Shanghai Restaurant Tips by mke1963

Restaurant Name: M on the Bund

Despite it becoming a bit passe with Shanghai's culture-junkies and foodies, M on the Bund remains a 'must do' place, if only for the terrace overlooking the Huangpu and the bund. However, there are better views of the bund from across the river of course.

The service can be slow but it is worth the wait, as the innovative food is excellent, but remember that this is a minimalist so what it says on the menu is what you will got. If it says 'a prawn' you will get *a* prawn.

I like it a lot, partly because of their chutzpah, partly for their innovativeness, and partly for the view.

Favorite Dish: The M Pavlova. I want more. Much more.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: On the bund

Restaurant Name: Blarney Stone

Around the world there are Irish pubs. It's like a theme....the Dublin McDonalds, as Irish as Boston St Patricks Day bright green beer. Wherever a bloke can find a set of old Guinness posters and get hold of imported Kilkenny, an Irish pub springs up.
In most cases, the tack and Irishness is so crass that it says "this is not how an Irish pub looks" or "This is an Irish Theme Park".
The Blarney Stone is a bit different. Sure (to be sure?) there are plenty of Guinness and Kilkenny adverts, lots of "this is Ireland" kitsch. But this is also a place where you see grumpy old bastards in flat caps sullenly mulling over the days events over a pint. This is local Irish lads, on the up or on the down, playing cards and eying up strangers as they come in from the cold. The floor is grubby, the seats ridiculously overholstered. A iPod plays out all kinds of junk through a huge sound system.
A sad looking man sets up his guitar. The landlord sits with his mates near the TV, looking the unhappiest man on the planet.
You could have walked off the streets of Dundalk on a wet, windy November night and into a local. The Blarney Stone is a very different overseas Irish pub: it looks, feels and is the real thing.
You want service or cherries on a stick in a cocktail, go elsewhere: this is a piece of Ireland dug up and set down in Shanghai. Just the place for a few pints, read the paper and muttering darkly about why doesn't RTE have a worldwide TV news service (ENN?).

Favorite Dish: The steak and kidney pie. Oh yes. Definitely. Vast quantities of gravy in a huge bowl. Expect ten and twenty blackbirds in this one.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 6415 7496
Address: 5 Dongping Lu

Restaurant Name: Zoe's Cafe

A good but busy lunch time spot. Good coffees and great sandwiches.

Open 0830am to 1030pm


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Theme: Deli
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 3223 3271
Address: Ground Floor, Maxdo Centre, Hongqiao
Directions: At the edge of the big centre