Beijing Boyce

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The new Kro’s Nest, cross corner from Salsa Caribe and above Heat Club in Sanlitun South, is open as of today. This marks the return of Olaf “Kro” Kristoffer Bauer to Sanlitun some 15 months after the partner meltdown at the former Kro’s Nest — which now goes  by the name Tube Station — at Workers Stadium North.

Expect the same menu as at the other branch, on Xiaoyun Road, including those 28-inch pizzas — you will need to order those monsters 24 hours in advance. The 28-inch pizzas cost rmb600 and, says chef Zach Lewison, “only come one way — all the way — with everything on it.”

Beer fans will find one brew per night at rmb20 per bottle. Here is the lineup:

• Saranac Pale Ale
• Bombardier Bitteer
• Moosehead Lager
• Victoria Bitter
• Pedigree Pale Ale
• Lucky
• San Miguel

Finally, quiz night will continue on Thursdays with “Jim and Tao” at the Xiaoyun Road branch and look for a Tuesday quiz to soon start at the Sanlitun branch.

See also:

• New Kro’s Nest menu: Pizza rolls, deep-fried Oreos and more
• The new Kro’s Nest: Pizza oven vs front door, plus Q&A and a pic
• As the Kro flies? Partner troubles at Kro’s Nest Pizza

… for your right, to parrrrrrrrrr-tayyyyyyyyyy!

A few photos from The Chairman — also known to some as The Quiz Master and, apparently, to others as JF the KTV Machine  (still confirming that last one) — who won the recent Gung Ho-Vedett contest. Apparently those 10 pizzas and 48 beers inspired a long night of partying that ended at 6 AM at Party World. No word of any arrests…

Update: I did the draw today with chef and consultant Jeff Powell, who he has done work with Kro’s Nest in the past and more recently was at Flamme.  He oversaw the draw and pulled the winner from dozens of crumbled bits of paper in a glass I soon hope to have filled with Guinness (it is almost happy hour). The winner of a 28-inch pizza, and ten beers, from Kro’s Nest: Kelly. Thanks to everyone who entered.

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Update: The contest is closed. I’ll post the winner on Monday afternoon (tomorrow, Wednesday, as we’ll pull the winner tonight. Sorry for the delay!)

The new Kro’s Nest in Sanlitun will soon open and unleash upon us even bigger pizzas. The pies at Kro’s are already monsters so consider these new ones as monsters that eat other monsters and emit pepperoni burps powerful enough to kick up a sand storm. Word is the largest pizza will measure 28 inches (71 cm) – that means an extra 5 inches (13 cm) of pie — and when fully loaded weigh 14 pounds (6 kilos).

Even better, Kro’s Nest has agreed to give the first mega pizza and ten beers to one reader of this blog. To enter the contest, leave a comment and tell us what three-ingredient combo you like on your pizza. (I’m going back to school days and picking hot banana pepper rings, pineapple and green olives.) If you can’t decide on one threesome, feel free to enter twice, which I guess would be a double threesome.

Details:

• Leave a comment and tells us a favorite three item combo on a pizza. All reasonable comments will be entered into the draw.
• The winner (and friends) gets a 28-inch pizza and ten beers at the opening of Kro’s Nest in Sanlitun on August 12 soon. If that date doesn’t work, the winner can claim the pizza and beers later.
• The deadline to enter is 5 PM on Friday, August 5. I’ll announce the winner next Monday.

(Note: There is also still time to enter the contest for 100 bottles of vodka and gin from Fubar. Details here.)

We will rock and pizza roll you.

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Those seeking a single pizza serving at Kro’s Nest will be happy to know the new menu includes something akin to stomboli. It is essentially a pizza, rolled up, about a foot long and a good size for loners. They start from rmb25. Also new to the Kro’s Nest menu:

• Three “power tower” options, including with three orders of wings (rmb118), with fried mushrooms, artichokes and jalapenos (rmb98) and with fries, onion rings and wings (rmb85).
• Pizza nachos with ground beef, cheddar and more (rmb35)
• Beef and pork meatballs in marinara sauce (rmb35)
• A soup and salad combo (rmb42)

There are three new desserts: deep-fried Oreo cookies (rmb30), brownies with ice cream (rmb35) and cookies with milk (rmb35).

