The newest, freshest and friendliest venue in Beijing. Situated in Lido opposite the Rosedale Hotel. Park Side bar and grill is a funky and fun place to hang out for all the Family. Whether you are looking to have an afternoon with the kids, a business lunch, a hot date or simply have a few late drinks with your pals Park Side provides it all. With a sizable Garden area and main bar that is perfectly sectioned up into Bar, Lounge and dining areas there really is no circumstance that can pose a challenge to what is Beijing’s first high end ‘Gastro-pub’.

Please note that management and chef have changed completely since this review was written.

Classically Western

With great Western food and a nice outdoor area, this casual bar and grill seems like an improved version of Frank’s Place down the street. While we probably wouldn’t make the trip out to Jiangtai Lu especially to eat here, Park Side is a good fit for the Lido market.

The food, from former Union chef Zach Lewison, is very good. The smoked Norwegian salmon (¥48), served with capers, onions, quail eggs and bread, is high quality and nicely presented, although the one small slice of bread seemed a bit stingy. The mandarin orange salad (¥48) is a bigger portion. It’s mixed greens with a smoky shredded chicken, big chunks of fresh orange and crispy wonton wrappers, with a sesame dressing. This is what we were hoping for when we ate a similar, but crushingly disappointing, salad at Blue Frog two years ago. The beef lasagna is worth every penny of the ¥88 price tag. While slightly awkward to eat out of a deep bowl, the lasagna is one of the best—and certainly the cheesiest—we’ve had in Beijing. The wild mushroom linguine (¥78) is more subtle, but also rich.

While the dessert menu had only two choices on our visit, that was really all we needed, as the “wobbly coffee shake” (¥50) is divine. A milkshake for adults, it combines Bailey’s, kahlua, ice cream and espresso, and is topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

Service is up to Lido standards—which means English-speaking, friendly and generally competent. A good selection of imported and local beers ranges ¥25-60 for a bottle, and ¥30-55 for draft. Park Side is also a great spot for watching the World Cup, although we’re told that the sports bar vibe won’t be so strong after this summer’s football madness has subsided.

Sienna Parulis-Cook