Surviving is hard but oh so much fun (sometimes)
Chinese can be very creative with fruit and vegetables, mostly with impressive carvings. You can often see those in hotels and restaurants, on the buffet tables. Yes, vegetables can be art.
But sorry to my Chinese friends, “foreigners” can be very creative too.
See here some cute pictures I collected from other sources.
I will limit myself to eating it all.
I am now a regular!
Yes, I like their sausages as you can see but I have been trying a couple of other dishes. They now have a new menu with many more items. Chicken, lamb, pizza, salads, and more. One of the great dishes is crispy pork knuckle.
Their beer is great and my preferred one is Workers Stadium IPA.
Best of all, prices are very reasonable.
See also:
Legend Beer: new kid on the block, Gongti Xi Lu
https://www.beijing1980.com/2016/06/22/legend-beer-new-kid-on-the-block-gongti-xi-lu/
On 9 September, another round of pizza at La Pizza, in the back of 3.3; two different types.
Packed as usual. And many Chinese.
The pizzas are really tasty, they only get a little too much burned. Also, they should spread the toppings a bit better. Maybe too busy? Quality needs to be consistent.
Need to talk to the Italian boss once… Feedback…
On 8 september 2016 The Beijinger reported the closure of Heaven Supermarket on Xindong Lu. “Everyone’s favorite half-bar/half-liquor store Heaven Supermarket was shut down this morning as a dispute arose between the management of the popular 24-hour Sanlitun watering hole and its landlord.” Moving trucks and piles of boxes could be seen.
See:
The Beijinger article
I pass there often but usually fairly quickly so I did not notice anything.
Intrigued I went to have a check on 13 September and … it was open again. I asked one of the senior staff I know what time they would really move. His answer was simple: we don’t move but we are looking at a second location.
So whatever dispute there was, the Heaven will remain there, at least as for now.
It has been a real institution in Beijing. It opened in 2011 and is a favorite with many foreigners and Chinese. Service is basically nil, you order and pay for the food at the cashier and take yourself the cold drinks out of the fridges. Except if you buy bottles of wisky or other liquor. Somehow they figured out a way that your food does arrive at your table: in the past that was improvized but now they use numbers.
And no, all the imported beers (immense choice) were genuine (probably parallel import). And really really cheap. I did buy some whisky there time ago, never had a fake. But yes, there are many fakes around in Beijing. Food was actually pretty OK while I always wondered about sanitary conditions. I compared it to “Beijing Railway Station” with the crowds coming and going. At one stage they took over the whole pavement in Xindong Lu, till the chengguan stopped that (everywhere actually).
So what about the new location? See the pic of the poster they show.
I have to go and check where that could be because it seems right on the left side of D-One Sports Bar. Not sure there is an vacant space there. If they would go there it could become a big competition for Legend Beer and D-One.
Beer Mania, the Belgian bar restaurant on Sanlitun Nan Lu is a great place for Belgian beer (incredible range), reasonable food and snacks. And very often a music band playing.
On 16 July listening and drinking, and seeing back one of our Rotaractors playing in the band.
On 21 July we also had a Rotaract social evening there (with music!) and some friends joined the crowd. Another band.
Another occasion with a friend who tried the mussels: reaaaal good (10 July)
On a recent day, enjoying the newly arrived Westmalle Double on tap (2 September).
So, when thirsty and looking for some good music, you know where! Thierry it is!