It's rare to have a dining experience in Beijing that satisfies on every front, but Dianke Dianlai delivered the goods. I had dinner here last Friday and came away very, very impressed.
The first thing that struck me was the restaurant's gorgeous setting. Make sure you note the address before you go though - there is no sign for the restaurant and the freshly painted red door was firmly bolted when we arrived. A knock quickly brought a smiling waitress, however, who ushered us into the beautifully restored courtyard house.
We opted for the 98 kuai per head set dinner, and after we were seated and poured tea, the food quickly began arriving on our table.
There was a broad range of dishes, served in small portions that allowed us to sample everything the set meal had to offer without getting too stuffed. Everything from the delicious mint salad to the Yunnan-style noodles, the thin strips of chicken to the fried fish, was absolutely delicious.
Tea is the only drink that comes with the set meal, but beers here are very cheap (RMB 15 for a big bottle of Dali pijiu, or less for various types of Yanjing).
The quiet setting mixes with the steady flow of customers to create an atmosphere that is friendly, open and relaxing.
One word of advice - diners are advised to book ahead, especially on weekends.
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