Shanghai Godly Vegetarian Co.

This is a paradise for vegetarians and lovers of Shanghai-style dishes. A long-established restaurant, it recently underwent a complete rennovation giving the place a "chique" look and feel with 2 levels, water pond, and lots of windows. Its hot location near People's Square, and steps to the Shanghai Art Museum, add to its attraction.

We had lunch there. As a quasi-vegetarian, I enjoyed all those dishes that I would not normally eat, including mock "pork powder", beef with sauce, and others.

Address: No. 445 Nanjing xi Road, Shanghai

Bi Feng Tang

Zhao Jia Bang Lu and Da Pu Qiao Lu
(a chain with other locations)

Hong-Kong style, dim sum like dishes. Good quality and small portions (good for sharing). Try the fat noodles, boiled chives with light oyster sauce, duck chin (including the duck's tongue) seasoned with fresh pepper and salt. Also serves perl tea. Good for tables of 2 to 6, especially at lunchtime. Maritime-like decor.

Bosswife Seafood Restaurant

Xi Zang Lu

"Bosswife" is an awkward translation of the Chinese "Lao ban niang" or "the Boss's wife"). This is another type of restuarant where the customers select raw, prepared dishes that are then cooked to order. Emphasis is on Ningbo quisine, which is especially known for its picked seafood ( Ningbo is a city near Shanghai). Well-prepared steamed fish. The stinky tofu is especially pungent. All around a good restaurant.

Nian Nian You Yu Restaurant

Zhao Jia Bang Lu (at Rui jin Er Lu)

A long established seafood restaurant situated on the third floor of an office building. Contains a maze of private dining rooms. Varieties of steamed fish prepared from well kept tanks of live fish. The sesame-filled rice ball soup (the balls about the size of marbles) is among the best we ever had.

New Quixote Restaurant

9 Shaoxing Lu

Situated in the old French Concession part of Shanghai, the tree-lined Shaoxing Lu is known for its many cultural organizations, publishers, book stores, etc. and one of the most desireable places to live in the city. The "New Quixote" is known for its seafood, such as spicey crawfish ("little lobster"). We also had a dish of mixed sliced seafood in mildly spicey oil mixed with bamboo shoots.

Hong Zi Ji Restaurant

Wen Zhou Lu and Jiang Ning Lu corner
(2 blocks north of Nanjing Lu)

A very exciting and large place, where waiters and waitresses coast on roller scates to serve your food. To order, you go to a buffet-like area where the uncooked dishes are displayed. Upon selection, the dishes are then cooked and delivered to your table by the skaters. Live swimming fish in a large array of tanks are also available to your choosing. You will like the crepe-like dishes where the dough is prepared on site and cooked with you choice of vegetables or fruits. Overall, the simple Shanghai dishes are really good and you will probably like anything your select. Dinner fare includes entertainment (dancers, figure roller skaters, singers, etc.) Built on the site of an old cotton cloth factory.

Xiao Nan Guo -- Rui Jin Hotel

Rui Jin Hotel
118 Rui Jin Er Lu
tel. 021 64662277

An upscale setting in the famed Rui Jin Hotel. This hotel is one of the oldest, most exclusive hotels in Shanghai having hosted Chinese leaders including Mao and international dignitaries. The setting consists of acres of gardens, lawns, and low lying buildings that house the guests. The hotel still retains its charm and prestige, even with the addition of one of the earlier highrises to be constructed at the beginning of Shanghai's rennaissance. The restaurant is situated in one of the older buildings that was restored into a large open space. Menu similar to the Xial Nan Guo on Hong Mei Lu but in a more modern, chique setting. Try the "stinky tofu" (which is not overly strong). For dessert, the sweet sticky rice ball soup is good.

Xiao Nan Guo Restuarant - Hong Mei Lu

3337 Hong Mei Lu (near Hongqiao Airport)
tel. 021 64051117

One of the largest restaurants in Shanghai with multiple levels serving thousands of diners at once. The kitchen is as massive as the dining area. Yet despite the size, the quality of the cooking, service, and presentation will meet the demands of even the most discriminating customers. Served Chinese "family style" typical dishes include roasted pigeon, stir-fry bean shoots, various chicken and pork dishes. Do not forget to order the cold starter dishes of vegetables and meats -- especially the wine-soaked peanuts. Call for reservations for dining during busy hours; call a few days ahead for private rooms which typically seat 10 or more.

Introduction

Shanghai is a city with a rich ethnic diversity and this diversity is well reflected in the many types of restaurants present there. Some of the restaurants are long established, state owned (or formerly state owned) institutions. Others represent traditional service and cuisine set to a more modern expectation. And then we have the newer breed of chique fare built upon Western tastes and ideas.

Rules:
1) Try to be objective.
2) Do not trash any establishment for the sake of trashing it. If something is wrong, state why.
3) Give name and address of establishment.

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