Lotus Thai

Location: Lotus Thai (荷花泰菜). Guomao, Beijing.
Tom Yum Soup, Chinese broccoli, sauteed pork neck and cheeks, steamed
fish with Thai lemongrass soup, lime slices, spring onion, fish sauce,
and chili.
The fish dish exhibited a well-balanced confluence of natural flavors,
with the spices and lemongrass mollified by the sweetness of the fish
sauce. The Tom Yum was delicious, with plenty of fresh shrimps bathing
idly in a robust, pungent soup base. Food-wise, Lotus Thai delivered,
but the experience was hampered by its flawed architectural design --
the restaurant opened to a bank of escalators in a less-than-perfectly
heated atrium. As chilly air circulated within the space, the dishes
-- except the heated steamed fish -- soon felt like they had been
sitting at the k counter for way too long.

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.

All-Star Sports Bar and Grill

Place: All-Star Sports Bar & Grill. Beijing.
Burger: All-Star bacon cheeseburger.
Architecture: bun, bacon, chopped onions, cheese, patty, lettuce, tomatoes, bun
Dressing: mayo.
The patty was nicely grilled but wasn't particularly flavorful. The
cheese smelled like it was just detached from Glad wrap. The onions
were caramelized and sweet, but were so finely chopped up that they
offered no texture and, as they slowly drifted off, rendered the stack
a messy fare. The bun was characterless at best and borderline stale
at worst. The highlight was the bacon, which was crispy and meaty but
was so overwhelming that the stack's delicate balance was thrown to the dumpster.
Overall, the burger was a disappointment, and there was nothing
all-star about it.

Hotel LKF

Place: Hotel LKF. Central, Hong Kong.
Burger: Burger with potato wedges
Architecture: bun, patty, tomatoes, lettuce, bun.
Lightly toasted sesame buns cuddled with a well-seasoned, seriously
juicy piece of burger meat, a pair of thinly-sliced tomatoes, and
fresh greens. The acidity of the tomatoes balanced out the fats of the
beef, while the lettuce provided a chewy, herbal kick to the stack.
The wedges were fried to near perfection, with a crisp skin and a
creamy interior -- the only blemish being a relatively heavy-handed
dosage of Italian/garlic-ish seasoning. This is a serious treat in the
midst of overrated burgers in this part of town.

Le Mieux Bistro

Place: Le Mieux Bistro. Hong Kong.
Dishes: Seared Hokkaido scallop with asparagus and lobster sauce, wild
mushroom consomme, black truffle scented carbonara pasta, French
organic spring chicken, lime sorbet, kiwi ice cream with cream parfait
in puff pastry.

Rating: 1 star to the restaurant for its exceptional food.

Burgeroom

Place: Burgeroom. Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
Burger: Bacon cheese burger with mushrooms
Architecture: bun, cheese, bacon, mushrooms, patty, tomato, lettuce, bun.
Freshly toasted buns embraced a sumptuous combination of ingredients.
The monstrous, juicy slabs of bacon and the thick-cut tomatoes stood
out among the rest. The beef was slightly overcooked but nevertheless
retained plenty of juices. An overflowing basket of potato wedges
provided extra heft to the meal. The wedges, with a crisp crust and a
soft, mushy core, came to the table piping hot, and spiritedly lit up
what was otherwise a cold, rainy Hong Kong day.