DINING: NEW EATS ON THE BLOCK
January 20th, 2010
The New Year is traditionally a time for new beginnings, and Shanghai is expecting lots of fresh openings on the food and drink scene as 2010 gets underway. A couple of new bakeries have opened their doors already, including ex-Paul managers’ Patisserie de France on Donghu Lu, and there’s plenty more to look forward to.
The business brains behind Napa are turning their talents to food, opening fondue house Chalet Suisse at a not-yet-disclosed location on Kangding Lu. Fondue seems to be shedding its ‘70s image and morphing into the new it-food, so we’ll be heading there for some hardcore dipping when it opens in February.
Mr. Laris has been quiet of late, but not for much longer. He’s sprinkling his Midas dust (is that a mixed metaphor?) downstairs from what used to be Roomtwentyeight at the URBN hotel. And it’s actually called ‘Downstairs’. Expect organic, eco, and green.
Craig Willis, another Shanghai food big-gun, is set to add to his Anfu Lu with Mi Thai, a high-quality Thai restaurant opening in March. The way things are going, if you live on Anfu, you won’t ever have to eat anywhere else.
If you’ve been dreaming of the day when bagels become readily available in Shaghai, dream no longer. The charmingly-named Egghead Bagels will be opening midway through February on Shanxi Lu, offering an array of bagel-themed delights including “bagelwiches”, omelettes, regular sandwiches, and breakfast fare.
Shanghai seems to have a longstanding love affair with Mexican food. There’s Maya at the top of the scale, Cantina Agave in the center, and cheap as chips joints like Taco Loco and Adobo for frugal folk. Mi Tierra, formerly delivery only, is wading into the fray with a new mammoth of a restaurant on Yongjia Lu. Slated for opening in early February, they’ll be serving “authentic regional” Mexican food. Will it be a case of “Mi tierra es tu tierra”? Let’s see.
On the drinking front, there are two new bars in the offing. There’s Dr. Wine which is set to open on Fumin Lu, and Ferg & Sons at the Ferguson Lane complex on Wukang Lu.
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