Shanghai Restaurant Tips by MaosRedArmy

Restaurant Name: M on the Bund

Spectacular view. A great place for a special occassion. It is a bit pricey, so if you are watching your wallet, maybe take a pass on this one.

Also, if you don't like pumpkin ravioli with sage or other non-traditional food combinations (aka you prefer steak and potatoes), this isn't the place for you.

Me, I absolutely loved it. And so did my lady. We'll definitely be back.

Favorite Dish: Pumpkin Ravioli w/ Sage. Reminds me of being back at Drago's in Los Angeles.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: T8

T8 is a Western-style restaurant and when you are inside, you won't know if you are at one of the finest restaurants in Los Angeles, New York, London, Sydney, or Tokyo.

Last year, it was named one of the Top 50 Restaurants in the World by Conde Nast magazine (the only restaurant in China that made the list).

The decor is minimalist, but T8 is very warm and inviting. You can either sit in the large room (compared to the other rooms) that include an open kitchen to watch the chefs in action, or you can choose a more secluded table in one of the many semi-secluded nooks around the main room.

The food and service are superb, the wine list is good (a business associate complained that there weren't enough California or French wines on the menu), and the prices are steep.

If you are on an expense account, or if you want to be pampered with great food and service, you'll love T8. If you are looking for a more local experience, absolutely do not come here.

Favorite Dish: The menu changes regularly. I love the fresh fish dishes and have not had a bad meal even when I opted for a meat entree.

They used to have a fantastic caesar salad, but for some reason, it is no longer on the menu....

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 6355 8999
Address: No. 8 Xintiandi North Part,Lane 181 Tai Cang Road
Directions: Xintiandi
Website: http://www.ghmhotels.com/t8/index.asp

Restaurant Name: Cloud 9 Sky Lounge

It's called Cloud 9 for a very good reason - you are sitting in a lounge on the 87th floor (the top floor) of Jin Mao Tower - the 2nd tallest building in the world - overlloking all of ShangHai. The view on a clear night is mesmerizing. This is definitely not a hidden gem and it's always full of tourists since the Hyatt occupies the top 50 or so floors.

But, after switching elevators 3 times (including a walk through the highest hotel lobby in the world) you get to the top floor and enter Cloud 9. The place is very dark, everything inside is black and the focal point of this place is the view. The music - usally house or acid jazz - adds to the ambience.

However, they do pour a nice martini - a healthy Stoli Martini runs about 50RMB (US$6.00), which is not as steep as I would have thought for a place with such a view.

If you've never been to Shanghai, I highly recommend it, and every time I return I always enjoy going up there to have a drink or 2 to get the feeling of sitting on top of the world.

If you are looking for a cheap place to drink, this is not for you. The last time I was there, there was a 90RMB ($11) drink minimum for each person that entered.

Favorite Dish: Good Stoli Martinis and Cosmopolitans. Not the best drinks in the world, but not bad, either.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 5049 1234
Address: 87/F Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Boulevard
Directions: Look for the tallest building in Shanghai. Hint: it's the REALLY, REALLY tall one next to the two big disco balls aka the Pearl TV Tower. Take the elevator(s) as high as you can go.

Restaurant Name: Le Garcon Chinois

Le Garcon Chinois was not very easy to find, but it was definitely worth the hunt. The resaurant is located in a quaint, old French house and is like going into somone's home.

While classified as a Spanish restaurant, the menu had a mix of items, hence my classification as eccletic/international. The menu is very diverse, and we liked all that we ordered.

This is a hidden gem that is perfect for a romantic night in the old French concession area of Shanaghai. After dinner, you can easily walk to a number of bars and clubs, or jump in a taxi and head home.

Favorite Dish: The Tapas Sampler was great.
Tuna Tartare was good.
The Seafood Paella was good.
The Baked Sea Bass was great.
Wine list - very resonable and good.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 6445 7970
Address: No.3 Lane 9 Heng Shan Lu
Directions: Between Wu Lu Mu Qi and Dong Ping Roads. Right next door to Sasha's.

