Beijing Boyce

Give a few dozen people headphones, stream in disco, get them dancing, and what happens? They want to take off the headphones and talk to their friends about whether they like the particular song being played, how funny it must look to people who cannot hear the music, and who is getting the next drink. I have to admit I had my headphones off more than on but nonetheless had fun at the “silent disco” held at Terra last Friday night, especially during that 10 PM to midnight two-for-one happy hour and at those times when a group of us wandered away from the restaurant to do our silent dance around sidewalk strollers and street vendors. This event saw Terra team up with Australia-based Silent Safaris.

By the way, the colorful menus printed on the side of Terra (see below) do a nice job of brightening that exterior….

I realize Terra will likely make a splash–or, given the citrus factor, should that be a squirt?–for its ceviche, but this place also has a nice beverage menu. There are eight wines by the glass–four red, three white, and one sparkling–starting at RMB38, while the by-the-bottle list, starting at RMB238, is compact yet fairly comprehensive. It includes quite a few bottles I’ve actually tried and either liked or found interesting, including Seresin Chardonnay from New Zealand, Vasse Felix Cabernet-Merlot and Hewitson “Gun Metal” Riesling from Australia, and Symphony Series Muscat from Grace Vineyard in Shanxi.

The beer list is modest, though word is it will soon expand, and ranges from Bombardier at RMB28 to Stella at RMB48 per pint to Estrella Inedit in a 750-milliliter Champagne-style bottle at RMB98. As for cocktails, they start at RMB58 and, along with concoctions like passion fruit mojitos and lemon grass martinis, include some drinks launched earlier this year when the affiliated Salt opened its deck, including the Slim Green (Hendrick’s gin, cucumber juice, grapefruit juice, basil, and basil syrup).

While Terra is in the former Rickshaw space, there is little resemblance to that former bar and restaurant, given the gutting of the building during renovations.  Downstairs includes an open kitchen, bar, and a few tables, while upstairs includes a longer bar and space for bigger groups. Expect lots of black, white, and dark wood, a few industrial touches such as the metal floor, and two colorful mirrored backdrops–heavy on metallic green and sepia–behind the bar. As for the exterior, I expect there will be a lot of love-it-or-hate-it reactions. The idea was to have something contemporary and it does kind of work in conjunction with Sanlitun Village and Sanlitun Soho, though opinions at the launch party on Sunday ranged from “modern” and “cutting edge” to “looks covered in graffiti” and “Mandarin Oriental-esque.”

Speaking of the launch party, I have been to a few of these during my time but this one drew a lot of longer-term expatriates and it was fun to hear about the food and beverage scene in the years before I moved to Beijing, especially given we were fueled by free-flow wine, cocktails, and beer.

Terra is open as of tomorrow.

The photos…

First floor

Second floor bar

Second floor before opening

Second floor after opening

The exterior: Terra-iffic or Terra-ble?

The former Rickshaw space in Sanlitun South is not only getting a fresh look, but also will be home to a lot of fresh seafood. Led by Gaby Alves, the team at SALT in Lido is re-opening the space as Terra, a cevicheria and bar within the next two weeks. It marks Alves return to Sanlitun after leaving Alameda on the north side several years ago.

Ceviche is a style of cuisine in which seafood is marinated using citrus; its origin has been attributed to numerous places. Terra, the Latin word for earth, will offer about 20 ceviche options along with other items on the menu, says Jennifer Eden, who handles public relations for the operations. She notes that this type of food can be quickly prepared. Terra will also stock a range of wines, many of them chosen to pair with the seafood, as well as craft beers and cocktails. Patrons can expect a complete revamp of the Rickshaw layout and decor. This includes the outer wall, which was removed and will sport a glass facade.

Ana Esteves will head the kitchen, while Andrew Vile will manage the restaurant. Terra will be open from 11 AM to 1 AM, with the kitchen closing at 11 PM. I will update when a firm opening date is set.