, Julian Fisher has presided over the longest running weekly quiz in the city, first at Schindler’s and now at Tim’s Texas BBQ. It turns out he also likes a drink of two. Here are his top five watering holes in Beijing.

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“Since I’m British and my formative years were spent in five-hundred year old pubs in Devon my list is full of fairly well-known drinkeries that make me feel at home:

“Schillers aka The German Office. Beijing is a city of 13 million people with less than thirteen pubs. In fact it is probably only has three. Pubs in northern Europe are always dark, wooden and warm, lending themselves to drinking long into rainy winter nights. Schillers has plenty of wood, gas-leaking furnaces for heat and dim lights that fry mosquitoes. It also has Germans and African embassy staff who have frequented the place every day since it opened, a great happy hour (buy one get one free until eight), excellent bangers and mash and mid-nineties house music. I once met a North Korean electrician there. From Germany .

“White Nights aka The Russian Office. OK, this place is not strictly a bar, but it does have beer for 5RMB a pint which certainly makes it a drinking spot. The food is cheap and hearty but they cook mayonnaise with cheese which tastes revolting. The service is also very authentic, meaning no one ever smiles. It’s great to sit out on the quiet tree-lined street in the summer (opposite is a little Russian grocery called ‘The One’ which stocks some interesting food) but it isn’t near any other places, and closes early, which can either send you to bed or on to late-night Rasputian mischief.

“Ichikura. This place is simply one of the best places to drink in Beijing. It might not appear to have much in common with medieval British taverns but there are similarities. Firstly, the dark lighting lends itself to late nights and contemplation. Secondly, you can happily sit at the bar and watch someone take deserved pride in their work. Finally, and maybe most importantly, no one bats an eyelid when you are drinking alone in a place which is designed for nothing else but drinking.

“Tori Tei. This place is also not strictly a bar but I always end up drinking more in there then anywhere else in Beijing . It has benches that you can share with friends or strangers, hot sake for 25RMB a bottle and an open fire. Ok, it’s a BBQ. Which is better than a log fire because it can supply you with the best chuan’r in Beijing. Like Ichikura, you can also keep a bottle behind the bar. This is always useful when you run out of money and need to drink somewhere for free.

“I am going to cheat a little now because I have run out of numbers without reaching my two most visited watering holes (both within walking distance of my home as all good locals should be). Number 4.5 is The Den. Little more can be said about this place than when nuclear Armageddon strikes, all that will remain will be cockroaches, communism and The Den. Number 5 is The Tree. Sitting in the philosophers corner (as my recently departed friend Steve always called it) opposite the bar on high stools under the framed image of an unknown man is a great place to peruse their extensive beer list before buying a 15RMB Tsingdao. Newly born 1F is also looking good but now I’m just pushing it…

Watch out for the Black Stars.

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Good times in Beijing during the last World Cup given that nearly every bar and its sibling had a TV screen to attract football fans (see All About Placement: World Cup Venues). Some spots are gone–Browns (home of raucous parties during and after games), W, John Bull Pub, Red Ball, and more–but plenty have opened, so there will be no shortage of options.

I will turn this post into a permanent page to list spots to see games, maps (more are coming), and the official / unofficial bars for fans of certain nations. If anyone has any info to add, please let me know at beijingboyce (at) yahoo.com.

Before I get started, if you are looking for country flags, SLS Flags is hard to beat. I also noticed a flag shop just north of The Place, but have not yet had a chance to check it out. And for more on the last World Cup, see these ten observations I made as a viewer in Beijing.

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First, some spots that have opened since the last World Cup and that will show or likely show games. There are numerous other places that might show it–Salud? 1F? Aperitivo?–and I will add them if I get confirmation. It would also be cool if games were shown on the giant screens at Sanlitun Village, The Place, and elsewhere. We’ll see.

I’ve put a black star–OK, it’s an asterisk–beside some places I plan to see Ghana play on its way to World Cup victory…

* Paddy O’Shea’s (map) A two-floor Irish bar near the Sanlitun North embassy district that draws an after-work drain-a-pint crowd as well as a loyal local following, and will have specials during games involving France. In addition to the pub grub, patrons can order from Indian restaurant Kamat’s upstairs.

