After spending the past eight years as a chef in
Europe, Weckx worked in Malaysia and Jordan before coming to China. The
veteran of the Great Wall and Hainan Sheratons and Sofitels in Xiamen
and Xian is now serving creative European cuisine, with a French twist.
This European
restaurant features high-end cuisine without the high-end price tag. The
minimalist decor, done up in purple, white and black, with plastic
tables that are situated quite close together, due to limited space, making for
difficult business or romantic conversation.
Wine by the glass is also limited with glasses filled a bit shallow so the
better choice is a bottle of wine, from a fairly good selection of wines, with
your meal. Set lunch is a great choice and is a bargain for 2 courses with a
glass of wine or a drink at only RMB 88.
The interior has a sleek look with subdued lighting
and candles on each table, whilst the bar is lit blue from behind,
adding a cool aura to the restaurant. There is a private dining room
which seats up to ten people and overlooks the bar.
Fresh-baked whole wheat, multi grain and dark rolls are served with
three Mediterranean-inspired dips. Both the tomato and garlic and the
black olives with virgin olive oil are wonderful, but the eggplant puree
is exceptionally unique thanks to a faint taste of tahini, which marries
beautifully with the aubergine.
The pumpkin soup (28RMB) has just enough cream to
ensure that it is satisfyingly thick without being too rich. It is also
subtly spiced with light curry flavor that pleasant tingles the
tastebuds.
A cold appetizer (45RMB) consisting of artichokes,
avocado and crabmeat complimented with dill is deliciously original, as
well as being light and healthy.
The main course of Citrus Ossobucco (88RMB), veal
shank containing marrowbone stewed in wine with celery, carrots and
tomatoes, and a hint of lime--served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes.
This chef’s specialty is most enjoyable if paired with a glass of
Chilean house wine (30RMB/glass).
The grilled yellow fin tuna and sweet potatoes
(120RMB) is also cooked to perfection, the outside of the tuna seared to
a crisp, while the inside remains nice and moist. The accompanying
golden brown slices of sweet potato have an enticingly crunchy
texture.sausages to an old recipe, as well as traipsing round bakeries
in search of the perfect baguette to go with the beef brisket sandwich.
Of the desserts, the chocolate tartlet (48RMB) is
smooth, creamy and has thin sliver of mint leaves and tiny bits of
strawberries scattered around the tartlet.