Category Archives: M-Dawg

Face: The newest attempt at Shanghai in Beijing

The Beijing branch of Face opened a month ago and complements its brethren in Shanghai , Jakarta and Bangkok . Just south of Workers’ Stadium in a refurbished school, this…

The last of the first

A beautiful sunny and breezy Sunday, the rooftop garden at The Bookworm, a coffee on the way, my fingers tapping out this newsletter — it sounds as though all is…

American Cafe: Where M-Dawg gets his Cobb

Compelled by the constant praise M-Dawg heaps on the place, three meals had I at American Cafe. His favorite, the Cobb salad, was a heavy hitter, the lineup including cubed…

Mojito: Weihanstephaner and Mexican burgers

It was third time lucky at Mojito as after the first visit I accidentally threw away my notes and after the second visit I forgot them after some real estate…

Champagne: Vodka over Veuve

The Crowne Plaza Hotel (Wangfujing) launched its lobby bar late last month with a party that saw the multi-hued cocktails and Veuve Cliquot flow. The waitresses sported wild hairdos, the…

Sina Ja Mina: Ummm…

It’s right on the verge of that graveyard formerly known as Sanlitun South Bar Street . You have to hold the toilet door closed while you do your business. And…

Should I stay, should I Igosso?

Relaxed ambience, cloth napkins, polished silverware, attentive service, and all at reasonable prices. It’s a pleasant place to hang out and a hard one to leave, although M-Dawg took exception…

Together Bar: Rough and Reggae

Fifty-square meters of reggae fun, it’s on a rather dumpy street close to Le Cafe Igosso. Red clay brick, yellow stucco and a flat-black ceiling; pine furniture with meter-square tables…

Modern Nomads: Mongo-kitsch or Ulan Boutique?

This two-floor Mongolian-themed bar is the former location of Zone de Confort. Part of a restaurant chain from Ulan Bator, it offers less than authentic fare, given ingredients such as…

The Den: Post-midnight pizza pros

It was Friday night, 2:30 AM, Agent Red Wolf had called nearly a dozen pizza places – Buona, Papa John’s, you name it – and none could deliver. The hunger…

W: Spaghetti with ping pong balls on top

Six months after my last visit, I returned with M-Dawg and Pony, primarily because our first choice for brunch was closed. (Way to go, Modern Nomads: Next time, prepare a…

Home Boyce: Saturday night cocktails for six

Ex-First Cafe, ex-Midnight bartending buffs George (GZ) and Echo (EC) are now free at nights to indulge in the intoxicating concoctions they customarily create for others, so we met at…