That fire-truck red is coming downtown...
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Switch has nearly finished its, well, switch, as the former 798 art district restaurant is set for a Monday opening near Dongzhimen circle. You can find it on the ground floor of the Regentland Center, just east of Swissotel and west of Workers Gymnasium.
This Switch comes off as more sleek and modern and less arty and rustic than its predecessor, though some touches remain, including the views of the kitchen and plenty of fire-truck red in the decor. The place seats 110, with the first floor including a long bar and table seating and an exposed upper-level looking good for small events. On a visit last night–and maybe things will feel different when the place is fully furnished–the decor and moderate lighting made it feel like a place for friends to hang out, co-workers to grab a meal, and even a casual date.
Anyway, chef Adam Goodman says the place has updated its martini list and shifted the drinks focus somewhat to “old school” libations–think Old Fashioned, Negroni and Rob Roy–citing them as a good fit for the grill menu. He says there will be 10 wines by the glass, starting from rmb25, and bottles that range from rmb120 to rmb10,000. As for beer, the draft lineup includes Krombacher, Stella, Carlsberg and Yanjing, with Blue Star Wheat Beer among the bottle options.
Switch will open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM. There will be an “express lunch” from 11 AM to 2 PM, with three-course set menus at rmb70 or rmb80, an all-day menu, and, the star of the place, the grill menu from 5 PM where you can “choose your protein and your sauce”, says Goodman. The kitchen team was at work on steaks and duck confit tortellini last night. And here’s hoping Switch also does those 798 hot dogs topped with bacon, cheese, smoked ketchup and wasabi mustard.
Note: Switch is scheduled to open Monday. The official opening is set for March 16. You can find the place on the west side of Regentland, close to the Aussino wine bar, Toni Studio and 7-ELEVEN.
Swissotel is a little far from Dongzhimen – Dongsishitiao?