The Shanghai Scoop – Food & Drink News (November 2019)

The Shanghai Scoop is a monthly column dedicated to the latest food and drink news happening in Shanghai. Here is a round-up of the newest restaurants and bars, hotel news, and upcoming projects.

Coming Soon

We’re still waiting on: Rocco Forte, KOR Shanghai, Chico Latino, Café Kitsune, Foodie Social, Tiffany & Co. Blue Box Café, The Boiling Crab (which will open in Xintiandi), Tacolicious 2.0, Co. Cheese 2.0, etc.

Sun-san from Ochobo has found a new location on Huaihai Zhong Lu. However, it’ll be a private space and reservations only. It’s due to open on December 10. Call 15800349060 for reservations.

Mixologist superstars Eddy Yang and Carson Xie have teamed up to open Chameleon, a cocktail bar and lounge on Shaanxi Nan Lu. Food is local Chinese and French fusion, and drinks are inspired with local spices and flavors. The concept will change every 4-5 months, to be inspired by a new country every change, adapting like a chameleon traveling around the world. Opens in a week or two.

Now Open

Tiandi aka Heaven & Earth is a new club/lounge within the Andaz Xintiandi hotel. Food is Asian Fusion with dishes like fancied up pani puri, truffle foie gras mousse, luroufan, soy-braised chicken, fried dumplings, etc. Ten flashy signature drinks on the cocktail menu. Photos below from Tiandi official WeChat account.

Tiandi, soft opening since November 12.

KIN Urban Thai Kitchen is a joint partnership between Camden Hauge (Social Supply, Bird, Bitter, Egg), The Camel Group, and Urban Thai. It’s a Thai restaurant with a northern Thai accent, located on Yongkang Lu.

Favorite at KIN: Caramelized fish sauce chicken wings.

New on the Bund is SakeMate, a Nikkei restaurant backed by the MVP group (Goodfellas, The Fellas, The Captain, and De Medici). Nikkei—that’s Japanese and South American cuisine. It’s located on the ground floor of Eight Art Hotel. They’re serving a seven-course soft opening menu for ¥350.

Pan & Latte is a cozy bakery that has opened on Shaanxi Bei Lu, next to Gelato dal Cuore.

Southeast Asian restaurant Asian Plus has been revived in 1788 Mall on Nanjing Xi Lu. Asian Plus first came to be in 2016 at a collective space called The Market—ancient history, that. I’m excited because they had one of the best Hainan chicken rice I’ve had in Shanghai. They’ve reopened with a twist, adding butterfly pea to the rice. Also on the menu are noodles, including laksa.

The OTA Group (Blackbird, Table Black, Bar No. 3, Oha Eatery) has added another venue to their portfolio—Pass Residence. It’s an easy-going, no-frills Italian-inclined restaurant, café, and natural wine bar/shop. It’s great as an alternative workplace during the day, natural wine buffs, and wood-fired pizzas.

The Funka Group (Funkadeli, The Parrot) has just opened Italo, an upscale Italian restaurant above Funkadeli on Fumin Lu.

Over in Hongqiao, there’s Buondi Coffee & Bakery. Opened by two Italian-born Chinese sisters, the café does fresh breads and pastries and full meals of pastas, paninis, and salads.

Shake Shack expands with a third location in IFC mall, Lujiazui.

Other Updates

Heritage by Madison is now serving brunch, described by chef-operator Austin Hu as “80’s era dim sum carts meets New York brunch without boundaries.” Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 3:30pm.

Homeslice has four new seasonal pizzas! Favorite: Anchovy & Olive. Guest chef pizza “Luchador” by el Luchador chef Eduardo Gomez is a close second, topped with beef strips, spicy chorizo, and pico de gallo on a chipotle-tomato base.