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emilyc

an ever-reliable retreat for a fantastic weekend brunch.

1 year, 4 months ago

dmf

Go for a two-course weekend brunch at this cozy tapas bar and dinner won't be necessary. Azul's menu offers a diverse selection of Spanish and American-style dishes, rich in both flavor and presentation. Try the open-faced omelet or blueberry pancakes. Brunch comes with freshly baked scones and muffins, juice and some of the best coffee in Shanghai.

1 year, 4 months ago

collin

(I found this review on City Weekend from 2004!) Conservative restaurant names generally seem to indicate a level of culinary and atmospheric sophistication－Viva and Azul are no exception. Stacked on a stretch of Dongping Lu, the fusion restaurant and tapas bar, respectively, are the latest projects from the Peruvian chef behind Che's original menu and Mexico Lindo.

Though the two new restaurants share some elements, such as a drink menu featuring typically tropical specialties, like sangria (Y120 per pitcher, Y50 per glass) and margaritas (Y50), and homemade bread served with some of the best side sauces in town, the decor and fare are reasonably different.

Azul is tastefully tile-laden, giving the effect of being poolside at night, and offers hot, cold, and vegetarian tapas (Y38-58 each). Their delicate shellfish ceviche, spicy calamari, and lamb with mint mojo are some of the finest little dishes this side of the Bund. The Spanish platter (Y98) features standards like olive and tomato tepanades; a very mild chorizo; and an incredibly fluffy Spanish omelet. Though the food at Azul is less spicy and salty than one may expect from tapas, it is certainly not less flavorful.

Upstairs, Viva is a bit darker, with red glass goblets, gray-blue silk tablecloths, and chunky candles. It's very romantic indeed--except for the conspicuous view into the fluorescent-lit kitchen. The fare is what we have come to expect from semi-fine dining in the city, with complicated names listing unusual ingredients, i.e. lamb steak with basil mash, hoisin-cabernet glaze, and papaya mojo (Y98).

Most of the dishes here stray to the citrus side, including salads like the Texas beef with avocado (Y58), which was really more like a Waldorf salad. Superior ingredients, like a large, fresh filet of salmon (Y88) end up smothered in fruitiness－delicious if you have a sweet tooth. But the sugar angle pays off in the dessert menu, with some remarkable creations like the milk chocolate and tea soup with lemon croûtons (Y48) and the citrus panna cotta, which comes doused in poppy seeds (Y58). The food at Viva, though exemplary in quality, is not quite revolutionary.

The details at Viva and Azul, like great service, knowledgeable wine recommendations, and attractive food presentation, top their fine menu to make this one of the more exciting restaurants to open in a long time.

11 months, 4 weeks ago

ckhsu32

Delicious as always. I went back for the first time after two years and it was just as I remembered, if not, better!

From the chick peas to the braised octopus and the pitcher after pitcher of tasty sangrias... yum... I was happily full and happily buzzed. The best thing about tapas is the variety of dishes you can order and it's perfect portions for sharing!

The flavors suited my expat pals and my newly made local friends which meant I will be sure to return. On top of it all, I still can't forget the house bread - warm, doughy rounds - great for dipping or generous bites with hummus!

Now that I'm back in Shanghai, I'll definitely be a regular! Speaking of which, I'll be back this weekend :)

 

2 months, 2 weeks ago

bugsy

We visited this restaurant last weekend for brunch. My partner and I opted for the 120RMB two-course deal. This comprises of 1 drink and 2 dishes that you are able to choose from the standard menu. It also included a freshly baked savoury scone and banana muffin per person. I started with the bruschetta for an entree. It was a generous serving indeed. Presented in front of me were 5 pieces of sliced ciabatta bread generously topped with tapenade, salsa, parma ham and grated parmesan cheese. It was a superb way to begin the meal and my hopes were sky-high!. For my main, I selected the veal served with garlic fries and a watercress salad. The portion of veal was very small - and it was a bit too tough for my liking. Furthermore, I was disappointed with the frozen chips and 'watercress garnish' that I was given as opposed to a 'salad'. The sauce accompanying the veal was lovely - but there was not enough of it. As far as drinks were concerned, I loved my sangria and ended up ordering another few to immerse myself fully into the Spanish atmospehere. Service was passable - but I felt for the waiters who were under pressure due to the restaurant being so crowded. Overall, good but not brilliant. There is so much potential for this restaurant to become even better. We paid over 600RMB for our meal and walked away satisifed - but feeling as though the whole experience was very hit-and-miss.

 

3 weeks, 2 days ago

tristamarie

You're actually supposed to get two drinks with the RMB120 brunch--the cocktail or smoothie AND a coffee drink as well.

3 weeks, 1 day ago

bugsy

Well that would have been nice - but certainly was not offered!!!

3 weeks ago