Ignite the “Red Capitalist” in You

If you’re a regular follower of LumDimSum, then you probably know that I’m normally ALL about the food. Restaurant reviews are usually dominated by food shots, but upon visiting Red Capital Club for the first time, the beautiful, traditional courtyard space and the authentic, historical furniture and decor can not be ignored.

“It’s easy to feel nostalgic at Beijing’s Red Capital Club. Communist manifestos cram shelves, photos of the Chairman and Politburo pals packs walls, and the seating is in stuffed chairs from Marshal Lin Biao’s office.” – FORTUNE

LumDimSum Snapshots of Red Capital Club’s Design & Decor:

After enjoying a pre-dinner drink in the bar & lounge area of the restaurant, we were ready for our 2-person set dinner menu.

For starters we were served a cold tofu appetizer dish presented in the shape of a heart followed by a bowl of Hot & Sour soup. Next came the “Behind the Silken Fan” Asparagus dish, “Gong Bao” Shrimp, and “The Great Khan’s Choice” Mongolian Lamb Spiced with Sesame dish. As you can see with the photos below, each dish was served with meticulously well-thought-out presentation.  Highlights of the meal was the Gong Bao shrimp and Hot & Sour soup. Overall though, each of the dishes’ main draw was still the aesthetic over taste.

Review of Red Capital Club: 66 Dongsijiutiao, 东四九条66号 , Tel: 6402-7150

Best Part:

• The traditional Chinese courtyard ambiance and historical artifacts decorating the restaurant lounge and bar space.
• Each dish is uniquely and beautifully presented.
• The Gong Bao Shrimp was the highlighted dish of the meal.
• A perfect venue to bring out-of-town guests.

Comments:

• The two of us ordered the set dinner menu for two so we did not try much of a variety or order off the regular menu, but my overall impression of the food is that it is very mediocre and temperature is not as hot as it should be (my guess is that they take so long to work on presentation of the dish, that takes priority over its temperature).
• Overall, the main draw and attraction to Red Capital Club is definitely its decor.
• Advanced reservations are generally required.
• Expect to see a lot of out of town guests and tourists.

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

• Food: 6
• Atmosphere: 9
• Service: 7
• Overall Experience: 7