All good but it would be nice to see the team draw some inspiration from local cuisine. Any chance of a Kro’s / bird’s nest soup and pizza combo?

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Beijing Kids magazine held a pizza-making contest on Saturday morning at Kro’s Nest and I ended up being a judge. Not only that, I showed up first, at 10 AM and on three hours sleep, and anyone who doubts it can check with Marty Handley of Kro’s Nest or Mike Wester of Beijing Kids. (I was early.) ((I was.))

Each of the twelve teams was asked to pick three meats, three toppings, and one sauce for their pizzas. Kro’s Nest then brought out the ingredients, the teams prepared their pizzas, and the judges scored the pies on factors such as creativity, neatness, and appearance. The judges were Christian Bruhns, executive chef at Hilton Beijing, Xixi Cheng of Beijing Foodies and Summergate wwines, and Handley. Given factors such as “neatness”, maybe future contests need “adult” and “child” divisions, since it was obvious which pizzas the parents had pretty much made themselves.

Anyway, it was a fun morning and it showed again how useful that back room at Kro’s Nest is for events. It was especially nice with sunlight coming through the glass ceiling.

This is part thirteen in the Must Tries Series that asks people in the Beijing bar, restaurant, and wine business to give us their recommendations. This time up: Kro’s Nest owner Olav Kristoffer Bauer a.k.a. “Kro” and the F&B team Zach Lewison and Marty Handley.

Zach Lewison, Olaf Kristoffer Bauer, Marty Handley

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What is the “must try” food at Kro’s Nest?

Handley: Pardon the Pesto pizza (medium RMB120, large RMB155).  Pesto sauce, smoked duck, mushrooms, and spinach. Great way to have duck on a pizza without making it. Has a Beijing focus like everyone else is doing these days.

Bauer: Rocky Road Rice Krispy Pie (RMB45). Desserts are a new thing for us and this one is awesome. Sometimes one or two go missing. Trust me, I know where they went.

Lewison: Fried artichokes (RMB38). There is something about fried food that is salty, sour, and crispy. Best app we have.

What is the “must try” drink at Kro’s Nest?

Handley: Beach Baby Bushwhacker (RMB50).  Rum, Kahlua, and chocolate sauce. Since Zach and I are both from coastal cities in Florida, this is a homage to our state.

Bauer: The Flaming Kro (RMB50).  Beer, Amaretto, and 151 rum. This is our house drink. It’s a spin off of The Flaming Moe from The Simpsons, except ours is better and won’t burn our bar down… I hope.

Lewison: Root beer float (RMB25). A&W root beer with ice cream: takes me back to when I was little Zach, spending summers playing baseball and not having to worry about running kitchens in Beijing.

What are your “must try” foods and drinks at other venues?

Drinks…

Handley: Big bottles of Yanjing! Nothing connects you better to Beijing than drinking these on the busy streets and watching the city pass you by.

Bauer: Tap water, my house.  I work every day all day, so having a glass of water at my house is always going to be my go to drink.

Lewison: Gin and tonic at Fubar. I use to hate gin and tonic, Chad [Lager] changed me on this. I will never drink one outside of Fubar unless Chad is there by chance and makes it. That’s how devoted I am to it.

Foods…

Handley: New York strip with mushroom sauce at Chef Too. Billy [Bolton] knows his steak, and this is a simple dish made perfect. Can’t beat it.

Bauer: The falafel from Dareen coffee.  Karim [Aljaddi] has the best in town: he sells me coffee, so with every order I try to work in a falafel.

Lewison: Hot dog at No More Bunz. I moved from Dongzhimen to Lido last year and the only thing I regret is not being able to walk to work and stop by for the American hot dog.

