Wish

Encased in glass and surrounded by the greenery of Lido Garden, this softly lit, two-story restaurant manages to be trendy, glamorous and cozy all at once.

The creative design of the poetic scroll menu is really impressed, though the Chinglish descriptions of the fusion dishes may make you clueless.

However, the food turned out to be superb. Firstly, the creamy cod pumpkin soup (RMB 28), served inside a hollow pumpkin, was soft as silk. Secondly, crispy-skinned tofu topped with mango and salmon (RMB 38) was complemented splendidly by the complex and refreshing taste of the accompanying perilla leaves, which burst with aromatic flavors. The scallops with cepe mushrooms cooked with a cheesy egg yolk sauce (RMB 78) were also excellent. Don't expect heavy entrees here but rather appetizer-sized dishes; it's hip dining at its finest.

What's more, free salsa classes are on offer every Friday downstairs on the dance floor.

Location: 6 Fangyuan Xili, Lido Garden, Chaoyang District

Opening hours: Daily 11-2am.

Tel: 010-6438-1118/8883

Urumqi's Beijing Office's Xinjiang Restaurant

Expect plenty of mutton dishes, such as hand-torn lamb rack and sauteed lamb chops with black pepper. The naan and homemade yogurt are must-tries. Also get some Korla pears, grapes, hami melon and red jujube from Qarkilik at reasonable prices. 60 yuan per person. 11am-9:30pm. Inside Urumqi's Beijing office, 1 Chegongzhuang Beidajie, Xicheng District. West of Guanyuanqiao on West Second Ring Road, turn right at first traffic light, go 150 meters, to the left. 6836-2795.

Xianheng

The service is improving. But everybody comes for the food. Start with hand-peeled bamboshoots, then try the fried, dried fish with spring onions, bound pork and three crisp vegetables (lettuce, water chestnut and preserved lettuce). Wash it all down with yellow rice wine, which comes out for 38 yuan per 500 grams. 50 yuan per person. 11am-1:30pm, 5-8:30pm. Northwest corner of Heping Xiqiao, 19 Eastern North Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District. 6443-1558, 6443-1668.