XiaodiaoLitangChineserestauranthasauniqueold-Beijingstyle,bothinthefoodandinthedecor.
ThepeardrinkwasoftenservedtoPekingOperaaudiencesinearly20thcenturyBeijing,afterperformances.
Almosteverytableordersapotofthesweetpearsoupintherestaurant.Boiledwithpear,whitefungusandrocksugar,ithasanicetaste,anditisnotsosweet,soyoucandrinkitthroughoutthemeal.Thebronzekettle,andgood-lookingglasscupusedtoservethedrink,immediatelygiveoneanold-Beijingfeel.
Foodispresentedbeautifully.Disheslookandtastebetterthanmosthome-stylerestaurants.Theamountoffoodonaplateisenoughforasmallgroup.
Therestaurantmakesverygooddesserts.Cheese"fish"isalight-tastingjelly-likedessertintheshapeofafish.Redbeanandyellowpeacaketastesnaturalandsmooth.Red-winepoachedpearsareverywellmadeandreasonablypriced.
Old-stylefeel-goodeatery
Forhotdishes,trydry-braisedyellowcroaker,crisp-skinprawnswithflour-wrappedpearballs,and"wanttoeat"roastpotatocubes.TheXiaodiaosignaturericeinsouphastwoversions-oneinatastyyellowchickenbroth,anotherwithlight-tastingmushroomsoup.
Itisamedium-sizedrestaurant.Thespaceisdividedintomanydifferentrooms.Butonedoesnotfeelsoconstricted,thankstogooddesignanddecor.InsteadithasaclassicstylethatseemstotakeonebacktooldBeijing.Oneroomevenhastwotreesgrowingoutofaglassroof,creatingtheperfectambienceonasunnyday.
Theowneroftherestaurant,alocalBeijingerofManchuethnicity,hadpreviouslyopenedNajiaXiaoguan,aprivateimperial-stylerestaurant.DinersmightfindXiaodiLitangamorereasonablypricedversionofNajiaXiaoguan.Thedishesareafineversionofpopularhome-styleChineseandBeijingfoods.
Itisafeel-goodeaterythatwouldbegoodforahappyget-togetherwithfriendsorfamily.