Where's City Weekend's fashionista crew when you need 'em?

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Given the time he spends shopping for clothes, playing the drums at open mic nights, and canvassing for votes as a Mr Laowai candidate,  it is a wonder that former Parkside and Union chef Zach Lewison has any left for his new job as food and beverage coordinator at the soon-to-open Kro’s Nest. But there he is sweating day in and day out at the oven–when he isn’t doing chin-ups from a piece of rebar above it, that is. I talked to Lewison about kitchen plans at the new Kro’s Nest, expected to open in the middle of next month. (And yes, while he is aiming to be crowned Mr. Laowai, he is joking around with that last answer.)

Dairy Queen is beside the new Kro’s Nest and has RMB10 hot dogs. How can you compete?

They don’t have hot dogs at that Dairy Queen. They only have blizzards and sundaes.

What if they get hot dogs?

Hmm, I don’t know.

And what if they make a blizzard pizza? I’m just saying…

Well, we’re doing a dessert pizza. We bake the crust and cool it, then add melted chocolate, whipped cream, fruit, and other stuff.

Any other cool pizzas?

The Cheese Burger in Paradise: It includes tomato sauce, ground beef, a mozzarella and cheddar mix, dill pickles, raw tomatoes, and more.

We also have pizza sliders. We use dough on the top and the bottom, with the ingredients in the middle. The reason I came up with that idea is we’ll have people coming in looking for a burger and we can offer them the pizza slider or the Cheese Burger in Paradise.

What’s going on with the beverages?

We’re doing a decent-sized wine list, with 20 bottles and three by the glass, plus we’ll have draft by the pint and yard. There will be bottled beer and cocktails, including one called the Flaming Kro, kind of like The Simpson’s Flaming Moe. And we’re doing milkshakes and floats.

How about a shooter called the Kro Job?

The bar at night is called Kro Bar but there are no shooters for now.

Change of topic: Kro’s Nest sounds like a place where I would eat worms. Birds plus nest equals worms. What’s up with that?

Kro’s nickname comes from his youth. Where does a Kro live? In a nest. So you are coming into his restaurant, into his nest.

There are no worms?

If there are, you should probably get a discount.

Chinese cheese: Does it work on a pizza?

It could work but you’d have to be more gourmet. I wouldn’t do that at Kro’s because it doesn’t work with our pizzas.

What’s your favorite pizza?

I’m a simple guy, I like a margherita, hand tossed.

If you could be any pizza ingredient, what would you be and why?

I’d be the sauce, because this new role as food and beverage coordinator means I have to be the base for the food, the solid foundation.

If you are elected Mr. Laowai, how do you plan to change the world?

There will be more photos of me which will automatically beautify the city. If you remember, they put my picture on Union’s giant billboard and that brought in more customers. If I win the Mr. Laowai contest, it’ll probably bring in more tourists, more people who want to be a part of Beijing.

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By the way, Lewison mentioned some new cooking techniques and it sounds like the droop won’t factor on some of those massive pies won’t be an issue at the new place. For more on the place, see: The new Kro’s Nest: Pizza oven vs front door, plus Q&A and a pic.

Artist rendering (courtesy of Kro's Nest)

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Eight workers from a delivery company stand on the street and look at a pizza oven that is too big to get through the front door that it is partly blocked by scaffolding. Beijing, we have a problem. Over the course of an hour they measure the oven a dozen times and the door a dozen times. Not surprisingly, they get the same results. The choice is between turning the oven on its narrower side and potentially damaging it, in which case they are told it will be sent back, and returning it to the warehouse and coming another day. They hem and haw, measure the oven and the door once more, and decide better safe than sorry.

I watch this scene in front of what will be the new pizza restaurant by Olaf Kristoffer “Kro” Bauer. He is patient and this seems noteworthy given that he feels five years of his work went up in smoke last spring after the well-known meltdown of relations with his collaborator Yuan Jie at Kro’s Nest. I note that situation and the one last night as reasons 752 and 753 to avoid getting into the bar and restaurant business.

