Shanghai Restaurant Tips by nomadig

Restaurant Name: Taco Bell Grande

The tex-mex fast food chain Taco Bell has opened also real restaurants, called "Taco Bell Grande". The joint in Shanghai showed that the concepts needs some severe finalisation and attention to the detail.

The place itself is nice and clean, staff is attentive and the prices are not bad, at least for a foreigner. Unfortunately, the food doesn't taste much of anything and the spices are sad mix of Chinese and Mexican worlds. This produces, I can tell you, an unforgottable experience. The taste lingers in the mouth for hours to come and you can't wash it away with any liquid. Don't go there. If you still go, don't order water, it comes seemingly from the tap and tastes horrible.

Favorite Dish: There are no such things in this restaurant. I'd avoid them all.

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +86 21 6359 2228
Address: 190-208 West Nanjing Road
Directions: Near the People's Square.
Website: www.tacobell.com.cn

Restaurant Name: Zen

Zen is one of the stylished restaurants in the Xintiandi cluster of upscale restaurants. The interiors are ecletically dark wood and white tiles, and the uniforms of the staff reflect this theme.

The food is somewhat cross-kitchen Shanghainese and the prices are much higher than in most of the Shanghai restaurant. Compared to Europe or the USA, the meals are still cheap. Our portions were okay; nothing was special, but everything tasted good and looked palatable.

The experience suffered a bit from the open door policy of Shanghai -- I've never felt so cold than after leaving this place. If you're visiting on winter, be sure to have enough clothes on you.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Building 2, South Block, Xintiandi, Lane 123, Xing
Directions: In the Xintiandi plaza

Restaurant Name: T8 Restaurant

Mystically named T8 is acclaimed to be one of the best restaurants in Shanghai, and Conde Nast has selected it to be on the top 50 restaurants of the world. Not bad reputation.

The place is ultra-designed, a lot of darkness with a few strategically placed lightspots here and there. The kitchen is open to the tables -- you can also ask a seat on a bar table next to kitchen to see in detail how your meal is prepared.

The food is excellent and costy in Shanghai standards. We ate two course lunch with 10e per person plus beverages. It was clearly the best lunch I've ever had, due to the food, the atmosphere and the company. The place was surprisingly empty, so table reservation seems not to be necessary for the lunch during low season.

Favorite Dish: Try Peking duck pizza, if it's available.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$31-40  » 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: Xintiandi Plaza

Newly developed Xintiandi Plaza is a dream come true for gourmet food aficiniados. There are excellent restaurants next to each other in two blocks, intercepted only by a few cafes and selected stores.

Xintiandi is easily accessible from Huang Pi Road metro station (line 1). Take Huang Pi Road south from Central Huaihin Road and Xintiandi will be on your right, a set of dark brownish grey buildings.

The restaurants include T8 (Asian -- Mediterranean fusion), Kabb (American Grill), Zen (Shanghainese) and Va Bene (Italian), to name a few. All of these joints are worth of visit. While you are there, consider popping over to the first national congress of the communist party of China -- the place were the present people's republic was forged.


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Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Address: Xintiandi, Lane 181, Taicang Lu

Restaurant Name: Cloud 9 Sky Lounge

The best place to view the whole city is to go to Cloud 9, the bar at the top of Grand Hyatt hotel in the Shanghai's tallest building. Go first to the hotel lobby on the 54th floor and then change elevator to get to the 85th floor and change again to get to the 87th. The route is not marked easy, but ask the staff for directions.

The views are excellent, but don't go on a cloudy day, as the tower might be enclosed in mist. Photographing is allowed, and most people are shooting away from various places in the bar -- remember that you need a tripod or extremely steady hand to get good night pictures.

The bar is a sight itself -- very dark, lit by candles and ambient light from the ceiling. The prices are steep, but still tolerable -- drinks start from 4-5e and the list is extensive, also for non-alcoholic drinks. There is also food served. Remember to check whether there is a minimum limit for each person to avoid nasty surprises.


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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 5049 1234
Address: 87/F Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Boulevard

Restaurant Name: Canton

If you're familiar with the basic Chinese joints found everywhere in the globe, try this gourmet Cantonese restaurant with a view. Located in the Jin Mao tower, on 54th floor, Canton has both excellent fares and views.

The food is similar to the food server outside China, as most of the restaurants abroad serve Cantonese food. The interior and the service, as well as the taste, however set the difference.

The prices are not bad, three course meal for two, without wines, costed about 450e. It was one the most inexpensive meals that I've ever had in restaurant with level of this. Remember to reserve the table well in advance to get a window view. Try to get Bund view, but remember occasionally to concentrate on the food and the company, too.


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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: +86 21 5047 8839
Address: 87/F Jin Mao Tower, 88 Century Boulevard
Other Contact: rsvip@hyattshanghai.com

Restaurant Name: Cafe Montmartre

Shanghai was shared between Western powers on 19th century, and the former French part, known as French Concession, contains still some French charm and is a nice area to stroll around in general.

Cafe Montmartre could be located anywhere in French, and you wouldn't spot much difference -- except that the staff is Chinese. The cafe is conveniently located next to the Xiangyang Market, and it sells European coffees, sandwiches, cakes and also some bigger meals.

The prices are somewhat higher than in local cafes in Shanghai, but from the Western European point of view this place is still decently priced. Cafe au lait, soda and a sandwich costed approximately seven euros. The patrons seemed to consists mostly tourists, as these prices will keep locals out.


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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: +86 21 5404 7658
Address: 55 Xiangyang Road x Central HuaiHai Road
Directions: Near the Xiangyang market

Restaurant Name: Bonomi Cafe

The most well hidden cafe that I have encountered so far is located near the Bund in Shanghai. Café Bonomi is on the second floor in a building hosting a bank and Virgin Airlines office. There is a small advert on the door, and you can easily walk past it, if you are not paying attention. Hint: the building looks like Whitehall.

To get to the cafe, climb up to the second floor and follow the signs to navigate the corridors. Remember that you need to climb one set of stairs to get to the ground floor and then still two sets for the second floor -- somebody could rightly say that it's the fourth floor, but let's follow the floor numbers of the building.

The cafe itself is Italian, and you can expect excellent coffee and sandwiches. If the weather is nice, go to the terrace to avoid the constant smoking of Chinese bureacrats killing some time in the cafe. The prices are comparable to the rest of the cafes around the town.


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Theme: Coffeehouse
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +86 21 6329 7506
Address: Room 226, 12 Zhongshan Dongyilu
Directions: In the bowels of building looking like Whitehall on the Bund. Ask guidance from the guards, if you feel lost.

Restaurant Name: Thai Thai

Thai Thai offers the basic Thai fare in the Super Brand Mall in Pudong. The restaurant is a haven between shopping sprees. The food is good and cheap. The staff is very attentive and positive, some speak also English.

We ate two chicken curries and bowls of rice. The total cost was less than five euros. The only mishap was that one of the curries had chicken mostly in the name, we managed to find five small pieces from the broth. Anyhow, the price / quality ratio was much better than in the next door McDonald's.


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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Super Brand Mall, 168 Liujiazui Xilu