Back For More: Fantastic Steaks at Bleu Marine

“Back for More” is a regular magazine column in the Beijinger where we revisit old favorites.

Surely the reason this decade-old restaurant stays off the radar of most expats is its proximity to that temple of tourist retail, the Silk Market. It can’t be because of the food. Bleu Marine’s steaks, are, as the Danes say, god.

It was Danish folk who brought this place into being, and their legacy remains: Scandinavian open sandwiches (smørrebrød), a bunch of loyal European regulars, and marvelously mustachioed manager Torben, who meanders through the compact, candlelit dining room jovially dispensing his “green tea” – tiny tots of home-distilled, kiwi-flavored aquavit – to customers.

Bleu Marine’s ace is undoubtedly its steak with three-pepper sauce (RMB 110), a dark-charred, pink-centered slab (medium-rare, that is) that speaks of a good hot griddle. Served on a wooden board with fries and salad, it wins points for farmhouse chic, and had the carnivores in our party united in approval.

The smørrebrød platter of cold cuts, fish and salad bits with dark rye bread (RMB 90) turned out to be the ideal starter for four hungry diners.

To finish, share a chocolate mousse (RMB 50), paired – if you’re very nice to Torben – with his coffee schnapps.

Bleu Marine
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. 5 Guanghua Xili, Chaoyang District (6500 6704)
朝阳区光华西里5号

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