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4 Fangzhuanchang Hutong
方砖厂胡同4号
West of Nanluoguxiang and East of Di'anmenwaidajie
胡同口在地安门百货商场正对面，进入胡同300米路南侧
This rustic hutong trattoria offers a lovely ambiance, as well as ham made in-house by Parma natives. Portions are on the small side, but the ingredients are high quality. Don't miss the gorgeous dessert sampler.
A 8 tables cozy Italian homestyle trattoria hidden in a small alley in the old heart of Beijing. Twice a day the alley turns into a community street market with vendors selling fresh veggie, fruit and fish from the countryside and Mercante turns its lights on to serve homemade egg-pasta (tagliatelle, pappardelle e ravioli), imported cheeses and cured meats to pair with daily baked home bread, homemade desserts (panna cotta, tiramisù, semifreddo) together with a selection of more than 30 Italian wines. At Mercante we cook the food we love.
Published by mercante on 02/23/2012
Great northern Italian food. I met the Italian chef and he really is doing a great job here. Amazing quality.
This is such a great addition to the area in particular and to the dining scene in Beijing in general. High quality ingredients and unfussy food, made well. Simple format but sometimes difficult to find in Beijing. Thanks to the guys behind Mercante, an evening here feels warm, uplifting, cosy, and all wrapped up in a delicious package. Prices are reasonable, considering the care that is taken and the wine list, though small, has some real gems. Cocktails are also very good. Superb.
Phenomenal. The quality of ingredients here is first class. The cheese plate should not be missed. Stay for dessert—perhaps the best panna cotta in Beijing.
what a great place, with great people and great food (next time i look for synonyms)...
had a fantastic late evening there the other day wrapped up by a glass of fine Amaro, this place is so cosy you just want to go back. and all this brought by non-pros; another proof that love can match hard training
i'm glad it's a bit out of the way, else it would soon become impossible to get a table!
This place is absolutely delicious! Went last night and got reasonably priced, delicious italian food. This is the kind of food that isn't over seasoned, but that lets their quality meat, cheese, and veggies speak for themselves. Such a rarity in BJ! Expect to spend bout 70 for dumpling pasta, 150 for steak, 100-400 for a great bottle.
This restaurant is an true pearl hidden in the old town! the service is friendly, the venue small, cosy and relaxing, the food is tasty and fresh and the recipe come directly from Italian tradition (I know that the chef is actually from Italy)! All the above at a very affordable price! I will come back, and I recommend everyone to try it!
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Total reviews: 6
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Hutong Trattoria
The environment at this rustic hutong trattoria couldn’t be better for an after-dinner espresso and dessert, but the gourmet Italian cuisine might leave you hungry going home.
Located in the hutongs around the corner from Great Leap Brewery, the restaurant has a somewhat limited handwritten menu which is constantly worked over by the owners. They will gladly discuss with you their influences from their hometown of Parma. The candlelit setting is intimate enough for a couple, though you might have difficulty with a big group.
The homemade ricotta cheese with celery (¥32) is a light and fresh opener perfect for a summer afternoon. Our server also recommended the Parma ham, (¥38) made in-house via traditional methods and served with flatbreads and hard cheeses. Skimpy pasta portions make the handmade tortellini with duck sauce (¥78) a pass. Our neighbor’s tagliatelle with ragu Bolognese (¥58) looked more appetizing. But the organic steak fillet (¥128) more than made up for it: tender, flavorful with the meat grilled perfectly pink and served with a baked corn pie. While the steak was tasty, it did take nearly an hour to come out of the kitchen.
The drink menu, though pared down to the essentials, has a wide variety of Italian wines, and the bartender offers generous pours of the house red Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Spinelli Doc (¥40). The Negroni (¥30) is also a perfectly mixed sip. The real gem here is the gorgeous dessert sampler of tiramisu, rice cake and panna cotta, served with raspberry and balsamic vinegar topping (¥56 for all three), giving you something sweet to write home to Nonna about, especially when paired with a cup of imported Italian mocha coffee (¥15).
Sean Silbert, March, 2012