The new Kro’s Nest—and Bauer does plan to use that name—will be just down from Bellagio near Ladies Street. It is long and narrow and will seat about 200 people, he says. There will be an arcade up front, open kitchens so patrons can watch food being made, a long bar, a small stage, and a DJ booth. A private area will hold up to 30 people while a large room at the back includes a loft and a glassed-in tree Bauer says he didn’t want to cut down. There is a lot of orange brick. And those who griped that the Gongti location only had a squatter will be happy with the toilet options (yes, there is a sitter).

As for food, he plans to keep his super-sized pies and add some pizza spin-offs to the menu. We’ll have to wait and see, he says. After watching The Case of the Ornery Oven, we went to Bellagio for a few beers and I asked him a few random questions.

What’s the purpose of throwing pizza dough in the air?

The purpose is to get the excess flour off the dough. Flour keeps the dough from sticking but you don’t want too much. If the flour burns in the oven, it can leave a sour taste.

Which Kro’s Nest does this new place resemble?

With the arcade and the shipping container design in the front, it’ll be like Beida. With the bar in the middle, it’ll be like Gongti. And in the back, we are creating our own grown-up version of who we’ve become.

What’s been the hardest part of opening this place?

Because it is more professional, there were more people involved. Having a designer, ripping the place down, doing the electricity, water, and everything else–I learned a lot. Next time I’ll know exactly what to do.

What’s your favorite pizza?

Bell pepper, onion, and pepperoni. And garlic. You need garlic everywhere, on the top and the bottom.

Why open in this part of town?

We just happened to find a really good place that fit our portfolio. We’re looking for the same clientele as the old Kro’s, a very diverse group. Pizza should bring people together–everyone gets a slice.

There has been a lot of talk about what happened at Kro’s, that you were ripped off, that you should have been smarter, and so on. How much do you care about that now?

I care about it because it took four or five years of my life. But for now the most important thing is to get Kro’s Nest back to the people and to worry about that other stuff later.

Who makes your favorite pizzas in Beijing?

Just because it’s different from mine, I’ll go with the Vineyard Café. I just think it is all around decent.

Is Kro’s Nest going to do delivery?

Probably six to eight months after we open but hopefully faster. We want to make sure everything we do is on target and what the customer wants.

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I also asked Bauer about the location. At the Workers Stadium spot, for example, people could couple a visit to Kro’s with hitting the bars or doing some shopping in the area. He says the location near Ladies Street is good because of its proximity to a lot of residential development and the U.S. Embassy. Finally, he says he hates to put a date on the opening, because you never know what will happen, but hopes to be up and running by the end of the year.

(Follow me on Twitter at Beijing Boyce or on Facebook here.)

OK, that post title might be a little misleading, but the thing is that Olaf Kristoffer Bauer aka “Kro” of Kro’s Nest fame says he wants to meet with the man with whom he started this chain of pizza joints, Yuan Jie, and with whom relations have been somewhat less than amicable of late. Bauer says he has tried to contact Yuan Jie, even to the point of calling his family and acquaintances, but has had no luck reaching him. “Basically, I want him to come out and talk,” says Bauer. So, if Yuan Jie or his acquaintances read this blog, Kro says give him a call.

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See also:

As the Kro flies? Partner troubles at Kro’s Nest Pizza

Socket to me...

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So, I just bought a new cord for my computer and one of the prongs is round and that generally makes it harder to find an outlet at restaurants, cafes, and bars. Just how hard is it? Less a matter of hardware and more a matter of the staff making an effort…

Goose and Duck: The waitress looked at my plug, then at the nearest outlet. No fit. She looked at the outlets on either side of that initial outlet. No fit. Her verdict: They had no outlets that could fit my plug. I then walked around the bar and within one minute found an extension cord with two outlets that fit. (The waitress otherwise did a good job.)

