Fusion | Popolo

Stepping into Popolo, the décor clued us in on the "fusionistic" affair we were about to experience at this Italian café with an taste for the Asian. We were off to a rocky start with the Margherita and Spinach Winding (¥30), an oily spring roll filled with spinach ... Read more »

Malaysian | Sakura

With a lemon-colored faux-ethnic décor, this restaurant's service is attentive and the menu voluminously dedicated to Tourism Malaysia articles. There's a nice selection of Malay classics with a good helping of seafood. Sautéed squid with belachan was spicy and fragrant with shrimp paste, but a bit ... Read more »

Garden Retreat

The three floors of this restaurant were sadly lacking in traffic, diminishing an otherwise relaxed and enclosing ambiance. The extensive menu offered dishes with flair and a broad choice of reasonably-priced house wine which pleased us. Pan-seared scallops (¥135) with a squid ink risotto was a warming, satisfying ... Read more »

Casual and Cool

Tucked along an unassuming stretch of Yanping Lu, Cantine combines minimalist design with the comfort of classic French cuisine. The dusky glow of orange lighting reflects off crisp white brick walls and glossy black tables below in a style that is elegant in its simplicity. All this ... Read more »

Not an Étoile

A handful of tables outside, perfect for people watching, and a handful inside make up the seating at this tiny Japanese restaurant. The menu is short and simple–hand rolls, sashimi and sushi in pretty standard permutations. We ordered set menus–Set B at ¥85 and set ... Read more »

We felt as if we had entered the chamber of an oriental imperial palace where character and class is enhanced by the use of dark wooden pillars, traditional folding screens and abstract, asymmetrical sh owpieces tastefully placed on each table. We settled in with two crisp, dry martinis (¥40). The ... Read more »

In Shanghai, there are establishments

serving successful interpretations of

world cuisine, and others that are well-

meaning attempts. This is one of them.

Nestled in a quaint garden home on

quiet Julu Lu, iMix serves a streamlined

selection of Italian favorites. A simple

caprese (¥38) was a fresh start to ... Read more »

Adding to the mélange of dining options in the Xintiandi area, this restaurant offers a varied selection of Japanese and Korean fare. Leek cake with a soy peanut sauce (¥28) was a tasty way to begin while saline miso soup (¥15) and bland seafood steamed egg (¥10) failed to heighten ... Read more »

To reveal this little gem feels like an act of generosity. This small high-ceilinged room soothes the over-stimulated urban soul with live herb plants, green walls and vintage Art Deco furniture from owner Rachel Huo's collection. It's like a cozy stylish home. The menu features homestyle dishes which ... Read more »

This cozy little bar and grill is reminiscent of New York circa 1990s–stark white, simple but tastefully decorated with a smattering of colorful tulips and an obligatory Van Gogh as wall decor. The Western food tastes homemade, and various Dutch dishes complete a well-rounded eclectic menu. We tried the ... Read more »

Chao Lou presents light and fresh flavors perfect for the season. Pastels, dark wood tones and mini-chandeliers create a welcoming, if gaudy, atmosphere while the service is attentive and helpful. The frozen tayenus (¥38), chilled red mullet served with preserved soybean sauce, were flakey and fresh with no disarming odor ... Read more »

Unless you live in Pudong, Bergamo isn't likely to be your most convenient choice, though all the elements of a first-class Italian meal are there–excellent food, an extensive wine list and a gently lit ambiance. The roast duck with fresh orange, cloves, cinnamon and an exotic Grand Marnier ... Read more »

Café Mojo sits amidst the delightful little shops of 248 Taikang Lu. Serving a compact menu of light café eats, this sunlit nook offers a quintessentially Shanghai expat experience that takes a certain laidback sense of amusement to appreciate. Giddy waitstaff serve satisfying pies (¥45 for three petite ones: chicken ... Read more »

The latest addition to the South Memory chain offers both a cultural and culinary experience. Dressed with a modern look highlighted by a traditional yet simple bamboo pattern, this restaurant does not forget its origins; nor does the food. Spicy begins with the cold dishes of liang ban cucumber (¥8 ... Read more »

This ristorante brandishes Italian orthodox touches from the displays of antique Milan to the classic Italian menu. We browsed though the extensive wine list before agreeing on a Pinot Grigio (RMB40 per glass). Our vegetable salad (RMB65) was a mixture of organic greens masking plain iceberg lettuce, though genuine balsamic ... Read more »

This latest addition to the Ginger chain sits tucked away on charming 248 Taikang Lu. We begin with the antipasti platter (RMB55), a selection of grilled and marinated mushrooms, sweet red peppers, aubergine and lemon shrimp; deliciouslycitrous. The cheesy spinach and tofu quiche (RMB58) artfully blends this traditional favorite with ... Read more »

For a quick bite on-the-go, this little cafe offers a small but decent selection of take-away salads, sandwiches and desserts. Lunch-goers looking for a quick, fresh and healthy lunch can pick up pre-wrapped eats such as the curry chicken marsala sandwich (RMB32) or the chicken bell pepper empanada (RMB25). The ... Read more »

An air of quaintness and cozy surprise pervades both food and space at Franck, a newly-opened brasserie serving a menu du jour of hearty French cuisine at charming Ferguson Lane. Quality ingredients rendered skillfully elevate the simple fare to delightful; cold tomato soup (¥45), beef tartare (¥140), and a salad ... Read more »

Phostar quietly overlooks Hongmei Lu, welcoming diners searching for "light cuisine" and colorful surroundings. Our combination platter (¥68) presented us with Vietnamese staples–summer rolls with fermented soybean paste, pleasantly delish spring rolls, palatable sugar-cane prawns, beef skewers and fried chicken wrapped in pandan leaves. The Pho, cornerstone of Vietnamese ... Read more »

While pizza and pasta are quite generic, finding authentic Italian cuisine in China is difficult, but not impossible. With five top-of the-line Italian chefs and home-made pastas, Frankie'soffers an array of timeless classics and uniquely delectable inventions. Pizza Margherita (¥80) and Spaghetti a la Carbonara (¥48) are familiar ... Read more »

On entrance, we were struck by the seemingly quiet environment, yet the comfortable and inviting surroundings create an appealing atmosphere. Quaintly designed red tables and chairs decorate the floor and the dimmed lighting makes for a romantic feel. The restaurant itself offers a range of main dishes, mainly Western style ... Read more »

The most striking things about this new restaurant touting itself as a "gourmet café" are the huge plate glass windows that mean excellent people-watching, and the great service. Our glasses never went unfilled, a dropped knife was instantly replaced and the manager recommended dishes. A classy yet understated décor along ... Read more »

Abbey Road is not a dizzying overdose of Beatlemania. There are subtle band posters; classy, not kitschy, paintings in the back room, and most surprisingly, the sound of Red Hot Chili Peppers filling the air. Instead, this inviting establishment provides an oasis for after work drinks and a bite to ... Read more »