Visiting Sutao Teahouse for dinner, I was under the impression that it purely served vegetarian cuisine, as it was characterized as “vegetarian” on the Chinese restaurant review website, Dazhongdianpin.
However, after quickly browsing the handwritten Chinese menu and spotting a number of meat dishes, I asked the waitress if this was true. She informed me that they serve both meat and vegetarian food. Therefore, diners should be aware that Dazhongdianpin may not accurately categorize vegetarian restaurants.
Despite the slightly misleading information, Sutao Teahouse is a highly vegetarian-friendly establishment, as it offers a variety of plant-based menu options. The teahouse’s atmosphere is calming and aesthetically pleasing, with both indoor and outside seating available. I was seated next to the window, which looks out on the garden-like porch, which would certainly provide an extremely pleasant dining environment in milder weather. As a family-run business, the service was quite slow; however, the waitresses at Sutao impressed me with their attentiveness and friendliness. While I waited for my meal, one waitress served me water and sunflower seeds, then engaged me in conversation until the food arrived. Although I appreciated the company, some foreigners may wish to enjoy a quieter meal, without the pressure of responding to questions about their life and cultural background. Non-Chinese speakers should bring a Chinese speaking friend along, as the handwritten menu is completely in Chinese, and no pictures are provided for reference.
I ordered the Chiba Tofu (千叶豆腐, 36¥) and the Sweet Lotus Root (糖莲藕, 28¥), which the waitress recommended to me, as it is a Nanjing specialty. Chiba Tofu is one of my favorite tofu dishes, but I was a bit disappointed by how it was prepared at Sutao Teahouse. It lacked the delicious flavor and accompanying variety of vegetables that I am accustomed to with this dish. Also, Chiba Tofu is typically served under a lit flame, which allows the diner to cook the food according to his or her preferred level of crispness. The lack of an open flame detracted from my enjoyment of the dish. The Sweet Lotus Root, however, with a crisp and slightly sweet bite, did not disappoint. Overall, both dishes were quite mild; they failed to completely satisfy my preference for a stronger flavour, but may suit other diners’ tastes.
The prices at Sutao are significantly higher than at typical Chinese restaurants; I have ordered the same two dishes at other restaurants for a fraction of the price. However, the peaceful ambiance, beautiful interior and the fact that Sutao is a family-run business may explain the relatively high price tag. After finishing my meal, I requested a receipt for business reimbursement purposes. However, because the receipt machine was temporarily not working, I was asked to return the next day, and assured it would be fixed by then. When I returned the following day, I was presented with my receipt without delay, which further raised my opinion of Sutao’s customer service.
Sutao Teahouse is located at 105 Beijixicun, a five minute walk from the Gulou roundabout.
