1881 - Shenzhen

We had a reservation for 9:30 pm at this restaurant. Upon arrival, the place was nearly empty. We wanted to try the Beijing duck, a specialty of the restaurant, but were informed that it takes 70 minutes to cook and it was not possible as the kitchen closes at 10. We asked for other options and received some recommendations. The highlights of this restaurant were definitely the food, which was exceptional. The chicken cooked in clay was particularly delicious, as were the other two dishes we ordered. Some drawbacks included the early closing time (10:30 when we were still eating, there was already cleaning and tidying up happening nearby), a low level of English spoken by the staff (despite the restaurant being located in the Grand Hyatt, a hotel that caters to foreign visitors), and the timing of the food and drinks being served. The first dish arrived at least 10 minutes before the drinks (wine), and the first wine we ordered, a white wine, was warm so we had to switch our selection. The staff did try their best, but it is clear that they need more training. Despite these issues, the exceptional food makes this restaurant worth a visit.