Xin Tiandi Restaurant Mall
Shanghai, China
About
A Starbucks stands at its entrance, the First National Congress of the Communist Party at its flanks, and in its midst, brilliant restorations of Shanghai's colonial Shiku Men ("stone gate") architecture. The place is Xin Tiandi (literally "New Heaven and Earth"), an upscale cultural mall where the moneyed East meets the moneyed West. Here you'll find the city's hottest dining spots. Located downtown a block south of the Huangpi Nan Lu Metro station, Xin Tiandi is a 2-block pedestrian mall with enough good eating to require weeks to experience it all. T8 (North Block, House 8; tel. 021/6355-8999; lunch Wed-Mon 11:30am-2:30pm, dinner daily 6:30-11:30pm) is the restaurant whose service and chefs have quickly rivaled, if not eclipsed those at M on the Bund, only with less attitude. Service and management are superb and unobtrusive, the decor is super chic, and the food is irresistible, especially the green pea cappuccino with goat's cheese foam and truffles, the Sichuan seared king prawns, the slow-cooked lamb and Sichuan pie, and the to-die-for chocolate addiction plate. Crystal Jade Restaurant (South Block/Nanli 6-7, second floor-12A and B; tel. 021/6385-8752; Mon-Fri 11:30am-3pm and 5-10:30pm; Sat-Sun 10:30am-3pm and 5-10:30pm) serves up arguably the best xiaolong bao (steamed dumplings with broth) and lamian (hand-pulled noodles) south of the Yangzi. Must-tries include Shanghai steamed pork dumplings (the aforementioned xiaolong bao), la mian in Sichuan style (noodles in a spicy peanut broth), and roast pork buns. Reserve in advance or risk a long wait. Va Bene (Hua Wan Yi) (North Block, House 7; tel. 021/6311-2211; Sun-Thurs 11:30am-2:30pm and 6-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-3pm and 6-11pm) is an upscale Italian diner (from the owners of Hong Kong's Gaia) with warm Tuscan decor, patio dining, and a wide range of antipasti, pasta, and gourmet pizzas, all made from the freshest ingredients. Paulaner Brauhaus (Baolaina) (North Block, House 19-20; tel. 021/6320-3935; daily 11am-2am) is the Shanghai standby praised for its excellent German food, with authentic brews to match. KABB (Kaibo Xicanting) (North Block, House 5, Unit 1; tel. 021/3307-0798; Mon-Fri 7am-midnight, Sat-Sun 7am-2am) is a spiffy American bar and comfort-food cafe. Ding Tai Feng (South Block, House 6, second floor, Unit 11A; tel. 021/6385-8378; daily 11am-2:30pm and 5-11pm), an upscale Taiwanese restaurant, serves xiao long bao dumplings (that come in a very close second to Crystal Jade's dumplings), as well as a whole host of Taiwanese dishes and snacks. Xin Ji Shi (Taicang Lu 181, No. 2, North Block; tel. 021/6336-4746; daily 11am-1:30pm and 5-9:30pm), a very popular but homey Shanghai eatery, features delicious local favorites such as braised home-cooked pork (hong shao rou) and glutinous rice with red dates. Ye Shanghai (South Block, House 6; tel. 021/6311-2323; daily 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:30-11pm) is an elegant touch of old Shanghai, which Hong Kong visitors claim is better than the original Ye Shanghai restaurant back home. Zen (Xianggang Caidie Xuan) (South Block, House 2; tel. 021/6385-6395; daily 11:30am-11:30pm), a modern Cantonese restaurant by way of Hong Kong, serves excellent dim sum for lunch.
