Shanghai Restaurant Tips by rosie_b

Restaurant Name: Club Jin Mao

The restaurant was located at the 86th Floor of the Jin Mao Tower, where they also have the Grand Hyatt hotel on its 54th Floor. You have to go to two different elevators to get to the restaurant. The ambiance of the restaurant was very formal, although most of the customers were not particularly dressy. The service was better than regular restaurants we tried in the city and it's very easy to order everything because the menu was in English too.

Favorite Dish: It would be the crab that they have which is kind of different from other crabs, but they are not the famous Shanghai hairy crab. The shell was very thin and the sauce that came with it was light but tasty. The drunken shrimps that we had was very good too, although the presentation was very plain. The Peking Duck was excellent, and definitely is not to be missed.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 86-21-50491234 ex.8688
Address: 88 Shiji Dadao, Pudong
Directions: It's located in the same tower as the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Jin Mao Tower.

Restaurant Name: M on the Bund

The restaurant is located in the area of Shanghai called the Bund, which is next to the river, facing the great Pearl Tower. The restaurant's interior is warm and light, surrounded by big windows, overlooking the river and the Tower. Since I went there in the wintertime, the outdoor dining area was closed, but I'm sure in the summertime is filled with people who want to experience a fine dining this restaurant. I thought the food was good, but needs some more salt on the items, especially the bread. I suggest that you go there for lunch, because you can actually see the Shanghai's landscape from the restaurant. The service was good and the waitstaff seemed to be helpful.

Favorite Dish: I can't really remember, but we had a three-course pre fix that includes appetizer, entree and dessert.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 86-21-6350-9988
Address: 7/F, No. 5 The Bund (corner of Guangdong Lu)
Website: http://www.m-onthebund.com

Restaurant Name: The Peninsula

The best Shanghai food I have ever tasted in my life, and I'm glad I had it in this restaurant. You definitely have to bring somebody who can speak Mandarin to go to this place and order the food for you, if you can't read the menu (it's all in Chinese, that's when you know the food will be authentic and excellent). When you want to try the famous Shanghai Hairy Crabs (that's right, it's hairy), you should go around Oct-Nov when they are in season. When the Shanghainese order, they order cold dishes first as appetizers, then the entree, then the soup and when you order fried rice, it comes at the end of the meal. The service is not so good, so be prepared to have to get their attention very hard when you need something from them.

Favorite Dish: The hairy crabs are my favorite of all. When they have eggs in them, they taste very creamy, like very heavy cream almost, but very tasty. They serve this kind of crabs with vinegar sauce on the side and you just dip your crabmeat in it. Also, my favorite cold dish would be the cold tofu served with chili sauce, 1000-year-old eggs chopped up, garnished with cilantro (coriander leaves). It was great ... period.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: Huanghe Lu, behind the Park hotel.
Directions: When you take a cab, just tell them to go to Huanghe Lu and usually they'll bring you to an intersection behind the Park hotel and from there you can just walk and there are rows of restaurants there, and the Peninsula is one of them.

Restaurant Name: Pork / Red Bean Bun Stalls

The buns are really good, especially when you buy them in the morning because they're usually freshly made. In the morning on my way to the hospital, I always saw people lining up to buy these buns. There are about at least two bun stalls nearby the ZhongShan Hospital, so I'm pretty sure there are a lot more in the downtown area.

Favorite Dish: The buns of course.

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Theme: Street Vendor
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Anywhere

Restaurant Name: Dynasty

The restaurant is trying its best to project its image as grand, by putting Versace-esq furnitures, plates and silverwares. The food is great and if you're the kind of person who likes large crowds, this is the place to go. It's recommended to come here with someone who speaks Mandarin, although they have a convenient picture menu with some english translation to help you pick your food, when you ask for one. With its grand piano in the middle, this restaurant is always busy with people hussling and bussling around and eat at the same time. When you come in to the entrance of the building, you will be greeted by a hostess who will take you to the second floor and there will be another hostess there who will take you to your table. The restaurant can be very busy and hard to get a table, so be prepare to wait for a while or if you are lucky, they will seat you right away. Although the food is great, the atmosphere is unique, but the service can be frustrating at times, especially if you want to order more things or tea or just simply want to get some more silverwares.

Favorite Dish: The sweet and sour fish, deep fried crab balls with mayonnaise and sauteed bok choy.

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Theme: Chinese/Dim Sum
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Zhaojiabang Lu