Frasca Has You Covered for Al Fresco Brunch in Sanlitun
One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to go for brunch. I have a few preferred spots that I’ll frequent quite often, namely The Orchid and Feast (at EAST, Beijing Hotel), however I also try to explore new places that I’ve not been to before. Ever since the weather has become warmer and I learnt about Frasca’s delightful looking terrace, I’ve been dying to try out their brunch and enjoy a bit of al fresco dining.
I decided to finally go to Frasca this past Saturday, and despite not getting the blue sky day I had hoped for, my friend and I still chose seats out on the terrace. Plus, even though it's located in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Taikooli, the clever use of trellises, bamboo and other greenery creates a secluded garden feel.
Frasca's terrace has an abundance of greenery
The set brunch menu is four courses and costs RMB 298, and two hours of free flow, which includes Aperol and Campari spritz, negroni and house wines, can be added for RMB 188. You can also request to order from the a la carte menu if you're not feeling hungry enough for the full four.
Feeling like we would treat ourselves and also, hey why not it's the weekend, we went for the brunch set menu and also added the free flow (you only have to drink three spritzes to get your money's worth anyway).
So what's included on the set menu?
To start off with, there is an antipasti course consisting of Italian classics such as cold cuts, artichoke and peppers, frittata and a rocket salad. I was a little worried at first about how much food this would actually be as I hate food waste. However, we were reassured by the manager that it was all very small bites and was not too much food at all.
Antipasti to share was the ideal amount
In true brunch fashion, the next course was uova or egg-themed, with a choice between Japanese scrambled eggs on sourdough or spaghetti alla carbonara. I love a good carbonara and chose this option, and oh boy was I not disappointed! The spaghetti, which comes topped with a breadcrumb incrusted runny egg yolk, might possibly be the best carbonara I've had outside of Italy.
The Italian classic spaghetti carbonara really hit the spot
Next up was a choice of main dish or secondi which had various options such as mini pinsa (Roman-style pizza), roast chicken, sea bass, Italian sausage or beef tenderloin. Already feeling pretty full from the first two courses, I opted for the sea bass thinking it sounded like the lightest option.
The sea bass was served with bean sprout, artichoke and tomato emulsion, and was simply amazing. The fish was beautifully soft and paired well with the tomato and artichoke. As predicted, it was also a nice, light meal.
The pan-seared sea bass was a great choice
Finishing up with dessert, there were two options: either a zuppa inglese (sort of like an Italian version of English trifle) or vanilla gelato and cream.
We decided to order both and share, because if there is one thing living in China has taught me, it's that sharing food is the way to go! The Alkermes Liqueur-soaked sponge packed a boozy punch and had a good balance of sweetness. The homemade gelato, as expected from an Italian restaurant, was smooth, creamy, and everything a gelato should be.
These Italian classic desserts were a great end to the meal
With great food and a lovely atmosphere out on the terrace, Frasca makes for a pretty perfect brunch spot. We were also informed by the manager that in a few weeks' time, they will soon also have a live jazz band performing every weekend on the terrace for brunch as well.
The addition of live music makes it look like Frasca's brunch is about to get even better, though perhaps it's just me but the words jazz brunch immediately remind me of Brooklyn 99 (any fans among our readers will know what I'm talking about).
Frasca
1F, The Opposite House, 11 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯街道11号三里屯太古里北区瑜舍酒店
Images: Katie Coy, courtesy of the venue, Dianping
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