[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] Red Velvet Afternoon Tea at Waldorf Astoria

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[Shanghai] Red Velvet Afternoon Tea at Waldorf Astoria

Salon de Ville, Waldorf Astoria

Add: Waldorf Astoria, 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu 中山东一路2号上海外滩华尔道夫酒店
Tel: 6322 9988
Hours: 10am-8pm
Website: www.waldorfastoria.com
Price: 338rmb+15%/person, free flow of coffee, tea, and finger food
Visited: Aug 2011

Afternoon Tea at Waldorf Astoria Shanghai. The tea set itself was not particularly impressive, but I quite enjoyed the regal yet relaxed ambiance brought alive by classical music performance (cello and violin on the day of my visit, harp on most weekends). What I liked most about Salon de Ville, in addition to its plush furnishings, is that there is a comfortable distance between each clusters of sofas, making it a perfect spot for a quiet afternoon of private tête-à-têtes.

The Red Velvet Afternoon Tea Set, priced at 338 RMB/person, includes a free flow of savory bites, finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, signature red velvet cupcakes, and coffee or tea (try the Irish Whisky Cream, which actually doesn’t contain any whisky but is rich and aromatic enough to intoxicate.)

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Favorites!

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Favorites!

You can now find a list of my personal favorite restaurants in Shanghai by clicking “Favorites!” on the righthand side menu. Cafe Dan, Sushi Oyama, Goga, Old Jesse, Ji Heng Beef Noodles, Mr. & Mrs. Bund, Living Room at Park Hyatt, a Côté, Colabo, Le Creme Milano…The list will be updated constantly, stay tuned. Nigiri sushi…Continue Reading “Favorites!” →

[Shanghai] Le Creme Milano (2)

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[Shanghai] Le Creme Milano (2)

Le Creme Milano (Shanxi Lu) Add: 434 Shaanxi Nan Lu , near Yongjia Lu / 陕西南路434号, 近永嘉路 Tel: 6433 5208 Hours: [Mon-Fri] 1-11pm [Sat-Sun] 11am-11pm Website: www.lecrememilano.com Price: 25 RMB/small, 35 RMB/medium, 45 RMB/large Passing by Le Creme Milano on my way home from dinner last Sunday was a bad idea. Already stuffed beyond capacity after a lavish meal,…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] Le Creme Milano (2)” →

[Shanghai] Summer Desserts at Maison Pourcel

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[Shanghai] Summer Desserts at Maison Pourcel

Maison Pourcel Add: 8/F, 35 Shanxi Nan Lu, near Changle Lu 陕西南路35号8楼, 近长乐路 Tel: 6215 8777 Hours: [La Table] 5:30-10:30pm [Studio Bar] 11:30am-11pm Website: www.maisonpourcel.com Price: [La Table] 700 RMB+/person, [Studio Bar] 300 RMB/person Visited: Aug 2011 Please note that this is an arranged tasting. Last week I had the pleasure of trying two new desserts…Continue Reading “[Shanghai] Summer Desserts at Maison Pourcel” →

[Shanghai] Old Jesse 吉士酒家

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[Shanghai] Old Jesse 吉士酒家

Old Jesse 吉士酒家

Add: 41 Tianping Lu, near Huaihai Xi Lu 天平路41号, 近淮海西路
Tel: 6282 9260
Hours: 11-12am
Price: 100~150 RMB/person
Visited: Aug 2011

Old Jesse needs no introduction. This cramped little place is widely recognized as the best Shanghainese restaurant in Shanghai, and is my usual go to place when out-of-town guests ask for some local flavors. Reservations absolutely necessary.

Old Jesse has a page of “recommended dishes”, and it’s pretty safe to order anything from this page. For appetizers, we tried mixed mushroom with bean curd sheet 腐竹熗蘑菇 (38 RMB) and Jishi’s salted chicken 吉士鹹雞 (38 RMB), both excellent choices. Dates stuffed with glutinous rice 心太軟 (18 RMB) is another Shanghai classic not to be missed.

Jishi’s salted chicken 吉士鹹雞 (38 RMB).

Dates stuffed with glutinous rice 心太軟 (18 RMB).

Old Jesse is especially famous for its braised pork in brown sauce 外婆紅燒肉 (58 RMB), and though tonight’s pot seemed overly sweet, they usually do an excellent job. The key is that satisfying layer of fat, perfectly braised to a chewy and gelatinous consistency. Bowls of rice can be easily polished off with a few pieces of these hongshaorou.

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[Shanghai] New Heights

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[Shanghai] New Heights

New Heights

Add: Three on the Bund, 7/F, 17 Guangdong Lu  广东路17号, 外滩三号7楼
Tel: 6321 0909
Hours: [afternoon tea] 2-5pm
Website: www.threeonthebund.com
Price: [afternoon tea] 128 RMB + 10%
Visited: Jul 2011

A new afternoon tea service at New Heights? Let’s give it a try.

The afternoon tea set (128 RMB), served in a glass house adjacent to the main dining room, includes two plates of sweet and savory bites, with a cup of coffee or tea.

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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] Organ (3)

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[Shanghai] Organ (3)

Organ

Add: 66 Ziyunxi Lu, near Loushanguan Lu 紫云西路66号, 近娄山关路
Tel: 5206 5937
Hours: 11:30am-10pm
Website: blog.goo.ne.jp/organ0417
Price: [lunch] 40~50 RMB [cakes] 25~35 RMB
Visited: Jul 2011

NOTE: Organ has closed and reopened here.

You can tell from my first and second posts on Organ that this discreet little Japanese cafe is one of my favorite lunch spots near my office, so I was very sad to hear that they are moving to Hongmei Lu area in August. Where will I go for lunch from now on?

As the new location is too far from my office, I know I need to seize my last chances to lunch at Organ before they move. So here I am!

The tofu burger (48 RMB), one of my favorite dishes at Organ, was a delight as always. The patty was soft and tender, perfect with the scoop of chewy mixed-grain rice served on the side. What made the dish spark was a mound of shiso leaves and a bit of grated turnips topping the tofu burger, each adding a refreshing layer of flavor.


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