Best Food In China

Location

Beijing is famous for secret treasures hidden behind high walls and 1/5 Taverna is no different. Situated inside 6,000 square meters of walled in sanctuary know as 1949 The Hidden City which is nestled amongst the high rises of Sanlitun, Beijing’s party district. 1949 The Hidden City offers the charm and allure of a mini version of 798, Beijing’s most famous art district. A wonderful mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, art, food and music the perfect combination for entertainment or just to hang out.

1/5 Taverna provides a home style Spanish cuisine in a warm cozy environment. It is decked out with generous amount of timber, leather and high ceilings, leaving you expecting a fireplace around the corner. The dining chairs are all with armrests and the lighting is just perfect for patrons to sit relax and enjoy the night away.

Kicking off the meal with a crisp white wine from Chile and some crusty yet soft and warm inside olive bread to wet the palette.

The salad was crisp and fresh, a simple combination of bell peppers, tomatoes and olives with a tangy dressing. The deep fried calamari on the other hand was over powered by oil and batter, I felt scared to add extra oil with the side dip. Then came the sizzling prawns, there is always something fantastic about a sizzling dish, the tingling sound compounded with the fragrant smell made the fat juicy prawns delicious with just the right amount of garlic for taste, but not too much garlic to leave you smelling like a Beijing Taxi driver. It is by far my favorite dish of the night!

Diving into the mains we had the Salmon Steak and the Spring Chicken. The Salmon was beautifully presented but a little bland on the taste buds, best to add the green pea sauce, it helps. Whereas the Spring chicken BBQ’d golden brown yet moist and full of flavor, good for those who love to suck tender meat off the bones, accompanied by Spinach with so much iron it made my teeth hurt and good old lumpy mash potato just like my mother used to make.

The dessert plate consisted of chocolate volcano, Crème Brulee in a shot glass and a variety of fruit tarts. Tasting plates or platters are often a great way to sample everything without having to commit to a large portion of anything, well, in this case its was the right thing to do, given there were no gastronomic experiences to offer.

All in all, it is definitely a place worth a visit, The interesting use of space and the above expectation level of services (you know how hard that is to find in Beijing), makes this place a nice gathering alternative to your lounge room.

And best of all it doesn’t stink of tourist yet, it still has an air of undiscovered freshness.

Duncan Trevor-Wilson

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