[Shanghai] Brunch at Jing’An, The PuLi Hotel

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[Shanghai] Brunch at Jing’An, The PuLi Hotel

Jing’An Restaurant

Add: 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
Visited: Mar 2012

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 more can you ask for?

I usually don’t like buffet food, but the Jing’An version is 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.


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[Shanghai] Souper Fresh Gubei Branch

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[Shanghai] Souper Fresh Gubei Branch

Souper Fresh (venue closed) Add: 99 Rong Hua West Road Bldg.4 #101 / 荣华西道99弄4号101室 Tel: 3250 8277 Hours: 11:00am~9:00pm Website: www.souperfresh.com Price: 58 RMB/person Visited: Mar 2012 After much ado, the Gubei branch of Souper Fresh is finally in operation. I gave it a try this week – didn’t take any pictures, but it’s basically the same deal as…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] Souper Fresh Gubei Branch” →

[Shanghai] Restaurant Week at Table No. 1

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[Shanghai] Restaurant Week at Table No. 1

Table No. 1

Add: 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: 12~2:30pm, 6~10:30pm
Website: www.tableno-1.com
Price: [lunch] 178 RMB+15%/person, [dinner]300~400 RMB/person
Visited: Mar 2012 (visit 1, 3)

By the time I got around to making Restaurant Week reservations, most of the places that I’d like to visit are already fully booked. I was glad to find, however, that Table No. 1 – one of my favorite restaurants in Shanghai – still had open spots. Lunch it is.

The dining room, designed by Neri & Hu, is spare, plain, rustic. It quickly filled up after I snapped this picture, but somehow the space never got too rowdy even with a full house. Bonus points for that.

The cuisine at Table No. 1 is characterized by the use of fresh, seasonal, and top quality ingredients. Take this starter for example: salmon tartare, quail egg, radish, cucumber and tea vinaigrette – clean plating, refreshing flavors.

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[Shanghai] 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA

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[Shanghai] 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA

8 ½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA

Add: 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] 6pm~12am [bar] 4pm~late
Website: www.ottoemezzobombana.com
Price: 600 RMB+/person
Visited on: Mar 2012

Please note that this is an arranged tasting.

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).

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[Shanghai] The Grumpy Pig (2)

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[Shanghai] The Grumpy Pig (2)

The Grumpy Pig

Add: 65-4 Maoming Bei Lu, near Yan’an Lu / 茂名北路65-4号, 近延安路
Tel:  6217 3355
Hours: [Sun-Thu] 11am~10pm [Fri-Sat] 11am~12am
Price: 100~200 RMB/person
Visited: Mar 2012 (visit 1)

Back at The Grumpy Pig for their famed tonkotsu ramen which I didn’t have room for on my previous visit. With natural light pouring through the skylight, this little space is equally charming during the day as it is after dark. A perfect lunch spot for those working in the area.

Love these light bulbs. Maybe I can find them at aroom?

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[Shanghai] Sunday Fried Chicken at The Public

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[Shanghai] Sunday Fried Chicken at The Public

The Public

Add: Sinan Mansions, Block 2, 4/F, Lane 507 Fuxing Zhong Lu, near Chongqing Lu / 复兴中路507弄2号楼4楼, 近重庆路
Tel: 3368 9419
Hours: [Wed-Sun] 6pm~late
Price: [food] 100~200 RMB/person [drinks] 65~80 RMB/cocktail
Visited: Jun 2012

I was so curious about The Public’s Sunday Fried Chicken that I came back within a week of my last visit. The fried chickens here have been garnering great reviews since their Apothecary days, and many diners – despite bashing the place for its strict rules and unsatisfactory service (both have been effectively remedied since the restaurant’s rebranding) – reluctantly admitted that the chickens are a hit.

Here it is, a glorious plate of Whey-Poached Fried Chicken with Buttermilk Biscuits & Coleslaw (half chix w/ 2 biscuits 125 RMB, whole chix w/ 4 biscuits 240 RMB). Free-range, organic chickens that grew up on honey-fermented grains are seasoned (they say it takes 24 hours), battered, then deep fried to a satisfying golden brown. Under the crackling crunch is fragrant, juicy, and tender meat filled with flavor.

On a separate plate came the coleslaw…

…and buttermilk biscuits, which weren’t too shabby, but the restaurant staff still assured us that they are working on the recipe and will soon come out with a leveled up version of these buttery goodness.

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[Shanghai] Anna Maya (2)

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[Shanghai] Anna Maya (2)

Anna Maya

Add: 3 Taojiang Lu, near Hengshan Lu / 桃江路3号, 近衡山路
Tel: 6433-4602
Hours: 10am~10pm
Price: 68~110 RMB/set
Visited: Jan 2012 (visit 1)

Almost forgot about a delightful lunch I had at Anna Maya at the very beginning of this year. Like I said last time, this vegan cafe will not please everyone, but for those looking to sooth the stomach with some light and healthy macrobiotic food, this is a must visit.

Wooden floor, wooden furniture, and wooden utensils.

Order a la carte or set menus, which range from 68 RMB (1 drink/soup + 1 salad) to 110 RMB (1 soup + 1 salad plate + 1 main dish). We sampled 2 soups, 4 salads, and 3 main dishes – it’s been more than two months since I had these, so I’ll have to skip on detailed descriptions…sorry!

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[Shanghai] Issimo Re-Opening Party

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[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
Website: www.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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[Shanghai] Mistral

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[Shanghai] Mistral

Mistral

Add: 133 Fuxing Xi Lu at Yongfu Lu / 复兴西路133号近永福路
Tel: 6433 4261
Hours: [Mon] 5pm~12am [Tue-Sun] 12pm~12am
Price: 300~400 RMB/person
Visited on: Feb 2012

Please note that this was an arranged tasting.

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.

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.

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.


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