A new Mediterranean restaurant has opened up in Shunyi, close to Capital Paradise. It’s a large restaurant, with an appealing décor; lots of dark leather sofas, contrasting with rich olive chair covers, and purple drapes. There’s a lot of seating available, both inside and out, with a large terrace to the front and along one side of the restaurant. The restaurant has a good ambience, and is perfect for a relaxing lunch or a dinner out with friends and family.
The menu is authentically Mediterranean, with plenty of grilled meats, a wide choice of traditional Greek and Turkish dishes, and some great fish and salad options. There is a children’s menu available, which includes pasta bolognese, salmon with dill, chicken or lamb couscous, margarita pizza, and a meat kefta, all served with a fresh salad.
Whilst waiting for our order, we were served breadsticks, and a lovely basket of lightly toasted honey bread. These were accompanied by a really good rich tapenade, a smooth and fresh tasting pesto, and a cool creamy tzatziki. All of which went perfectly with the choice of bread. My better half described his chicken kebab as spot-on, with perfectly grilled tender pieces of chicken, served alongside a generous portion of coleslaw, grilled vegetables, and authentic pitta. You can also choose from lamb, beef, or grilled vegetable kebab, lamb chops, and a whole grilled fish, prices from RMB 85.
The kids gave the pumpkin soup a huge thumbs-up, with my son saying it was the best he had tasted in Beijing. And to be fair, he’s had pumpkin soup at a good number of restaurants. The soup was the perfect consistency, delicately seasoned, and finished with a generous swirl of crème fraiche. Other soups include lentil, mushroom, and gazpacho, at RMB 30.
My chicken couscous dish was a big bowl of fluffy couscous, mixed with grilled peppers, sweet potato, carrot, and potato, all topped with tender, juicy chucks of grilled chicken. It was served with a soup which was smoky and packed with the flavor of chorizo and paprika, which I ladled on top of the couscous. Other main courses include paella, grilled sea bass, pasta dishes, salads including taboulah, fattoush, Greek, and arugula, and a nice range of pizzas.
Their authentic, tapas-style dishes are where Marebella really outshines similar cuisine restaurants. With everything home-made, there is hummus, babaganoush, labneh, mutable, calamari, and chicken croquettes, to name just a few. Making Marebella a great dining option, if you want to sample some dishes you may not have tried before, with each dish RMB 25-40. We were too full for dessert, but the pana cotta looked delicious. All of the desserts are authentically Mediterranean, with crème caramel, semolina, and a pudding with honey, RMB 30-40.
The portions are generous, and prices very good indeed. The wait staff was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Bathrooms with sit-down toilets are clean, and well appointed. High chairs are available, as well as plastic cutlery for the kids, and they also provide a delivery service.
Marebella Mediterranean Restaurant
No 4 Yuyang Street, Houshayu Town, (South Gate of Capital Paradise), Shunyi District (8046 4688, 8046 3688)
beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.
Photos: Sally Wilson
