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F&B News: Hella Good Dosas & Chill New Venues

Sophie Steiner ShanghaiWOWeng 2018-11-30


Summer is always a busy time for new restaurant openings, but July has been pretty wild with entire neighborhoods transforming and exciting food options popping up in unexpected places. We’ve said goodbye to a few Shanghai favorites, but welcomed in exponentially more to fill their spots. Thank you July for another month full of incredible food and drinks, and we can’t wait to see what August will bring!  



Starting all the way over in Pudong at the Shanghai Tower, French chef Eric Pras has brought us an exact replica of Maison Lameloise from Chagny in Burgundy. With the mantra “tradition is innovation” as the driving force behind the food, décor, and service, the entire experience from beginning to end is superb.



The restaurant offers set menu options for various times throughout the day, so patrons can enjoy classic French dishes using the finest of imported products. The restaurant’s grand opening party took place on July 9th, and it is now fully open to the public.


All-day brunch is the rage in Shanghai now and one of the OG spots for it, Diner, has recently opened a second location. In Plaza 66 on Nanjing Xi Lu, you will find us crushing pillowy pancakes, the fluffiest French toast, and classic American burgers that could match up against those that the USA has to offer, at all hours of the day and night.



Make sure to check out Currify x Taoker, a spot to satisfy your Indian food cravings or nosh on some hella good dosas. This new Indian fusion joint is conveniently located between the Naked Hub and Sproutworks on Taixing Lu, making it an easy spot for lunch or really any time we happen to be near the centrally located West Nanjing Road train stop.


On the Bund side, high-end vegetarian restaurant Wujie just launched their new summer menu focusing on highlighting seasonal vegetables in such a way that meat isn’t missed for even a second. Bright and colorful, the new dishes are just as beautiful as they are delicious.



Speaking of brunch, we recently stopped into Extraction Lab, a coffee-focused Nordic-style décor café on Maoming Lu. The Chicken and Waffles were tasty down to the last crumb and the creative coffee creations blew us away. For a science experiment looking concoction, opt for the Dirty Matcha, or for those wanting a dessert disguised as a coffee, the Crème Brulee Latte with caramelized sugar on top is just as good as it sounds.



We’ve been closely following along as Tacolicious opened, and with their official grand opening party on July 20th, we couldn’t be happier that they are here to stay. Mexican street food tacos and fab margaritas can easily become a weekly affair.



Two meat and cheese platter spots have joined the F&B scene in Shanghai this month, and we are equally excited about both! Italian deli Alimentari’s new location featuring a Degusteria and pre-bottled cocktails that will knock your socks off is now a staple on Wuding Lu’s main bar and restaurant stretch. Also, get excited because Alimentari just launched their all-day breakfast menu, featuring a wide selection of topping-covered toasts (both sweet and savory), waffles, and fruit and muesli bowls. We were able to sneak in one of the first tastes and needless to say, it will not be the last.



Spanish influenced Mercado 505, the sister restaurant to the well-established seafood and deli market Mercado de Waima, is in soft opening until September, and a fantastic spot for a bottle of wine, fresh seafood, the highest quality of imported meats and cheeses, and an evening spent on La Terraza enjoying Spanish-inspired tapas favorites.


We recently ate ourselves silly there and didn’t regret even one bite; the chef is crushing it with a unique balance of flavors that pays homage to Spanish gastronomic markets like Mercado San Miguel in Madrid and Mercado La Boqueria in Barcelona. While Alimentari is the perfect spot for a gathering of your five best mates to catch up over a few too many cocktails, Mercado 505 is where you bring a date that you want to impress or a client you’d love to win over. 


Having recently opened up their third venue, Brut Eatery has done it again and added a fourth to their repertoire! It's got a slightly different vibe to their original, cozy Yuyuan Lu space and is located inside a huge mall in Hongqiao. But, step inside, and this cafe's quirky personality still shines through with colorful furniture and handmade tableware.



