[Shanghai] Lolo Love Vintage

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[Shanghai] Lolo Love Vintage

Lolo Love Vintage

Add: The First Door, 87 Wuyuan Lu, near Changshu Lu 五原路87弄第一个门, 近常熟路
Tel: 137 0180 6644
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun, 1-9pm
Price: [drinks] 25 RMB
Visited: Nov 2011

Lolo Love Vintage has relocated from its original Weihai location to a lane in the French Concession. This vintage boutique/cafe is run by Lolo, who is apparently one of China’s top make-up artists and stylists. Vintage fans will love what’s in stock here: “a swathe of ’60s swimsuits, Victorian undergarments, ’20s headgear…someone’s ’80s prom dress on the wall, and rows more of ’50s teapots, pre-loved buttons and a ’40s YSL coat or three”. Read more about Lolo here.

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[Shanghai] Kappo Yu 割烹雄

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[Shanghai] Kappo Yu 割烹雄

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: 6-11pm (closed Sunday)
Price: 690 RMB/person, drinks extra
Visited: Jun 2011

I can’t say enough good things about Sushi Oyama, so naturally I had high expectations for its sister restaurant Kappo Yu. Unfortunately I went to Kappo Yu right before my Euro trip and wasn’t able to get the post up before I left, so a lot of details are lost in time….but let’s take a look at what’s still resonating in my head.

What does “sister restaurant” mean, anyway? From what I heard that evening, the two restaurants are under the same management. Oyama-san oversees/advises the menu at Kappo Yu, and the food is prepared by Yohei Terada, a young chef who was previously at Tokyo’s Nobu.

While Sushi Oyama serves – you’ve guessed it – sushi, Kappo Yu is more kaiseki-style. The 10-course seasonal menu (690 RMB/set) changes monthly, but if you visit Kappo Yu more than once in a month, the chef would be happy to modify the menu for you.

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[Shanghai] The Purple Onion

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[Shanghai] The Purple Onion

The Purple Onion (venue closed) Add:  Lane 351, No. 16, Huashan Lu, near Changshu Lu / 华山路351弄16号, 近常熟路 Tel: 6248 8747 Hours: 11:30am-10:30pm Website: www.thepurpleonionsh.com Price: [lunch] 128 RMB/set [dinner] 200-250 RMB/person The Purple Onion serves David Laris’ Mediterranean comfort dishes in the former A Future Perfect lane house space. The secluded outdoor patio, now…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] The Purple Onion” →

[Shanghai] Le Creme Milano

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[Shanghai] Le Creme Milano

Le Creme Milano

Add: 173 Fumin Lu, near Julu Lu / 富民路173号, 近巨鹿路路
Tel: 5403 3918
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 1-10pm [Sat-Sun] 11am-10pm
Website: www.lecrememilano.com
Price: 25 RMB/small, 35 RMB/medium, 45 RMB/large
Visited: Nov 2010

Le Creme Milano is a delightful gelato cafe on Fumin Lu serving classic favorites such as stracciatella and tiramisu as well as seasonal flavors like mango and lychee. Fresh, light, and (relatively) guilt-free. There are 12 different flavors that rotate weekly, and we tried almost everything before figuring out what our taste buds craved the most. Pick 2 flavors with a small cup (25 RMB), 3 flavors with a medium cup (35 RMB), or 4 flavors with a large cup (45 RMB).

What I learned: gelato contains less fat (around 7% versus the 20% of ice-cream) and feels softer and smoother on the tongue, though it’s actually denser than ice-cream because it contains less air as a result of the slower churning speed during production.

