24 for '24: Enjoy Grill 79's New Menu With Breathtaking Views

24 for '24 is a continuation of our series showcasing 24 of Beijing's best places to drink, eat, and relax in 2024 (now in 2025), to help folks get out of the house and into all these great F&B spots around the city.

Located on the 79th floor of the China World Summit Wing Hotel, Grill 79 offers diners food with a view like no other in Beijing. Boasting panoramic views of the capital, including of landmark spots like the Forbidden City, the restaurant offers a truly breathtaking dining experience. 

It's not just the scenery from the windows that's stunning. The restaurant space itself has been meticulously designed with a red glass theme throughout, elegant chairs and table settings, and eye-catching crimson chandeliers. 

However, the true showstopper is the food. Grill 79's offerings are designed to provide guests with fresh experiences through creative food pairings using premium ingredients. On Feb 17 they will be launching a brand new A La Carte Menu, where you can savor the exquisite art of French cuisine with Chinese flair. The new menu includes a range of enticing dishes and here are some of our personal favorites.

Canapés

There's no better way to start your meal at Grill 79 than with their canapés. They've got new additions like the Tiger Prawn and Avocado Tartelette, Beetroot with Feta Cheese Macaron, Salmon Gravlax with Sour Cream, Parmigiano-Reġġiano Puff with Iberico Ham, and delicate Foie Gras. We were particular fans of the macaron; the feta paired wonderfully with the notes of beetroot, and the choux pastry of the puff was perfectly crispy on the outside but soft in the middle.

Appetizers

When it comes to appetizers, the Foie Gras with Truffle is a great example of Grill 79's innovation. The foie gras is mixed with local Chinese truffle and served on a bed of brioche, it's paired with raspberry sorbet, which cuts through the richness of the foie gras. Little cubes of cola jelly add a fun flavor and texture into the mix. 

Another dish that showcases Grill 79's ability to put a unique Chinese twist on a classic is the Sous Vide Oysters. A soya milk foam is added, giving a creamy element to the dish, while hidden underneath is a layer of red cabbage sauerkraut with notes of dashi for some umami tanginess. 

Seafood

An eye-catching new dish is the Turbot, caught locally, which is served with a bright yellow classic French fish bone sauce with pearls or caviar and salmon roe. The turbot is soft and flaky, and the sauce not only adds a bold color to the dish but also elevates the fish's subtle taste. 

Chef Special

Next, we have to move on to some of the chef specials, which feature one of Grill 79's signature ingredients: high-quality premium steak and beef cuts. Firstly, there is the Tenderloin Rossini, which features your choice of either Mayura Wagyu Beef or USDA Prime Beef topped with crispy buttered bread and foie gras that has been slow-cooked in a broth infused with truffle for extra decadence. It's served with a rich, sticky truffle sauce made from a mixture of the same broth used earlier simmered with red wine and grated truffle; the sauce almost borders on sweet and packs a big punchy flavor. The dish is finished with freshly sliced truffle to complete the ensemble and it's important to note that all of the truffle used in the dish is locally sourced Chinese truffle. 

Another amazing tenderloin dish is the US Prime Angus Beef Tenderloin, which may look deceptively humble, but it is executed to perfection. The beef comes with a slice of grilled pineapple for a touch of tangy sweetness, and diners can choose from a variety of different salt blends to accompany the steak. In traditional fashion, it's served with a selection of seasonal vegetables, creamy soft mashed potato, and a beef jus served in a jug so you can add as much or as little as desired. 

Sweets

Finally, we move on to sweets and the simply named Jasmine dessert, which, despite its unassuming name, has multiple layers at work. A quenelle of coconut ice cream sits atop jewels of jasmine tea jelly, ice jelly and berry compote, which injects a nice tartness to the other more subtle flavors. The dessert is strikingly presented on a pillow-shaped plate, nestled within the "head indent" and acting as the perfect metaphor to finish off your meal – we know we'll be dreaming of these new dishes for quite some time!

Along with the new A La Carte Menu launching on Feb 17, Grill 79 will also be launching a special Degustation Set Menu by Chef Zoe (RMB 888/package) on Mar 3 featuring many of the new dishes mentioned in this post, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

Lastly, we have to mention Grill 79's incredibly comprehensive wine selection, which allows you to find the ideal pairing for your meal. However, if wine isn't your thing, they also have cocktails, beer, coffee, tea, soft drinks and more to sip on as you take in the brilliant daytime or dazzling nighttime views of Beijing below. 

Grill 79
79/F, China World Summit Wing, 1 Jianguomen Waidajie, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国门外大街1号北京国贸大酒店79层
Hours:11.30am-2.30pm; 5.30pm-10pm
Phone: 010 8571 6459

READ: 24 for '24 Restaurant Series

Images: courtesy of China World Summit Wing