This restaurant's glowing orange hue and loud pop music make clear what its fancy name does not: Bravo Italia Ristorante isn't fine dining.

The extensive menu of this Chinese-run restaurant chain reads amusingly like an atlas, though it’s doubtful that the Parma-style, Florence-style, or Lazio-style labels hold any true meaning. At only RMB 12-16 the pastas are satisfyingly flavorful and, to the chef’s credit, cooked al dente – a rarity in pseudo-Italian restaurants. The best deal is the pizza, which is similar to that of Pizza Hut – a thick, pan-fried crust adequately topped with cheese, meat and veggies – but much cheaper (RMB 19-26 for a nine-inch pie).

The food might not leave you craving more, but the convenient location next to Wudaokou’s Lotus Center and the fast food prices might just be enough to bring you back.

[source: That's Beijing]