Eating in Qingdao

Throw out the diet. Qingdao is a cauldron of good food. The waterfront area is brimming with restaurants.

The choice of seafood restaurants borders on the ridiculous. Rows of small eateries near the seafront display their wares in tanks and buckets. For me I find it quite off putting when you see them kill it on the pavement. They expect you to eat something that they have killed where people walk and spit!

Wine is hard to find in China and in Chinese restaurants. Tsingtao Beer is the locals preferred choice. It has been brewed in Qingdao since 1903 when the Germans founded the brewery. In a restaurant expect to pay Y5 (83c) for a bottle.

La Villa Restaurant Francois & Bar
This great, chilled bar/restaurant features a Tapas Bar on the left and fine traditional French food on the right. The environment was pleasant and the staff friendly.

DA Qing Hua Dumplings
Everybody loves dumplings and this is the best place to get your fix. Boiled and fried dumplings are available with a wide range of fillings, and there is also an extensive menu of other dishes to supplement them.

Sorrento pizza
The service is good.

Cassani
This is where I had my birthday dinner. New and authentic, this Italian owned cafe allows you to indulge like you are in Italy. Downstairs is a dining area or where you may drop in for a superb coffee. They also offer a wide range of delicious Gelato. Upstairs is a more formal dining area or where you might pull up a bar stool, soak up the atmosphere, drop by for a cocktail or glass of fine wine.

We met the owner whose name now escapes me, but he is very hospitable and a true Italian. Mrs Cassani was also dining in the restaurant and her son proudly introduced us to her. The owner gave us a Galiano on the house. This reminded me that it tastes like licorice and maybe I will have to take up drinking Galiano due to the non existent supply of licorice.

Selene's Chocolate Bar
This place is incredible. You can have a chocolate drinking experience were they only use imported chocolate from Belgium or you can have a coffee brewed fresh or mousse, cakes and biscuits.
Barbara is a chocoholic. We went here twice. On my first visit I had a hot marshmallow milk chocolate drink and a chocolate. The second visit I couldn't go passed the hot marshmallow milk chocolate drink but this time I had chocolate waffles. I have to say whilst the waffles was good, it really did need some ice cream to go with it.

Hotel Restaurant
We ate a few times at the hotel restaurant. The food was quite good but a little more on the expensive side. They had potato pancakes which I can really only describe as potato scallops without the batter. They were delicious. They also had a chicken dish which is like chicken nuggets with bones, chili and peanuts. I loved it and could easily eat it every day. I also enjoyed the cabbage dish they had. It was fried with chili. A little on the hot side but I like my food hot.