This contemporary Sichuan restaurant is located right by Nobu, and with similar tastes to South Beauty and Transit, the food here definitely makes for a better meal. The atmosphere is relaxing but also a bit tacky, with crystal chandeliers and garish paintings in bright magenta and turquoise of women whose eyes gaze weirdly in opposite directions. A shelf in the restaurant displays multiple Buddha statues and bonsai trees, with a rather incongruous bottle of vodka in the middle of it all. The seating is comfy with the tables spread out nicely, and there is plenty of space for big parties. The classic cold bean jelly (¥8) is the cheapest thing on the menu. The portion is tiny, but extremely spicy and topped with lots of fresh red chilies. The fried mixed mushrooms (¥58) come in the typical black cauldron—lit at the table—that we find in many Sichuan restaurants. However, this dish uses half the amount of oil as you’ll normally find, with very fresh ingredients. We particularly enjoyed the variety of red and green peppers. The fish fillets in hot chili and Chinese sauerkraut lets you decide what type of fish you want and is priced by the jin. This huge and delicious dish is for those who enjoy acidic flavors, as it comes in a tangy tart soup with copious amounts of homemade suancai.

Our rating: 3.5/5 stars

DETAILS

What: Syringa

Where: China Central Place, 89 Jianguo Lu, 建国路89号华贸中心

Tel: 8588-8908

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