(Beijing Today)
Updated: 2006-12-05 11:45

Tired of finding the same restaurants on every street? Why not be adventurous, and give one of these four places a try? They're all that bit different from the run-of-the-mill Sichuan hotpot or Thai curry emporium.

Havana great night out chez Che

Walking into the A-Che bar is like hitting a Caribbean beach. There's sunshine, beautiful people, bikinis, and hot, hot music. The food is classic Caribbean Creole fusion, with a liberal sprinkling of French and Spanish dishes. We recommend the Classic Saffron Seafood Paella (100 yuan), a mouth-watering combination of rice, chicken and seafood. Shrimp Creole (98 yuan) and Grilled Red Snapper (68 yuan) are alternative treats for seafood-lovers with the succulent Uruguay Steak (78 yuan).

There are more than 50 kinds of spirits, wines and aperitifs at the bar, which owner Sheng Taotao says aren't found in any other city watering holes. "I get them sent specially from Cuba," she says. There's a tipple for pretty much every taste. The lovely Sheng reminded me to tell our readers that A-Che is offering a Christmas Creole Set for the holiday season, so if you fancy a Caribbean Christmas, you know where to go.

Where: F/1, Gangwan Guoji, No. 28, Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang
Open: 11am-2am
Tel: 6427 2201, 6417 7488 (Chinese, English and Spanish)
Cost: 100 yuan per person

City's first Greek restaurant

The Athena Greek Restaurant-Bar in the Sanlitun embassy area may be the first of its type in China. The restaurant has been spruced-up recently ready for the Christmas season.

It took the urging of the Greek ambassador to convince the Athena to open a restaurant in Beijing.

The Hellenistic atmosphere is enhanced by a thoughtful collection of paintings and photographs showing the beauty of Athens and the island of Crete.

The chef is from Greece. Patrons are treated to a free glass of wine and dessert accompanied by Greek music.

The food made a great impression on my Chinese palate, which was trying Greek favorites such as Gyros (grilled lamb pieces on pita bread), Moussaka (oven-baked layers of eggplant, minced meat and grated cheese) and Souvlaki (beef, pork or lamb kebabs on pita bread or rice with traditional garnishes) for the first time. The homemade Tzatziki, a cold appetizer of yogurt, cucumber, garlic and olive oil, was a clean and pleasing starter. Seafood lovers will enjoy the Calamari, squid filled with rice, onion, peppers, raisins and coconut.

Be sure to leave room for dessert, including milk pie with syrup (or ice cream), walnut cake with chocolate sauce and Halvas, a traditional 'afters' with semolina.

Where: 1 West 5 Street, Sanlitun
Open: 11am-11pm
Tel: 6464 6036
Cost: 150 yuan per person

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