9 Low-Carb Dishes for Gourmands
Are you trying to cut carbs, even though you are a food lover? Do you want to go to fancy restaurants with friends without sacrificing your waistline? We know how you feel, which is why we put together this list of suggested places with delicious food that won't destroy your physique.
Charcuterie @ Alimentari
You know all your friends will be at Alimentari every weekend with a spritz in each hand now that the weather is warming up. You want to hang on Anfu all day too, but don’t want to pork up? Have some meat and cheese (cost varies based on selection) without the bread and stick to low-sugar drinks.
Address: 158 Anfu Lu
Tel: 021 5403 6991
Hours: Mon to Friday, 8am to 11pm; Sat & Sun, 8am to midnight (Coffee Lab, Daily, 8am to 6pm)
XL Beef Carpaccio @ Bar Centrale
XL Beef Carpaccio (RMB 128) is discounted to RMB 98 every Thursday
Beef carpaccio is usually ordered as an appetizer, but get this XL version at Bar Centrale just for yourself and it should do the trick. Although you might get jealous of your friends' pizza or pasta, you will leave the dinner table feeling much lighter and more energetic. We call that a win.Enjoy the zucchini, arugula, and tomatoes, but don't eat the bread.
Address: 135 Yanping Lu
Tel: 021 6205 1068
Hours: Daily, 10am-midnight
Scallop Tiradito @ Colca
Scallop + Chia Tiradito (RMB 118)
There are plenty of healthier options available at Colca, and we are big fans of the bold, fresh flavors of the scallop and chia tiradito. The inclusion of chia is nice both for texture as well as nutrition, and their high-fiber content will help keep you satisfied.
Address: 199 Hengshan Lu, Yongping Lane, Unit 2201, 2/F
Tel: 021 5401 5366
Hours: Tues-Fri, 11am-2pm, 5:30pm-1am; Sat & Sun, 11am-3pm, 5:30pm-1am
Hot Pot @ Holy Cow
When trying to avoid carbs, hot pot is one of the best and most satisfying meals you can have. While meat and most vegetables can be enjoyed freely, be sure to stay away from potatoes, noodles and (especially) corn. Be savvy at the sauce bar too, because a lot of the sauces contain sugar. We prefer Holy Cow because they have the best broth.
Address: 341 Tianshan Lu, Bingo Mall, Bldg 1, 3/F, Room 302A (near Weining Lu)
Tel: 021 5297 9937
Hours: Daily, 11am to 11pm
Address: 1665 Hongqiao Lu, Star Plaza, 2/F, Room B-205 (near Shuicheng Lu)
Tel: 021 6277 0677
Hours: Daily, 11am to 11pm
Vitello Tonatto @ LAGO
Vitello Tonnato (RMB 138)
The vitello tonnato at newly opened LAGO is one of the most elegant versions of the dish we have ever seen. The large piece of veal is served with a quenelle of tuna mayonnaise sauce. It is possible to eat well, even at fancy restaurants, and eschew carbs.
Address: 6/F, Bellagio Hotel, 188 Bei Suzhou Lu
Tel: 021 3680 6777
Hours: Daily, 6pm to 10:30pm
Warm Seafood Salad @ Mercato
Warm Seafood Salad (RMB 148)
Everyone knows salad is healthy, and the one served at Mercato is spectacular because it is full of seafood with avocado, lemon, and parsley. In fact, there is so much flavor packed in it that you will truly forget how good it is for you and just focus on how much you like it.
Address: 6/F, Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
Tel: 021 6321 9922
Hours: Daily, 5:30pm to 1am
Arugula Mushroom Truffle @ Mr & Mrs Bund
Arugula Mushroom Truffle (RMB 110 + 10% service charge)
This is a good ace in your pocket when you’ve been drinking all night and your friends want to do late night dinner at MMB. This salad has parmesan and shaved truffles. What could be more satisfying than that? You should probably skip that crisp slice of bread if you are truly avoiding carbs though. Sorry about that.
Address: 6/F, Bund 18, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu
Tel: 021 6323 9898
Hours: Daily, 5:30pm to 10:30pm; Thu-Sat, Late night supper, 11pm-2am; Sat & Sun, 11:30am-2:30pm
White Fish Sashimi @ Oriental House
Fresh sashimi with grapefruit and balsamic dressing (RMB 65)
While the menu calls this dish “sashimi,” it is much more of a whitefish Carpaccio. The dish combines halibut and red snapper and we enjoy the tart dressing with plenty of bold flavor from the herbs and capers.
Address: Rm. N3-26, 3/F, North Area, Jing’an Kerry Center, 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu
Tel: 021 5271 5727
Hours: Daily, 11am-midnight
Spinach Salad @ Xime
Spinach egg salad (RMB 42) with goji berry dressing
This salad is rich in iron from the green spinach leaves and high in protein from the egg and almonds. The goji dressing gives it a nice flavor. If you want more food, go ahead and indulge in some sashimi. Just stay away from the rice and noodle dishes unless it’s cheat day.
Address: Rm. 1-B, The Center, 989 Changle Lu
Tel: 021 6422 5996
Hours: Mon-Sat, 11am-3pm, 5pm-11pm
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