Feel like some good-quality food prepared to Japanese standards of freshness and attractiveness? There are two relative newcomers in the Hegezhuang eating scene that are worth a try. On Shunbai Lu, now popular for galleries and plantation-style restaurants, you will find Summer Lotus Japanese Cuisine and its sister patisserie, Aux Delices.
The compound is marked by a wood and glass fence which you can easily spot on the left side as you are driving west down Shunbai Lu (that is, away from Jingmi Lu). Still in need of a clearer landmark? When you see The Red Brick Museum on the right, it’s not far down from there.
Upstairs, Summer Lotus serves Japanese standards like sushi and sashimi, fusion rolls, tempura and salads. Though dinner gets a decent-sized crowd, when a friend and I went for lunch, we were pleasantly surprised to have the place all to ourselves (but that may change when Shunyi residents hear more about this restaurant).
We ordered three dishes: a sushi platter, which had six sushi rolls and ten makis; a seafood salad paired with a sweet vinaigrette; and some vegetable tempura which was well-coated in the traditional flaky batter. All the seafood was very fresh, though I would prefer a thicker dipping sauce for the tempura, but the flavor was good for both the vegetables and the sauce. The total bill came up to RMB 230.
Afterwards, we made our way downstairs and into the patisserie called Aux Delices. We ordered a cup of tea each and had some biscuits to share. Having both previously lived in Europe, we instantly recognized the strong butter flavor in the biscuits. Then the server gave us some slivers of their specialty truffles, and we knew we would have to go back to have a proper serving next time. True enough, we learned that the Japanese chocolatier Mr. Sugita, who churns out these lovely creations for Aux Delices, trained both in France and Switzerland. He prides himself in having a deep understanding of European chocolate culture, and this is evident in his handmade chocolate. Sinfully delicious and worth every calorie!
Summer Lotus Japanese Cuisine 夏莲朵和式料理
Tue-Sun 11am-2pm (lunch), 5-9pm (dinner). Free delivery within a defined area for a minimum order of RMB 200, daily, 10.30am-5pm, call for details. Bldg 5, Hegezhuang, Shunbai Lu (188 0116 1155) 朝阳区何各庄顺白鹭5号楼
Aux Delices 莲品手工巧克力
Tue-Sun 10.30am-8pm (coffee shop), 10.30am-5.30pm (delivery).
Photo by Dana Cosio-Mercado
Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.