* Blue Frog Look for this place to beam games onto that massive wall facing its spacious deck. Blue Frog also has several screens inside. Best bet is to catch a game during that two-for-one Monday burger deal.

* Tun This place is capable of doing a huge projection on the wall behind the bar. Given its large size and decent beer prices, it could pick up where Browns left off last time.

* The Stumble Inn: Look for the second version of this place to open on the third floor of Sanlitun Village in time for the World Cup.

Saddle Cantina Another spot that could be a hit, especially on the deck, if games can be projected on the white sides of Nali Studio.

Luga’s Basement One floor below Luga’s Villa, it has five screens, though they are a bit small. There is also a deck out front where patrons can kick back and relax.

The Irish Volunteer (map) While not a sports bar, it has excelled at showing sports on demand–from the NHL playoffs to the NCAA men’s basketball final. Has a small but good selection of beers as well as burgers and other pub grub.

Stadium Dog Box off part of the parking lot, stick up a screen or two, and fans would be enjoying a beer and a dog all in the shade of a stadium.

Danger Doyle’s Formerly known as Stadium, this two-floor bar offers plenty of screens, a spacious rooftop, and a wide selection of beers.

Hooters The only Beijing outlet of this U.S. franchise: expect pricey but passable food (try the chili dog), a handful of screens, and waitresses dancing and singing to songs such as “You Are My Sunshine.”

Tim’s Texas BBQ Home of a wide range of Tex-Mex food, including a decent “Mexican burger”, this place also shows sports.

All-Star (map) This place includes booth and table seating, solid pub grub, a four-sized bar, and dozens of flat screens in the Solana area.

Union Bar & Grille: With one of the best designed bars in town, a comfy place at which to sip a pint or two.

Parkside Bar & Grill: Slated to open in Lido in early to mid May with a three-side bar and several 55-inch screens. The plan is to show games in HD.

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Now for places that were around for the last World Cup and will or likely will show games…

* The Den (map) Open 24 hours, the place has five screens, good pub grub (four-cheese pizza, deep-fried combo, nasi goreng, and bangers and mash), a reasonably efficient staff, and an excellent happy hour (5 to 10 PM daily, with half-price drinks and pizzas). Downsides: there is no free water and the place is a bit dingy. The Den attracts a diverse clientele, particularly after midnight.

* Ritan Park Compound Former site of sacrifices to the Sun God, this walled circular area in Ritan Park played host to hundreds of football fans in 2006. The organizers erected two massive screens–one with English commentary, one with Chinese commentary–and the time delay between the two created lots of anticipation for half the fans. Entry was RMB30, and included a beer, with Tsingtao available at RMB15 per bottle. Hopefully, there is a similar setup this year.

The Pavillion (map) Among the busiest spots during the last World Cup due to its excellent deck. It also includes numerous screens inside, though some of them are at an angle that can lead to sore necks.

The Goose and Duck (map) Recently upgraded, this is a 24-hour sports bar with loads of paraphernalia and screen and a diverse menu (the steak breakfast special is tasty). Host of the biggest Super Bowl party each year. The location is an issue for many people as is the at-times lackluster service.

Frank’s Place (map) The Lido reincarnation of what is widely considered the first non-hotel bar to open in Beijing. Again, plenty of screens as well as a large party area out back.

Beer Mania With an excellent lineup of Belgian beers, this place showed games last time around and is a strong draw with the Belgian crowd.

The Pomegranate (map) The Shunyi-based sibling of Paddy O’Shea’s.

Eudora Station (map) Located in the Lido area, this place shows sports, has a vast menu, and includes a lounge area out back and a nice patio up front.

The space formerly known as the Pili Pili African bar and restaurant in Lido is about two weeks from opening as a family friendly eatery called Parkside Bar & Grill, says a consultant on the project. Expect a three-sided bar, several large TV screens (the plan is to show World Cup games in HD), booth and table seating, and a deck that can seat about 50 people. The food will include burgers, steaks, ribs, and the like. There will also be some computers on which kids can play games.