Restaurant Name: Shintori (Number 7)

Shintori is a "chain" (I use this term loosely because each one has it's own unique personality, menu, and decor) of seven restaurants - 4 of which are located in Taipei and 3 in Shanghai.

I have only been to Number 7 (Chinese influenced cuisine) - which happens to be next door to Number 2 (Japanese influenced cuisine). When I enter the place, it feels like I could be anywhere in the world at a trendy restaurant lounge - LA, NYC, London, Tokyo... or, of course, Shanghai.

The food is unique and fantastic and the prices are surprisingly very reasonable. My only complaint is the bar - the drinks aren't stiff enough and the wait staff is not able to understand my drink order (a dry Absolut Martini), so I usually end up with something different than I ordered.

On my last trip, I was fortuante enough to have dinner with 3 VTers (for the first time ever) and it turned out to be a fantastic time.

For first timers, the restaurant has a secret code you will need to enter and there is also a surprise waiting when you want to use the bathroom !

Favorite Dish: I stay away from the main dishes and stick to the small dishes (Appetizers). There are so many good ones it's hard to list my favorites.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 5404-0707
Address: 805 Julu Rd
Directions: Jing’an District

Restaurant Name: Hot Pot King

Hot Pot is enjoyed by both locals and visitors to Shanghai.

You sit around a table that has it's own burner and a large soup pot, usually divided into mild (clear broth) and spicy ( dark red broth), which is placed in the hole at the table after you sit down.

Next comes a waiter with the cart holding all of the "make your own sauce" ingredients that include sauces, spices, and chopped cilantro. You use this sauce to dip the cooked meat (or veggies or tofu) into before you eat it.

Hot pot is basically a communal pot of soup heated over a gas fire. Raw meats, vegetables and herbs are thrown into the boiling broth to slowly cook before being plucked out with chopsticks and eaten.

There a variey of meat and vegetables that you can choose from, but our group seemed to enjoy the meats and tofu more than the veggies.

Also, be advised that if you aren't used to spicy foods, don't ask for too spicy a broth. My group consisted of seasonsed spicy-food lovers and we ordered "medium-spicy". Even so, we all paid for our decision the next day.

If you have never tried it, Hot Pot King will be the perfect introduction to Hot Pot. If you are familiar with Hot Pot, Hot Pot King is a little more pricey and touristy than you might care for.

Favorite Dish: Beef, pork, and lamb in the spicy hot pot broth.

Also, the cucumber salad helped cool down the palate as I ate the spicy meats.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 6473-6380
Address: 2/F, 1416 Huai Hai Zhong Lu
Directions: Above the Cotton Club Bar

Restaurant Name: Hard Rock Cafe (CLOSED !!!! HOORAY !!!)

UPDATED:

The Hard Rock Cafe has officially closed and been replaced with a Gucci and a Marc Jacobs boutique........This is music to a Shanghai gastronomer's ears becuz the food was haaaaaaaaaaarable and extremely overpriced...... Head to MALONE'S around the corner for the best burgers in Shanghai.

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THE ORIGINAL REVIEW:

Compared to Hard Rock Cafes in the States, the food at the Shanghai branch is below average.

Also, the prices are ridiculously high for what you get. Lunch for 4 of us was almost US$100 and all we had was a couple orders of Fajitas, a quesadilla, nachos, and soft drinks (one person ordered 2 cocktails).

I won't ever go back again, as there are way too many better places in Shanghai to eat for a much better price.

If you are absolutely missing the USA, and want to go someplace familiar, then head to the Hard Rock Cafe. Otherwise, it is not worth the visit.

Favorite Dish: Fajitas were OK, but nothing special.

