Parisian Charm at Mignon 9, A Cute Bistro on Wuyuan Lu
On October 25, 2023
New on Wuyuan Lu is Mignon 9, is a contemporary French restaurant inspired by Parisienne bistros. Traditional French comforts with a twist at this stylish yet casual restaurant in Shanghai.
Get 20% off your food bill! Details below.
The Space
Step away from the hubbub of Wulumuqi Zhong Lu to Wuyuan Lu, a much more tranquil street home to many restaurants and bars, including Mignon 9.
Mignon 9 is a very pretty looking restaurant with a hint of Parisian charm; modern bistro design with a cute terrace and cozy interiors, complete with comfy cushioned banquets.
There’s even a private room tucked in the back that seats up to eight people.
Plus, the terrace is dog-friendly.
It’s a charming space. Conducive for date nights and casual meetups with friends. I’m also loving the playlist, which has French pop and fun indie rock on loop.
Chef Li Tianmu
In the kitchen is Li Tianmu, a humble chef from Beijing with plenty of talent. He first cut his teeth at TRB and Fiume in Beijing, then in Shanghai at Thought For Food and Umi. His last post was executive chef at L’atelier ChicChoc.
The Food
Dishes at Mignon 9 are mostly French classics with a twist, elevated bistro fare, and Western-style dishes with clear-cut flavor profiles.
A few dishes borrow spices and seasoning from Chinese cuisine, like the green peppercorn stuffed spring chicken and a spice powder on the steak, but that’s about it—subtle. Overall, it’s accessible and easily likeable food.
The lunch menu features a couple brunchy dishes topped with eggs, while dinner rolls out a full spread of wine-friendly snacks, appetizers, fresh pasta, and mains.
Here are highlights from dinner:
Smoked Artichoke (¥48) – Artichokes smoked over the coals, served with olives and olive oil. Easy-going appetizer or snack with wine.Persimmon Burrata (¥108) – Never-frozen fresh burrata seasoned with salt, lime zest, black pepper, and lemon vinaigrette served with seasonal persimmon. Sweet persimmon, both ripe and jammy and young and crunchy. Light accompaniments that bring out the milkiness of the burrata. Also available for lunch.Smoked Scallops (¥98) – A fantastic dish of smoky scallops cooked to perfection, served with pomelo segments, lemon and fennel dressing, and yuzu jelly. Love the smokiness, and the prickle of salt balanced with acidity. One of my favorites.Beef Tartare (¥98) – A surf and turf tartare of grass-fed beef and marinated mackerel in a traditional dressing of mustard, finely minced shallot, capers, and cornichons, topped with lemon oil and shaved comté cheese. Tradition with a twist. Served with excellently crispy house-made potato chips.Foie Gras Terrine (¥138) – Foie gras, blackberry and port sauce, sourdough bread. A sinful classic.Wagyu Flap (¥268/180g) – Charcoal-grilled M7 beef flap with soy caramel and garlic purée, dusted in a spice powder of erjingtiao chili and sesame seeds. Smoky aromas from the grill, a nice crust, cooked to medium rare, and a hint of spice.Grilled Pork Chop (¥158) – A juicy pork chop with curry butter and sweet-savory reduced port wine sauce. I don’t see many pork chops on menus, and none that are executed as well as this one.Chicken with Sichuan Pepper (¥168) – Spring chicken stuffed plump with Sichuan green peppercorns, green chili, and garlic. A juicy whole chicken that’s brimming with flavor.Heady aromas of green peppercorn the moment you pierce the skin. Carved tableside. Good to share.Braised Lamb Shoulder (¥158) – Lumina lamb shoulder slow-cooked to fork tender served with mash, Chinese yam, and pickled ginger. If you’re a fan of lamb but not the musk that comes with it, this is for you.Stewed Beef Cheek Pasta (¥108) – Beef cheek slow-cooked with herbs and red wine tossed with fresh-made tagliatelle pasta. Ribbons of eggy pasta with a luscious sauce.Basque Cheesecake (¥68) – A cheesy loaf-cut Basque cheesecake with blackberry and port sauce, dusted with strawberry powder. Creamy, not overly runny, well-balanced with the luscious port sauce.Mascarpone Ice Cream (¥68) with shiso-strawberry syrup and strawberry powder.Sablé (¥68) – Buttery sablé cookies with lemon cream and caramelized figs.
As for drinks, it’s mostly wine and a couple standard cocktails. Wines by the glass start from ¥80, bottles from ¥300, cocktails are ¥70, beer ¥38.
For Lunch
The lunch menu is served daily, some dishes lean towards brunch. Here are a few highlights:
Egg & Bread (¥78) – Sous vide egg over mashed potatoes with stewed kidney beans, crisped prosciutto, and hollandaise served with toast.Beef Cheek Rigatoni (¥98) – The same beef cheek as dinner, but served with rigatoni instead of fresh pasta.Duck Confit (¥108) – A classic and to-French-standard duck confit. Won’t go wrong here! Duck thigh confit to a crispy finish, served with roasted baby potatoes, confit cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, and peas.French Toast (¥78) – A thick slice of fluffy French toast with vanilla ice cream. Not too eggy, just right.
Nomfluence Readers Deals
Nomfluence readers get 20% off your food bill during dinner when you book via the link below.
Deal is valid for dinner only, every Sunday to Thursday from now until November 30.
Rachel Gouk has been writing about food and drink in Shanghai since 2011. She is a food critic, writer, photographer, and F&B consultant based in Shanghai. Nomfluence was founded in May 2018 as a means to express her love for the Shanghai F&B scene. Follow her blog www.nomfluence.com or on Instagram @nomfluence.
