First Glance: The Rug Chat Room, Chaoyang Joy City

The Rug has expanded east with a new location in Chaoyang Joy City. Unlike their other two locations, this new opening is aimed at shoppers popping in for a light bite and a catch up in between bouts of retail therapy – hence the new moniker, 'Chat Room'.

As we have come to expect from The Rug team, the decor is on point, bringing to mind a French-style cafe with modern touches. The menu is a slimmed down version of the original, maintaining some of the old dishes (the popular eggs benedict bagel brunches and French-style mussels, for example) and introducing new ones. Breads (RMB 18-20 for two pieces), bakery items, and a range of salads (RMB 38 per portion) are laid out along the front counter for you to choose yourself, or you can order a la carte as usual. We loved a sesame-crusted tuna salad with fennel, pomelo, and toasted quinoa.

Speaking of quinoa, it is just one of a number of au courant ingredients that have made their way onto the menu in greater number than The Rug's other locations, including kale, avocado, and matcha.

Read more about The Rug Chat Room in next month's issue of the Beijinger.

The Rug Chat Room
Unit 31, Joy Yard, 6/F, Chaoyang Joy City, 101 Chaoyang Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区朝阳北路101号朝阳大悦城6F-31（悦界区）  

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Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photos: Robynne Tindall