Salt

Location: Salt. Beijing.

The chili-spiked citrus provides a feisty overtone to the ceviche's rich assortment of fish and crustaceans. The beef tenderloin, cooked perfectly to medium, is succulent with plenty of juices. The fruit salad, covered with a nice, light coconut foam, provides a refreshing counterpoint after the punch of the beef. What a great lunch treat!

Seafood ceviche with yellow pepper sauce, cilantro, chili, red onion, citrus radish leaves and crispy sweet potato chips.

Beef tenderloin with roasted sweet potatoes, Sichuan pepper sauce and sautéed veggies.

Fruit salad in coconut foam and crispy tulip (after a tornado of fork attack).

Bali Papaya

Location: Bali Papaya. Sanlitun, Beijing.
Dishes: Chicken satays, assorted appetizers, tom yum king prawn soup.
The food is reasonable but fails to impress. With the exception of
Thai chicken wrapped in pandanus leaves, which is simply too dry and
chewy, everything seems to be in order. But the food lacks character,
and does not have the kind of playful or motherly touch that I so
often associate with Thai/SE Asian cuisine. Service is minimal, and
the waitresses aren't familiar with the supersized menu. At their
prices (not expensive, but not cheap either), Bali Papaya may have a
rough time competing with the other well-oiled offerings in this
vibrant part of Sanlitun.