Kro’s Nest: Pretty much the same process. A waiter looked at my plug, then at a few outlets, and told me they had none that fit. I looked around and could not find any, either. Then I mentioned that on my last visit, there was an extension cord. He said he didn’t know where it was. I  kept mentioning the extension cord and he eventually reached beneath the counter, felt around, and brought out a box that contained several adapters, including one that fit my plug. (The staff otherwise made its usual near-minimal effort.)

Salud: I wanted to quickly check my email and saw that none of the outlets nearby would fit my plug. The guy behind the bar — Ah Hui — and I looked around to no avail. Then he checked near the DJ booth and found a socket that worked. I had to move my computer near the door so the cord would reach the outlet, but it didn’t matter since I only needed to use it for a few minutes.

The result: The staff at all three places could have found an outlet that fit, but only one guy–and the one at the place where people are least likely to pull out a laptop–made that little bit of extra effort to do so. And that’s usually all it takes: A little bit of extra effort.

Lao Beijing up top, Shroomy below

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Kro’s Nest (map) is rolling out eight new pizzas – two per week – as former Element Fresh kitchen wizard Jeffrey Powell puts his touch on the menu. I tried a slice of Lao Beijing, which includes smoked duck breast, leeks, sauce, garlic, and – after it is out of the oven – a light topping of cucumbers (a bit savory for me), and the Shroomy, with four kinds of mushrooms plus thyme (tasty). Pies already available include the San Fran Special (pesto sauce, mozzarella, clams, and fresh garlic) and the Mexican Holiday (enchilada pizza sauce, re-fried beans, mozzarella, spicy beef, tomatoes, and more), that Powell describes as an “authentic taco on a pizza“.

Look also for about 15 new appetizers. By the way, two long-time Kro’s specials endure: on Tuesdays at six, the first key of beer is free, and on Thursdays, a bucket of six beers is just RMB80, with the choices including Red Seal, Brooklyn Lager, and VB.

Also of note, Powell is behind the menu at Tube Station Bistro (map), with the creations including the Himalayan black truffle pizza. Have yet to visit, but intend to do so soon.

City Weekend and beer distributor Dxcel, known best for its Australian and American brews, are teaming up with a dozen Beijing establishments in October for the innaugural Beer Jing festival.

When you drink a Dxcel-distributed beer – say a Brooklyn Lager, Crown, or VB – at one of these dozen spots, you get a stamp in your passport for that place.  Be among the first 20 people to get eight stamps and you will be invited to the Beer Jing party on October 29 at Danger Doyle’s at 7:30 PM*. According to the press release, participants will  “taste some of the most exotic microbrews the world has to offer.”  The doors open to everyone at 9:30 PM and for RMB100 you can drink beer to your liver’s content.

To participate, pick up a “passport” at one of these bars: Danger Doyle’s (map), Rickshaw (map), Kro’s Nest (map), Ned’s (map), Frank’s Place (map), Westside Café, Union Bar and Grill (map), Unconditional Love Coffee (map), The Den (map), Nola, Vineyard Café (map), and Tim’s Texas Barbecue (map).

You can also find good deals on the Beer Jing brews during October at Kro’s Nest every Thursday (five beers for RMB80), at The Den every day (RMB25), and at Nola where prices range from RMB30 for VB to RMB26 for Blue Star. All 12 spots will offer a 20 percent discount on these beers during the “Beer Jing weekend”, October 16 to 18.

* You need at least eight stamps to qualify. Send a scan of your passport to Lee Mack at leemack@cityweekend.com.cn by October 26.

Note: This is the first post on this blog to include pop-up maps (click the word “map” listed beside each place) and the ability to forward bar addresses to your mobile phone (see here for details).

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In the latest installment of the Top Five Watering Holes series, Andrew Schorr and Ellis Rahhal of Mobile Native give their top picks for drinks in the city, including a convenience store, a pizza joint, and a Bar That Shall Not Be Named.

