Cafe dela Poste is the newest addition to the long hutong, Nan Luoguxiang, where tourist-filled pedicabs, taxis, and pedestrians compete for space in this part of old Beijing that is fast becoming a popular hot spot for restaurants and bars.

A small restaurant, Cafe de la Poste has a petit bar with high chairs and solid wooden tables. Black and white photographs and some old French posters decorate the restaurant while the voice of Aretha Franklin plays in the background. The menu is written in French on the blackboard, but an English menu is also available in a booklet explaining the dishes.

Steak lover's will enjoy finely sliced marinated beef-steak served with lemon-herb vinaigrette and steak tartare. The cold sausage salad with pan-fried potatoes offers sausage served thinly sliced and mixed with onions in a light dressing while the potatoes arrive golden crispy and moist.

If you are a fan of quiche, then don't pass it up here. This classic French dish is served piping hot. It comes with a large piece of lettuce and a slice of ripe tomatoe sprinkled with parsley and a dab of extra virgin olive oil. It's filled with leek, eggs, onion and bacon, with a little cheese sprinkled on top. Unlike most quiche that are all egg, only 3 eggs are used and the crust is made with margarine.’ As a result it’s light and not at all greasy.

The wines are from southern France with an exceptional house wine that sells for only 25RMB a glass.

For dessert, try the banana flambe, it comes to the table still aflame with the warm scent of rum that will overpower your senses with it's decadence. This dining experience was proof that French dining need not always be that stuffy affair with all its formalities. At Cafe de la Poste patrons can experience French cuisine without feeling that stuffiness that is exuded at so many French restaurants. The experience is simply enjoyable.