CourtYard Restaurant (The)
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I have visited Courtyard Restaurant several times while visiting Beijing. It has gotten worse every time. The location is fantastic, but the food is awful at best. This place is a complete ripoff. For the money, you can dine like a king in some of the best local places and will have plenty of money left. Stay away!
Reviewed by: Keith from on Nov 20 2009
Dear Everyone:
Reviewed by: Keith from on May 18 2009
It was memorable but for all the wrong reasons. I got screwed badly! Me and my friend chose the "silver" menu. From the start I should have suspected this was a tourist trap when a very modest and totally overpriced Parallèle 45 was served at a totally wrong temperature for any decent red wine. I am just happy I didn't indulge in one of my favorite Chateauneuf-du-Pape! The shrimp cocktail was totally uninteresting and tasteless. The oysters were okay but I had better almost everywhere, even in cheap taverns. Actually, the ones I cook would make the Courtyard's chef look like a mediocre rookie without cooking skills. He would'nt find a job in any decent restaurant in Montreal, not even to clean the dishes! The Champagne sorbet was acceptable and the beef ribs would fare well in a very average Montreal restaurant. But all this was a million years away from gastronomy! At least, the desserts were pretty good... but still not to par with the greatest restaurants in the world. All this to say that, for the astronomical and, frankly, quite indecent sum of 4 393 Yuans (more than 700 dollars!), the "Courtyard" must be the biggest burglary in the world of restaurants! And I have been to many of the greatest ones, from New York, Lyon, Beijing, Paris, Hong Kong, Monaco and etc...I was expecting the price tag coming in, I just didn't expect to have cafeteria food in a glamourous environnement. I did mention my disappointment to the over mannered british Maitre D', who did thank me for my honesty before running out of sight. And, to top it all, when we where about to leave this pretentious and highly overpriced establishment, nobody could or would call a taxi for us, supposedly because it was raining. With such a price tag, excuses are unacceptable. I want a cab, you find me one now. Period. I have been to numerous restaurants over the last 15 years in China and it was the first and only time I was truly disappointed. I truly love China and China deserves better than The Courtyard! I was expecting another Felix (at the Hong Kong Peninsula), I ended up in a conceited TGIF with Felix's prices!!!
Reviewed by: Charles-Andre Marchand from on Aug 11 2008
During a week's stay in China, which in food-terms had been impressive, "The Courtyard" was the only disppointment. Despite its high-end appeal as far as prices are concerned, food was mediocre at best, service somewhat automated and its atmosphere one of country-club pretence. Perhaps "The Courtyard" does offer a respite from the bustle of the big city (as some guides and reviews will say), but ... unfortunately little else. The white wine, in all fairness, was good, and if the meal had cost a quarter of what it actually did, it might have been easily forgotten. But as it is, look elsewhere if you like your foods.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on May 15 2008
We ate at the Courtyard on April 11, 2008. I've been in Beijing for about 8 months and have tried a variety of restaurants here and this was by far the most disappointing restaurant I've been to.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Apr 13 2008
My boyfriend took his parents here on a visit to Beijing (unfortunately upon my recommnedation) and before he even got in the front door was told my the snotty maitre d that there would be nothing on the menu he and his parents would like!!! Judging a person on an appearance is not a good human trait to have. I only recommended this restaurant as I could not find any others to suit my vegetarian friend. If I were visiting Beijing again I would definately steer past this place and head for a local restaurant where the food is much nicer, cheaper and everyone is welcome!!!!
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Mar 17 2008
You can find much better in Beijing! Food: you can easily find better, lots of unnecessary sauce. Service: you'll be watched, and charged 15%. Value: expect US prices. Ambiance: decent views and setting. Go if you want to be somewhere romantic, but don't expect great food or service.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Feb 14 2008
An outstanding location & ambience but the food was average on the 3 occasions I've visited. The upstairs cigar room, though, is delightful with old, patched leather armchairs & a wonderful floodlit view of the Forbidden Palace moat. The cigars & liqueurs are excellent (and expensive!).
Reviewed by: Jonathan from on May 13 2007
The food was great because it was made right in front of us. Your food was so good my taste buds went to heaven, and my family loved it very well.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on May 07 2007
Could not have had a better meal this side of Paris! The upstairs room was a pleasure after dinner. The food was almost perfect...try the fois gras. Great place!