The Wudaokou 7-ELEVEN (map)

Ellis: Amazing people-watching. There’s always dozens of people hovering inside and outside regardless of season because of the proximity to the dance club Propaganda. Students from every corner of the world, lurkers, beggars, can collectors, chuanr stand workers, police, and locals from all over the city stand out front either taking a breather from mad hip hop exercise or spending most of the evening drinking relatively cheap foreign beers purchased in the store. There’s always a story developing here. Best hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 PM to 4 AM.

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Lugar (map)

Andrew: The cocktail menu is an interesting read – he’s really doing some creative things with his alcohol. Look behind the bar and you’ll catch various herbs steeping in alcohol bottles like a project for the adult science fair. The place is rarely busy which means the nice pool table and big screen TV are usually up for the taking. The complimentary bar snacks and the Vietnamese / Taiwanese menu are also unique. I miss the original entrance,: an unmarked steel door down the alley on the side of the building. It had much more character than walking through the store in front of the bar.

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B _ _ _ _ _ s
Ellis: I won’t reveal the name of this place because it’s small and no one knows about it, and I don’t want to ruin it. Anyway it’s a Japanese-run bar on the 12th floor of an office building, and the front door has no obvious signage. It’s black and loungey with a great view and consistently made designer cocktails.

Andrew: Ellis told me, but I swore I would keep it a secret. But I’ll give you a hint: the office building is in Haidian and the name of the bar rhymes with klarphlips.

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Kro’s Nest (map)

Andrew: Something magical happens when pizza and beer get together.  Kro’s has always had some of the best deals in town on great imported beers, including Thirsty Thursday buckets of five beers for 80 RMB. While this deal has not been offered lately, it will hopefully return once a new batch of beer arrives.  This place is also getting some great Australian beers: Crown, Redback, VB, and Boags.  Those and the Brooklyn beers are all 30RMB normally, and I was told recently they have a new joint China-Oz beer called Lucky coming in soon for 20RMB/bottle.

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Salud (map)

Ellis: I seem to come to this place with a different group of people every time. The warm reddish and brown tones and intimate seating along with good music at a reasonable volume always lead to interesting conversations. The wooden loft gives the setting a more immediate feel, and people are often dancing downstairs in front of the bar.

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Top fives:

• Andrew Schorr & Ellis Rahhal
• Pete Demola
• Shane Crombie
• Ben Shaw
• Kaiser Kuo
• Bjorn Stabell
• Phoebe Wong
• Diane Fermin
• Badr Benjelloun
• Elisabeth Tchoudjinoff & Katrina Arndt
• Paul Adkins
• Chandler Jurinka
• Kevin Shen
• Steven Schwankert

Those looking to bulk up for the winter should check out the lunch special at Kro’s Nest near Workers Stadium: RMB50 gets you a soda, a salad, and a small pizza. By small, I mean four slices with enough toppings to fill the average noontime diner. By the way, according to regular contributor The Village Grouch, this place has the best fountain cola in town.

The next time you pick up booze in the T3 terminal, thank Kevin Shen: he’s in charge of picking the wines, Whiskies and other whistle-wetters there. Here are his Beijing bar picks:

Kro’s Nest
I am not a beer drinker, but I would not say no to Kro’s on a Tuesday night when Tsingtao flows for five kuai (sometimes into paper cups!) and goes well with the New-York style pizzas. At Kro’s, I can just be myself, talk sh*t, and nobody cares much. That’s how I like it.

Face
I simply adore the place: the interior design, the attentive staff, the wine selection, the food, and the gourmet chocolates.

Intercontinental Hotel (Financial Street)
Oscar Wilde, who famously said, “Work is the curse of the drinking classes”, repeatedly expressed his love of Champagne. I totally agree with him. With Champagne prices up 10 to 15 percent per year, a Sunday brunch that includes free-flow Moet Chandon, Veuve Cliquot, Laurent Perrier, and Mumms is a bargain! Who needs food, when each glass contains 150 calories, no fat, and no carbs?

