Brunch Vet The Rug Chaoyang Returns With a Sleek New Look and Menu of Classic Favorites
The old adage of time flying when you're having fun couldn't be more apt at The Rug. Seven years, to be precise, for Elin Hung, Aden Chang and Gordon Chan, with the "fun" being satisfying appetites with American brunch classics given a gourmet twist.
The dynamic F&B trio shut down the original location of their restaurant at Chaoyang Park a year ago for major renovations, and have now reopened to show off those spiffed-up digs. Gone are the cozier, loft-ish old trappings, swapped out for a sleeker look that includes a bar, along with more minimalistic furnishing. All that helps make the location feel ideal for a date at either brunch or dinner (the latter being complemented by the fruity range of new cocktails available at the new bar, along with Arrow, Jing-A, and various imported craft beers; it amounts to an improvement over the day-timey vibe the venue used to have).
When we stopped by we were not only impressed by the new digs, but also by how the grub went way back. Specifically, the owners had drawn up a "greatest hits"-style menu similar to the first one they ever released seven years ago, as a way to satisfying the nostalgia of their throngs of long returning customers. Taking a peek at those throwback offers now shows just how forward-looking The Rug was when it first came on the scene – from quality bagels that were then a true rarity in the capital, to the overall use of organic ingredients before such lofty standards even occurred to most Beijing restaurateurs).
Among those sumptuous eats: buffy gourmet bagels topped with toppings like lox and dill or shrimp and avocado; all-day brunch options like their wholesome and healthy eggs benedict bagel brunch, the sweetly indulgent home-made hotcakes with banana, sandwiches like pepperoni and homemade pesto, grilled mixed organic vegetables, and scrambled egg zucchini and spinach; along with salads and soups, the best being the warming-as-a-hearth pumpkin soup.
During our visit, only these throwback dishes were available, but now the restaurant has expanded to a far larger menu that will be more familiar to patrons (after all, The Rug has been known in recent years for having a huge menu that's more like a book). Now that that bigger menu is available, you can order other dishes like banana hotcakes (topped with homemade onion butter and Canadian maple syrup) for RMB 78; apple cranberry crumble pie slices for RMB 48 each; garlic chilli porcino linguine (made with Yunnan supreme porcino, garlic, chilli and extra virgin olive oil) for RMB 88.
Yes, from the sleek new decor to the classic, throwback menu, there's plenty of tempting reasons to welcome The Rug back after a long absence, during which this seasoned craft food stalwart was sorely missed.
The Rug
Mon-Fri 11am-10.30pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-10.30pm. Bldg 4, Lishui Jiayuan, Chaoyang Gongyuan Nanlu (opposite South Gate of Chaoyang Park), Chaoyang District (131 6174 2511)
朝阳区朝阳公园南路丽水嘉园4号楼(朝阳公园南门对面)
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
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Photos courtesy of The Rug
