First look: Nordic-inspired dining at Pelikan

What is it? The latest (and is it too soon to say greatest?) Craig Willis establishment to hit Shanghai. You'll know Willis from Mr Willis, Henkes and BANG; he was also involved in drawing up the menus for Wagas in the chain's early days. Replacing La Poste on Xikang Lu in Jingan, Pelikan oozes sunshine holiday vibes with custom-print tropical wallpapers, relaxed booth seating and chilled tunes.

A giant neon pelican heralds the entrance to this casual eatery and bar, beckoning you inside. Once through the door, grab a seat in the dining room, or head left to the bar and the small cafe area (cold drip, pour over and Australian-style coffees coming soon). Seating in the dining area is casually-hip, and there's also a chef's table for six diners in the kitchen that can be booked if you're keen to sit among the action.

What's on the menu? With Danish chef Kasper Elmholdt Pedersen leading the team in the kitchen, you can expect Nordic-inspired dishes artfully plating carefully-sourced ingredients that burst with flavour. For 300RMB per person, you can order the chef's tasting menu - a perfectly paced and balanced meal of ten dishes, moving from cold plates, through more substantial dishes, and finishing with desserts.

The a la carte options start at a very reasonable 56RMB, allowing you to sample and share a number of dishes, with the majority of offerings falling under 100RMB. Australian grain-fed Angus beef cuts are also available for those with a bigger appetite, starting at 280RMB for a 250g rib-eye.

Highlights from our early visit include the beets with beurre blanc (pictured top, 56RMB) - super tasty charred beets that taste oh-so good for you - and the juicy slow-cooked pork belly (pictured below, 108RMB) served atop a rich mushroom sauce and topped with pickled and dried mushrooms. Both dishes are great examples of how the kitchen uses different cooking and preparation techniques to demonstrate the diversity of ingredients, while focusing on maximum flavour.

And finally, who can resist desserts that look this good?

The Danish beer bread and raspberries (52RMB) plates rich beer-soaked rye, offset by a sprinkle of wonderfully fresh and tart raspberries, and the sweet, crunchy white chocolate. Drool!

We say Interesting and ridiculously flavoursome dishes, affordable prices and a chilled atmosphere have helped rocket this newcomer into our current hot list. As word gets out, bookings look set to be a requirement.

Click 'Read more' below for venue details.