Vineyard Café's New Chaowai Soho Kitchen
Though longtime Beijingers have fond memories of the pioneering Western food at Vineyard Café since it opened a decade ago, owner Will Yorke wasn’t
exactly devastated when his restaurant was shut down along with a
number of neighboring Wudaoying Hutong venues this past spring. After
all, he already had many other irons in the fire, including Stuff’d around the corner and, more famously, the Arrow Factory brewery on the Liangma River.
The generously portioned 550g rack of Texas barbecue ribs is only RMB 99
Now,
the British restaurateur is bringing a similarly eclectic spirit to his
new, leaner Chaowai Soho Vineyard Café. Primarily a takeaway joint (you
can find them easily on Sherpa's: newsite.sherpa.com.cn),
the snug venue also has enough tables for a handful of patrons who’ll
be able to watch the chefs busily ready their orders from the adjacent
open kitchen. Among those menu items are many of the oldie-but-goodies
that Vineyard first made its name with, like thin crust pizzas piled high with toppings (ranging from RMB 46-60 for 12-inch pies) and various sandwiches (priced around RMB 50 each).
Can't go wrong with their chicken wings and Arrow Factory either
But the real reason to get excited about this new location is the creativity to be found in the restaurant’s new dishes. Their vegetarian pizza (RMB
49 for a round, nine-inch pie or RMB 60 for a 12-inch square pizza),
for instance, is topped with smoked tofu and mixed pepper in a
combination that is savory enough to tempt even the most dedicated of
meat eaters. Then there’s a more faithful take on the irresistible classic corned beef Reuben sandwich,
featuring sauerkraut, cheddar, Russian dressing, sour cream, and mayo
on rye bread (RMB 56). We were especially impressed, however, by the Texas barbecue pork ribs.
This generous 550g rack of ribs, succulently slow-cooked alongside
Arrow Factory suds and chargrilled with a passion fruit barbecue sauce,
will set you back a mere RMB 99.
The vegetable quiche (RMB 43) is also a delicious highlight that comes with a side of plump baked potatoes
Those
scrumptious eats and affordable prices help the new Vineyard retain the
down home feel of its predecessor. Yorke is also brainstorming some
unique offerings like prepped briskets and sausages that can be
delivered and quickly readied at home, making prep for your next
barbecue a breeze. That, along with plans to film social media cooking
clips in the open kitchen and tempting new menu items, is an indication
that the long beloved Vineyard will more than maintain its already
considerable staying power.
Vineyard Café
Daily 11am-10pm. 5085, 5/F, Block C, Chaowai Soho, Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District
朝阳区朝外大街朝外Soho C座5层 5085
Photos: Uni You
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