134 CultureShock! China
raised to the hygienic conditions in kitchens. One of the
biggest risks that you can take is ordering a Western dish that
includes raw vegetables from a Chinese kitchen.
An extension of this logic is to not be the first to try out
a new Western restaurant unless it is opened by a seasoned
China restauranteur, as it will take some time for them to train
their kitchen staff to properly clean and store ingredients. It
is best to give a new Western restaurant four to six months
to get the kinks out before you can be sure that you will have
a pleasant experience, both during and after the meal.
In the first-tier cities of Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou,
there are readily available monthly magazines and websites
that offer credible restaurant listings and critiques. One
of the better in Shanghai and Beijing is That’s, which also
has a website listed in the Resource Guide at the end of
this book.
If you are in a less mapped area, ask for recommendations
from the concierge at some of the better hotels in town, track
down long-time expat residents, or follow the crowds to find
the better local restaurants.Securing a Seat
The average restaurant in China will not take a booking for
less than ten people. Most mid-sized restaurants will have a
general seating area and then a few small private rooms. A
party of six people or more will typically book a private room
where they will have dedicated wait staff, a nice atmosphere
to visit and relax, and if they are lucky, their own karaoke
setup. When booking a private room, it is common for the
restaurant to ask for a minimum charge on food and drinks
to be consumed.
It is typically first come first serve, with preference given
to regulars and friends of the owner or manager. You need to
be fairly aggressive to secure a seat in a crowded restaurant.
First you need to determine whether there is a host or hostess
at reception. If there is, catch their eye and make sure that
they are aware that you would like a table. Stay in front of
them as much as possible to assure that you are seated when
one becomes available. Others will have no qualms about