Tough times: Looks like they could only afford to paint one building.

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People always talk about the speed of change in Beijing. Tis true it’s fast, though there are exceptions. For example, it has been more than five freaking years between Sanlitun South Bar Street biting the dust and its replacement Sanlitun Soho being revealed to passerbys. Yes, after five freaking years, the billboards around the complex are coming down.

As I passed today, finishing touches were being done on the buildings and landscaping. The complex should look pretty good in partnership with Sanlitun Village though given general building trends in Beijing it will probably look five freaking years old by late August.

(Another example of quick change: That building at the far left of the photo below took something like 11 years to complete. Of course, these are exceptions to the rule of speedy change, but I don’t care.)

Old farts will recall a giant beer mug stood near that building at left.

Great point from which to see welding arcs with your naked eye.

Hundreds of tenants will soon learn there is no free water at The Den.

The former Cafe Igosso in A Hotel has reopened as The Box Lounge.  The decor was done on a budget by Sky–his projects include D Lounge–and include a mix of new elements (plush chairs in burgundy, cranberry, and burnt orange; wall units adorned with candles; an exposed ceiling) and old ones (the opaque red plastic wall, the earthy checkerboard floor). Mixed drinks are RMB40, cocktails are RMB50, though I have yet to try them.

Victor Chuan Muh of Ad Valorem Productions gave me a tour, including a stop on the second floor, which includes a conference room as well as a lounge area facing the east gate, where he says patrons will be able to watch concerts and other events.

A number of clubs, such as Latte and Hei Hei, and numerous restaurants have opened in or near the base of the Stadium over the past year. It now looks like we are going to get a small gathering of drinking holes in the southeast section, including The Box Lounge, Fubar, and a cocktail bar planned by ex-Q Bar co-owner George Zhou.

Paul Mathew at work

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One of my favorite things to discuss is which Beijing bars are best in terms of staff or service or atmosphere or cocktails or whatever. Which is why one of my favorite features on this blog is top five lists by other people. It has been a while since the last top one, but fortunately Paul Matthew–who not only enjoys a cocktail or two, but also is skilled at making them–agreed to share his picks. Mathew is a bar consultant, author of the Blood and Sand site, and co-owner of The Hide Bar in London. His top five…

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“As a new father I’m getting out to bars far less than I used to. When I do, I’m more and more particular about where I go. I’ve always been of the opinion that you should drink better things, not necessarily more of them, it’s just now been focused. In the time available, I want to drink something made with care and attention where there are interesting people to watch and the service is good. Plenty of places have two out of three, but the full Monty can be hard to come by in Beijing. Hotel bars, for example, often have the well-made drinks and great service, but the clientele can be a little on the dull/professional side. Other venues offer a fantastic environment in which to observe the Beijinger in his or her natural environment, but getting a (dodgy) drink is like getting blood from a stone.

“My favourites loosely fall into three categories. First, the ‘academic’ bars. These are places that take their drinks seriously and follow proper protocol. No one does that better than the Japanese, so my first two would be Twilight and Glen. The former for cocktails and the latter for whisky. Twilight manages to be particular about its recipes and ingredients, hand ‘sourcing’ some of the world’s best spirits, and making things they can’t get hold of. As well as being particular, the drinks list is accessible, with a selection that non-cocktail-drinking friends have applauded. Glen, on the other hand, feels like a professional’s drinking den. Sitting at the bar appeals to my inner spirit geek, and the space is so small that you feel like you’re part of everyone’s conversation, even if it is in Japanese. Falling into this category but just not making the cut would be Apothecary and Ichikura. It does make me wonder why all the best cocktail bars are Japanese though, given Europe and North America’s history and current fascination with the cocktail (and manufacture of most of the ingredients). Maybe that’s to come in Beijing Version 2010.2.