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Theme: American
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 6279-8133
Address: 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu
Directions: It's in the Ritz-Carlton Portman Complex next to Tony Roma's.
Website: http://www.hardrock.com/locations/cafes/Cafes.aspx?Lc=SHAN

Restaurant Name: Xiao Nan Guo

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Xiao Nan Guo. After all, it was the first meal I ever had in Shanghai when I first visited in 1999.

However, since my first visit, I have found better restarants serving local food at the same (or better) prices.

It is great for large family-style meals and you can either choose a table in the main dining room, or for a little more privacy, ask for a private room (for an aditional fee) so you and your guests can dine in (relative) peace.

Xiao Nan Guo now has7 locations throughout Shanghai and they always seemed to be pretty busy.

Favorite Dish: Snake. I ate my first (but not my last) snake here and always order it for old time's sake.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 5887 7000
Address: Yincheng Xi Lu, by Shiji Da Dao (Pu Dong)
Directions: Liujiazhui Food Court in PuDong - between Pearl TV Tower and JinMao Tower

Restaurant Name: J's Pudong Japanese Restaurant

J's first restaurant opened in Xintiandi a few years back and was one of the first upscale sushi restaurants to open in Shanghai. Since then, they added a second location in Pudong's Super Brand Mall, right across the street from the Pearl TV Tower.

So, you are probably thinking - all you can eat sushi inside a mall? Is Mao off his rocker? Well, let me tell you that in the last few years many new sushi restaraunts have opened in Shanghai, and a price war has erupted. That bodes well for lovers of sushi like myself. The last time I visited J's (original retaurant), we payed $125 for two people. Kinda steep, if you ask me.

And, unlike the USA, where "all you can eat sushi" is typically lower-quality sushi loaded with rice to fill you up, or pre-made sushi that goes by on a conveyor belt (ala the Sumo Sushi chain in Shanghai), there are many places like J's that give you a fixed price, but allow you to pretty much order anything on the menu. 138RMB (about US$16) gets you all the fish, meat, veggies, beer and sake you can consume in one sitting.

The only drawback here versus other very good sushi places around town is that the size of sashimi slices is a little smaller than usual. That can easily be solved by ordering more, but if I could change anything here, it would be to teach the sushi chefs to increase the size of the slices....

A great menu and a funky decor, as well as a view (albeit through not so clean windows) of the Bund, make J's a regular stop on Mao's gastronomy tour of Shanghai. Oh, and dinner for two at US$32 ain't bad, either.

Favorite Dish: We love to load up on sashimi (no rice!!!) and the shrimp tempura is good as well. The fried tofu, baked eggplant, baked scallops, and baked eel are also good dishes with plenty of taste.

We didn't like the pork rice balls, though, maybe it's an acquired taste. Also, we saw horse sashimi on the menu, but since we loved Seabiscuit, we decided to take a pass on that dish.....

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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 5047 2803
Address: 5th Floor, Super Brand Mall, 168 West Lujiazhui Rd
Directions: Pudong.
Inside Super Brand Mall.
5th Floor.
Next to Pearl TV Tower.

Restaurant Name: Tandoor

When I first entered the front door of Tandoor, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior design. From the "tunnel" you walk through to get to the main dining room, to the beatiful interior, you feel like you have been transported to somewhere in India.

However, when you taste the food, and then get the bill, you realize someone has to pay for the lovely decor and attentive service. I have tried many Indian restaurants in my day, and I can honestly say that, although the food was not bad by any measure, the taste and flavor versus the total price did not stack up.

If you can handle average Indian food and very steep prices or if you are on an expense account and want to be pampered (or pamper your client) with a beautiful experience, then Tandoor is the ticket.

Me ? I will be trying other Indian restaurants around Shanghai before I give Tandoor another visit.

Favorite Dish: It was all average. Tried Chicken Tikka Masala, Palak Panner, Samosas, Rice, and Chana Masala.

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Theme: Indian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 6472 5494 or 6258 2582
Address: 59 Mao Ming Road (S)
Directions: across the park from the Jin Jiang Hotel