Xitang meaning wedding hall in Chinese, is a bar, restaurant and theatre. Black and red large sofas and chairs stand against black and red walls, and dinnerware of the same colors accent the black dining tables.

The two chefs employed here--one from Sichuan and the other from Shanxi--are respectively responsible for spicy Sichuan and Shanxi noodles and bing. The menu is limited to a few new style dishes: dry hot pot (28RMB), crispy fish (58RMB) and mala style fish and prawn (66RMB).

The dry hot pot (28RMB) comes with a choice of three items, the selection includes lotus root, asparagus, celery, broccoli, spam, crab sticks, fish balls (the menu refers to them as fish pills), and canned spam. The price is between 12RMB-28RMB for the selection.

We tried the dry hot pot, and our selection included the following veggies to be put in the pot: lotus root, mushrooms and celery. The vegetables are pretty much lost in the massive bowl, outnumbered by an amazing array of spices: cardamon, cassia bark, Chinese nutmeg, Chinese cloves, bay leaves, loads of fresh ginger, whole garlic pieces, tons of dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorn. The numbing and spicy taste is prominent, ideal for mala aficionados. The familiar spicy and numbing Sichuan taste had a unique flavor that is hard to define.

Twice cooked pork (26RMB) is served with delicious tiny bing the size of a half-dollar, which, unfortunately, was too small to be stuffed with the excellent fatty pork and leeks. The gongbao chicken (26RMB), which was glossy in a thick sauce, was done very well, and just a spot short of perfection due to a too many grains of salt. But this was still the best gongbao chicken we've had in ages.

The Shanxi yixiang guo , or fragrant pot noodles (18RMB/for two people), were impressive dishes. The chewy spinach noodles are hand-pulled and wide, served in rich and delectable broth, accompanied by bell peppers, garlic shoots and pork belly slices.

Equally satisfying is conghua bing, baked scallion bread (10RMB), cut into diagonal pieces. It’s crispy on the edges like a toasted panini. We haven’t seen this type of bing anywhere else, so a surprise discovery.

The only criticism we have beside the excess salt is that the portions served are too big, unless you are planning to put in a hard day in the fields after lunch.

In the far end of the room, beside the long bar counter, is a 40 inch screen hung on the wall for showing movies in the afternoons and late evenings.

2 Da Xiangfeng Hutong, Liuyin Jie, Houhai.Xicheng district, 500m west of silver ingot bridge, south side of Houhai (tel 6657 0216) Open 10.30am-late. Meal for two 50-80RMB.

喜堂 西城区后海 柳隐街大翔风胡同2号 （银锭桥 后海南沿向西500米）