Archive for the ‘e. 500 RMB and up’ Category
[SHANGHAI] Sushi Naramoto 壽司奈良本
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Sushi Naramoto 壽司奈良本
Add: 1/F, 557 Yongjia Lu, near Yueyang Lu / 永嘉路557号1楼， 近岳阳路
Tel: 6230 0226
Hours: 5:30pm~late
Price: 1000 RMB/set
Visited on: 2012-07
I remember hearing about Sushi Naramoto when it opened last year and thinking: “Woa, really? More expensive than Sushi Oyama?” An omakase dinner set priced at a whopping 1000 RMB…curious, very curious. Let’s see what it involves.
Naramoto’s original sushi bar in Jing’An is currently being renovated, so we went to his second newly-opened location on Yongjia Lu, diagonally across from Surpass Court. The new Naramoto occupies the first floor of an old villa overlooking a tranquil garden, and I expected the setting to be very serene, but somehow the ambience was rather uneasy when I walked in. It was around 6:15pm so it was before the dinner rush, yet I was barely acknowledged when I entered, the waitresses were scurrying around to make seating arrangements, and no music in the air. Not a good first impression.
Here are the sushi chefs at work. Kenji Naramoto-san is the one in the center.
Appetizers: marinated mackerel and chopped tuna.
[SHANGHAI] Maekawa 前川
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Maekawa 前川
Add: 4/F, 1157 Hongqiao Lu, near Yaohong Lu / 虹桥路1157号4楼，近姚虹路
Tel: 6270 6107
Hours: 5:30pm~12am
Price: [sets] 600~1000 RMB, [a la carte] 300~600+ RMB/person
Visited on: 2012-07
If you are craving top quality nigiri sushi for dinner but want something lighter than a full-on Sushi Oyama-type of meal, try Maekawa. This understated sushi bar doesn’t have much superfluous flair to it, it simply serves very, very good fish.
Bar seats, always go for the bar seats, but yes tables and private rooms are also available.
Complimentary appetizer.
Maekawa offers kaiseki sets that range from 600 to 1000 RMB, but we were in the mood for nigiri sushi only and decided to order by the piece. The meal started with Hiramasa 平政 (90 RMB/pc), a type of yellowtail that’s regarded by the Japanese as one of the finest sashimi fish. Its pale pink flesh is firm, sweet, and rich with a higher fat content compared to the other yellowtails. What a luxurious mouthful! I almost want to say that I like this more than tuna belly.
[SHANGHAI] Kappo Yu 割烹雄 (2)
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Kappo Yu 割烹雄
Add: 33 Wuxing Lu, near Huaihai Lu / 吴兴路33号，近淮海路
Tel: 6466 7855
Hours: 6:00pm-11:00pm, closed on Sunday
Price: 690 RMB/person, drinks extra
Visited on: 2012-07
My first visit to Kappo Yu was not as stellar as expected, but after hearing a few more good words about it (some claiming it to be as good as or even better than my favorite Sushi Oyama), I came back again to give it another try.
The atmosphere at this tiny restaurant is toned down yet light-hearted, with soft jazz floating through air. Patrons sit across its beautiful lacquered red bar, which only accommodates around 14 people. A private room is available, but bar seats are of course the preferred choice.
Kappo Yu serves a 10-course seasonal menu (690 RMB/set) that changes monthly. Here’s this month’s menu, available in Japanese, English, and Chinese, and scrolls of drinks lists for guests to choose from (if you order sake, you will also have a chance to pick your own sake cup).
To my surprise, Terada Yohei – the man behind the bar – remembers me even though my last visit was over a year ago. What an amazing memory. He is a friendly guy who will happily engage you in conversations if he senses your interest, the only drawback is that he doesn’t speak English and Chinese as well as Oyama-san does.
