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 choice, yet we also relished chunks of grilled swordfish (¥135) with a flavorful mint caper salsa and the star anise duck (¥120) in its deliciously rich jus–although the promised papaya proved absent. The salads were adequate on average with the exception of a delicious tomato and bamboo shoot combination (¥58) which was recommended by the attentive and friendly staff. The mint chocolate soufflé (¥45) was a light way to finish the meal but the creamy tiramisu cheesecake (¥45) stole the show. After our meal, we took a browse of the deli counter and ceramics store below. This will be a promising addition for Pudong locals if it can succeed in attracting the crowds.

–Claire Methven