[Shanghai] Xindalu 新大陸 at Hyatt on the Bund

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[Shanghai] Xindalu 新大陸 at Hyatt on the Bund

Xindalu China Kitchen 新大陸

Add: Hyatt on the Bund, 1/F, 199 Huangpu Lu 黄浦路199号, 外滩茂悦大酒店1楼
Tel: 6393 1234 ext 6318
Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-10:30pm
Website: www.shanghai.bund.hyatt.com
Price: [brunch] 188 RMB/person +15% [dinner] 350+ RMB/person
Visited: Oct 2011

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

So…what is this pyramid on my plate?

Dongpo Pork 金牌扣肉 (188 RMB) from Xindalu China Kitchen at Hyatt on the Bund. What it is: one thin slice of fatty, fatty pork belly wrapped around in the shape of a pyramid, towering over dried vegetables and mushrooms braised in pork sauce. What to do with it: sandwich a piece of pork with accompaniments in between a soft, fluffy pumpkin bun. The fat melts beautifully, a luxurious sensation in the mouth.


While you are here, also try the drunken duck liver in Shaoxing wine 紹興鵝肝 (128 RMB), a delicious alternative to the typical Western way of cooking foie gras.


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[Shanghai] Brunch at Madison

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[Shanghai] Brunch at Madison

Madison

Add: 3/F, 18 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu / 东平路18号, 近衡山路
Tel: 6437 0136
Hours: [daily] 6pm-10:30pm, [Sat-Sun Brunch] 12-3pm
Price: [dinner] 300 RMB/person [brunch] ~100 RMB/person
Visited: Aug 2011

Madison is the hotspot for brunch in Shanghai. Take a look at some usual favorites at this contemporary American restaurant and you’ll want to make a reservation right away (which is highly recommended because this place is now always packed on the weekends).

Please note that Madison has reopened in another location.

I like to start my brunch at Madison with Spiced Hot Chocolate (52 RMB), a cup of Cacao Barry hot chocolate sparked with ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, chili.

Poached Eggs (48 RMB) is a favorite among Madison advocates. Two perfectly poached eggs sit atop pig trotter croquette and house made English muffin, complete with a generous pouring of xo hollandaise sauce. Slice it open and out oozes the runny yolk.

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[Shanghai] Brunch at Jean Georges

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[Shanghai] Brunch at Jean Georges

Jean Georges

Add: 4/F, Three on the Bund, 17 Guangdong Lu 广东路17号, 外滩三号4楼, 近中山东一路
Tel: 6321 7733
Hours: [lunch] 11:30am~2:30pm [dinner] 6-11pm
Website: www.threeonthebund.com
Price: [lunch] 218 RMB/set+ 10% [dinner] 668~1458 RMB/set + 10%
Visited: Apr 2011 (visit 1, 2)

Brunch at Jean Georges at Three on the Bund. Ambience pictures have been posted last time, so let’s get to the food. For 218 RMB, you get fresh juice, pastries, and the signature brunch plate – a quartet of smoked salmon, eggs Benedict, French toast, and pancakes. You can also order from their very likable 3-course lunch menu (even better value than the brunch set, in my opinion), also priced at 218 RMB. Just be sure to call ahead early to reserve the window seats, which get snatched up very quickly.

The brunch set began with a trio of pastries – almond, chocolate, and plain croissant – and accompanying chocolate hazelnut sauce, strawberry jam, and apple sauce. The dainty little pastries were served warm, flaky, buttery…a most delightful start.

Then came the brunch plate itself, a quartet of egg Benedict, French toast, smoked salmon atop crispy potato gallette, and pancake with fruits – just the typical brunch items, but everything beautifully done. I especially liked the french toast, which was crispy on the outside but supremely light and moist on the inside, with an eggy flavor that is delicious with or without the accompanying caramel vanilla sauce.

