By Jessica Wang (thatsbj.com)
Updated: 2008-04-30 11:11

Dimly lit and decorated with plush scarlet couches, chandeliers, and baroque picture frames, Fire wins points for presentation.

However, aesthetics can't distract from the otherwise starchy atmosphere, unnecessary plate changes, and over-attentive service, which made us feel like animals at the zoo-constantly being watched.

The sauteed shrimps (RMB 58), braised in spicy sauce and served on a bed of crispy rice and asparagus, were adequate but not exceptional. The sauteed pork with mushrooms and pepper (RMB 46) and the braised spare ribs (RMB 48) were too fatty. And while the fish and eggplant casserole (RMB 42) tasted pleasant enough, the dish was overburdened with oil.

Fire serves "high-end" Chinese cuisine such as shark's fin and bird's nest soup, and a variety of Canton-inspired dishes, which begs the question... do we really need another mediocre addition to an already crowded scene?

Fire
Daily 11am-11pm.
1/F, China View Building, Gongti Donglu, Chaoyang District
85871027