Alfie’s is a collaboration between Parkview Green mall’s Hotel Éclat and stylish British luxury clothing brand Alfred Dunhill, which has already infiltrated Dubai, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo with its luxury restaurants, salons and grooming parlours. It doesn't look much from the outside, its branding a blur among the high-fashion shop-fronts, but once diners step inside the full scale of the restaurant reveals itself.

We started with a generously poured glass of proseccoand a dry martini as an aperitif, and both were suitably impressive, with wine tasters offered before the glass is filled. For starters we chose the soup of the day – a wild mushroom – and the crab cakes with mustard mayo and rocket salad. The soup is light, frothy and flavorsome, while the crab cakes are fluffy and subtle. The accompanying mustard mayo is worth the order alone.

After an excellent start we had high hopes for the main course. The fish and chips, a British classic, are presented on a wooden board with a small bowl for the chips and selection of puréed peas, malt vinegar and tartar sauce dips. It’s a decent-sized piece of cod wrapped in golden-brown, beautifully cooked beer batter that provides a satisfying crunch. However, the soaking of pungent local vinegar shatters the illusion of being back in London.

The cottage pie is another classic and features Guinness-braised veal rump. Served browned on top, the veal mince is lean and only lightly seasoned, while the mash is sufficiently creamy. An arrangement of carrot, mushroom and broccoli looks more like a paltry garnish than a pairing. While not a hearty meal, it left room for the sticky toffee pudding (88RMB), which was worth the 15 minutes it took to prepare, its rich, warm gooeyness tempered by the vanilla ice cream.

Address: L1-22 Parkview Green, 9 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 东大桥路9号方草地L1-22

Source: timeoutbeijing.com