As the Chinese government claims back more and more old neighborhoods, we are sad to see the closing of numerous local spots on Nanchang Lu just behind IAPM mall. Among those was also the closing of an expat favorite, Spread the Bagel. However, have no fear, the bagels are still available both online through spreadthebagel.com and through their wholesale partners.



Everyone has their eye on Columbia Circle, where a spread of incredible restaurants are all in soft opening, including one of our new personal favorites, Blackbird. OHA Design is behind the unique, modern décor, presenting an innovative reincarnation of Blackbird in the form of a three-in-one concept where each floor caters to different clientele, yet the whimsical cocktails and food are the common thread connecting each level.



We’ve already been back twice for the tasty bar bites (don’t miss the Whipped Liver, Pigs Ears and Eel) and blow-your-mind cocktails that incorporate the Sonic Prep, a high-tech gadget that looks like it belongs in a chemistry lab. Using this tool, the bartenders channel sound waves (rather than heat) to infuse various fruit and herbal flavors to create juices, tinctures, bitters, and jams that add distinct depth to each cocktail.



We are eagerly awaiting the opening of Table Black and Bar Black on the second floor, a tasting table concept for groups of 12-14 people to enjoy communal meals composed of 18-24 bite-sized courses mixing Western food with different regions of Asia in a laid-back, cozy living room environment.


Walking our way around Columbia Circle, you can’t miss Latin Woo, a Cuban sandwich joint led by Taiwanese chef Ling Huang, who is also the founder of Pirata, and former chef of El Willy and Elefante. We can't contain our excitement to try this chill new venues, which is currently in soft opening.


Also in Columbia Circle, Hulu, a new omakase sushi spot, has opened and quickly jumped up on everyone’s radar. Book ahead of time since the small venue only seats six people at a time and offers only two tasting times per night. For RMB 680 you can pretend you jetted off to Tokyo and enjoy some of the highest quality of sashimi-grade fish you can get your hands on in China.



Just around the corner, Stone Brewing, the largest brewery in Southern California has made its way to Shanghai with a wide variety of hoppy lagers, floral IPAs, and sneakily strong stouts. With a focus on craft beer and world-inspired cuisine, this brewery is sure to make some major waves across the up-and-coming craft beer scene in China. 


The Chop Chop Club launched a new concept known as Chop Chop Social Club, an opportunity to dine late-night on weekends with a mystery menu and mystery guests for only RMB 300. Spots fill up quickly, so book a seat in advance and share your table with new friends and enough good food to keep you full for the entire weekend. The price also includes one welcome drink, making it a steal for the quality and quantity (not to mention, good company) that you are treated to.



After saying a sad goodbye to Ekeko, we've done a complete 180 to welcome in Dǎo Jiàng Hú! It’s all about stirring up trouble in the neighborhood and Dǎo Jiàng Hú, which is a Shanghainese colloquial term for doing just that, embodies the mischievous yet fun spirit that mirrors aspects of Shanghainese local culture. 


As a whole the space is fun, young, and fresh, especially accompanied by the eclectic mix of music, soft lighting, and twinkling Christmas lights dotting the expansive patio outside. After opening up shop in just 2.5 weeks in Peruvian restaurant Ekeko’s old space, we couldn’t believe how quickly everything was transformed.



CHAR in Hotel Indigo launched a new menu this month dedicated to all things brunch! Consisting of one appetizer, one main course and one dessert for RMB 298, they've got a solid menu dedicated to serving up some real classic dishes with their own twist. Fancy a Crab Cake with mango slaw and spicy chili sauce? You got it. If eggs are your go-to, they have that too in the form of their Soft Poached Egg and Smoked Salmon. Has your sweet tooth got a craving? Then you NEED to check out their rich and decadent Mini Banana Cheesecake. Plus their DIY booze station is great for cracking out your perfect Bloody Mary.




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