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[Shanghai] Jade Garden 蘇浙匯

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[Shanghai] Jade Garden 蘇浙匯

Jade Garden 蘇浙匯

Add*: Building A, No. 2558 Yan’an West Road (near Shuicheng Lu) 延安西路2558号A楼 (近水城路)
Tel: 6278 9558
Hours: 11am-10pm
Price: 100-200 RMB/person
Visited: Apr 2011

Jade Garden is most famous for its well-prepared 上海本幫菜 (Shanghainese cuisine), but few people know about the excellent dim sum served at its Gubei branch*. The decor is posh, the food is satisfying, and the round tables are perfect for group conversations – it’s an ideal weekend gathering place for a lively big family brunch. Reservations are highly recommended.

*Multiple locations available, check SmartShanghai or Dianping for details. I’ve only been to the Gubei branch so I can’t say much about the quality at other branches.

We started off with 沙姜霸王雞 Simmer Grilled Chicken with Ginger (48 RMB/half a chicken) – tender and succulent, a must order.

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[Taipei] VVG Bistro 好樣餐廳

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[Taipei] VVG Bistro 好樣餐廳

VVG Bistro 好樣餐廳

Add: 20, Alley 40, Lane 181, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, Taipei 台北市106忠孝東路四段181巷40弄20號
Tel: (02) 8773 3533
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 12-11pm [Sun] 12-8:00pm
Website: vvgvvg.blogspot.com
Price: [brunch] 600 NTD [pasta] 280~380 NTD [drinks] 120~380 NTD
Visited: Mar 2011

The brunch plate at VVG Bistro is sunny and bright like a Van Gogh sunflower. Roasted golden potato and tomato with bois boudran sauce, kumquat & pomelo green papaya salad in champagne vinaigrette, egg benedict drizzled with caviar Hollandaise, pistachio with honey and raspberry yogurt…Enjoy the dishes at the lush outdoor patio on a balmy day, or retreat to the adorable interior space furbished with eclectic decorations and mismatched furnitures.

By the way, VVG stands for “very very good”.

The indoor space is fun and quirky, but gets quite rowdy as the crowd settles in on weekends.

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[Shanghai] Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen (2)

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[Shanghai] Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen (2)

NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen

Add: 2F South Bund 22, 22 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu / 上海市中山東二路22號2樓近新永安路
Tel: 6318 0057
Hours: [lunch] Tue-Fri 12-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 12-4pm [dinner] 6-11pm
Price: [brunch] 238 RMB + 15%/person, drinks extra [dinner] 500 RMB/person
Website: www.napawinebarandkitchen.com
Visited: Dec 2010

Venue has now moved to Bund 22. This review refers to the original Jiangyin Lu location.

I was absolutely enchanted with Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen when I first visited in October 2009. The combination of delicious food, warm service, and elegant setting still occupies a corner of my memory till this day. With high expectations, I went back again this past Sunday. The dining room was lovely as always, and the service still attentive. However, a new chef was in throne, bringing with him a new style of cooking that is home-styled and rustic, as opposed to the more sophisticated, meticulously-plated dishes that wowed me during my first visit.

The interior was bright and comfortable, with warm Christmas music in the air.

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[Shanghai] T8 Restaurant & Bar (2)

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[Shanghai] T8 Restaurant & Bar (2)

T8 Restaurant & Bar

Add: Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181 Taicang Lu / 太仓路181号，新天地北里
Tel: 6355 8999
Hours: [brunch] 11:30am-3pm [lunch] 11:30am-2:30pm [dinner] 6:30pm-11:30pm
Website: www.t8shanghai.com
Price: [brunch] 258-498 RMB/person [dinner] 500 RMB/person
Visited: Dec 2010

Brunch at T8: 258 RMB for two courses, 328 RMB for three courses, and 498 RMB for four courses, all inclusive of a glass Perrier-Jouet champagne and illy coffee or tea (extra 198 RMB for free flow of champagne). Worth the money? Maybe.

We were exhausted after a morning of non-stop Christmas shopping, and were glad to be led upstairs to the tranquil and spacious lounge where brunch is served. The space is delightful – huge windows let in an abundance of natural light, fresh cherries adorning the tables, and Christmas music floating in the air. We sank into the plush sofa at the innermost corner as the waiter brought two glasses of Perrier-Jouet to our table. A most agreeable start.

