“Come along and ride on a fantastic Eat voyage!” one wall proclaims. Another features a stylised sunset. Hawaiian music drifts in from the background. A friendly dog greets as you walk in. The message is clear. If you are in need of rest and relaxation, you do not need to leave Nanjing; you simply need to go to Eat.
True to its name, Eat is not so concerned about sticking to a dining theme as it is with serving delicious foods. If the menu here is indeed a voyage, it circumnavigates the world for inspiration. There are a multitude of options, from all-day brunch to full Asian and Western-style dinners. The salad selection; a consideration elsewhere, but here a feature, has a wonderful amount of variety, and hosts comparable offerings to Element Fresh without such a hefty price tag.
In another similarity to its upscale rival, everything on the menu is prepared fresh, and feels like it, both in presentation and taste. This freshness is, in part, thanks to the garden fruits-and-veggies heavy selection, but really extends to everything on each plate. It also helps to know exactly what you are getting; Eat’s menu not only features English, but also lists the ingredients used for every meal.
Like any good sojurn, there’s a healthy (though not as healthy as the salad) selection of alcohol, with imported beers, a cocktail menu, and more. For those looking to enjoy non-alcoholic options or a nice brunch compliment, a fresh juice bar is also available, complete with mango smoothies and, of all things, avacado-lemon-apple juice.
With scrumptious eats, great and interesting drinks, and English speaking staff, there are few downsides to this hidden retreat. Perhaps the only major flaw is that all vacations have to end sooner rather than later, and Eat’s hours are on the short side, only serving from 10:30 to 8:30. Nevertheless, this is a holiday you can take any day.
EAT is located at 21 Nanxiucun 南秀村21号. Tel: 86643277 (Closed Mondays).
