In Xintiandi, a kitchen, bar and live music venue from the Barbarossa Group has opened. Called Calix, chef/consultants who were recently cooking up a storm at Chez Maurice, Sean Jorgensen and Anna Bautista are currently in the kitchen offering a fun and mixed menu with starters including Aloha! Crab & Shrimp Cakes (88RMB) and lobster bahn mi rolls (158RMB for three, pictured above); plenty of Australian grain-fed beef cuts (from 258RMB for a 250g tenderloin); as well as some surf and turf specials (458RMB for a half-lobster and rib-eye steak).
Over in Xuhui, we're excited to finally see Xixi’s Bedroom open in the space above Xixi Bistro's ever-popular fusion eatery on Wuyuan Lu. Drinks are affordable, the space well designed, and the service is solid. It’s perfect for pre- or post-dinner quaffing. Cocktails hover around the 68-88RMB mark, with a delicious and smooth Clover Club at 68RMB, and a tasty Chinatown Manhattan at 78RMB.
In other drink news, Hidden cocktail bar Flask is having to close thanks to the regulation shenanigans that are clearing out a whole bunch of venues on Shaanxi Nan Lu, but the same owners have already got their new place up and running: the suitably leafy Botanist. Expect quality drinks hovering around the 90RMB mark.
The team behind Malabar has launched RAW Eatery and Wood Grill on Yanping Lu. This newcomer is seeking a ‘return to basics’ approach focusing on quality produce and using cooking methods that don’t overwork or abuse ingredients. From the soft launch menu, you’ll find the likes of a caramelised goats cheese salad (88RMB), burrata (138RMB), a raw burger (128RMB) and a roasted half chicken (108RMB).
Lost Heaven Silk Road has opened taking over a huge development on Julu Lu that used to be home to Mesa & Manifesto. In the beautifully-designed space, with Mogao grottoes-style paintings on the walls, they’re serving up dishes inspired by destinations along the old trade route: Xian, Lanzhou, Kashgar and beyond into Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. Look for a new bakery and high-end food store, More Than Eat, opening next door this month.
In Nanjing Xi Lu’s Plaza 66, Intermezze Restaurant has opened in the uber-chic homewares store Vancasa. Heading up the Intermezze kitchen - as well as the adjoining AperiTea and Dammann Tea Room - as executive chef and pastry chef is Aoi Natsume (pictured), a trained pastry chef and musician from Okinawa. Natsume was formerly head pastry chef at Mercato. Despite its slightly hidden mall location, the decor is beautiful and the food and pastries delicious. Expect delicate Japanese-inspired offerings such as scallops in their shell with a golden panko crust (128RMB for three) and Gomoku Rice (118RMB) - three types of rice served with seasonal vegetables, seafood and a meat selection. There’s also a lunch deal available for 118RMB per set of two courses - perfect if you work in the area.
Recently opened on the same floor as L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Bund 18 late March is Onodera Ginza. This high-end (with high price tags) sushi, teppanyaki and tempura restaurant already has branches in Paris, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Hawaii and New York.
For something a little lower in price, check out the new Hop Project on Yongkang Lu. Headed up by grilled cheese specialists Co Cheese, they’re also slinging craft beers such as Beijing’s Jing A Brewery, who are increasingly making inroads into Shanghai’s microbrew market.
Over by Zhaojiabang Lu metro station, the Thirsty Seahorse has become Barcode; unfortunately, we don’t see much improvement, with a similar range of drinks and bar snacks on offer and little change in standards of service.
In closing news, no sooner had we announced that Wilson’s Bistro had replaced Thai Kitchen on Jiaozhou Lu, it closed due to 'minor adjustment terms with the landlord'. It was from the folks behind Five Star Hainanese Chicken Rice, and they're already in discussion for what will come next. Watch this space.
Also shutting their doors this month was Angelina's Shanghai Centre branch. Although we loved this space (and especially their hot chocolate), the closure comes after 'discussion with [the] headquarters in France, considering both brand identity and store profitability'. Their Huaihai Zhong Lu location thankfully remains.