[Shanghai] Issimo Re-Opening Party

Issimo

Add: 2/F, 931 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Taixing Lu / 南京西路931号2楼, 近泰兴路
Tel: 3302-4997
Hours: [breakfast] 7~10:30am [lunch] 12:00~2:30pm [dinner] 6:30~10:30pm
Websitewww.jiashanghai.com/web/RoomsAndRestaurants/detail/Restaurant/eng/
Price: [lunch] 118~148 RMB/set [dinner] 300~400 RMB/person [brunch] 288 RMB/person
Visited:  Feb 2012

Just came back from Issimo‘s re-opening party, an absolutely raucous event filled with people having a very good time. The 12-meter-long olive-wood counter was covered in a sumptuous spread of focaccia, grissini, mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano, sun-dried tomatoes, pickled olives, ham and salami of all sorts, not to mention the cohort of waiters waltzing around with plates after plates of hors d’oeuvres…

2014 update: venue closed.

“More mozzarella? Some olive oil and pepper? Tomatoes! How about some olives? Bread, ah yes more bread!” The friendly chefs behind the counter served with such passion, I couldn’t resist anything they put on my plate. Not complaining.

Champagne, refilled a little too promptly for my own good.

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[Hong Kong] 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA

8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA

Add: Shop 202, 2/F, Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong / 中環德輔道中5-17號歷山大廈2樓202號舖
Tel: (852) 2537 8859
Hours: 12-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm
Website: www.ottoemezzobombana.com
Price: [lunch] 330 HKD/set (a la carte also available), [dinner] 800 HKD+
Visited: Dec 2011

I won’t be able to describe my dinner at 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA in much detail. It was one of those charming experiences filled with constant oohs and ahhs that in retrospect, everything is a blur – the copious amount of wine consumed that evening certainly contributed to the buzz. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

We were lucky to get one of the C-shaped booths in the corners, which provided a great vantage point from which to survey the entire dining room: a comfortable interior in a warm palette of bronze and cream, made festive by Christmas decorations here and there. The faceted mirror ceiling is a nice touch.

Corkage fee at Otto e Mezzo is charged not by the bottle, but by the number of people at the table (100 HKD per person), and in total we only paid 400 HKD of corkage fee for all three bottles we brought that evening (instead of 500 HKD/bottle charged by other high-end restaurants). It all started with a bottle of bubbly Egly Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru (thank you J & C :)

The amuse bouche may look like a chocolate truffle, but it’s actually a cube of chocolate foie gras.


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[Shanghai] Issimo

Issimo

Add: 2/F, 931 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Taixing Lu / 南京西路931號2樓, 近泰興路
Tel: 3302 4997
Website: www.jiashanghai.com/web/RoomsAndRestaurants/detail/Restaurant/eng/
Price: [lunch] 148~178 RMB/person + 15% [dinner] 300~400 RMB/person

2014 update: venue closed.

Apparently Issimo isn’t what it used to be, but there are several reasons why you should still lunch there. First, the food – it might not be terribly inventive, but it’s satisfying (and bears the name of celebrity chef Salvatore Cuomo). Second, the location – 2nd floor of the stylish JIA boutique hotel, which conveniently sits on Nanjing West Rd/Wu Jiang Lu. Third, the value – for 148 RMB (as opposed to the 400+ RMB/person dinner bill),  you get a 3-course meal inclusive of an appetizer, a pizza/pasta, a dessert, a drink (fresh juice, soft drink, or wine), and Illy coffee. 178 RMB for an additional main course. Not so bad, eh?

The design at Issimo is modern and sleek but still comfortable and cozy.

For drinks, choose from fresh juices (orange or grapefruit), house red/white wine, and soft drinks.

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