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PLACES BEGINNING WITH 'F'
Very pricy Imperial cuisine, in a beautiful, private setting. Reservations necessary.
There’s good eating to be had at this busy intersection, where Shanghainese and Hunanese street food stalls have long sold cheap and cheerful bites to passers-by. But the arrival of Fan Shang Yuan takes eating in this locale up a few notches. The place has a very typical Shanghainese feel, with a smart dining room housing about a dozen round tables, and several private rooms off to the side. Their predominantly Shanghainese menu is complemented by spicy offerings from Sichuan and Hunan, as well as a Japanese sashimi selection, and the dishes we tried all hit the mark. Try the baby squid with broccoli and chilies and their rice served in a hollow pineapple; tofu with chicken and swordfish and a classic rendition of hong shao rou also come recommended. This restaurant’s price point also makes it very attractive – four or five people could share a good meal here and barely break ¥100.
What: Modern Italian restaurant on the eighth floor of Le Royale Meridien hotel, Shanghai’s towering new five star whose antennas face People’s Square.
Opened: Mar 20.
What: The second installment of this imported grocery store. Leans heavily on the Italian side of things, with a wide selection of plain and infused olive oils, balsamic vinegars, pastas and sauces. Boxes of Froot Loops and jars of Nutella costing about the same as a full meal at the Chongqing restaurant across the street are also available, along with other guilty pleasures like jam, and a selection of imported chocolates. A small, refrigerated section stocks nice Italian cold cuts, beer (Leffe, Sam Adams, Hoegaarden), and organic vegetables. A small wine cellar hides in the back, and reasonably priced flowers perfume the entrance.
‘Everything you need ... around the corner’ is the motto of this new luxury convenience store – something many would hasten to agree with. A step up from your Lawson’s or Kedi, Fei Dan stocks a range of tasty comforts from around the world, giving City Supermarket a run for its money in the price and product stakes. Within a compact little space, this shop manages to stock a huge range of offerings, from European cheeses and meats to Betty Crocker’s cake mix (¥24.60), Maple Syrup (¥79.50), and huge jars of Nutella – as well as canned goods, sauces, and organic muesli thrown in the mix. Head into the back room, where you’ll find a small selection of resonably priced wines (starting at around ¥70) and other beverages, like bottles of Guinness and Old Speckled Hen. With a delivery service in the pipeline, this little outlet is sure to satiate many an overseas craving.
Opened: Jan 27.
What: FFDM’s flagship store in China offering upmarket, high quality furniture and design pieces ranging from traditional Chinese to contemporary styles. Laurence Moh founded FFDM in 2000 and started off supplying U.S. department stores and independent retailers with home furnishings. Now, with two huge floors covering 2,000 sq meters, FFDM stands out as one of Shanghai’s largest furniture showrooms.
Look: Like your richest friend’s over-the-top living room. Veneers and solid woods, textured cabinets, leather chairs, beds covered in gold silk duvets – if Henry VIII lived today this would be his kind of place. Though covering two floors, the furniture here is packed in tight, in a way that makes each piece – though of visible high quality – hard to appreciate.
Opened: Nov 3
What: Slick but simple restaurant skirting Shanghai’s club of the moment.
Look: Intimate, leather upholstered booths line the hallway, and a large, circular room with a view in the main dining space. Lighting that might even make us look good.
Food: Straightforward, Mediterranean-inspired bites that emphasize a few fresh ingredients. We loved the seared scallops with Champagne sauce and mushrooms, and the tender, double-cut curried lamb chops with a light mint and yogurt dip. They’ve also got the only boar chop in town, and this peppery cut of gamey pork is delicious.
People: Young, hip, old, rich, you. We’re not really sure actually – they were shooting China’s Top Model on our visit, so the restaurant was restricted to pretty young things – and SH staff.
Bill: Bund-on-the-cheap; about ¥250 per head. Finestre also features a diverse and reasonable wine list – New Heights should take notes.
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