Aye by Meeting Someone Revamps Entire Menu, Adds a Touch of Mediterranean Flair
Aye by Meeting Someone stands out as quite unique in Beijing's food and beverage scene. From the get-go, diners will be struck by the alien-like waves in the restaurant's bricked façade, the Giger-esque metal stairs leading to the dining area, the speakeasy retro-style bar, and the singular and very large European cathedral-like stained glass window. Visiting for the second time (read of initial impressions here), the team have since recruited a new chef, Pol, who previously worked in Agua, to revamp the entire menu so as to give it a more Mediterranean flavor.
The revamped menu includes is packed with tapas staples such as clams with garlic and chili, beef tenderloin tartine, octopus balls, pan-fried mixed mushrooms with garlic and herbs, and cold cut platters, as well as salads, soups, and risottos. The mains, meanwhile, lean heavily on seafood with items like grilled codfish, sea bass, salmon, scallops, and Boston lobster.
We loved the fresh shrimps with garlic and chili (RMB 68, pictured at top), which was served in a piping-hot pot, seasoned with chili and olive oil, and cooked to perfection. As evidence of its addictive qualities, the complimentary homemade bread basket soon laid in tatters, its contents emptied in a rush to mop up every drop of sauce. The ham and mushroom croquets (RMB 68) also down a treat on account of their crisp crusts and a balance between the savory ham, earthy mushrooms, and creamy cheese. One slight complaint was that they were a bit too salty, though that's nothing that a cocktail wouldn't salvage.
Of the mains, our favorite was the crispy suckling pig (RMB 218) served on a wooden board with apricots and pearl onion. Its thin skin was roasted to crispy perfection and the juicy meat within was tender and packed full of flavor, the accompanying tart raspberry acting as a palate cleanser in between generous mouthfuls.
One disappointment with the new menu is that they've removed the traditional salted butter cake and all of the other confectioneries that we enjoyed so much during our last visit. However, we found their new Crystal Bun (RMB 78) proved to be more than just eye candy. The spiral-shaped bun comes in a xiaolongbao bamboo tray and is filled with pistachio puree, white peach and elle et vivre cream, and lychee wine, giving it both a sweet and alcoholic kick. The pomelo mille crepe cake (RMB 88), meanwhile, makes for a lighter option, the citrusy notes acting as a tonic for these hot summer days.
Other tonics can be found in the speakeasy-style bar on the first floor. The White Cliffs (RMB 85), for example, is a mixture of bourbon, Islay whisky, lemon juice, homemade ginger syrup, and egg white, making for a smoky, herbal, and spicy cocktail that tails off with a touch of citrus.
Though Aye by Meeting Someone is by no means a place for a random quick lunch or other such casual affairs, its revamped menu and more focussed Mediterranean flair more than make it a suitable option for a special night out.
More stories by this author here.
Email: tracywang@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Hejing, Tracy Wang
