Sum of its Parts: 3sums
When we first heard about a new burger restaurant called 3sums, we were a little worried. Was Beijing about to see the return of the doubleentendre-laced menu of the short-lived Shake ’Em Buns? Our fears of gimmickry were allayed when we heard that the 3sums kitchen was headed up by Zach Lewison, whose Beijing CV includes successful stints at Kro’s Nest, Union Bar & Grille and Park Side.
And after our gut-busting first visit, we can assure you that 3sums will undoubtedly prove popular. Not only is it located on the restaurant strip that Home Plate put on the map, but you won’t need to mumble your order while staring down at your Reeboks. “Threesome” refers only to the trio of sliders (RMB 60) that you order from their selection of 16 mini-burgers. And what a choice it is.
The menu is dominated by American-influenced burgers and rounded out with the flavors of other nations (French, English, Greek, Mexican, Vietnamese, Australian) and the carb-free Neanderthal. The highlights of our meal included the tangy curry yogurt and red onion on the chicken burger of The English, the quite-obviously-bad-for- you cheesy gravy smothering The Pittsburger’s beef patty and the spicy kick of The Cajun – a meeting of minds between pepperjack cream cheese and hot sauce.
The trio concept extends to the side dishes and the cocktail list – any of the latter can be ordered as a trio of mini cocktails or a single regular size (RMB 45). Our pick was The Heartbreaker, a blueberry Bloody Mary that packed a full-sized punch and is somewhat reminiscent of the combination of port and blue WKD known to British students as a Cheeky Vimto. Other drinks, such as draft Magner’s Irish cider (RMB 45) should keep the terrace busy through the summer as people overindulge on the threesome of sunlight, sliders and slaking thirst. Just don’t try to finish the menu in a single visit.
Xiaoyun Lu 霄云路
35 Xiaoyun Lu courtyard (from Dongsanhuan Beilu, head 20m north of Xiaoyun Lu intersection and take the first right), Chaoyang District
朝阳区霄云路35号院（东三环北路,过霄云路路口,往北走20米,到第一个路口右转）
Sun-Wed 11am-1am, Thu-Sat 11am-2am
5130 2773, 182 1039 9514
Click here to see the June issue of the Beijinger in full.
Also try: Home Plate Bar-B-Que, Blue Frog
Photo: Lova
