If you’ve been here a while, you might have heard of Le Verre à vin, one of Shanghai’s longstanding wine bistros. It just relocated to Ferguson Lane, and has reopened with a fresh new look and a revitalized bistro menu that’s both eclectic and comforting.
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About Le Verre à vin
When it first opened in 2014, Le Verre à vin was one of only a handful of wine-forward bistros. But the recent wine bar boom and the loss of key partners put the old Le Verre in a precarious position of having to adapt. (It’s operated by the MIG restaurant group, which also has Le Vin, Miss Ali, and 鸟啸, a yakitori with three locations in Shanghai.)
It took a little while, but Le Verre has not only found itself a new, classy space to roost, but also a young chef to modernize the menu. Behind the food is chef “K-Wen” Xie Pei Wen (谢沛文), who’s added his spin on bistro fare. The Shanghainese chef spent his early years honing skills in New York, and most recently catering private dinners in Shanghai.
It’s a warm and cozy space that can accommodate up to 60 people. There’s also a small private room that fits eight people comfortably, and a few tables outside for al fresco.
On The Menu
The menu retains a couple of the Le Verre fan favorites like the marinated pig ears and the deep fried intestines with yuzu pepper, but is otherwise is a complete revamp with influences from Japanese, French and Chinese cuisine. It’s eclectic, but in a good way, with some truly original dishes and classics done well.
Appetizers and snacks of course include the requisite cheese and cold cuts plates, but also ceviche, sashimi, stuffed squid, and beef tartare. Mains are mostly meats with the exception of sautéed scallops and a fantastic miso marinated cod filet.
Gâteau Basque Cheesecake (¥68) with vanilla ice cream. Seems like there isn’t a restaurant out there that can avoid putting a basque on the menu. It’s a standard ooey-gooey basque cheesecake.
As for drinks, house wines start at an agreeable ¥49/glass and ¥249/bottle. Following the trend, bottles are on display with listed prices all along the shelves. It’s a mix of everything—new, old, and funky—but more importantly, they stock more than 100 labels in the ¥300-450 range.
In Summary
It’s always nice to see old favorites successfully reinventing themselves. It doesn’t take much to realize that change needs to happen, but it takes courage and gumption to pull it off. Overall, it’s a huge improvement from the former Le Verre, and if I’m completely honest, it’s almost a completely different venue all together. What hasn’t changed is perhaps the pricing, which is friendly and approachable for both food and wine.
Le Verre a vin is currently in soft opening. Some prices and dishes may be adjusted based on cost and availability of ingredients.
Nomfluence Readers Deals
The deal below is valid from now until December 4, 2022 for Nomfluence readers when you book via the link below!
- Get 10% off your food bill.
Click here to book your seat!
Le Verre à vin
Address: No. 105, Ferguson Lane, 378 Wukang Lu, near Taian Lu 武康路378号武康庭105铺, 近泰安路
Tel: 17821987133
Hours: Daily, 5:30pm-1am
