El Willy 迪雅居
20 Donghu Lu,
Huaihai Zhong Lu
near Huaihai Lu, Metro Line 1 Shaanxi Nan Lu Station
东湖路20号
近淮海路, 地铁一号线陕西南路站
5404-5757
Open Mon-Sat 11am-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm, closed Sundays
Price More than Y400 per couple
Accepts International Credit Cards
This Venue has been nominated for a Reader's Choice Award 2010 in the category Shanghai - Restaurant of the Year
- City Weekend
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Rustic mansion architecture and swathes of semi-transparent fabric hanging from the dining room ceiling create a sense of intimacy in which to devour decadently fatty foie gras, delicious angel hair pasta paellas and melt-in-your-mouth morsels of lamb. The modern Iberian menu is fairly divided between tapas and appetizers, rice, pasta and desserts, with several wines by the glass.
Reviews Been there? Add a review!
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cityweekend
Most Recent Reviews
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I really enjoyed my dining experience here. el Willie was recommended by a friend as a great 'first date' sort of place. He said this:
"If you feel like having great food (really dishes you can’t find anywhere else) I suggest El Willy on Donghu road. Spanish tapas for any taste and great foie-gras dishes. The setting is really nice and when you call to book, make sure to ask for the corner table in the main room, it is probably the best."
The thing that made it stand out more than anything was the fact that they were able to reserve the corner table for me. When I called they said it was a four person table and it might be difficult to reserve for two, but in the end they came through and got the table and created a fantastic atmosphere for my first date.
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I was there last month for my birthday so I was really hoping to be impressed, and I was. Friendly and professional staff, a great menu and good wine list. The restaurant also had a great buzz and atmosphere which can be hard to create but it was just so natural here. I know it was a Saturday night but even still the restaurant was packed which is always a good sign.
Our meal was delicious and choosing a great wine was quite easy as their wine list has a great selection.
The only down side was that it is expensive but I felt it was worth it.
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El Willy is sure the more busy spanish restaurant in town..i allways try several dishes of menu and chef`s special ..is ok but nothing impressed me , cool ambiance and good wine list.
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This is the best Spanish food I've ever eaten! Willy is a class act and I love taking my friends visiting Shanghai here as they cannot believe how lucky we are to have such delicious international cuisine!
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In a nutshell -- this place is SERIOUSLY overrated.
Today my mother and I ordered -- Spanish Omelette (with Homemade Chorizo), Crispy Suckling Pig, Arugula, citrus and marinated salmon salad, and the "Lobster Juicy" paella.
The omelette was passable but really nothing special; the suckling pig tasted okay but was plainfully small in portion; the salad looked awful and tasted horrid (the salmon was mysteriously brown in color); fortunately, the paella was quite good but not exactly worth the hefty 198 RMB pricetag.
Service is not surly but hopelessly slow and unattentive -- if you want to be brought anything you will need to ask at least twice before they get it right.
Overall, I felt cheated when the 400+ RMB bill came -- I WILL NOT BE BACK!
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@gusegonzalez: please allow me to answer you one more time, yet in a shorter way. I am the guy in black with his laptop; my name is Thomas and I am in charge of the marketing and external operations for el Willy, not the floor operations. This is the reason why I sometimes omit to greet some clients as I am concentrating on my ongoing work. For this, I can only most sincerely apologize to all of you who come visit us. As I already told you, all relevant comments in your email have already induced responses on my side, both through menu modifications and staff briefings. We do not treat a customer differently because he orders ice water which we always have ready at hand (and seeing the cost of the high-quality filter on the tap, I'd almost rather only serve ice water just to make it profitable), our sangria is very popular and we would have taken great pleasure in preparing some for you should you have asked, and the "nasty" home-made ice-cream was added on the lunch menu on its own because our customers kept requesting it, without the lemon cake. It is very sad to hear that you did not have a "merry time" here, as this is the most important thing to us: our aim in el Willy is to create and transmit a relaxed and happy atmosphere all the while serving dishes of constant quality. To conclude, allow me to point out the fact that it is a pity you didn't call any of us to your table to explain what was going wrong. You obviously kept quiet during the whole meal, looking around to find more reasons to complain (what a wonderful time you and your guests must have had!), when it would have been a pleasure for us to make sure all the problems are solved within minutes and you enjoy the rest of your time with us. I hope that one day we will have the opportunity to show you that your experience in el Willy was nothing like it was supposed to be. @pete_jack: Thank you very much for your comment! The whole concept is based on the value for money principle, and it is very nice to read that the brunch meets your expectations. As for the lunch menu, we changed it a couple of weeks back - come try it out some time!
