Archive for the ‘Shanghai restaurant review’ tag
[SHANGHAI] Table No. 1 at The Waterhouse
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Table No. 1
Address: 1-3 Maojiayuan Lu, near Zhongshan Nan Lu / 毛家園路1-3號1樓, 近中山南路
Tel: 6080 2918
Hours: 12:00~2:30pm, 6:00~10:30pm
Website: www.tableno-1.com
Price: [lunch] 178 RMB+15%/person, [dinner]300~500 RMB/person
Visited on: 2012-03
Please note that this is an arranged tasting.
I love Table No. 1 in daylight, but it is even more charming after dark. With candles lit on every table, this minimally decorated dining room becomes quite a romantic spot, and whether you are here for a date (choose a window seat) or a friendly gathering (choose a communal table), this place will not disappoint.
Our table looked into the interior courtyard, across which we could see some actions from the kitchen.
There’s also a semi-private room available for those looking for more seclusion.
I started the meal with a Dirty Lychee Martini (80 RMB), muddled lychee fruits shaken with lychee liqueur and Absolut raspberry vodka, while my friend went for TN1. Mojito (80 RMB), muddled mint leaves and lime mixed with Havana Blanco rum and topped with soda. Thumbs up to both.
[SHANGHAI] Brunch at Jing’An, The PuLi Hotel
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Jing’An Restaurant
Address: 2F, The PuLi Hotel and Spa, 1 Changde Lu, near Yan’an Xi Lu / 常德路1號2樓， 近延安西路
Tel: 2216 6988
Hours: 11:30-2:30pm, 7:00-10:30pm
Price: [brunch] 398 RMB + 15%/person
Website: www.jinganrestaurant.com
PuLi Hotel’s Jing’An Restaurant – adorned with dark woods, bamboo screens, lotus flowers, and huge plate-glass windows overlooking Jing’an Park – is one of my favorite places in Shanghai. Brunch here is a lavish affair, with two buffet tables in addition to a la carte orders of main courses and desserts, plus the optional free flow of Moet & Chandon Brut or Moet & Chandon Rose. What else can you ask for?
Jing’An Resaurant
Table setting
Buffet tables
I usually don’t like buffet food because mass production usually leads to subpar quality, but the buffet tables at Jing’An are quite nicely put together. What they entail: a fresh seafood station, charcuterie selection with dressing, roasted meats, freshly baked breads and pastries, imported cheeses, pickled station with pickled eggs, cucumbers onions and marinated mushrooms, fresh salad selection, a variety of homemade condiments, and fresh fruits. Yes, it’s a lot of food.
Smoked salmon, charcuterie
[SHANGHAI] 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA
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8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA
Address: Associate Mission Building, 6-7/F, 169 Yuanmingyuan Lu, near Beijing Dong Lu / 圆明园路169号6－7楼, 近北京东路
Tel: 6087 2890
Hours: [restaurant] 6:00pm~12:00am [bar] 4:00pm~late
Website: www.ottoemezzobombana.
Visited on: 2012-03-05
Please note that this is an arranged tasting.
Oops, I did it again. That evening at 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo, I ate way too much, and I drank way too much. But can you blame me? The Shanghai establishment of Umberto Bombana’s Michelin three star restaurant just upped the ante for fine dining in this city. Situated in the newly renovated Rock Bund development, the restaurant boasts views of Lujiazui and The Bund, but really, I couldn’t care less about the view – it’s the food that draws me.
To see my review of the original 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo in Hong Kong, click here.
Our evening commenced at the bar. If you are overwhelmed by the lengthy menu like I was, let mixologist Dario Gentile whip up one of his original cocktail recipes for you. As I was in the mood for something sour, the Camomile Whisky Sour (80 RMB) was perfect.
Camomile Whisky Sour (80 RMB).
[SHANGHAI] Mistral
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Mistral
Address: 133 Fuxing Xi Lu at Yongfu Lu / 复兴西路133号近永福路
Tel: 6433 4261
Hours: [Mon] 5:00pm~12:00am [Tue-Sun] 12:00pm~12:00am
Price: 300~400 RMB/person
Visited on: 2012-02-12
Please note that this is an arranged tasting, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
Mistral, a Spanish restaurant and tapas bar on Fuxing Lu, has got an understated storefront, a heavy black metal door, and a little TV scribbled with “turn off TV, turn on music”. First impression – quirky! – I loved it.
Mistral
Turn on the music!
Enter the door, and it’s casual, rustic, with simple white-washed walls. The first floor has a few tables and a small patio, and the second floor has two private rooms and terrace seating – no doubt a nice spot on a balmy day.
Interior
Decor
So what’s in the name? “Mistral” is a strong wind from the Northwest of France that affects its eastern Mediterranean coast from Marseille to St. Tropez and is what makes the charming weather in these sunny regions. And the food? Rustic Spanish, with lots of French and a bit of Italian additions.
[SHANGHAI] Media Dinner at Greenology 大蔬無界
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Greenology 大蔬無界
Address: 392 Tianping Lu, near Zhaojiabang Lu / 天平路392号, 近肇嘉浜路
Tel: 3469 2857
Hours: [lunch] 11:00am~2:00pm [tea] 2:00pm~5:00pm [dinner] 5:00pm~10:00pm
Price: 150 RMB/person for a la carte, 268~688 RMB/person for prie fixe menu
Visited on: 2012-02-13
Please note that this is an arranged tasting, so my experience is possibly more positive than a regular visit.
