All this month, we’ll be introducing 50 picks for some of the best family-friendly restaurants in Beijing. These reviews originally appeared in the January/February 2013 issue of beijingkids (see end of post).
Schindler’s Tankstelle 申德勒加油站
Type of cuisine: German
Smoking? Permitted after 10pm
English menu? Yes
General kid-friendliness of menu: No specific kids’ dishes, but customers may ask for special orders: everything from half portions to modifications for allergies.
Best dishes for adults: Fried pork sausage (RMB 68, with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut), grilled platter (RMB 132, including two pork fillets, two pork neck steaks, a pork kebab, a fried pork sausage and roast potatoes), sweet chocolate cake (RMB 48, which includes slices of orange or grapefruit)
Kids’ menu? No, but expect one in the spring of 2013.
Best dishes for kids: Vienna sausage, (RMB 36), fried German noodles with cheese (RMB 38, served with mushrooms), apple crumble with vanilla ice cream (RMB 48)
Kids’ play area? No
Play areas nearby: Ritan Park
Kid-friendly staff? Yes – very attentive and shows initiative by checking on customers. There is always at least one English speaking server on duty.
Bathroom: Fairly clean squat toilet, but without hot water and toilet paper. No changing table
Seating: Cozy booths, regular tables, stools at the bar, and highchairs are available
Price: RMB 350-400
Credit card accepted? Visa, MasterCard and all Chinese cards
Parking? Yes. During the day, it is RMB 10 for the first hour, and RMB 15 every hour after that. After 6pm, unlimited parking is RMB 20.
Must-order item: Traditional roast pork knuckle (RMB 138). Served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, this unique dish is enough to satisfy two or three people.
In a nutshell: Schindler’s is by no means a rowdy pub, but Germany’s finest brews do flow more frequently at the bar during later hours. Bring your family in the afternoon or early evening, and be sure to try the all-you-can-eat buffet, open Mon-Fri 11.30am-2pm (RMB 70 for adults, RMB 58 for kids). Plenty of heart and soul has gone into these hearty dishes. The pork knuckle’s meat is so tender that it falls off the bone, the sausages are succulent and the sauerkraut is crisp and fresh.
Also try: South German Bakery, Kranzler’s Sweet Escape Sunday Brunch at Kempinski Hotel
Photo by: Sui