Capital Bites: Nobu, Nuage and Claudio Sadler

Claudio Sadler, the Michelin-starred chef behind Ristorante Sadler, will be in Beijing from May 9-14. The famous Italian comes to town about as regularly as famous Frenchman Daniel Boulud (not all that often). This current trip would seem to be a timely show of strength for 50% of the surviving Legation Quarter, the once glittering hub of fancy restaurants that's seen three quarters of its venues close in a matter of months. The big man will be cooking a six course tasting menu for a cool RMB 1288. Sell enough of them and it should keep the Legation Quarter ticking a while longer ...

Remember Nobu, the Japanese place opening up in the JW Marriott? Like a Heathrow-bound flight, it’s delayed. Until October. Apparently the interior design of the restaurant is very complicated. At least the long-awaited ROOMbeijing has FINALLY announced an invitation-only “soft launch” period, starting next Monday. Regular paying folk will be allowed in from May 10th.

Vietnamese restaurant Nuage have opened a historical Shandong-style eatery on their first floor space. It’s a culinary tribute act to a famous Qing Dynasty restaurant that used to occupy the same stretch of Houhai Lake, called Qing Yun Lou.

Finally, after extensive renovations, Alameda is open for business (and its award-winning bargain business lunch) once again.