Thank You, TRB! High-End Restaurant Opens French Bistro Concept Merci in Joy City
Beijingers living around Chaoyang Joy City mall have a new reason to be thankful these days: Merci, the latest venture by TRB, who seem to be on a bit of a winning streak at the moment. The brand famous for its fine dining establishments has chosen one of Beijing’s busiest shopping hubs for their newest restaurant, an upper-midrange bistro falling somewhere between the fancy TRB Hutong and their more casual Hulu in Sanlitun.
Though the restaurant just opened, many of the dishes we tried during our visit were on point in terms of flavors and textures (a step up from plenty of "soft openings" we've tried that weren't quite ready for prime time), while also offering very good value for money. Prime example: a mammoth RMB 238 meat platter stacked with mutton, chicken, pork, and roast veggies, the flavors bursting thanks to a dash of turmeric. Their hefty roasted French-style lamb leg (RMB 328) is pricier but hits the mark with its succulent texture.
READ: TRB Hutong Named #1 Fine Dining Restaurant in Asia, Cracks Global Top 10
Before you tuck into the hearty mains, be sure to start your French feast off with a classic niçoise salad. Its RMB 98 price tag suits its generous portion and tender slices of flame-kissed tuna. Their RMB 88 truffle-topped pizza, although very good, was sadly much smaller than we expected, amounting to more of a starter to share than a full-on meal. We also quibbled over some of the menu overlaps with Hulu, such as the beef sliders and soufflés, because although both of those items are delicious, we had hoped to see an entirely original menu at Merci.
The bistro's ambiance also leaves quite a bit to be desired when compared to TRB Hutong's transcendent high-end atmosphere, or even Hulu’s more laid-back but colorful digs. That's in part because of Merci's placement; situated on two levels – a first-floor downstairs, and a mezzanine level upstairs – the dining area has an open-air vibe that is an oddly charming addition to an otherwise sterile mall-banished street food-style corridor. What the bistro may lack in atmosphere, however, it makes up for in decoration, namely chic, blue and gold-trim mid-century French furniture.
Aside from those few flaws, this restaurant is a windfall for a neighborhood still catching up to dining hubs like Sanlitun, Xinyuanli, and the CBD, because its chic yet rustic, reasonably priced eats are just plain good. You'll also be happy to hear that Merci features TRB's famed level of attentive service, which sets this restaurant even further apart from Joy City's other eateries.
All that and more will prompt fans of French fare and foodies living in Beijing’s east end to bid this new restaurant a hearty "Bienvenue!"
Merci French Food by TRB
Daily 11am-10pm. Unit 31, Joy Yard, 5/F, Chaoyang Joy City, 101 Chaoyang Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区朝阳大悦城6层601内5F-50
READ: Erguotou Gets a Serious Upgrade at Beijing's Priciest New Cocktail Bar
More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
Instagram: mullin.kyle
Photos courtesy of TRB
