Beijing Boyce

While La Zazou has been serving the drinking and dancing crowds in the club and lounge sections for about a month, the restaurant held its first event last Saturday. Regular contributor 8 Songs, along with his partner Ba Songs, attended and provided this write-up:

-

“Ba Songs and I attended Gelipu Wines‘ wine tasting and dinner at Le Zazou last night. Thought I would share some observations with you.

“The “fine dining” section is upstairs, tucked in under the sloping ceiling. Sparsely decorated, it is long and narrow.

“Now, I know that we only paid RMB220 per head, and we were told at the start of the evening that it was the restaurant’s first night of serving guests. So I can excuse some things, like the wait staff trying to figure out how to get around all the guests, but other aspects just don’t cut it.

“Last night, there were simply too many guests in the space. Correction — there were too many tables and chairs, some of which were empty. I watched one chair being shuffled no less than six times as staff found themselves blocked into corners. I don’t know if the restaurant was trying to please the Gelipu people by providing more seats, but it was getting uncomfortable by the end of the night.

“Did I mention chairs? Our chairs were more like lounge chairs. Great for leaning back and relaxing in, but quite awkward for eating a meal. Some people were sitting at higher tables, with (dare I say it) high chairs. I don’t know if they were more comfortable, but if I ever go back there, I won’t be sitting in those lounge chairs.

“Another unfortunately planned aspect of the room was the lighting. Downlights were in a line along the ceiling line, and anyone sitting under them was lit up like they were on a stage.  Conversely, those out of the throw of those lights were in darkness.

“The evening was about matching food and wine, with the idea being that we would buy some of the wines being sampled. The evening started with a choice of a Baron’s Black Wattle Dark Lager (retail RMB350 for a slab), or a Roberts Estate Brut NV (RMB120). The lager was quite enjoyable, with pronounced yeast and hops flavours. It was 5.8% alcohol by volume, but the alcohol did not overpower. The sparkling wine was light and fruity, but not a well-balanced blend. House-made breads and dips came out for this round.

Read more

I described here some things that impressed me about Zazou during a pre-opening visit yesterday afternoon. Last night, I saw the place in action and, in addition to liking the decor, I enjoyed zipping between the relaxed live music / lounge area and the peppier club part, which had a bit of the original China Doll feel (not the look, but the crowd, the bar, et al). But there were a few opening night jitters, most of which would be easy enough to fix. Here are five:

1. The place advertised free vodka cocktails until midnight. I ordered a vodka cranberry: free. A vodka martini: not free. A vodka orange juice: free. A vodka tonic: not free. OK, I can see why a martini might not count, but a vodka tonic? Solution: Provide a list of drinks that are free. By the way, the pours were generous. By the way II, a foot rail and coat hooks beneath the bar would be a good idea.

2. Sitting at the bar in the club was like being in a rugby scrum. Staff bringing orders to the bar squeezed roughly between patrons, bumped them from behind, stuck hands in their faces as they waived bills and shouted orders to the bartenders, etc. The bar staff itself was efficient, though they hail from the land of the free pour, but the floor staff had all the subtlety of subway riders during rush hour. Solution: Create a two-meter space at the bar where the staff can deliver the orders and thus leave the patrons in peace.

3. The sink in the men’s toilet is beside – uncomfortably so – a urinal. Gross. Solution: Erect a barrier between the two.

4. The three dozen candles in the club looked pretty. Unfortunately, drunk patrons and pretty candles usually don’t go together. Solution: Provide patrons with individual mini fire extinguishers.

5. The place has been emphasizing a French angle, but all four wines by the glass were Australian. Solution: Get some French wines.

As mentioned, these are all things that can be easily fixed. Overall, good times at Le Zazou and I plan to be back soon. For those thinking about visiting tonight, the free drinks are at the Absolut bar between 8 PM and midnight, and The Verse is playing in the lounge.

Free vodka cocktails from 9 tonight...

-

Six comments about a visit to Club Le ZaZou an hour ago, just ahead of its 9 PM opening, and a talk with head of PR, Angelique (hat tip to Andy at Union for the intro):

1. I have been working on a post about how when I have business acquaintances or friends in town, it rolls around to 2 AM and the question comes up, “Where should we go?” Some of the current options – Chocolate, Maggie’s, Suzie Wong, et al – don’t always fit the bill. What I want is a nice lounge, kind of a Q Bar but that stays open late. This place might be it. The lounge has plenty of plush armchairs and sofas, done in a wide range of neutral to warm colors, from off-whites and tans to mochas and chocolates, with plenty of space in between. And Angelique says the place will be open until 5 or 6 AM.

2. Le ZaZou is huge at 1040 square meters (I don’t even want to know what the rent is). It is divided into more than a half-dozen areas – the lounge area, a Champagne bar, a vodka bar, an area with a DJ booth and dance space, several private rooms, and a second floor with a bar on one side and a dining room – focused: French fusion cuisine – at the other.

3. It will have a Perrier-Jouet Champagne bar – Angelique says it is the first is Asia. In a town dominated by Moet and Mumm’s, this is good to see.

4. I am told the drinks will be cheaper than at Xiu, more along the lines of Suzie Wong. There will be free vodka cocktails at the Absolut bar from 8 PM to midnight for the next two weeks.

5. There is a noticeable and welcome lack of neon.

6. The place will have live music. Up tomorrow night: The Verse.

My first thought on hearing about this place was to imagine yet another overdone oversized undercapitalized establishment, and in a mall no less. My first impression is that Le Zazou is far more subtle than I expected, the space is nicely divided, and it is doing something a bit different, with the Perrier-Jouet bar an example. If it can provide an alternative to places such as Xiu and, even better, a relaxed late-night option,  it should have positive spinoff effects for other places on that third floor. But that’s an “if” – the real task is always getting people in the door…

-

Massive “cocktails / fine dining /  live music / sexy grooves” establishment Club Le ZaZou kicks off a “2-Week Long Glamorous Soft Opening” tonight at 10 PM on the third floor of Sanlitun Village. The club will have free Absolut cocktails until midnight as well as a two-for-one on bottles of Perrier-Jouet Champagne and “sexy funky house” music. As the flyer states, “Party deep with your friends and loved ones.”

I’m at Union, so I’ll pop over now and report back if there is any additional news, such as the club’s definition of deep.

-