Greenology (大蔬無界), literally “boundless options of a vegetarian lifestyle”, offers a refined selection of Chinese fusion dishes using innovative combinations of fresh, organic, and origin-conscious produce. Last week, I had the pleasure of tasting a 10-course dinner orchestrated by guest chef Tony Chang, who was invited as part of the restaurant’s International Vegetarian Culinary Exchange. It was, to say the least, a mesmerizing evening.
5th floor event space
The interior of Greenology’s 6-story building, designed by a Buddhist monk, corresponds to the five elements of Chinese philosophy: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. The tasting event was held up on the 5th floor, a contemporary space complete with dark wood furnitures, floor-to-ceiling windows, a picturesque park view, and a show kitchen.
Show kitchen
Dining table
[SHANGHAI] Jin Xuan 金軒 at Ritz-Carlton Pudong [2]
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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] Song Fang Maison de Thé 宋芳茶館
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Song Fang Maison de Thé 宋芳茶館
Add: 227 Yongjia Lu, near Shanxi Nan Lu /永嘉路277號, 近陝西南路
Tel: 6433 8283
Price: [tea] 40~70 RMB/pot, [cake] ~40 RMB
Website: www.songfangtea.com
Visited on: 2011-12-17
Song Fang Maison de Thé is an enchanting tea salon located in a converted former French Concession lane house. From the 1st floor retail space, climb up the winding wooden staircase to arrive at its bright and airy tea salon adorned with vintage tin cans, wicker chairs, and nostalgic floral red prints from Northern China – you probably wouldn’t have guessed that this place is opened by a French lady, would you? With light jazz floating in the background, this is a truly stylish retreat indeed.
Song Fang Maison de Thé 宋芳茶館
Interior
Floral print sofa
View of the former French Concession
Floral print sofa
[SHANGHAI] The Living Room at Park Hyatt
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The Living Room at Park Hyatt
Add: 87/F, Park Hyatt Shanghai, 100 Century Avenue, near Dongtai Lu 世纪大道100号, 上海柏悅酒店87楼, 近东泰路
Tel: 6888 1234
Hours: [Afternoon Tea] 2:00pm~6:00pm
Price: [Afternoon Tea Set] 218 RMB + 15%, [Tea/Coffee] 60~65 RMB + 15%
Website: www.parkhyattshanghai.com
Instead of going up to the 100th floor of Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) for a view of the Bund and be tortured by the clutter and clamor of rowdy tour groups, do yourself a favor and spend the time and money on an afternoon tea set at The Living Room at Park Hyatt. This bright and airy residential style lounge, located on the 87th floor of SWFC, offers a commanding view of the city that changes as the sun sets. This is the way Shanghai should be experienced: equal parts ease and panache.
Living Room at the Park Hyatt
Living Room at the Park Hyatt
View from the 87th floor
View from the 87th floor
Living Room at the Park Hyatt
Ultra comfy sofa that just draws you in
Tarts, pies, and eclairs
Daily tarts, 65 RMB each
[SHANGHAI] Mr. Pancake House
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Mr. Pancake House
Address: 877 Wuding Lu, near Jiaozhou Lu / 武定路877号, 近胶州路
Tel: 6255 1648
Hours: 7:30am-10:30pm
Price: 30~50 RMB/person
This small pancake specialty shop in Jing’an area is so popular that they don’t even take reservations (not on weekends, at least). The food and the decor are just ok, but the the price is unbeatable – for less than 50 RMB, you get pancakes, sausages/bacon/ham, eggs, home fries, plus coffee or tea. Better yet, they serve breakfast until 3:00pm!
A not so pretty storefront
On this particular Sunday early afternoon, we waited about 20 minutes before we got seats for four. A word on the outdoor seats – if you choose to sit outside, expect to breathe in excessive car fumes as you chow down the pancakes because you will be practically sitting next to the road.
Outdoor seating
Packed space
Most of the breakfast sets are similar – 2 small pancakes, 2 eggs any style, home fries, and sausages/ham/bacon – my favorite being the German sausages. If you’d rather not do sets, the banana walnut pancakes would be a safe choice, though they just seemed like plain pancakes topped with banana slices.
Banana Walnut Pancake 28 RMB
German Sausage Breakfast, 48 RMB
[SHANGHAI] Dakota
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Dakota
Address: 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] 11:00am-6pm
Price: [Brunch] 100 RMB/person, [Dinner] 200 RMB/person
Dakota is an American bistro located on Donghu Lu close to Sushi Oyama and El Willy. Lunch and dinner seem to be 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.
Dakota exterior
The wood-paneled and black leather chair interior is rather dark and not my usual favorite vibe for brunch, but to occasionally diverge from the typical ‘sunny patio brunch’ path doesn’t sound like a horrible idea either.
Dakota interior
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”.
Menu
We started with the seafood chowder (50 RMB), which was thick and creamy with chunks of salmon and other unidentifiable seafood. The sourdough bread bowl was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. A good start.
Seafood Chowder in Sourdough Bread Bowl, 50 RMB
Here’s an Omelette with Smoked Ham, Salami, Gruyére, and Mushroom Sherry Sauce (55 RMB). Didn’t get to try.
Omelette with Smoked Ham, Salami, Gruyére, and Mushroom Sherry Sauce, 55 RMB
Then came the crab benedict (65 RMB). The eggs are perfectly poached, the Hollandaise sauce is rich and buttery with a mild tang added by a sprinkle of lemon juice, and the English muffin rightfully spongy. My only suggestion is to volume up on the crab salad, which got lost between its neighboring layers.
