Sci-Fi Meets Gatsby: Aye by Meeting Someone May Be the Weirdest New Addition to Beijing's Dining Scene
The following conversation happened at the Beijinger editorial office the other day:
“Where are you going?”
“Aye by Meeting Someone.”
“Meeting whom?”
"Meeting Someone!”
“Oh là là, meeting someone?"
“Aye by Meeting Someone! A new restaurant in Dawanglu!”
“Ahhh!”
The endless loop was finally broken.
We have to confess that this is the first time we've ever stepped into Langyuan Vintage, which is not surprising given that it's a "new cultural area" full of fledgling film companies, start-ups, bookstores, and the like. It's now also home to the second branch of Meeting Someone, titled "Aye" so as to not to get it confused with the first branch near Qianmen. Opened barely 12 months ago, the first venue remains quite popular and if you go on any given day you're bound to spot people lining up outside in order to take a picture with their starry stairs. Aye's are no less eye-catching, although they boast a much more ominous feel.
That “alien” feel continues inside and out, where the bricks are sculpted to give the effect of waves on a lake and the foreboding black spherical door made of glass and metal (see the main image) sits in the center, acting as the disturbing stone.
Inside is a surprisingly large 600sqm, two-floor space, including a speakeasy retro-style bar on the left, an open kitchen on the right, and private rooms decked out in purple velvet on the second floor. There's also a stained glass window on the first floor as bold as any you'd find in an European cathedral as well as black marble tables throughout.
Aye by Meeting Someone opened on Christmas Eve and features an Italian and Spanish-centric (not Scottish as the name might suggest) menu with a creative twist. The proceedings sadly kicked off with a faux pas: the complimentary toasted bread basket was massive and came replete with a choice of butter, pate, and jam (all good), but was noticeably store-bought. Management dutifully informed us that they would soon bake their own in-house. After that, however, it was smooth sailing. The beautifully presented Waldorf salad (RMB 68), featuring shredded celery, green apple, pecan, and cream cheese, had a refreshingly zesty kick that set the tone for what was to come.
The large pot of trippa alla Fiorentina (stewed Florentine tripe, RMB 118) was big enough to warm up any visitor wandering in from the cold, the tripe perfectly stewed until tender and then flavored with herbs and spices.
The grilled Australian rib-eye steak (RMB 288 for 250g) was cooked with just as much skill and we especially liked its simple but hearty addition of grilled eggplant stuffed with corn, kidney beans, peas, chickpeas, tomato, and chili.
As for the staples, the rice in the risotto Sicilia (RMB 98) came cooked with enough bite and packed with Brazilian-style sausages, prawns, and a dry chili kick. Last but not least, the bacon and chocolate pizza (RMB 88) made for a 21st-century twist to a rustic Italian dish and one we couldn't knock given that it had bacon covered in chocolate – how often do you get to experience such a thing in Beijing?
The confectioneries were especially good, albeit a little pricey. First came the traditional salted butter cake (RMB 68), our personal favorite because it eschewed heavy amounts of sugar for something altogether more subtle – slightly salted butter and French whipping cream slathered in between each layer of cake, while slices of peach gave a soft texture and fruity flavor. The Napolean cake (RMB 68) was ultra-flakey and crisp with a dense vanilla cream nestled on each tier of puff pastry. The secret to these great sweets? They're all made on site using quality ingredients by a former Ritz-Carlton pastry chef.
The bar is also a cut above courtesy of a sizable whiskey shelf, which we were told was inspired by The Great Gatsby, a book and a look that seems to have several resurrections a year in Beijing. Thankfully, you don’t have to be dressed like Jay Gatsby or Daisy Buchanan to qualify for a decent drink here. Instead simply choose from the 19 special and dozen classic cocktails. Alternatively, dig into their 10 aperitifs (RMB 50 a glass), a whole book dedicated to wine (RMB 60-70 per glass, RMB 280-2,680 per bottle), and a decent single malt whiskey collection.
Aye's seasoned bartender used to work at Equis, Four Seasons. We decided to test his skills with their signature drink, the Aye (RMB 85), a mixture of Earl Grey tea-infused gin, lemon juice, egg whites, and matcha syrup, making it both floral and herbal, and with a touch of citrus. The leather chairs have extremely tall backs, which beg you grab a stiff drink and settle in after an exhausting day of work.
Currently, Aye offers a lunch tasting menu that includes two courses (RMB 98), and three courses with a choice of their signature salads, mains, and desserts (RMB 128). We suggest going now while the prices are discounted because it's more than likely that Aye will eventually draw you in with its creative mix of glitzy décor as well as the lounge's combination of unpretentious, delicious quality dishes, traditional confectioneries, and sprawling drinks menu.
Aye by Meeting Someone
Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5.30-10pm. 15 Langyuan Vintage, 6 Langjiayuan, Chaoyang District (8589 2655)
朝阳区朗家园6号朗园Vintage15号楼
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @flyingfigure
Instagram: @flyingfigure
Photos courtesy of Aye by Meeting Someone, Tracy Wang