“My second category would be the more laid-back venues that I would consider letting my hair down in (if I had enough with which to do so that is). Fubar and Mao Mao Chong both get this spot on but in different ways I think. I don’t often head to Fubar until later in the evening (and compared to Mr Boyce, I could hardly be described as a regular), but whenever I’ve been there, the service has been great, the drinks good and, most of all, the atmosphere welcoming. This is helped in no small way by the staff apparently enjoying their jobs – a seemingly difficult thing to achieve in most of Beijing’s service industry. Mao Mao Chong on the other hand, I would consider going to at any point of the evening, or day if it were open. OK, the cocktails aren’t the carefully recreated classics, but they’re accessible, interesting, and served alongside great beers and pizza. The space is just great, too, and feels as friendly as anywhere I’ve been, with the added bonus of an artistic edge.

“Finally, I’ve gone work-related at the Bookworm. For that deadline that just has to be hit, even if it’s eating into drinking time, the Bookworm offers a great atmosphere that’s conducive to thinking. Service is great, beer good and patrons interesting enough to distract you from time to time. When the deadline’s hit, there’s a good and reasonably priced selection of wine available with which to celebrate.”

Room Hospitality Group in Beijing, slated to soft open its namesake restaurant, lounge, and bar Room next week, announced today that it will team up with Guy Savoy and Chateau Margaux for a May 22 dinner on the Great Wall. Look for Brian McKenna of Room to cook alongside Savoy, who has three Michelin stars, for those who count such things. States Room:

During the dinner, priceless vintages of Château Margaux wines dating from as far back as 1900 will be uncorked for an exclusive AAA-list of 60 of Asia’s wealthiest people. The event has been initiated by wine and liquor merchant Acker Merrall & Condit, who invited McKenna and Savoy to help bring the Château Margaux wines to prominence in Asia on a grand scale.

A source at Room says that the wine uncorked will run to millions of Euros and that each patron will likely guzzle one million kuai worth. They will then throw gold bricks off the Great Wall just for the hell of it before warming themselves at a fire fueled by stacks of RMB100 notes.

The surprising thing is this event did not happen sooner. Among the Premier Crus of Bordeaux, Chateau Lafite has been running ragged over its four rivals; an event like this should help boost the status of Chateau Margaux.

Alistair, who I know best as the race marshall during a crazy day in Nanluoguxiang and Houhai otherwise known as The Rickshaw Rally, drew the winner for the ANZAC Day contest. The prizes include…

• Six Coopers beers at 12SQM (map). Plus six VB from Dxcel.
• A bottle of  Aussie Cabernet Shiraz and an Aussie pizza at Mao Mao Chong (map). Plus six James Boags from Dxcel.
• Six Bundaberg rums (“Bundy”) at Ned’s (map). Plus six Pure Blonde from Dxcel.

And the winner is: Zach.

Once again, here are the ANZAC specials for this Sunday at Ned’s, 12SQM, and Mao Mao Chong:

Ned’s From 10 AM: Discounted drinks all day, meat pies, and giveaways, plus a screening of the ANZAC Day football match at 12:30.

12SQM From noon: Aussie and Kiwi music all to go along with RMB15 Coopers and VB beers, RMB20 James Boags beer, RMB30 Australian wine by the glass, and RMB35 meat pies.

Mao Mao Chong From 1 PM: Specials include RMB25 James Boags and Redback Wheat beers, Australian sparkling wine, and eight-inch Aussie pizzas (eight-inch), plus free ANZAC biscuits.

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Q: What happens when you pair a molecular archaeologist with preserved pottery found in the Neolithic village of Jiahu, China

A: Well, naturally, you get a beer brewed by beer geeks for beer geeks—all thanks to a geek. More specifically, you get Chateau Jiahu, an exotic ale inspired by a mixture of fermented rice, honey and fruit that was crafted in those very same clay pots roughly 9,000 years ago.