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The Saturday brunch here is five stars. Five courses for 150 kuai is a great deal, and the food is always excellent. Willy is extremely friendly too. But it's a pity that it isn't open on Sundays, and the lunch menu is a bit disappointing.
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Hye everyone. I have been told a lot about El Willy these past 18 months in Shanghai... SO many times. But these days i was not able to spend so much money in restaurants.
Today it change! ANd of course i have been in this restaurant.
The Verdict:
One of the best restaurant in TOWN, guys. Thomas, the manager is nice, REALLY NICE ( despite the comment of some lonely & crasy man). I had 12 tapas, all excellent as Heaven. The Bread was perfecttly done, the dessert made my palate satisfy as ever.
I just can recommend this restaurant!!! If you can not afford it, eat in the streets during 3 or 4 days and go enjoy one of the best in town.
Notification: DOES gusegonzalez IS FULL OF S*** ?
Bye bye Food lovers
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I usually think complaining is a waste of time because I usually DO NOT return to the restaurants I had a bad experience.
I feel, however compelled to tell you about my visit;
The first BAD IMPRESSION is the blond guy (in black) sitting at the bar with his laptop (manager? owner?? who knows??) but a definite employee, of course, he does not raise his head to greet or acknowledge any customer. He then proceeds to dance across the room (without a care in the world, (specially about the restaurant). He finally goes into the kitchen and stands in the middle of the cooks, chatting away happily with chef Willy. (only in China).
The service was terrible, maybe the waiter DID NOT like that we did not order a bottle of wine or Evian water, we had to ask for water and got hot water (in a suppodsely authentic spanish restaurant). We ordered the lobster bisque and the lobster rice, (they both tasted the same) nothing special. We ordered bread (twice) and surprise surprise!!! We were charge RMB. 25 (each) a basket (of course the waiter, NEVER informed there was a charge, or a note on the menu. By the way, we wanted to drink sangria but saw none on the menu. For dessert we ordered the lemon tart, which was quite good, except for the nasty tea ice cream.
Of course, all of the above are a reflection of lack of management, because in a western restaurant, after getting the order, someone will aproach the table and ask; Is Everything Ok? but NOT at EL WILLY, they just like to have a merry time!!!!
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The location is convenient and the villa is quite lovely. The service is relatively good though we have different staff bringing us our food.
The garlic shrimps was well presented and the fresh was prefect with the right amount of crunch. The beef cheek was full of flavour and melt-in-your-mouth. The Baltic salmon was very interesting with a good twist. The pumpkin and truffles paella was truly amazing and we almost had to lick the pot clean.
The suckling pig was not crispy and the skin was hard like a cardboard. The piece of meat below did not taste good and the entire combination was very disappointing. The lamb chops was average but the execution was good. The iberico ham could have been of a better grade (considering the price); the fat should be flecked between layers of muscles and cured longer.
The Torres wines are of good value and I strongly recommending having 1 to go with your meal. The wine glasses on the other hand are far too cheap. The food prices are really high and the portions are incredibly small. Expect problems if your party exceeds 4 pax.
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El Willy's was mentioned in CW's Drinking Al Fresco story. Read up about this venue and more to make the most out of your summer.
