Although quite expensive (don't expect to get out for under 500 for 2... without drinks), this is quote possibly one of the most delicious meals I've ever had in Beijing. Or, I suppose, two of the most delicious meals, since I had to go back after loving it so much the first time around.
Every single ingredient is top notch. Fresh and of the highest quality, they spared nothing to ensure that everything they serve is the best. And it shows - not just in flavor but in presentation. The pink rock salt is a nice touch.
The teppenyaki chef was friendly and knowledgeable. He suggested the best ways to eat each dish - with what vegetable or paired with what sauce, and his recommendations were always on.
Everything, absolutely everything, positively burst with flavor. I never wanted to stop eating.
As for the service - wow. The fuwuyuans were so attentive and responsive, I wasn't sure if I was still in Beijing. I didn't even have time to put my napkin down, having just wiped my mouth, before a fuwuyuan had come and taken it away, teriyaki sauce and all, and replaced it with a new one. I almost felt self-conscious about it. At all times, there was a waitress standing nearby - and not playing with her cell phone or examining her feet! Even the chef took it upon himself to carefully remove the shrimp tail remains from my plate and toss them out. I wouldn't have been surprised if they'd started spoon-feeding me, so much was my bewilderment at the unusual luxuriousness of the experience. It was very heart-breaking, as you could imagine, to leave through the doors and return to the harsh realities of Beijing and the cold, bored apathy of its usual fuwuyuans.
The decor is nice - halfway between simple-classy and extravagant-flashy. Whatever that means. It kind of has a "hidden club" feel; there's a secret to opening the front door, and the bathrooms are unmarked, making a first timer feel lost unless accompanied. Hatsune, by the same owner, is upstairs, which helps explain this. There's also a hotpot section of the restaurant, but not quite so delicious as the teppenyaki.
I absolutely recommend the giant prawns. Huge and juicy, and the chef slow-cooks the head over the course of the meal, making it a tasty and crunchy snack later on. The onions wrapped in beef/bacon are also incredible. If you go for lunch, the set meals are almost half-off (you could eat well for about 150pp). Reservations *always* recommended.
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