Dr. Patrick McGovern from the University of Pennsylvania teamed up with Dogfish Head Craft Brewers of Milton, Delaware, to create a beer based on what was discovered in a number of ancient pots unearthed in Jiahu and the barley beers and grape wines common to the Middle East in that era. The concoction was brewed with pre-gelatinized rice flakes, wildflower honey, Muscat grapes, barley malt, Hawthorn fruit and chrysanthemum flowers, and the resulting wort was then pitched with a sake yeast strain.

Are you as compelled to taste this as we are?

- Beer Advocate

Compelled to try an alcoholic conconction that predates Chinese history by 4,000 years and harks to a time when Beijing was nothing more than a watering hole for dinosaurs? Sign me up.

I finally had a chance yesterday, from a bottle of Chateau Jiahu kindly brought by Mr Hao from the United States.

My first reaction? Before it got within a foot of my face, I smelled bananas. Up closer, I smelled mild tropical fruits, a steady dose of slightly funky honey, and some floral and grape aromas–guessing the latter come from the Muscat.

The beer itself was slightly sweet–that honey again–and had a lighter body than expected and a bit of spice at the end. I found it well made and enjoyable, even if it not something I would regularly drink. This is one worth getting a friend to bring back from the U.S….

If the weather holds, this weekend is going to be a good one to get out and about. I’m planning to head down to NLGX on Sunday afternoon for a few ANZAC Day bevvies at 12SQM, Ned’s, and Mao Mao Chong. If you are into Aussie rules football, you can catch the match between the Beijing Bombers and Shanghai Tigers at 1 PM on Saturday (see here for details). Just beware of a Bomber named Bahen or he’ll sell you a team bottle opener for RMB200 before you can say shrimp prawn on the barbie.

Someone also asked me about St. George’s Day and whether or not there is anything going on besides this British Chamber of Commerce charity dinner. Indeed, there is. Luga’s Basement officially opens on Saturday tonight [yep, having a bad day with facts] with a St. George’s Party. Look for free beer, drink deals, and RMB15 hot dogs cooked just the way St. George would have liked them — either lightly seared by breath of dragon or chef of Luga.

As noted here, Enoteca has a sampling of 40 wines for RMB200 on Saturday, while Oh! Marco on Financial Street kicks off its month-long wine fair tonight, from 6 PM to 9 PM, with a tasting and discounts. Good times on the music front, with a Bad Mamasan / Chun Qui double-header tonight at Yugong Yishan from 10 PM and DH & the Hellcats rockabillying 2 Kolegas on Saturday.

Regular contributor / Man About the Middle Kingdom 8 Songs recently checked out the new Jamaica Blue coffee shop in Central Park. He notes that it is near the former Nasca Cafe, which has been renamed Navena after the partners fell out and,  based on his observations, lost many of its customers. His take on Jamaica Blue.

“At last a coffee shop that puts real, strong coffee in your cup, that doesn’t overload on milk. Its breakfast deals are fantastic – Big Breakfast (eggs, sausages, tomato and bacon) plus a cappuccino for RMB38. Orange juice is squeezed while you wait. The coffees are cheaper than Costa, better than Starbucks and the service levels better than all of the others — and locals here have plenty of choices!

“If I had one gripe, it would be that there are too many tables and chairs for the tiny space. But with warm weather hopefully approaching, the crowd is sure to spill outside.”

“Well worth a visit.”

Portfolio tastings, or more typically partial portfolio tastings, rank among my favorite wine events. It gives consumers a chance to taste from dozens to hundreds of wines at a relatively low cost, making it an excellent way to discover what you like at little risk. Over the past few years, Torres, Gelipu, Winelink, Aussino, ASC, and Palette Vino have been among those holding such events and now Enoteca is about to join the group. The tasting this Saturday at The Place goes from 5 PM to 8 PM, includes 40 wines from eight countries as well as some snacks, and costs RMB200. Not a bad way to kick off your Saturday evening…

Numerous people have asked me what is happening tonight in terms of the National Day of Mourning announced by the State Council in response to the Qinghai earthquake. Here is what Xinhua reports (my highlights):

The Chinese flag will be lowered to half-mast around the country and at embassies and consulates abroad Wednesday in a show of respect for those killed in the April 14 earthquake in Qinghai Province, the State Council ordered Tuesday.