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Pcpliu, i am Willy chef-owner of "el Willy". Regarding your comment posted a couple days ago i would like to explain you a couple of things about my restaurant concept and the food of Spain. In my place we try represent what the tapas scenene is in Spain today. So our style is more contemporary than traditional, but we also have a part of the menu dedicated to traditional Tapas. You were saying that ("french fries are not tapas") the only thing i can think of that you ate is a traditional tapa called "Patatas Bravas"Where potatoes are fried and have three diferent sauces. Just to let you know, "Patatas Bravas" is a traditional tapa that you will find all over the local tapas bars in Spain.
In our restaurant we do not do the dry paella like they do in Valencia, but we do "Arroz Meloso de langosta" which we call "Lobster juicy paella". This rice is a traditional dish from the area of Alicante in Spain, also similar kinds to be found in Catalonia area where i come from. About Paella recipes in Spain, you will find as many recipes as families, there is not one fix one. As being a traditional dish it has always been related to the season availability of ingredients, geographic location...
I am sorry if you did not understand my restaurant concept and did not enjoy your stay. Anyway if you would like to come again, we can have a chat and i can cook you the paella style you were dreaming on your first visit!
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The paella did not taste anything like paella, which was the main reason we went there! The tapas weren't really tapas either (french fries are NOT tapas), however the tapas did taste better than the paella. Decor is great, but food should also be just as good, especially for the price.
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This is definitely not a tapas place but a creative fine dining experience. Been there a few times and I've always enjoyed the extra-fresh food and awesome presentation. The scallop ceviche with avocado is a must-try. They also have a great selection of wine, including by the glass. One of the few restaurants in town I'm always excited to go back to. Just one regret : I've never met El Willy in person so far to congratulate him !
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Good food yes but not price justifiable; yes were in a big city, yes the presentation is nice but.....its still over priced for what it is. Dinner for two cost ~950 RMB w/bottle of decent red from Douro.
All-in-all, its one of the best places (in Shanghai) for tapas but I still can't justify going back at 10 USD per tapa
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Where You Eat
Name: Clare Cheng
Profession: Lifestyle Marketing Specialist & Writer
As a world traveler, I always like to find authentic cuisine and an ambiance that reminds me of my travel experiences. I enjoy Hamilton House--the warm tuna is my favorite appetizer, the steak is great, and the service is good. It's loft-style atmosphere reminds me of my time in New York City. Having studied flamenco for one month in Seville, Spanish food has also become one of my favorite cuisines. El Willy has the most fantastic jamon, authentic tapas (such as the scallop ceviche with avocado and the crispy suckling pig) and I strongly recommend the cuttlefish and squid ink paella. Another Mediterranean restaurant, Casa 13, is among my list of favorites. Cozy with a great food and wine selection and a relaxing environment, it's a nice place to spend some time with good company.
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Daring and lovely suprises for the taste buds. Some work and others not, but I appreciate the effort in a town of copycat menus.
Service was rough on the edges but friendly enough. Has just the right combination of plus points to overcome the weaknesses.
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The management there is really, really good and I'm sure that if you mentioned this to them the next time, they'd love any feedback and most likely a free latte.
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Pretty nice! I had lunch here with some friends and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the menu and the presentation of the food. Everything was very nice - service wasn't stellar - but in Shanghai that's not uncommon. The only thing that bugged me is that with lunch you get a free drink, but it's a very specific selection. For example if you order a coffee, make sure it's a regular coffee and not an espresso. A friend ordered a latte and we were all surprised when they told us that only a coffee come with lunch and she'd have to pay for the latte. We told the waitress we thought any coffee would be included and she was adamant that only a regular coffee was included. Paying for it wasn't a big deal - it was more the principal of it that bothered us. If I was management I'd give the coffee to my customer for free to make them happy and to apologize for the confusion. The waitress was rude and not friendly at all. It put a sour taste in my mouth. But the food is good. :-)
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damn right they do...
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...and anyone who disagrees now has a City Weekend Award to deal with.