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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] Hof

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[Shanghai] Hof

Hof Add: 30 Sinan Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu / 思南路30号, 近淮海中路 Tel: 6093 2058 / 6093 2052 Hours: [Tue-Thu] 11-12am, [Fri-Sun] 11-1am Price: [cakes] ~35 RMB [cocktails] 55-88 RMB Visited: Nov 2010 Chocolate. Chocolate mud cake. Orange chocolate mud cake. Orange chocolate mud cake with caramel. Orange chocolate mud cake with caramel and sea…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] Hof” →

[Shanghai] Le Bistro du Dr. Wine

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[Shanghai] Le Bistro du Dr. Wine

Le Bistro du Dr. Wine

Add: 177 Fumin Lu , near Julu Lu 富民路177號, 近巨鹿路
Tel: 5403-5717
Hours: 5:00pm~2:00am
Price: [wine] 38-55 RMB/glass, 118 RMB and up/bottle [food] 48-88 RMB/pizza
Visited on: Aug 2010

In Shanghai, wine bars have been sprouting up like bamboo shoots after a Spring drizzle, and Dr. Wine is one of the newer addition to the scene. The decor is simple – leather couches, soft wood, warm bricks. The owners supposedly recycled materials from the original lane house to create a retro look for the wine bar. With a nice-looking wine list and classic wine bar menu items like charcuterie and sandwiches, Dr. Wine is ready to please.

If you want to splurge at Dr. Wine, you can. Vincent Landais (one of the owners) is a sommelier who has worked for Daniel Boulud in New York and Alain Ducasse in Paris. He makes sure that you can get a 1982 Chateau Lafite at Dr. Wine as long as you are willing to pay 45,000 RMB for the bottle. Or, for those of us with a thinner wallet, there are bottles starting from 118 RMB.

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[Shanghai] Azul

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[Shanghai] Azul

Azul

Add: Ferguson Lane 8/F, 378 Wukang Lu, near Hunan Lu / 武康路378號8樓, 近湖南路
Tel: 5405 2252
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 12pm-12am [Sat-Sun] 11am-4pm, 6-11pm
Price: [brunch] 130~160 RMB [dinner] 200~300 RMB/person
Visited: Aug 2010

UPDATE: Azul has moved to a new location (address updated above).

Azul Tapas Lounge is a modern Peruvian eatery by Eduardo Vargas, a brunch favorite among expats. The restaurant offers generous portions of brunch items ranging from salmon crepes to Spanish chicken to omelets to steaks. For us, the 130 RMB two-course sets were more than enough, but if you are extra hungry, opt for the three-course set at 160 RMB.

Brunch at Azul comes with a complementary drink (sangria, smoothie, juice, etc.) AND coffee/tea. Unfortunately the watery smoothies here are nothing compared to what Melange Oasis serves.

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[Shanghai] Shintori 新都里

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[Shanghai] Shintori 新都里

Shintori 新都里 Add: 803 Julu Rd, near Fumin Lu / 巨鹿路803號, 近富民路 Tel: 54045252 Hours: [Mon-Fri] 5:30-10:30pm, [Sat-Sun] 11:30am-2pm, 5-10:30pm Price: 300 RMB/person Website: www.shintori.com.tw Visited on: Aug 2010 Easily missed by passerby, Shintori is a Japanese fusion restaurant hidden behind an unmarked doorway on Julu Lu. Follow the bamboo-lined path and you will arrive at a…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] Shintori 新都里” →

[Shanghai] Manne et Sante’

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[Shanghai] Manne et Sante’

Manne et Sante’

Add: 96 Shaoxing Lu, near Shanxi Nan Lu / 绍兴路96号, 近陕西南路
Tel: 5465 6297
Hours: 8am~10pm
Price: ~40 RMB/coffee, 40~60 RMB/dessert
Visited: Aug 2010

The first floor bakery of Manne et Sante’ looks decent enough, but I would’ve never ventured upstairs to the second floor cafe if not led by a friend. The small doorway, the shabby and twisting staircase, the dark interior…there is nothing delightful about the route leading up. Once I pushed open the wooden door to the second floor, however, the sweet aroma of fresh pastry and coffee convinced me immediately that this is a good place to be.

The cafe owner is an acquaintance of my friend, and he came out to personally brew coffee for us. The guy at the next table is obviously jealous that we got special treatment.

Mille Feuille, a three-tier puff pastry tower with cream, fresh grapes, and blueberries sandwiched in between.

Tiramisu.

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