'First looks' are initial sneak peeks at a new venue. Unlike reviews, which are strictly anonymous and paid for by Time Out, 'first looks' may be based on press trips or other non-anonymous visits. Look out for the full review coming soon.
What is it? Paul Pairet's third Shanghai dining venue has arrived, and it's looking like something to get excited about. The Chop Chop Club, housed inside of UNÏCO at Three on the Bund, is another out-of-the-box concept from Pairet. It promises not only excellent cuisine, but a slightly quirky format to keep things fun.
Paul Pairet and team perfecting the goods
The Chop Chop Club is, first and foremost, a carvery. Every night there's a rotating menu of meat, fish and fowl that come out in 15-minute intervals. The food might be enough to attract you, but it's the ordering that sets CCC apart. Plus each time you go, you can expect a different array of offerings. We definitely recommending rolling in with a small crew so you can try more.
At one end of the restaurant there's a giant ticker board with the offerings of the night and the times when they'll become available. You put your order in for what meat you want at what time – and if you're not on your game, what you're after might just sell out.
What's on the menu? There's a whole smattering of options from the carvery, each available by portion (which serves two to four people depending on the selection) or whole, including vineyard charbroiled cote de bouef (650/1,300RMB for portion/whole), grilled sea bass (140/700RMB) and a massive roasted-grilled extra large turbot (260/1,800RMB).
Char-roasted chicken with lemon and garlic
Also on the menu is an incredibly moist and savoury char-roasted chicken (180/330RMB) and black pepper short rib rack (550/1,500RMB).
Bertha charred oxtail teriyaki
And it don't stop... also on the menu is a sticky, sweet and salty Bertha charred oxtail teriyaki (170/450RMB), steamed seaweed black cod (280/1,600RMB), and roasted leg of lamb (180/950RMB).
Beef Tartare Essential
While most of your focus will be on the ever-changing meat board, don't forget about the appetisers and sides. The melt-in-your-mouth Beef Tartare Essential (120RMB) with raw egg yolk, cream, shallots and thin, crispy crouton is a beautiful way to start the meal.
If you think you don't like octopus, the charred octopus leg (90RMB) is bound to change your mind. It cuts like butter, and a bit of magic happens happens when the charred flavour meets the tangy, silky ginger-lime aioli. There's sour and buttery charred cabbage with capers and lemon and a sinfully rich, charred creamy cauliflower with cheese sauce and crispy parmesan lattice (each 80RMB). Surprisingly tender grilled beef tongue (180RMB) is simply dressed with no more than flakes of sea salt, lime and picture-perfect grill marks.
Bertha's Shiitake
Certainly a crowd-pleaser, Bertha's Shiitake (100RMB) comes with kitchen shears so you can snip your own 'shrooms.
House-made 'Bocktails'
CCC also offers some interesting cocktail options. You can get sharing-size 'Bocktails' (bottled cocktails) – like the delicious cumin-scented Swing Spritz, a mix of spice-infused Aperol, prosecco, and grapefruit, or the New School Cosmo, a strong elixir of Absolut elyx, Malbec red wine, Grand Marnier and strawberries.
For dessert, there's Le Gatō (60RMB) – a dense, moist olive oil cake served with a scoop of with yogurt sorbet – as well as the Raspberries Essential with Jerez (sherry), burnt butter and cream (100RMB).
We say Not gonna lie – we are psyched on this place from first glance. Our advice? Grab a group of friends and get there now. The hype is real.
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