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Simply amazing. Having had an opportunity to visit the restaurant twice now, I can easily say that when it comes to mixing traditional Spanish cuisine with a wide variety of ingredients and flavors from around the world, El Willy is second to none. The tapas are simply exquisite, as are the "juicy" paellas. My personal favorite is the slow-roasted beef cheek with banana. They have an in-house Torres wine boutique, and an incredible selection of other European wines. Food and drink aside, what will keep me coming back is getting a chance to talk with Willy- the crazy Catalan chef. The man's jubilant personality and zest for life are unbeatable- no matter the hemisphere or continent. Incredibly well priced for the overall experience, Viva El Willy!!!!
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what can be said that hasn't already? there's a reason it's booked weeks in advance.
simply amazing place to eat.
anyone who moans about 300 for a meal is ridiculous - this is one of the best joints in town. I have eaten now from Willy in Barcelona, NYC and now Shanghai - guys a talent.
pretentious? please.
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by the way...
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As a Spaniard living abroad, it is no easy to find a place where I can feel like home. Although El Willy is not the typical spanish restaurant, it mixes the best of mediterranian cuisine with other international flavours. The result: an amazing variety of tapas (beef chick with banana, shrimp and mushroom caneloni with coconut), tasty dishes (egg&ham...mmm!!!) and the best "juicy" paellas in town. I was also very impresses with the great offer of wines. For sure one of the best mediterranean restaurants in Shanghai!!!
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BEEN THERE 4 TIMES ALLREADY, IN MY OPINION IT IS THE BEST CONTEMPORARY TAPAS RESTAURANT IN SHANGHAI. HIGH DOSE OF CREATIVITY AND QUALITY, WINE LIST DEFINATELY NOT TO MISS.. AND PRICES DEFINATELY REASONABLE... HIGHLY RECOMENDABLE!
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i guess if you enjoy (con)fusion canapes/tapas type of food, fois grais with mango and similar, you may appreciate willy's cousine. I personally didnt. Regardless personal tastes, price is super high. last night we were 14 people, we only had some taste of shared dishes of tapas, stuff that when we finished we were hungrier then when we started, and we payed 360each for food only (drink excluded!) for same price, you should eat at city's best restaurants. i really didnt see the value here. not recommended.
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I loved that place, enjoyed the variety of tapas and had a nive time at the terrace. I strongly recommend the scallop with avocado, the foie gras micuit, the eggs&ham ... mmm, delicious! and don't forget to try the lobster juicy paella. I was impressed with the quality of the food, not easy to find in Shanghai. Good service and very nice enviorment. as u see, it's my new favourite place!
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T'is quite hidden in the urban jungle of Huai hai Road/Donghu Road. Quite a wide selection on the Lunch Menu, where you can pick 2 course or 3 course lunch of salads, soups and different main courses There is an outdoor patio which should be great whne the weather is warmer.
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In Awe of Iberia
Set in a renovated French Concession property, swathes of semi-transparent fabric hang from the ceiling of this restaurant, creating intimacy in an otherwise crowded dining room. The modern Spanish menu is fairly divided between tapas and appetizers, rice and pasta, and desserts, with four choices of wine by the glass (YY48 each, all of which were quite drinkable) and a healthy list of bottles. We began with an impeccably fresh raw scallop "ceviche" (YY60), sprinkled with crispy fried shallots and micro-greens, all atop an avocado mousse. Although the acidity of the mousse pretty much killed any scallop flavor, we absolutely loved this dish. Perfectly cooked lamb chops with smoked eggplant (YY52) and quenelles of thick yogurt were stellar with great flavors and a generous portion. Finally, angel hair pasta with pork and chicken (YY160), cooked like a paella. Although the smallish portion size and minute amount of meat meant we could almost hear ourselves being ripped off, the flavors were again lovely, rich and meaty with a grand dollop of aioli that brought us a step closer to mayonnaise-induced revelation. While we're sure the smooth service and superb cooking will be repeated on our future visits, we do believe we'll be sticking to the tapas menu. --Michael Elliott