[SHANGHAI] Mr & Mrs Bund (2)
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Mr & Mrs Bund
Add: 6/F, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu 中山东一路18号6楼, 近南京东路
Tel: 6323 9898
Hours: [lunch] Mon-Fri 11.30am-2pm, [dinner] Tue-Sat 6.30pm-4am, Sun-Mon 6.30pm-10.30pm
Website: www.mmbund.com
Price: [Lunch] 200~250RMB [Dinner] 400+RMB
It’s been a year and half since I last dined at Paul Pairet’s Mr. & Mrs. Bund (oh my, how time flies), and I was happy to be back again last week for another terrific meal here. The restaurant was quite full even on a Monday night, but I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised – Mr. & Mrs. Bund was recently ranked #95 on St. Pellegrino’s World Best Restaurants, the first restaurant in China to ever enter the list. I’m not too obsessed with these rankings, but the status sure is a recognition for Mr. & Mrs. Bund’s popularity.
Doesn’t this seating arrangement remind you of the Mad Hatter tea party from Alice in Wonderland? ;)
The meal, as usual, started off with a complimentary can of delightfully airy tuna mousse served with thin crisps.
[SHANGHAI] Franck
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Franck
Add: Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, near Tai’an Lu / 武康路376号, 近泰安路
Tel: 158 2167 6767
Hours: [Tue-Fri] 6pm-10:30pm [Sat-Sun] 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm (Closed on Mon)
Website: www.franck.com.cn
Price: 450~600 RMB/person
Visited on: 2012-06
Despite all the negative reviews Franck has received (most of which targeted its service and price), I had a very charming dinner here just a few evenings ago. The prices are still up there, but the service has improved dramatically since the restaurant’s earlier days, while its ambience remained as bewitching as always with its Jazzy lounge music, exposed light bulbs, and dark wood furnishings. And the food? Fantastique.
The menu du jour, scribbled in French on two blackboards, offers a selection of hearty dishes that changes according to the availability of ingredients. Our waiter, a young Chinese man who has been working at the restaurant for 4 years, was knowledgable about the details of each dish and happy to explain.
[SHANGHAI] Jin Xuan 金軒 at Ritz-Carlton Pudong [2]
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Jin Xuan 金軒
Address: The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai, 8 Century Avenue / 浦东陆家嘴世纪大道8号上海国金中心
Tel: 2020 1717
Hours: 11:30am-2:00pm, 5:30-1:000pm
Website: www.ritzcarlton.com/shanghaipudong
Price: [Lunch] 168~300 RMB/person, [Dinner] 480~880 RMP/person
Visited on: 2012-01-14
Please note that this is a specially arranged birthday dinner, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
Jin Xuan has been on the back of my mind ever since I had a delightful dim sum lunch there a while ago, and a friend’s birthday dinner brought us back to this opulent restaurant.
Jin Xuan 金軒
2nd floor tables
The gold, the wine red, and the purple – all looked sumptuous and sparkling in the evening.
Bird’s eye view
Wine cellar
[SHANGHAI] Fu 1015 福 1015
JOIN MY FACEBOOK PAGE OR FOLLOW ME ON 微博!
Fu 1015 福 1015
Address: 1015 Yuyuan Lu / 愚园路1015号
Tel: 5237 9778
Hours: 11:30am~3:00pm, 5:30~10:00pm
Price: minimum spend 800 RMB/person
If you’ve read my previous entry on Fu 1039, you know that the Fu restaurants have established a solid reputation for serving refined Shanghainese dishes in nostalgic old villas. The newest and priciest addition to the series, Fu 1015, promises to be more extravagant in all aspects. So is it really that different from its siblings? Let’s find out.
Fu 1015 private room
Orchids
To fulfill the minimum spend of 800 RMB/person, Fu 1015 pre-arranges menus for all guests. Ours started with an Old Shanghai Smoked Fish 老上海熏魚 (58 RMB). Served hot, crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside, flavors all there. Well done.
[SHANGHAI] Hairy Crab Feast at Wei Jing Ge 蔚景閣大閘蟹宴
JOIN MY FACEBOOK PAGE OR FOLLOW ME ON 微博!