Q Bar
The cocktails here are about fresh ingredients, quality spirits, and the right garnishes by bartenders with know-how. Q Bar simply has it all. On top of that, they have the best vodka and Whiskey selection in town.

Awana
OK, it’s more restaurant than bar, but the lovely Chris lets me work behind the bar when I’m in the mood to make my own Martini. And let’s not forget the authentic Malaysian food!

Those seeking pizza at The Kro’s Nest yesterday went pie-less as this spot, along with Vics, Mix, and The Outback Steakhouse, has been closed ahead of this weekend’s Brazil-Ghana game to decide the final Olympics’ soccer qualifier, states The Beijinger blog. Ghana! It all brings back memories of my difficulties finding Ghanian flags for the 2006 World Cup…

The city’s plan to ban public smoking has seen revisions, according this story:

Restaurants, bars and Internet cafes will be exempt from a recently announced ban on smoking in public places to start May 1, the China Daily reported.

They will now be asked only to have separate smoking and nonsmoking areas, it said.

“Originally, we wanted restaurants to keep 70 percent of the areas smoke-free, but owners of Chinese restaurants – both big and small – worried the plan would hurt their business,” Zhang Peili, an official with Beijing’s municipal government supervising the rule, told the paper.

“It is difficult for us to control smoking in restaurants. It’s just part of the culture,” he said.

Cast-iron cookware fans – Pantry Magic is set to open within the next week in the New Nali Studio. The decor is finished, it’s just a matter of getting in the pots and pans.

An Obama Slammer, a large Kro’s Nest pizza and victory is ours.
((c) Obama for America)

Some notes on places visited over the past month or two…

Kro’s Nest
Everyone talks about the huge pizzas at Kro’s Nest, but also impressive is the service. The staff is consistently efficient and good-humored, the drinks and pizza tend to arrive on time, and the bill, change and doggie bags come without delay.

Kro’s Nest is one of my default venues when I am a) hungry, b) meeting a group, c) looking for somewhere informal, and d) seeking to keep control expenses. With plenty of seating, a laid-back atmosphere, and the modestly named “medium” pizza starting at RMB 80, the place works on all counts. The Kro’s Nest Special, a hearty but not overly heavy meat and vegetable combination, has grown on me, and I can slap the other pie’s half with the Greek Mama, Philly Special, or, if with big eaters, Mighty Meat.

Also you never know who you’ll meet Kro’s Nest. One my last visit, I sat beside the Beijing for Obama fundraising group and suggested that they, a la the Alabama Slammer, come up with a shooter – the Obama Slammer or Barack Attack - and charge RMB 25 per shot as a fund-raiser. Sell 250 of these and you have a thousand bucks. For those willing to pay for a double shot, up the nomenclature to the Whamma Bamma Thank You Obama Slamma. People, I’m giving out this advice for free! (Remember me when the ambassadorships to safe and sun-soaked Caribbean countries are handed out.)

About the only downside to Kro’s, besides it destroying many a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, is the mafan hike down that dimly dirt path behind the place.

(Note: Kro’s Nest is closed during the Chinese New Year festival and on every Monday.)

Bellagio
Bellagio is a restaurant that maximizes its potential. The staff is not particularly friendly, the seating arrangements are nothing special, and the Taiwanese food doesn’t take me back to the island, but the place is usually hopping. The situation is no doubt helped by the place’s prominence, by business from nearby clubs, and by a good rep for late-night eats.

p3wong and I found the gongbao jiding pretty good, while the Taiwanese oyster pancake and string beans were OK. Where the place does well is desserts, particularly those shaved ice creations, if that’s your dish.

By the way, if you have not been to Hsin Yeh, the “other” Taiwanese restaurant on that same Gongti West strip, give it a try. It comes off as more formal, but the food is good value and among the most authentic Taiwanese fare I’ve found in the city.

