Summer is around the corner. Many don't have good appetite during hot days. How about having dinner along water? It cools down both body and mind. The following is a list of restaurants surrounded by water. The good atmosphere may refresh you and gives appetite. Let's enjoy.
Beijing
Diao Tai Restaurant
Diao Tai means a place for fishing in Chinese. As the name suggests, the restaurant is located beside a creek, which flows around.
Diao Tai features authentic Tonglu dishes, a small city in south China's Zhejiang Province, with delivering food materials from the city directly.
The recommended dishes are Hangjiao Zhugan (tender liver fried with spicy pepper slices) and Shaguo Guiyuhuang (lake crabs, shrimps, hams and wild funguses stewed in a terrine pot). At Diao Tai diners can also find some nice Shanghai and Hangzhou dishes.
Location: to the southwest side of Yuyang Hotel, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-64669599/9699
Xigucun Japanese Restaurant
The whole restaurant is built as a small Japanese village consisting of houses with a creek flowing underneath. All the houses are separated with glass walls.
Dining there, you'll also hear water drops.
Location: inside Kunlun Hotel, No.2 Xinyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-65903388/5695
Tiandi Yijia Reataurant
Tiandi Yijia is built upon a renovated courtyard. Tables there are surrounded by small pond with small fish inside. The restaurant offers great dining atmosphere.
Location: No.140, Nanchizi Dajie (by Chang'anjie), Dongcheng District
Tel: 010-85115556/85115557
Shanghai
La Verbena Spanish Restaurant
La Verbena has the location advantage. It is situated along Huangpu River. No matter you have the outdoor or indoor seat; you'll have a view of the river. Especially the seat close to window for two people is hard to order before Valentine's Day. There will be live band at night.
The Spanish omelet and citrus marinated tuna are good.
Location: Store E, the northern end of Binjiang Dadao, No.2967 Lujiazui Xilu, Pudong Xinqu
Tel: 021-58789837
Sun with Aqua Japanese Dining & Bar
What impresses diners most is the whole wall of aquarium. The restaurant serves Japanese cuisine sush as sashimi, tempura and teppanyaki as well as sakes.
Location: No.6 the Bund, 2/F No.6 Zhongshan Dongyilu
Tel: 021-63392779
Yuga Restaurant
At Yuga diners have a nice view of Huangpu River. Especially in summer, the tables will be put at the restaurant's terrace, which is almost above the river and you will feel closer to the water.
Yuga features Shanghai dishes. Mocha Xuemeiniang (a dessert made of green tea and plum) and Zongzi Niunan (glutinous rice dumplings and beef) are recommended.
Location: 9/F Zhengda Plaza, No.168 Lujiazui Xilu, Pudong Xingqu
Tel: 021-50478077
(Modern Weekly April 4, 2007)