The first thing you notice about this impressive restaurant is the bright indoor/outdoor feel due to the large class windows that provide excellent light and views to the outside gardens and alfresco dining areas. The restaurant also has a number of workstations and is split into sections so although large it still has an intimate feel. The décor is modern and chic. The food is excellent and prices are as you would expect for an outlet in an international five star hotel.

My visit was as part of a pre opening test group (opens April 10th) and if the hotel intends to go on as they have started out this will truly become one of the best places to enjoy international fare in Beijing. I was served Tomato Tartar Smoked Salmon (RMB 90) that was pleasing to the eye and fresh and tasty to the palate. For a main course I had Seasoned Spring Chicken, which was accompanied by baby carrots, broccoli, asparagus spears and Brussels sprouts (RMB 120).

A quick look at the menu reveals a nice selection of entrees averaging RMB 100 with mains such as; New Zealand Lamb RMB 200, Venison Tenderloin RMB 200, Australian Grain Fed Beef RMB 240 and Snapper Fillets at RMB 140. Drink prices are reasonable with Beer at RMB 50, Soft Drinks RMB 45, Cocktails RMB 65, Rum and Vodka RMB 60 Whiskies RMB 50 - 160, Single Malts RMB 70 - 110 and Liqueurs at RMB 55.

This restaurant will become the place for the business set looking to impress and for those of us that like to eat a wider variety of food and who get tired of sitting down to another ‘me to’ serving of local fare. This will be a great place for Sunday brunch or a long Sunday lunch with friends and family.

The Grand Millennium hotel is worth visiting simply for the lobby, with its translucent pillars and floor to ceiling paintings. While you’re there, though, drop into CBD International, the hotel’s expansive all-day dining establishment, for upscale cuisine and one mind blowing dessert. We began our feast there with a plate of three starters: A savory lamb korma served with rice in a mini poppadom, a tangy and delicious Thai shrimp dish and a tiny portion of spicy noodles. Our appetizer, Chilled Grilled Salmon Spring Roll with Laksa Leaf and Citrus Vinaigrette (RMB80), was so artfully constructed that we were afraid to start eating the carefully woven slices of vegetables wrapped around the fish. The Roast Eggplant Soup (RMB58) was a delicately flavored, creamy concoction, with a dollop of delicious truffle potatoes topped with crispy shallot rings in the center. The main course, Chicken Breast Rolled with Prawns and Boneless Duck Leg Stuffed with Roast Vegetables (RMB150) came with excellent mashed potatoes, but the meat wasn’t as tender as we’d hoped. Once the dessert arrived though, we wished we’d skipped the main course altogether. The Warm Chocolate Fondant with Passion Fruit Center (RMB68) is a masterpiece of a dessert, for which we’ll definitely head back to CBD International. Best of all, it doesn’t matter when we can no longer control our cravings for the heavenly passion fruit sauce spilling out of the warm chocolate cake, served with apricot rosemary marmalade and vanilla ice cream: the restaurant is open 24 hours a day. Midnight snacking has never seemed more appealing.