Biteapitta
Middle Eastern with a touch of Israeli
Israeli cuisine borrows from a variety of influences, not the least the Jews who migrated from Europe, Africa, and Asia after the formation of the state in 1948. The food must conform to Jewish dietary law, kashrut, which forbids the use of pork. Though Beijing’s Biteapitta does serve typical Israeli food such as tabouleh salad, seniya (grilled lamb kebab), hummus and pita, Owner Avi Shabtai prefers to think of the restaurant’s menu as Middle Eastern. Herbs such as basil, parsley, and mint are used in a wide range of dishes. Few of the dishes at Biteapitta contain spice and most are easily shared between two people. Among the many healthy options are salads, grilled vegetables, and chickpea dips. Nimo Wanjau
Also try: Dini’s Kosher Restaurant
Recommended Dishes for Kids
– Tomato mozzarella pitta: A pitta filled with tomato and mozzarella cheese. RMB 35.
(Part of a set menu) – Hummus with falafel: A chickpea paste supplemented with tahini sauce (made from sesame seeds) and comes with six falafel balls (deep-fried chickpeas and fava beans). RMB 40.
– Couscous topped with vegetable soup: This common North African dish is made from homemade semolina accompanied by a vegetable soup. RMB 40.
Family-Friendly Checklist:
– Non-smoking? ✓
– Clean bathrooms? ✓
– Booster seats or high chairs? ✓
– Healthy food selections? ✓
– On-table distractions? ✓
– Kids’ play area? ✗
– Child-sized portions? ✓
– Childproof table settings? ✗
– Staff accustomed to dealing with children? ✓
– Stroller-accessible? (Biteapitta is located on the second floor of a walk-up.) ✗
– Quiet atmosphere? (Depends on the time of day; it tends to get noisy on evenings and weekends.) ✗
– English menu? ✓
– Low prices? ✓
– Nearby parking? (Free underground parking available in the basement of Tai Koo Li) ✓
– Booth seating? ✗
– Diaper changing table? ✓
– English-speaking staff? ✓
– Live entertainment or floor show? ✗
Biteapitta 吧嗒饼
Daily 11am-11pm. 2/F, Tongli Studio (same block as First Floor), Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District (6467 2941) 朝阳区三里屯后街同里2层
Tavola
Back to basics
Italian cuisine is best known for its minimalist approach, which focuses on the quality of ingredients rather than elaborate preparation methods. This simple principle is echoed by Tavola Executive Chef Travaglini Achille, who says that the restaurant only uses imported buffalo cheese to make their pizzas. In addition, all pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven.
The origins of the beloved pizza are unclear, but one popular urban legend concerns the birth of margherita pizza. In 1889, Queen Margherita visited the Pizzeria Brandi in Naples. In her honor, Chef Raffaele Esposito made a special pizza containing the colors of the brand-new Italian flag: red (tomato), white (mozzarella), and green (basil).
At Tavola, there are very few spicy dishes. However, the portions are on the small side; we recommended a minimum of two dishes per adult. Note that there is a 10 percent service charge on all items. Nimo Wanjau
Also try: Mercante
Recommended Dishes for Kids
The latter two are only available as part of a set menu for kids (RMB 128) that includes ice cream and soft drinks.
– Margherita pizza: A classic made from mozzarella, basil, and tomato. RMB 88.
– Chicken Milanese: A breaded deep fried chicken breast served with fries.
– Pasta bolognese: A classic, the freshly-made Bolognese sauce contains minced meat, tomatoes, carrots, and celery.
Family-Friendly Checklist:
– Non-smoking? (Smoking is allowed at Tavola. Families should sit closer to the kitchen, away from the bar.) ✗
– Clean bathrooms? ✓
– Booster seats or high chairs? ✓
– Healthy food selections? ✓
– On-table distractions? ✗
– Kids’ play area? ✗
– Child-sized portions? ✓
– Childproof table settings? ✗
– Staff accustomed to dealing with children? ✗
– Stroller-accessible? ✓
– Quiet atmosphere? ✓
– English menu? ✓
– Low prices? ✗
– Nearby parking? ✓
– Booth seating? ✗
– Diaper changing table? ✗
– English-speaking staff? ✓
– Live entertainment or floor show? ✗
Tavola 塔沃拉意大利餐厅
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm. 2/F, The Grand Summit, Section B, Liangmaqiao Diplomatic Mansion, 19 Dongfang Donglu, Chaoyang District (8532 5068) 朝阳区东方东路19号亮马桥外交公寓会所2层
photos Littleones Kids & Family Portrait Studio and Ken
This article originally appeared on p58-59 of the beijingkids January 2014 issue.
Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com
