A Whole New World of Dining @ World City

Just north of The Place, the new complex World City is quickly filling up with delightful, new restaurants and cafes – marking it’s place in Beijing’s ever-evolving and growing dining scene.

It’s relatively a new apartment complex equipped with its own gym, cinema, and business center, but they’ve also got a few shops – The Source (shop selling T-shirts to sneakers) along with new additions to the dining scene.

So far, their restaurant record is strong, going 2 for 2! Both places I’ve been introduced to – San Francisco eatz! & Mosaico have been most impressive and have left me craving for more.

Owned by Professor Bruce Quan, a professor at Peking University Law School, San Francisco eatz! was originally started to assist Chinese university students with financial assistance, real world and western cross cultural skills training in addition to their normal studies while at the university. That little bit of background aside, this is a great spot for a quick bite.  Located on the main floor of SOHO Shangdu, SF eatz! is mainly a catering company serving embassies, businesses, etc. but they also have a few places to sit with a counter top and 2 small tables.  I recommend their sandwiches (Napa Valley Style Smoked Turkey Breast, California Style Roast Beef, etc.), Chicken Quesadilla, Soups in Sourdough Bread Bowls, and pasta salad.  They also serve Asian Fusion Dishes, pasta, burgers and hot dogs (but these I do not recommend).

Review of San Francisco eatz!:   1/F, SOHO Shangdu West Bldg., Dong Daqiao Lu, CBD/Guomao, SOHO尚都西座一层;   Tel: 136-0111-8803

Best Part:

• Simple, California-style dishes with fresh ingredients and fair prices.
• Great option for catering (from small dinner parties to 1,000 pax events)
• They have sourdough bread bowls!  (but clam chowder was not as thick has I had hoped and it was a bit small)
• Very friendly service – both the owner and his wife are super nice and a portion of the restaurants profits go to worthy community based projects chosen by the university students themselves.

Comments:

• They are only open for lunch (not after 4 or 5PM)
• As they are mainly a catering business, they do not have much seating available and are often out of certain menu items.
• Burgers are not that good and food quality/taste is not that consistent.
• Nothing is particularly extraordinary, but I love the concept and if I’m in the area, I love to stop by to grab food on the go.
• Relatively new start-up, I hope that they begin expanding soon!

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 3
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 6

Mosaico is a new Spanish restaurant serving delicious tapas and a nice wine list.  I checked out their 4-course set lunch menu, which included a soup, salad, main course and dessert.  The atmosphere is lovely, service was very professional (Spanish manager), and quality was great.

Review of Mosaico: World City, No. 10 Dongdaqiao Road, CBD/Guomao  东大桥路10号 世贸天阶北边; Tel: 8590-7855, 139-1150-7006, 138-1172-3840

Best Part:

• Authentic Spanish restaurant that serves Jamon Iberico from Spain and a great tapas selection
• Quality, fresh ingredients, extensive food and wine menu
• Beautiful decor and professional service

Comments:

• I had a nice experience, but I would still prefer Niajo Spanish Restaurant in Nali Patio (best Paella EVER)
• A bit pricey (so I recommend set lunch special)
• Still relatively new and beautifully designed, but atmosphere is lacking as it’s been pretty empty every time I’ve been there or passed by

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 8
• Overall Experience: 7

In the World City area, I poked my head around and I also found YueHe Vietnamese Restaurant, a small Korean restaurant speacializing in Korean stone rice bowls, a Costa Coffee Cafe with a Polar Party Ice Cream section serving ice cream combos, milk shakes, hot dogs and popcorn…there’s something for everyone!  *Ahem*

Seriously though, I’d stick with Mosaico, SF eatz!, or pop next door to The Place and feel good at CJW, Trends’ Lounge or Enoteca for quality food for great value.