Our first entrée, the crispy skin suckling pig with mojo sauce and cauliflower puree, was excellent. The skin was roasted crispy while the meat remained supremely tender and juicy. The mojo sauce, with its strong curry flavor, worked quite well with the pork.

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[Shanghai] Dakota

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[Shanghai] Dakota

Dakota

Add: 30 Donghu Lu, near Xinle Lu / 东湖路30号, 近新乐路
Tel:  5403 8906
Hours: [Mon-Sat] 11:00am-midnight [Sun] 11am-6pm
Price: [Brunch] 100 RMB/person, [Dinner] 200 RMB/person
Visited: Nov 2010

2014 update: venue closed.

An American bistro located on Donghu Lu close to Sushi Oyama and El Willy. Lunch and dinner seem a bit overpriced, but come here for a comfortable brunch featuring classic items such eggs Benedict, Belgian waffles, omelettes, Croque Madame, seafood chowder, and the likes. It’s simple, and it’s good. The wood-paneled and black leather chair interior is not my usual favorite vibe for brunch, but to occasionally diverge from the typical ‘sunny patio brunch’ path is not so horrible either.

Other than the items mentioned above, you’ll also see shrimp and grits, brisket hash, frittata, egg salad tartine, apple crepes, etc. If you come with a big group, there are some big plates to share as well: “roast leg of lamb served with bone marrow butter, salad, and duck fat frites”, and the “bone-in ribeye served with frisée salad, duck fat roasted potatoes, and béarnaise”.

We started with the Seafood Chowder in Sourdough Bread Bowl (50 RMB), which was thick and creamy with chunks of salmon and other seafood. The sourdough bread bowl was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. A good start.

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[Shanghai] Stiller’s

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[Shanghai] Stiller’s

Stiller’s Restaurant & Cooking School

Add: Bldg 13, 6-7/F, The Cool Docks, 505 Zhongshan Nan Lu / 老碼頭, 中山南路505號13號樓6-7樓
Tel: 6152 6501
Hours: [dinner] 6:00~10:30pm [Sunday brunch] 12:00~2:30pm
Price: Brunch 348 RMB/person, Dinner 500+ RMB/person
Website: www.stillers-restaurant.cn
Visited: Oct 2010

Stiller’s at The Cool Docks is modern European fine-dining. The sleek dining room, spacious and elegantly decorated with white tablecloths and roses, matches perfectly with the beautiful dishes conjured up by Stefan Stiller.

Here’s the Lazy Sunday Lunch Menu (348 RMB/person), which changes regularly with the season, starting with bread basket and a trio of whipped butter: curry, sesame, and cilantro

Starter Variation: cilantro mousse, tuna steak, deviled egg, foie gras terrine, mozzarella and tomato. An attractive plate of dainty bites, though nothing left a memorable mark.

Beef Carpaccio with Parmesan Mousse, “Gazpacho Soup”, Olive Tapenade, Pine Nuts and Basil. The gazpacho was enveloped in a bulb, and the parmesan mousse was wrapped in a thin, crunchy pastry. Definitely very complicated and unusual in terms of architecture.

Turbot Herbs Mousse with Sweet Wine Jelly, Fennel and Shallot-Saffron Vinaigrette. A pretty dish.

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[Shanghai] Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen

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[Shanghai] Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen

Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen Add: 2F South Bund 22, 22 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu / 上海市中山東二路22號2樓近新永安路 Tel: 6318 0057 Hours: [lunch] Tue-Fri 12-2:30pm, Sat-Sun 12-4pm [dinner] 6-11pm Price: [brunch] 238 RMB + 15%/person, drinks extra [dinner] 500 RMB/person Website: www.napawinebarandkitchen.com Visited: Oct 2010 Venue has now moved to Bund 22. This review refers to the original Jiangyin Lu location. Napa Wine Bar…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen” →