Public entertainment would also be suspended Wednesday, the State Council, China’s cabinet, said in an announcement.

Following the announcement, the Ministry of Culture issued an urgent circular, ordering administrative departments to strengthen supervision of entertainment venues and to punish those violating the rule.

Besides entertainment venues such as cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, dance clubs and Internet cafes, website groups should also suspend all online services of music, games, comics, films and TV shows.

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai on April 14. It has left at least 2,064 people dead, 175 missing, and 12,135 injured by Tuesday.

During the three-day mourning period after the Sichuan earthquake in 2008, live performances were cancelled and I saw some bars closed in Sanlitun, though many places stayed open and kept the lights and music low. The general mood seemed to be that it was acceptable to go out to eat and drink but not to be too merry. You are best to phone ahead. Also see this post on The Beijinger website. For more information regarding the earthquake, see these PRC Government, Global Times, and China Daily pages. For information on making a donation to earthquake relief, see this page.

(Hat tip to FM.)

12SQM in Nanluoguxiang is in the process of adding a toilet. Look for the first flush this week.

Also look for Teppanyaki restaurant Uama in China View to open a first-floor beer garden. The project is headed by ex-Souk head Robin Howlett and “Floyd” Burke, who plan to offer everyting from Crown to Corona, show World Cup games, and be open May 1.

Tuesdays at Tryst with bartender Pat “I’ll See Those Blueberries and Raise Them Some Bourbon” D returned last night after the tiny pub was chained for a few days last week over landlord-tenant issues. Warmer weather means those front doors can be swung open and more patrons served.

The long-awaited Brian McKenna project Room, in the Yintai Centre, is holding a two-week “soft opening” from April 26 that is “invite only.” The place aims to open for regular service as of May 10.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the World Cup Contest and to Karl “I Am In Thailand Today So I Can’t Do the Draw” Long of Paddy O’Shea’s for sponsoring 15 pints of Guinness as the prize. Xenon “China Beer Geek” Yuan witnessed me writing down the entrant names on scraps of paper, crumpling them up, and sticking them in a bag. Frank “I’m an Ice Hockey Guy and Rank Soccer Just Above Darts, Though Some of My Customers Like It, So I Better Not Say That” Siegel of Sequoia Cafe drew the winner. And the winner is: Alex B.

So, the big Foursquare Day thingamajig happened last Friday night and apparently I was at Fubar drinking Stella when I was supposed to be at the Apple store earning a “swarm badge.”

Ice cold beer vs computer graphic? I believe I made the right decision.

About 30 Foursquarers made it to Fubar later and some chastised me. C’est la vie. I am happy that they were happy to get their badges, that Foursquare Day inspired discount drinks all night, and that I got to meet some new people, though I remain iffy about this application, especially as it seems to inspire a competitiveness that is hardly “social” , and I say that as someone who has test-driven it thoroughly. Hopefully, some fine-tuning is in the works.

Twitter, on the other hand, I like very much and I had a good time on Friday afternoon with other users making up Beijing-specific Foursquare badges we need. Here are some I dug up today.

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“You have unlocked the CONGRATULATIONS YOU’RE STILL ALIVE badge by crossing the street in Beijing” – maggierauch

“You just unlocked the PRIME REAL ESTATE badge for visiting three different restaurants in the same space in 3 months.” – sarahplusone:

“You have unlocked the INVISIBLE MAN badge for visiting Ya Show & not being harangued by every vendor you pass.” - zax2000

“You have unlocked the PILLIPPE STARCK BEIJING badge by visiting LAN and Chocolate” – beijingboyce

“Congratulations! You have unlocked the 11PM CURFEW badge by living in Shanghai during Expo. Suckers!” – charlieflint

“Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the BROKE badge again, just by stepping into BJU.” – 4sqdayBeijing

“You have unlocked the SHUNYI HOUSEWIFE badge by having 3 cocktails before noon!” – charlieflint