Wei Jing Ge 蔚景閣 at the Waldorf Astoria
Address: Waldorf Astoria Club Level 5, 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu
. 上海外滩华尔道夫酒店5楼 中山东一路2号, 近广东路
Tel: 6322 9988
Hours: 11:30am~3:00pm, 5:30pm~11:00pm
Website: www.waldorfastoriashanghai.com
Price: [hairy crab set menu] 688 RMB/person + 15%
Please note that this is an arranged tasting, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
Ladies and gentlemen, ’tis the season for hairy crabs! Locals go crazy over these priced delicacies, while foreigners are often clueless as to why this meatless crustacean is so sought after. Whether you like it or not, this is a must-try in terms of cultural experience. I was lucky to have my first hairy crab of the season at Wei Jing Ge 蔚景閣, an elegantly designed Chinese restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria on the Bund. Without further ado, here is the grand feast…
Wei Jing Ge 蔚景閣
Window seats
[SHANGHAI] Sunday Champagne Brunch at Vue, Hyatt on the Bund
Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!
Vue Restaurant & Bar
Add: Hyatt on the Bund, 30/F, 199 Huangpu Lu, near Wuchang Lu 黄浦路199号, 外滩茂悦大酒店30楼, 近武昌路
Tel: 6393 1234
Hours: 6~11pm
Website: www.shanghai.bund.hyatt.com
Price: [dinner] 450+ RMB + 15%/person
It’s official. Vue at Hyatt on the Bund is now my favorite hotel brunch spot in Shanghai. Yes, the free flow of Perrier Jouët is nice, and the victorious view of Lujiazui is no doubt a plus, but it’s the quality of food that differentiated Vue from its league. Made-to-order lobster bisque with cognac and chive, poached eggs with soft polenta and black truffles, lobster risotto, steak in red wine and bacon sauce, poached peach with champagne peach sorbet…
View from Vue
Vue Restaurant
The restaurant is designed based on the concept of a residence – there’s a living room, dining area, library, and kitchen, all whimsically decorated with related knickknacks. Bright, airy, inviting, comfortable.
The “living room”
Collections of this and that
The “library”
Brunch at Vue (588 RMB + 15%) consists of stations after stations of fancy things. Oysters, king crabs, foie gras, steaks, truffles, lobsters…Here are just a few examples:
[SHANGHAI] Nadaman なだ万
JOIN MY FACEBOOK PAGE OR FOLLOW ME ON 微博!
Nadaman なだ万
Address: Pudong Shangri-La, 2/F, Tower 2, 33 Fucheng Lu, near Lujiazui Huan Lu
. 富城路33号，浦东香格里拉2号楼2楼，近陆家嘴环路
Tel: 5888 3768
Hours: [Lunch] 12:00~2:30pm, [Dinner] 6:00pm~10:30pm, [Brunch] Sat & Sun 11:30am~2:30pm
Website: www.shangri-la.com/en/property/shanghai/pudongshangrila/dining/restaurant/nadaman
Price: [Lunch] 100~150 RMB, [Dinner] 500 RMB+
Please note that this is an arranged tasting, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
I’m usually not so keen on hotel restaurants, but Nadaman over at Shangri-la Pudong is doing something quite unique at the moment. From now until the end of September, Chef Honda Masami will be serving something very dear to his heart – Shippoku ryori (卓袱料理) from his hometown Nagasaki. No idea what Shippoku ryori is? Read on.
Nadaman
For those who care, the sleek interior of Nadaman is designed by Super Potato.
Nadaman
We started the meal with a square of sticky sesame tofu (45 RMB) topped with sea urchin and a dab of freshly-grated wasabi. Simple and clean.
Homemade sesame bean curd (45 RMB)
The meal proceeded with a sashimi platter (888 RMB) of sea urchin, sweet shrimp, prime tuna belly, ark shell, and salmon. Fresh, quality ingredients.
Sashimi platter, 888 RMB
Sea urchin (uni), sweet shrimp (ama ebi), prime tuna belly (toro), ark shell (akagai)
Then came a spectacular platter of assorted appetizer (1200 RMB), served Shippoku style. The main characteristic of this Chinese-influenced cuisine is the sharing of one huge dish, family style, over happy chatters, in a harmonious atmosphere. You can read a bit more about this style of cuisine here.
