Beijing: Where to Eat: Newcomers: L’isola

L’isola

The newer restaurants tend to be located in mall complexes allowing people to round off their shopping missions with a western-experience meal. Italian food is hugely popular in Beijing, as indeed it is in Shanghai and Hong Kong. It must be the noodles: Chinese claim they invented them (along with everything else, from gunpowder to compasses), while Italians say they were introduced to the East by Marco Polo. Whatever. This new restaurant has a interesting Italian wine list and attentive service from the owners, who also operate a restaurant in London.