“CONGRATULATIONS you have unlocked the “I’m sick of making Expo renderings” on @4sqdayBeijing and @4sqDaySHANGHAI” – jonah_kessel

“You have unlocked the I THOUGHT THAT YOU CUT HAIR HERE badge by visiting 3 pink-lit barber shops that aren’t.” – zax2000

“You have unlocked the HEY MAN, WANT SOME STUFF? badge by talking to ten dealers in sanlitun.” – beijingboyce

“Congratulations, you have unlocked the “SUCKER FOR GOURMET PUNISHMENT” by checking in Escobar and WU GE in the same week” - beijingdaze

“Congratulations, you have unlocked the STOP HITTING ME WITH YOUR BAG by checking in on the Beijing Subway at 730AM” – 4sqdayBeijing

“You have unlocked the FAILED LINGUIST badge by being unable to order a beer in mandarin in BJ despite living here 5 years” – beijingboyce

“You have unlocked the “YELLOW FEVER” badge by ignoring non-asian women at 10 beijing bars” – beijingboyce

“You have just unlocked the TIGER WOODS badge for visiting maggie’s 18 times” – beijingboyce

“You have just unlocked the GET YOUR OWN FORK AND NAPKIN badge for eating at Union Bar & Grill one time.” - charlieflint

“You have just unlocked the SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP badge by standing up at apothecary.” - beijingboyce:

“You have just unlocked the DAVID DUCHOVNY badge for visiting Maggie’s 5 times in 1 week!” – charlieflint

“[You have unlocked] been to ten chinese restaurants in beijing that have toilet paper” – beijingboyce

“You have just unlocked the SURVIVOR badge for eating out 10 times without dying from napkin poisoning!” – charlieflint

“[You have unlocked the] kilo of cow badge: had four 250-gram big bite burgers at kiosk” – beijingboyce

I imagine some Shunyi residents are as inspired to come all the way downtown as I am to go all the way out to the suburbs. Good thing that we will all soon have a piece of William Bolton aka “Chef Billy“, whose restaurant Chef Too has attracted a strong following near Chaoyang Park. Bolton says Chef Billy’s Smoke House, BBQ, and Burger Bar will open as part of Shunyi’s The Pomegranate in as little as one week. As the name suggests, you can expect lots of meat at this place, including weekend cookouts. Pull up the station wagon or the Harley and grab some.

As for Bolton’s other big project, California Grill in Sanlitun North, things are on hold as that entire mall struggles to open. By my count, it’s about two years overdue.

Update: Simon ‘The Wild Tiger’ Pendergast of beer distributor Dxcel has upped the prize package by tacking on six VB for 12SQM, six Pure Blonde for Ned’s, and six James Boags for Mao Mao Chong. Grrr…

ANZAC Day is on April 25 and commemorates the war veterans and war dead of Australia and New Zealand (see this page for more info). It is also a day when many of my friends from those two nations get together to share friendship and a few drinks.

You can enjoy those bevvies for free if you win this contest organized with the Aussie-backed bars that make up The Beijing Billabong — 12SQM (map), Mao Mao Chong (map), and Ned’s (map).

Just leave a comment and tell us one thing you like about New Zealand or Australia, and why, and you will be entered in a draw for a mini-pub crawl that includes the following prizes:

• Six Coopers beers at 12SQM. (Plus six VB from Dxcel)
• A bottle of  Aussie Cabernet Shiraz and an Aussie pizza at Mao Mao Chong. (Plus six James Boags from Dxcel)
• Six Bundaberg rums (“Bundy”) at Ned’s. (Plus six Pure Blonde from Dxcel)

The deadline is Friday at noon. I will announce the winner Friday afternoon. There is a limit of one entry per person, though feel free to list more than one thing you like (that means you won’t have to choose between Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue or Russell Crowe and Hugh Jacksman).

And look for these specials this coming Sunday, April 25.

Ned’s
From 10 AM: Discounted drinks all day, meat pies, and giveaways, plus a screening of the ANZAC Day football match at 12:30.

