Let's Burger

The inside of Let’s Burger looks like it was lifted directly out of a diner in New York – high ceilings and comfortable chairs around small tables – but I have to say that I didn’t think the food or the service lived up to the expectations I had after seeing the restaurant.

The first thing that threw me for a loop was a sign featured prominently on their counter announcing that they did not provide free water, but they encouraged their patrons to try a smoothie or a soda instead. Not providing water at a restaurant has to be some sort of health hazard. Then I looked at the two water bottles they chose to stock and they were Evian (upwards of ¥20) and Azzurra (¥18) – highway robbery if you ask me. We ordered two cheeseburgers (¥58 each), a basket of herb fries, a Newcastle, and a bottle of their cheapest water, for a total of ¥197.

I have come to expect a certain quality from food in Beijing when restaurants start charging close to 100 kuai per head. At those prices restaurants should be able to buy high-quality ingredients and hire a chef to prepare them very well. However, the meal was very poorly timed – the waitress brought the basket of fries to the table almost a full 15 minutes before either of the burgers arrived – and the lack of ventilation was evident as pungent smoke from the grill filled the room with every order placed.

The food itself was also a little disappointing. The herb fries by the way were just French fries that had been sprinkled with dried parsley. By the time the burgers came out I was very hungry and ready to tear into the burger and all its cheesy goodness. It had been stacked high with a thick meat patty and the regular burger toppings, but after I crunched it down enough to get the first bite in my mouth, the meat itself started crumbling, and tasted more like a meatloaf than a burger.

The dry, overly seasoned meat definitely left something to be desired, and I ended up pushing aside half of my burger and chasing the taste away with my overly expensive water.

The restaurant is in concept set up as a diner, so you pay first and eat later, but the lack of a running tab on what you’ve ordered means that if you’d like another beer or another basket of fries that you pay when you order it, even if you’re in the middle of your meal. One of the cooler elements of Let’s Burger was a self-serve table of 12 different condiments, including everything in a bottle you could ever want to put on French fries, but it hardly made up for the bizarre atmosphere created by its nickel-and-diming.

On a Sunday afternoon, it was packed out, so if you go during peak times be ready for a wait, and try to offset some of the costs and the smoke by smuggling in enough of your own drinks.

Let’s Burger
Nali Patio, 81, North Sanlitun Street,
北京市朝阳区三里屯北街81号那里花园
5208-6036

Brunch at Chef Too

Chef Too has a separate menu for dinner, which I haven’t yet had the chance to taste, but their brunch menu offers a wide variety of egg dishes ranging from eggs with chili on top to omelets with sophisticated ingredients. They offer a few breakfast cocktails including a great mimosa – they also offer fresh squeezed orange juice for those who don’t like to imbibe before noon.

Though I hear they have the best steak in town, I decided to go for a slightly less heavy meal. I ordered a cheese omelet and asked to add avocado (another ingredient from an omelet with salmon if I recall correctly). The wait staff couldn’t have been more attentive or accommodating of my request to add and take away elements of a dish. As they were preparing the meal, they brought out a complimentary cinnamon roll, which was absolutely perfect. It was just the right size of cinnamon roll too – big enough to satisfy a morning sweet tooth but not big enough to put you into a sugar coma.

The omelet itself was a little lackluster, even after adding the avocado. I think I was expecting an omelet that was a little heavier on the spices, and so in my mind the dish was a little bland. A lot of the Chef Too menu is dedicated to very heavy egg dishes served in large portions, so definitely don’t go expecting to get a light breakfast. They also offer pancakes, which were fluffy and satisfying. Next time I go back (and those fabulous cinnamon rolls definitely ensure that I’ll be going back), I think I would stay away from my cheese omelet, with or without the avocado, in favor of a more flavorful dish.

Do remember to make a reservation though. When we arrived on a Saturday morning, at 9:30, every table in the restaurant had a reservation waiting. My lasting impression of Chef Too will be one of professionalism and simply but well executed food for brunch, and I can’t wait to go see what Chef Billy comes up with at dinner!

Chef Too
West Chaoyang Park Street
朝阳公园西路
+86(10)6591-8676