It's Business Time: Beijing's Best Business Lunch

Sometimes you just can’t catch a break. But there’s no reason why a working lunch shouldn’t also be a great meal. The city’s movers and shakers have weighed in and voted for their picks in the 2013 Reader Restaurant Awards Best Business Lunch.

Winner: Mosto

Mosto changes their lunch menu weekly so there’s always something new and intriguing. Just remember to book a table in advance as their lunch sets and warm patio are no secrets. Reviewers all agree that the business lunch is top notch:

“You will always walk away perfectly satisfied from a business lunch here, not just because you haven't broken the bank....the portions are the perfect size and each bite is bursting with some new flavor the chef has thought up for that month.”

“Mosto has been one of my favorite restaurants in this city for the past 5 months. The space is beautiful. The menu is a unique blend of mediterranean & south American deliciousness! Their wine list is always pleasing & surprising and The business lunch is fantastic.”

Our expert panel agreed with readers that it's one of the best in town: Tom O’Malley chose Mosto as Best Value (Fine Dining) and Xixi Cheng chose Mosto for Best Romantic Dinner.

Mosto was also voted Outstanding for Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese, Fine Dining) and Best Steak (Fine Dining) and winner of the Best Value (Fine Dining) category.

Outstanding: Alameda

Despite not receiving enough votes to come out on top, Alameda’s Brazilian set lunches receive equal fame and equal praise from our readers as Mosto. With a newly rolled-out lunch special this spring, Alameda doesn’t seem to have lost any of their magic.

“They keep a few things consistently on the menus such as the Filet Mignon Steak or the Cod Fish but they are always changing the appetizers and other entrees. The chef is incredibly creative and four years later they're still constantly coming up with new recipes.”

“Restaurants come and go in Beijing, as does the quality of the food depending on the chef in the kitchen – providing consistency in the quality of the food over time is something that most places in Beijing are unable to do. Alameda; however, is an exception to that…”

Our expert Xixi Cheng also chose Alameda for Best Business Lunch.

Outstanding: Hatsune

If you’re looking to impress clients with beautiful sushi rolls and sashimi, Hatsune, Beijing’s reader-chosen best Japanese restaurant is an obvious choice. The cozy atmosphere might even make you forget it’s a business lunch.

Reviewers offer some advice on which dishes to choose:

“I particularly liked the oysters baked in mayonnaise. The sushi was reasonably fresh and the rolls were alright-ish if a little bit dry.”

“Their fish is fresh. Stick with the sashimi and you can’t go wrong. I don’t like the rolls because there is just too much stuff going on but there is plenty of other things on the menu that I can occupy myself with.”

Our expert Xixi Cheng chose Hatsune for Restaurant of the Year (Non-Chinese, Casual).

Hatsune was also voted Outstanding for Best for Impressing Visitors (Non-Chinese Cuisine) and Best Japanese.