12SQM
From noon: Aussie and Kiwi music all to go along with RMB15 Coopers and VB beers, RMB20 James Boags beer, RMB30 Australian wine by the glass, and RMB35 meat pies.

Mao Mao Chong
From 1 PM: Specials include RMB25 James Boags and Redback Wheat beers, Australian sparkling wine, and eight-inch Aussie pizzas (eight-inch), plus free ANZAC biscuits.

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See also:

• Beijing Billabong Bar Crawl: 12sqm, Ned’s, Mao Mao Chong
• Australia Day: The Ned’s, 12sqm, Mao Mao Chong pub crawl, plus more

Less than a month after he sold his share in Q Bar, George Zhou is hard at work on a new cockail joint, this one at Workers Stadium. The new space measures ~150 square meters and will be in the Stadium’s southwest corner, near restaurant Le Kuai, almost equidistant from Fubar and MGM. Not surprisingly, the focus will be on cocktails, with small wine and beer selections. Zhou aims to have it open by the end of May.

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Billed as a “pan Pacific grill“, Tongli Studio’s BananaFish opened last week and I had my first taste of the food last night. It came after a horrible day that included having a computer crash, nearly losing my passport, getting a number of confusing phone calls, and, to start it all, waking to the sound of jackhammers courtesy of my neighbors upstairs. I figured following up on an invitation to a taste test would be a good way to put the day behind me and I figured right.

BananaFish can seat ~90 people, either at tables or along a counter. The center piece is a waist-high platform covered in sand in the middle of which is a wastebasket-sized thick-barred container of hot coals. Veggies and meats are skewered and the sticks then anchored in the sand a few inches from the coals. BananaFish’s Helen Cho explained that this style of cooking is called Robata.  In any case, I enjoyed watching the cook at work as he grilled everything from flounder to shrimp to ginkgo. It felt somewhat primal. The only downside: burning oil from the kebabs often sent out plumes of greasy smoke — you might want to avoid the far side of the counter until the ventilation is adjusted.

A recap of some items tasted with Cho:

• Sashimi: Six pieces, two each containing tuna, salmon, and avocado. Not the most delicate blend of flavors but OK value at RMB38.
• San Francisco salad with grilled shrimp, mango, greens, and avocado. I found the mango clashed a bit with the balsamic vinegar, though the ingredients were fresh. RMB28.
• Grilled fish (mackerel, I think): Tender and juicy inside, crispy on the outside — delicious. RMB18 for an entire fish  is good value. (A flounder, much bigger, is RMB58).
• Pork ribs: Two four-rib slabs with a side of baby potatoes, broccoli, and more. Very tender. Again, at RMB38, this is good value.

We also tried some lamb kebab. Tasty, but at RMB5 per stick, you are better off with the seafood.

As for drinks, there are some signature cocktails and about a dozen wines on the list (starting from RMB40 per glass, I believe), but I stuck to the beer, which included Pacific Rim brews from Australia, New Zealand, California, and Oregon, including Blue Star Wheat Beer, at RMB35 a pop.

I later joined Ksquare and Crystal who were there for dinner and both were impressed with the food. Ksquare, a picky eater, ordered a second plate of ribs and also found the flounder to be particularly good. Several other readers also gave me good comments about this place.

If this visit is any indication, BananaFish will be a good spot to relax,  share food with friends tapas-style, and get your fill without emptying your billfold — I’ll be back soon to give it another try (I will likely stick with the “beach” theme by also heading upstairs to Kokomo for a few rum-based drinks). An added bonus: there are five toilets and they are clean. You don’t see that very often in Sanlitun.

Finally, BananaFish opened by offering a 50 percent discount and has gradually reduced it to 20 percent, where it will remain for the rest of the month. This is refreshing policy in a town where too many places hold “soft openings“, complete with sub-par service and food, but charge hard opening prices.

BananaFish is open from 11 AM to 11 PM on weekdays, 11 AM to 1 AM on the weekend. Bambu, a Korean-style BBQ using flavors from southeast Asia, is also soft opening next door.

(Re the post title, the name of this restaurant reminds me of this J.D. Salinger story.)