草根廚房

The signature is Peking duck, the skin roasted crisp and glossy, served with thin pancakes, scallion, and sauce. One Google reviewer described it as "glossy and juicy without being greasy at all — wrapping it in lettuce makes it refreshing," and it's the dish most people recommend here. Advance booking is required. The duck can be prepared three ways; the stir-fried duck bones get good marks, while some find the pickled-cabbage duck soup on the thin side. Soft-shell crab and fried intestine also come up often, and the stir-fried greens are generous and crisp.

The restaurant occupies a restored old house on Chaiqiao Road, where red brick walls and the original layout preserve a good deal of period character, paired with outdoor greenery that suits family gatherings. It's open for separate lunch and dinner shifts, seven days a week. Slow service is the one complaint that recurs across reviews, though — some diners report waiting over two hours on weekends after chasing the kitchen five times, and others found popular dishes sold out within five minutes of opening. Budget plenty of time and book ahead.