Sponsored by Barbarian
Charcoal-grilled meat platters, skewers and cocktails—Barbarian opens a new location in Plaza 66, making it three outposts in Shanghai. New grilled sets, “Barbarian hotpot”, custom cocktails, and a killer rooftop.
Keep reading for Nomfluence Readers Special Deals.
About Barbarian at Plaza 66
They’ve managed to keep their iconic cave-like interiors. Even during lunchtime, it doesn’t feel like you’re eating in a fluorescent mall.
Why this location? Well, it came with a terrace. Up the spiral staircase is a sprawling rooftop terrace with a view of downtown Jing’an. Plus the space has a grassy lawn and is equipped with an outdoor kitchen and bar. Renovations to the terrace will start shortly and it’ll open in March 2021. Expect fresh oysters on the terrace, a hot grill/smoker station and badass parties.
The Food: Grilled Sets, Oysters & Hotpot
Food at Barbarian is rustic, simple and comforting—steak topped salad bowls, chunky skewers, dry-aged steaks—in a casual setting. On the menu at this new location are all the favorites you know and love, plus some new grilled sets, oysters, and for the season, “Barbarian hotpot.”
Fresh oysters include the French Emerald, colored green by algae from the waters in which it grows. These briny, fleshy oysters are on the menu for ¥44 a piece or ¥220 for half dozen, ¥396 for a dozen.
Of the new sets, there’s the Barbaric Rave (¥798), which is great to share between four to six people. It comes with a Primitive Steak Salad or Mongolian Lamb Satay Salad with light yogurt and garden greens, half a dozen oysters, the Barbarian Style Seafood Paella, and an Uncivilized Couples Skewers Platter. The latter is the house special, a four-skewer plate beef, prawns, chicken and lamb with dipping sauce and “Ugly Garlic Bread”.
For those looking to focus on bigger cuts of meat, there are always steaks.
Barbarian dry-ages their steaks for a minimum of 28 days by wrapping the meat in cheesecloth that has been dipped in whiskey. Go for the steak sets, Angus New Zealand Grain-Fed Bone-In Ribeye (¥888) or T-Bone (¥999). Both come with three side dishes and Ugly Garlic Bread.
They have also ventured into hotpot, just for the winter season. It’s a smart move for the mall clientele, but I when it arrived, I couldn’t keep a straight face.
What.
It’s a Barbie draped over with thinly sliced ribeye. You’re supposed to undress her, stripping off the meat to dip into your hotpot. It’s not a novel idea, but do we need this? At least it’s memorable, right? Sigh. Let me just focus on the actual hotpot.
There are two soup bases available, Xinjiang or Tom Yum flavor. The Barbarian Hot Pot (¥466) comes as a set, which includes two skewers each of beef, pork, and lamb, and one skewer of shrimp. It also comes with a basket of vegetables, squid ink spaghetti, fried tofu and clams, and a cream puff dessert. And the Beef Barbie, of course, which is ribeye, so it’s good, but I still can’t keep a straight face.
Custom Cocktails & Winter Drinks
In addition to grilled food, custom cocktails is another core of Barbarian’s identity. Cocktails are crafted based on spirit base and personal flavor profile, created a la minute with their apothecary of housemade infusions and spirits, herbs, tinctures and bitters, and fruit. Drinks range from ¥65 to ¥95.
They also have some new winter season hot drinks. I can vouch for the Hot Belgian Chocolate (¥42).
Nomfluence Readers Special
Deals below are valid from now until January 20, 2021 when you book through the link below.
- 10% off Barbaric Rave Set / Barbarian Hotpot
- Buy 1 dozen Emerald oysters (¥396) and get a free bottle of wine/sparkling (Aimery Chardonnay white wine / Prosecco Torresello)
Click here to BOOK your seat now!
Barbarian (Plaza 66)
Address: 5/F, Plaza 66, 1266 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Shaanxi Nan Lu 南京西路1266号恒隆广场5楼, 近陕西南路
Tel: 15900823959
Hours: 10:30am-10pm
