French cuisine - sometimes elegant, sometimes rustic, and always exquisite - can be intimidating for a beginner to learn. The legendary fare leaves many cooks feeling that they have something to live up toĦ a certain unattainable elegance and flair for food. Not true. Mastering the art of French cooking is considered by many to be the pinnacle of culinary achievement. It can be done with a few practiced cooking methods, signature ingredients, and just a dash of panache.
Bistro Le Galopine
11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm, RMB300-400
1/F, Wenlian Hotel, 10 Nanli Nongzhangguan
Bistro des Chateaux
11:30am-3am, RMB200
1/F, Jinglun Hotel
Like a steakhouse off the turnpike to get a square, jolly meal and accompanied by generous portions of wholesome but unsubtle foods.
Bleu Marine
11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm, RMB200-300
5 Gunghua Xili (south of Mexican Wave)
The chefs procure the freshest ingredients possible, and diners get a unique menu every day.
Cafe Le Gavroche
10am-whenever the last person leaves RMB200-300
5 Guanghua Xili, beside Guanghua Lu Primary School
French cuisine, snacks and pancakes in a Parisian atmosphere. Same team, new chef and Chinese menu available.
The French Bistro
11:45am-2pm, 6pm-10:30pm, M-F, 6-10:30 weekends, RMB400
1/F, Great Wall Sheraton
The artfulness of French cooking applied to hearty portions of fusion foods.
Flo
11am-2pm, 6pm-11pm, RMB200-300
2/F, Rainbow Plaza, 16 East Third Ring Road
You can tell it's good because half the clientele is French.
Justine's
12am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm, RMB400-600.
1/F, Jianguo Hotel, 5 Jianguomen Wai Avenue
La Scene
11:30am-2pm, 6pm-11pm, RMB200-300
5 Guanghua Xili (just north of Jianguomenwai at Guiyou Department Store)
Four star Turkish ambience and a small, but imaginative menu. One of the best French restaurants in Beijing.
La Terrasse
8:30am-10pm, RMB100-200.
B/1, Kerry Center
A reincarnation of a successful Sanlitun venue, but location and an uncomfortable diffused lighting on the pictures of Paris' past hanging on the wall might make this the next victim of closure. Strong standard French dishes
Maxim's de Paris
11am-2pm 5-10pm, RMB100-200.
2 Chongwenmen West Street
Belle Epoque decor, attentive but confused waitstaff. Try the flambes but keep a wet towel on hand just in case.
Old Peking Grill
above RMB400.
4/F, Grand Hotel Beijing
Duck liver pate, baked snails, tenderloin, baked lobster in champagne sauce.
Plaza Grill
12am-2pm, 6pm-10pm, RMB700-800.
2/F, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, 48 Wangfujing Street
Caviar, vineyard snails baked in the shell, fresh prawns, beef medallion.
Sea Breeze
11:30am-2pm, 6pm-12pm, RMB100-300.
5 Guanghua Xili, beside Guanghua Lu Primary School
Specialties include snails, goose liver, duck, and
tartar steak. Set lunches for RMB58 are popular among all of my French friends.