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Dec 07 2006
Dine on Fusion Cuisine At The Forbidden City
Back to CourtYard Restaurant (The)
I have visited Courtyard Restaurant several times while visiting Beijing. It has gotten worse every time. The location is fantastic, but the food is awful at best. This place is a complete ripoff. For the money, you can dine like a king in some of the best local places and will have plenty of money left. Stay away!
Reviewed by: Keith from on Nov 20 2009
Dear Everyone:
Reviewed by: Keith from on May 18 2009
It was memorable but for all the wrong reasons. I got screwed badly! Me and my friend chose the "silver" menu. From the start I should have suspected this was a tourist trap when a very modest and totally overpriced Parallèle 45 was served at a totally wrong temperature for any decent red wine. I am just happy I didn't indulge in one of my favorite Chateauneuf-du-Pape! The shrimp cocktail was totally uninteresting and tasteless. The oysters were okay but I had better almost everywhere, even in cheap taverns. Actually, the ones I cook would make the Courtyard's chef look like a mediocre rookie without cooking skills. He would'nt find a job in any decent restaurant in Montreal, not even to clean the dishes! The Champagne sorbet was acceptable and the beef ribs would fare well in a very average Montreal restaurant. But all this was a million years away from gastronomy! At least, the desserts were pretty good... but still not to par with the greatest restaurants in the world. All this to say that, for the astronomical and, frankly, quite indecent sum of 4 393 Yuans (more than 700 dollars!), the "Courtyard" must be the biggest burglary in the world of restaurants! And I have been to many of the greatest ones, from New York, Lyon, Beijing, Paris, Hong Kong, Monaco and etc...I was expecting the price tag coming in, I just didn't expect to have cafeteria food in a glamourous environnement. I did mention my disappointment to the over mannered british Maitre D', who did thank me for my honesty before running out of sight. And, to top it all, when we where about to leave this pretentious and highly overpriced establishment, nobody could or would call a taxi for us, supposedly because it was raining. With such a price tag, excuses are unacceptable. I want a cab, you find me one now. Period. I have been to numerous restaurants over the last 15 years in China and it was the first and only time I was truly disappointed. I truly love China and China deserves better than The Courtyard! I was expecting another Felix (at the Hong Kong Peninsula), I ended up in a conceited TGIF with Felix's prices!!!
Reviewed by: Charles-Andre Marchand from on Aug 11 2008
During a week's stay in China, which in food-terms had been impressive, "The Courtyard" was the only disppointment. Despite its high-end appeal as far as prices are concerned, food was mediocre at best, service somewhat automated and its atmosphere one of country-club pretence. Perhaps "The Courtyard" does offer a respite from the bustle of the big city (as some guides and reviews will say), but ... unfortunately little else. The white wine, in all fairness, was good, and if the meal had cost a quarter of what it actually did, it might have been easily forgotten. But as it is, look elsewhere if you like your foods.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on May 15 2008
We ate at the Courtyard on April 11, 2008. I've been in Beijing for about 8 months and have tried a variety of restaurants here and this was by far the most disappointing restaurant I've been to.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Apr 13 2008
My boyfriend took his parents here on a visit to Beijing (unfortunately upon my recommnedation) and before he even got in the front door was told my the snotty maitre d that there would be nothing on the menu he and his parents would like!!! Judging a person on an appearance is not a good human trait to have. I only recommended this restaurant as I could not find any others to suit my vegetarian friend. If I were visiting Beijing again I would definately steer past this place and head for a local restaurant where the food is much nicer, cheaper and everyone is welcome!!!!
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Mar 17 2008
You can find much better in Beijing! Food: you can easily find better, lots of unnecessary sauce. Service: you'll be watched, and charged 15%. Value: expect US prices. Ambiance: decent views and setting. Go if you want to be somewhere romantic, but don't expect great food or service.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Feb 14 2008
An outstanding location & ambience but the food was average on the 3 occasions I've visited. The upstairs cigar room, though, is delightful with old, patched leather armchairs & a wonderful floodlit view of the Forbidden Palace moat. The cigars & liqueurs are excellent (and expensive!).
Reviewed by: Jonathan from on May 13 2007
The food was great because it was made right in front of us. Your food was so good my taste buds went to heaven, and my family loved it very well.
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on May 07 2007
Could not have had a better meal this side of Paris! The upstairs room was a pleasure after dinner. The food was almost perfect...try the fois gras. Great place!
Reviewed by: A Yahoo! Contributor from on Dec 07 2006
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