I enjoyed a beer with Olau Kristoffer, partner in the newest branch of pizza joint Kro’s Nest, and asked a few questions about the spot, besides Vics on Gongti North (for more, see yesterday’s post – Kro’s Nest branches out to Gongti):

Your base is in Wudaokou – why locate downtown beside Vics?

This is a great central location and we can do the most delivery here. We are also close to customers in the Chaoyang area, especially around Gongti.

What’s the philosophy behind Kro’s Nest?

Real pizza. I’ve been cooking for about 13 years and can make about 200 dishes, but the one thing I make really well is also the one thing Beijing is lacking – good pizza.

Who are your typical customers?

When I lived in Atlanta, I was at a pizza place and we had punks, golf pros, homeless – everyone – coming in. I wanted to have that same diversity in Beijing. In Wudaokou, we have Koreans, Chinese, students, working people, and so on. It was a kind of pipe dream and it actually worked out.

When you’re not at Kro’s Nest, what are favorite bars?

I don’t go out. The problem when you are in the restaurant industry is you know how cheap everything [alcohol] is, so you usually go to the supermarket and buy beer. I hang out at home.

Why did you spell it “Kro’s” instead of “Crow’s”?

Because my English name is spelled Kristoffer (with a “Kr”). Who likes W anyway? It’s just M upside down.

What’s hot, round and 15 inches… wait, no dirty jokes here, my friends, we’re speaking of the medium (yes, the medium is about that big) pizza at Kro’s Nest, the newest branch opening yesterday beside Vics on Gongti North. Downtown denizens may now discover what Haidian hangers know – this outfit serves up some of the city’s best pies. It also has nine drafts on tap, so let’s hope they keep that beer fresh.

I met GB there and our Kro’s Nest Special (80 kuai) had a tasty combination of meat and vegetable toppings that we washed down with draft Stella (35 kuai). Good crust and good sauce - and I say that as someone who tossed pizza as a high school job. Spicy olive oil, Parmesan cheese, Tabasco sauce, and ketchup are available for those looking to add to their pies.

The place covers 700 square meters and is dominated by wood and brick. Downstairs holds the bar, several booths, and an area with high tables. The upstairs wraparound balcony includes more than 25 booths that seat four to six people, and two larger dining areas that hold a dozen. The ovens can handle up to 24 large pizzas at a time, says partner Olau Kristoffer. “It’s awesome. This really is a pizza parlor,” said one in our party.

Outside is a spacious deck, done in rough bricks and sprinkled with green areas and pine trees. A large semicircular bar out there will later open to serve the nature lovers.

Draft (glasses slightly more than a pint): Tsingdao at 15 kuai; Stella Artois, Carlsberg, Heineken, Tiger and Hoegaarden at 35 kuai; Newcastle, Boddington and Kilkenny at 55 kuai.

Mixed drinks: 60 to 90 kuai.  Sounds pricey, but the same beer glasses are used, with the Jack and Coke including three oversized shots of Whisky (around five ounces). This is one you want to nurse for a long while. Two straws are provided for those who prefer to share.

Soda and water are 10 to 15 kuai, coffees 20 kuai, and juices 25 kuai.

As for food, in addition to salad (45 to 50 kuai) and appetizers (20 to 30 kuai), there are more than 20 different pizzas. Most range from 75 to 100 kuai for the medium (really a large) to 95 to 140 for the large (really a huge). House pies include the Garbage Pail, which has all toppings save for salmon. It is billed as “The heaviest pizza ever! … Warning: May induce severe food coma!” Others are the Player’s Layer and Kiss of Death.

Note 1: Kro’s Nest is closed Monday, and open Tuesday to Thusday, noon to midnight, and Friday to Sunday, noon to 2 AM. Pizza delivery is not yet available.

Note 2: Look tomorrow for my interview with Olau Kristoffer, who explains why this place is called “Kro’s”, not “Crow’s”.

Note 3: After Hooters, this is the second place with a bird-themed name to recently open in the area. What’s next – The Thirsty Sparrow? Bai Bai Blackbird? And what’s the link between these birds and The Tree? Work with me people!