We love the design here; we feel cooler just sitting in the hip digs. The menu boasts a decent wine list (30RMB per glass), yet the reverse sports dishes you’d expect from a greasy laminated sheet after one too many Yanjings, not a draught Jing A craft brew; cold salads, peanuts in vinegar, noodles and… chuanr.

Things start out well with a spicy seafood salad and the cold beef with basil and coriander is even better. Chewy slices of beef get a lift from the fresh, herbaceous leaves. The noodles are less impressive; the broth lacks depth. A handful of coriander, chilli flakes or even a splash of vinegar wouldn’t go amiss. The wontons are much the same – the simple ingredients fail to go the distance.

In the chuanr department, the chicken wing skewers are tender and well-cooked, but lack anything that sets them apart from the nearby street stalls, while the lamb ones are flat-out dry and flavourless. Roasted veggies are a highlight – the sweet peppers and caramelized onions are tender with a pleasing crunch.

White Tiger Village has the space, but the menu fails to live up to its impressive design.

Address: 84 Xiang'er hutong, Dongcheng District 东城区香饵胡同84号

Source: timeoutbeijing.com