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PLACES BEGINNING WITH 'B'
This Thai newcomer has only been open a few weeks and still needs time to settle. The restaurant is spread over three floors in a villa off Fuxing Lu, with a large front garden (perfect at the time of writing for lunch – but not for much longer), a rear courtyard and several small dining rooms. It’s sparsely decorated, and could use a few more touches to add an air of warmth. The menu is straightforward, with every dish you’ll find in every other Thai spot in town. We tried fresh, springy fish cakes lifted up with plenty of lemongrass and lime leaf, and a rather salty tom yum that didn’t have the requisite tang. Coconut chicken soup also seemed a little flat, as did a massaman curry. If you like your Thai mild and accessible, you’ll leave Baan with a smile on your face.
The younger sibling of the ever-popular Big Bamboo is like a pocketsized version of the expansive Nanchang Lu sports bar, recreating both its decor and its atmosphere. The well-stocked bar is situated right by the entrance, making it easy to get your first drink from the friendly bartenders. If both tables in the first floor are taken, you’ll find more room upstairs to watch your big screen sports – which are still the main attraction here – and you can watch sports in every corner of both floors, thanks to the abundance of sizeable TV screens. If sitting around and knocking back beers is not your thing, you can keep yourself amused with foosball, darts and pool games. The CD player blasts out a mix of rock, funk and pop on weekdays, while a guest DJ livens things up from 7.30pm onwards on Friday and Saturday. Half-priced beers and standard drinks are served daily during happy hour from 4pm-8pm. And Baby Bamboo should grow up further in the spring when people head outside to enjoy their outdoor seating.
Behind the red sliding door of Babyface’s second establishment is a huge, psychedelic clubbing space. Narcissists will feel comfortable here – there are mirrors everywhere. Although Babyface has never been renowned for its musical taste, they are feeling more ambitious this time by catering to two musical categories, electronic and hip hop, in two separate rooms.
Opened: May 10.
What: Indonesian! Just behind Jing’an temple, in that odd, circular building, lemongrass is being pounded, turmeric is being peeled, chilis are being crushed, and sambals are taking over.
Opened: June 20.
What: Balsamine’s second salon featuring women’s (and men’s) nail services, as well as waxing and other treatments.
Look: Tucked away on art gallery and café riddled Shaoxing Lu, Balsamine stands out with its white and girly pink decor. Inside customers can enjoy an afternoon of hand and foot bliss in cozy armchairs made for sinking into.
Treatments: This store is all nail product brand OPI: creams, exfoliators, polishes – even the training employees receive. While the standard manicure and pedicure are excellent, this store specializes in OPI’s gel nails.
Don’t Miss: The gentle and meticulous pedicure that not only relieved our worn out feet, but outlasted any treatment you could do at home, unless you have a particularly well-trained boyfriend.
People: French Concession cruisers looking for a good paint job.
What: “The food of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos” – dressed up for Shanghai.
Look: It’s the hip Southeast Asian dream, in a palette of olive green, slate, and rich woods. Loungey bed/sofas on a raised platform laze on one side of the dining room; a long, communal dark wood table runs down the center of the other side.
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