It's back: that time of year when fancy-shmancy restaurants in Shanghai decide to offer their food for prices we common folk can stomach. Starting this Thursday (August 31) through September 10, the 11th edition of China Restaurant Week by DiningCity begins it's autumn 2017 run with awesome set dining deals all over the city. This is the time to hit up all of those bucket list restaurants you've been holding out for, with lunch sets from 68RMB and dinners from 108RMB, each with at least two courses.
Booking is open now via the official website (restaurantweek.cn) and the DiningCity app (not directly through the restaurants), and you best move fast – some top name spots like Hakkasan, Atto Primo, Light & Salt (Bund and Jingan locations), Mercato and more are already fully booked. But fear not, there are hundreds of fabulous restaurants with open tables up for grabs. Here are a few of our favourite deals on offer in Shanghai:
Thought for Food
Three-course lunch for 138RMB or four-course dinner for 278RMB with highlights like slow-cooked lamb shoulder, Icelandic mackerel, New Zealand venison, salmon tartare, Wagyu roast beef, organic coconut rice pudding and free rein of the restaurant's healthy salad bar with garden greens, seasonal salads, homemade breads, cheeses and house-made pickles.
Thought for Food The Living Room by Octave, 357 Jianguo Xi Road, near Tiayuan Lu.
Cobra Lily
Three-course lunch for 108RMB with 'Bibim' Korean-style kale salad to start, followed by pad thai omelette or Easy Peasy Japanese burger and a Thai ice tea ice cream float. The lunch set also includes a soft drink or tea.
Cobra Lily Xintiandi North Block, No. 19, Lane 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu.
The Cannery
Three-course dinner for 278RMB with lots of options to choose from, like starters of smoked mussels, duck liver mousse and steamed clams; mains of glazed smoked yellowfin tuna jaw, charred lobster or fire pit slow-smoked wood plank salmon fillet for two; and desserts like an old fashioned sundae with bourbon sauce or strawberries and cream. Drink pairing options for an extra charge.
The Cannery Building 1, Room 106, 1107 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu.
Pelikan
Three-course lunch for 138RMB or five-course dinner for 278RMB, with offerings like broccolini and avocado with roasted pumpkin seeds, braised beef cheek with horseradish, fried halibut with aged cheddar and celery root, butter-braised pork belly, honey ice cream with frozen honeycomb and more.
Pelikan 225 Xikang Lu, near Beijing Lu.
elEfante
Multi-course lunch for 138RMB with four appetisers (soup, octopus carpaccio, croquettes, lobster and cod phyllo triangles), a main of beef brisket orecchiette or roast chicken, and cheesecake with citrus sorbet for dessert. For dinner, get a sharing-style tapas menu for 278RMB with mixed cold cuts and home-made antipasti, 'gin and tonic’ cured salmon explosion, grilled octopus, duck rilletes, cannelloni au gratin with truffle béchamel, bacon-wrapped halibut, citrus sorbet, roasted beef cheek with polenta, and brownie ‘a la moda’.
elEfante 20 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu.
Colca
Eight-course dinner for 278RMB gets you an oyster shot, scallop tiradito, pisco prawn, Josper oven-cooked halibut, South American beef pie, beef or venison Peruvian-style skewers, white chocolate soup and 'pure sex' chocolate-filled crispy donuts.
Colca Second floor, Unit 2201, 199 Hengshan Lu, near Yongjia Lu.
China Restaurant Week Aug 31-Sep 10. Find the full list of participating restaurants and all the deals on offer at restaurantweek.cn.