Temple Restaurant Beijing

Temple Restaurant Beijing No.23 Shatan Beijie Off Wusi Dajie Dongcheng District, Beijing www.temple-restaurant.com See here for directions: map

TRB - Temple Restaurant Beijing - is the latest of a small number of new restaurants that are bringing Beijing dining to another level. TRB is stands out because it serves excellent contemporary cuisine within one of Beijing’s most tastefully renovated historical sites.

My recent dining at TRB was a four-course dinner paired with wonderful wines. Sparkling champagne and toasty mini-baguettes opened our dinner and the bread was continuously served during the meal. The menu consisted of a rich-velvety cauliflower soup, oxtail tortellini, basil-crusted turbot, chocolate tart and praline ice cream. Every single dish was spectacular, but the citrus-like sauce accompanying the flat fish stood out as distinctively unique, along with the condensed and intensely-rich cauliflower soup.

The service was eloquent and professional, and the staff attentive, with someone always nearby ready to help with any requests or to pull your chair when you got up or and push it back when you returned to your seat.

Our dining room was spacious, gallery-like with floor to ceiling windows, looking out over this historic site, which dates back 600 years. The white and gray painted walls are adorned with abstract modern paintings, lending a clean and minimalist look to the restaurant.

This six-century old complex was once a printing workshop that churned out Buddhist sutras and imperial texts during the reign of Emperor Yongle. It was turned into a factory when Mao Zedong proclaimed China’s independence in 1949, and this is where the first black and white television sets were manufactured using the Kunlun brand name.

Renovation began in 2008, focussed on preserving all the layers of history and keeping as much as possible of the original structures, retaining the austere and solemn feel of the ancient temple. This is definitely one of the coolest and most chic places for a meal, a brunch, or a party.

I predict that TRB will snap up a wide number of awards in a variety of categories in 2012.