Don't go out of your way

Reviewed by kennetuco on Tue, 06/24/2014 - 10:50
kennetuco's picture kennetuco
kennetuco
Joined: Sep 14, 2011
Posts: 48
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mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Tue, 06/24/2014 - 11:40

Bad experience is possible, although news to me for this place. It's typically one of the better rated places for anyone who is a conoisseur of libations rather than watery 2-for-1 G&Ts, appreciates North African fare and when there is a sporting match on TV, wants to round up some mates. The Beixinqiao area is littered with bars. It is one of the best areas for such, from Dongsi in the south to Andingmen in the north, Gui Jie in the east to Ping'anli in the west.

laojianbing's picture laojianbing Submitted by Guest on Tue, 06/24/2014 - 12:35

That's a little harsh in my book. What i like about the place is that they don't play music at all and we can have a converstation there.

Did you have a bad experience there or just not like it because it was quiet on a Friday night?

mrbeijingles's picture mrbeijingles Submitted by Guest on Tue, 06/24/2014 - 13:38

I don't know what you were expecting exactly. It's a small sports bar in the middle of the hutongs. It's in the midddle of an old neighborhood surrounded by family homes. They aren't going to blast music like it's Spark or Mix. People like going there because it is the opposite of that; it has a home-like feeling with friendly staff and delicious food and drink.

Did you even try some of the rare and imported rums they have? Did you even try some of their cocktails? Did you even try the food? Did you ask them to put on the sports game that you wanted to see? I'm lost here.

kennetuco's picture kennetuco Submitted by Guest on Wed, 06/25/2014 - 01:08

I think that's the problem. It's trying to be too many things. No, I did not try the food - I went to a bar, not a restaurant. It's clearly not a sports bar with its one screen that was turned off (this wasn't my first visit, they have shown sports before). I have tried the cocktails. Middling, at best. I just don't see anything that Cuju does that I couldn't do at my or a friend's place. Nobody's asking for blasting music, but if you want dead silence...it's summer. Go outside and make your own drinks. I really want to know what the appeal of the place is. I am just not seeing it at all. I have friends with hutong apartments - what is the point of this place?

mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Wed, 06/25/2014 - 11:11

It's appeal is it offers way more bottles of rum than you can find anywhere else in this city incl. your friend's apt. (rum neat is for the discerning drinker -- meant to be left unmuddled), Moroccan food (quite unique in this town), and a variety of things to attract the clientele they're going for -- and they do seem to be doing it well. I'm a bit confused as to how they're "trying to be too many things." Yes, they will do a U.S. college football game one night on their one TV (the no. of bars in this town that have at least 1 TV are staggering) and another, a reading of Hemingway's works. It's a small place where one can typically find 10-20 people having a good time. I'd be interested in knowing which cocktails you had and how many times you've been and if they denied your request to play any music?

cujubeijing's picture cujubeijing Submitted by Guest on Thu, 06/26/2014 - 12:11

Hi Folks,

We're late to the party but the world cup is messing with our schedules and brain capacity.

@Kennetuco

I'm sorry you didn't find the place to your liking or special enough. It's just different and that's how I meant for it to be. I'd be worried if you had a bad experience but it seems clearly that it is not the case. If I'm mistaken, please inform me and I will look into it.

Now, just a few comments here:

1- Music

Since Cu Ju opened, one of the first cardinal rules of the establishment was that we would never play music. We break said rule about twice a year for very special occasions but that's been the rule since the beginning. While some folks don't enjoy the concept, we like to think of the place as a conversation space.

2- Sports

We have 2 TV that should be on 100% of the time with sports on. If that is not the case, there might be a problem with either the TV itself or one of the 5 different feed sources we use to broadcast sports. Maybe that's what happened on your visit?

3- Trying to be too many things:

We are not trying to be too many thing. we just ARE.

While magazines have written us off as a bar, we think of ourselves as a neighborhood local bistrot with a dedication to sports and rum unlike any other in this city. And we happen to serve Moroccan food and mean cocktails. Some folks appreciate that and i guess that's why we're getting the press we're getting. We're not saying we're the best at anything, but when it comes down to that 3:00 a.m college football or Hockey world cup, chances are, we're the only place open for folks to catch it, weekends and week nights.

I wish everyone would love the concept but one has to be realistic. It is what it is and enough people appreciate it. When it comes down to it, Cu Ju is a hutong hole in a wall, what makes it amazing is the customers and the staff.

Cheers

Badr, Owner @ Cu Ju

CuJu Moroccan Bistrot & Rummery

http://cujubeijing.com

Authentic Moroccan cuisine, Beijing's biggest rum selection and reliable sports.

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