The opening of TRB Bites@The Courtyard marks a rare double win: not just an excellent dining experience, but a genuinely useful location to boot.
The mothership, Temple Restaurant Beijing (‘Temple’ to most and ‘TRB’ to its branding team) has reigned supreme in the capital for years now. The food is consistently fabulous, as is the presentation and surroundings. So the team behind it announced they were opening up a new branch and doing something different, there was excitement and a twist of concern.
However, the team has kept all the best parts of Temple and brought in a few extra benefits for TRB Bites. Just like at Temple, the food is international, almost as inventive and prepared with as much attention to detail. So there’s not as much of the extravagance, but then there’s not as much of the price: three courses from the menu are just 188RMB (whether you dine at lunch or in the evening) and there’s even a two-course menu option for 98RMB.
The big draw here is the location: right at the East Gate of the Forbidden City in the space that has always been known as The Courtyard, and was most recently occupied by British chef Brian McKenna. The vibe is contemporary and airy, with a simple and secretive roof terrace above. Its windows are straight over the moat with a view of the gate tower from more or less every table.
Whether you’re visiting the Forbidden City or have guests in town, TRB Bites makes for an unexpected fine dining experience to contrast with the contents of what’s just across the moat.
Want to make sure every meal you eat in the capital is an outstanding one? That’s what Bespoke’s Trip Customisation Service is for – tell us what you’re into and we’ll design a trip that incorporates only the best restaurants the city has to offer.