Don't be fooled into thinking this restaurant is all about seafood, this eatery is more than capable of offering up delights for all dining enthusiasts.

The brain child of Irish chef de cuisine, Brian McKenna, Blu Lobster is the flagship for a whole new dining concept in Beijing. The interior decor is all clean lines and muted tones, as sleek and modern as the restaurant's new age dining philosophy. What makes this dining experience different is the new twist put on standard favorites. Comparisons to Wonderland are inevitable-you never know what surprises wait around the next corner.

Our culinary adventure included such highlights as an amuse boche of watermelon gazpachio served in test tubes, accompanied by oysters garnished with passion fruit foam and foie gras spread on rice crispies. Even the seasonal salad is exceptional, containing some 40 ingredients!

The Asian spiced crab risotto was paired with avocado ice cream and billowing layers of lemongrass foam. The desserts left us breathless (partially as there were three) for their originality and sheer yumminess. The mango and pineapple ravioli served with ice cream deliciously spiced with Sichuan peppers is so fantastic words can hardly do it justice. Even the simple shot of caffeine to end the meal was a stunner. The edible coffee treat is a combination of coffee foam, milk sorbet and coffee crumble.

The dishes we sampled are part of the restaurant's signature "taster menu," featuring a selection of dishes McKenna whips up according to the ingredients of the season. Choose from a six or 10-course taster menu (700yuan and 950yuan). The a la carte menu offers up most of the dishes featured on the taster menu, along with additional vegetarian, seafood, dessert and other surprises as well. If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Blu Lobster, strap yourself in and enjoy the ride- it's a unique thrill.

The Details
Perfect for: culinary thrill seekers

Blu Lobster
Add: Shangri-La Hotel, 29 Zizhuyuan Lu
Tel: 010-6841-2211