Latest reviews for Shanghai

a hidden but cheap diamond in the east by foodbymark

foodbymark — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:47:01 +0000

Review by foodbymark

Rating: 4.00
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I lived in Dalston for 8 months over three years ago and had walked briskly by this Chinese restaurant opposite McDonalds many times. I had perhaps passed it over as another chinese takeaway/local type place not giving it a second glance. I recently read about the restaurant in several guides to Dim Sum in London and was beyond shocked to see a restaurant in Dalston, of all places, cropping up on almost every list.

The restaurant's unassuming, but heavily stickered, shop frontage and entrance dining hall has kept it's history of previously being a traditional east end pie and eel shop that opened in Victorian times. It has kept it's original floor, oak booths, tiled walls and eel-motifed mirrors. However, the rear of the restaurant, where we were seated, is a newly-built modern dining room painted red symbolizing luck and happiness with dome skylights made from stained glass. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable as you are almost whisked away from Dalston.

Whilst Shanghai is a restaurant which claims to be modern Shanghaiese, it turns out that the cuisine is not strictly Shanghainese, as they serve some of the typical Cantonese and westernised dishes. We came for Dim Sum (also known as Yum Char) and ordered our standard dishes for comparison purposes which included bamboo steamers of Har Gau, Siu Mai, Har Cheung Fun, Lor Mei Gai, Char Sui Bao, Fung jau and fried dishes Gee Bau Har and Woo Gok. (Yes, all this just for two diners!) The success story of Yum Char was the enormous and tasty Siu Mai, small steamed dumplings with pork inside a Wonton pastry topped with a crab roe, so large they were bulging out of spoons and almost beyond a mouthful. Only the Woo Kok, mashed taro, stuffed with diced shiitake mushrooms, shrimp and pork, deep-fried in crispy batter, were slightly too salty for our tastes and the Fung Jau, chicken feet, deep fried, boiled, marinated in a black bean sauce and then steamed, were in a sauce a little too thick.

The result was a thoroughly enjoyable Yum Char to which I will give my strong recommendation. The bill was just under Â£24 for 8 dishes and chinese tea for two including tip. Bargain! The downside is that it is not easy to get to by unless you prepared to either drive or take buses/overland trains. We booked through toptable.co.uk and it was not very busy for lunch on a Sunday afternoon.

EDIT: Photos to accompany this review can be found at: http://foodbymark.blogspot.com/2008/09/shanghai-dalston.html

Fun Night But Early by lowe

lowe — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:06:45 +0000

Review by lowe

Rating: 4.00
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I was invited by a friend to a birthday function held in one of the private rooms in Shanghai. Never been before I was surprised by the deceptive appearance of this rather nice little resturant.
Just behind the aisles of bench seat left from the pie & mash days is a smallish restaurant which with a steady flow of customers.
The private room was fun, with karaoke and service which was both friendly and professional. For the function I attended there was set menu's (choice of two) Â£15 a head, drinks extra obviously..The only downside (for me anyway) is that on a Saturday night it still closes at 11PM ...Much to early for me.

Yummy Yum Char! by MissBex

MissBex — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:05:38 +0000

Review by MissBex

Rating: 4.00
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Traditionally called Dim Sum in this country.. I am always one for a good yum char sunday afternoon to wash away the hangover from the night before.

Sunday's at Shanghai is awesome. Its happy hour!! Dim Sum dishes are all Â£1.60-Â£1.80. Bargain.. It's a cute little place that used to be a pie n mash or butcher or something along those lines hence the tiled decor at the front.

We were seated in the coldest room but managed to warm it up with lots of beers that our lazy susan had a great time spinning round to the 7 of us. The fancy pants waitor had a little bit of a bee in his pink bonnet but I thought he was rather funny. Service is a bit crap, but we aint in no mitchellin star place so you gotta roll with it..

Everything from chicken feet to whole/half ducks, my favourite bbq pork bun its all good - Our bill was Â£20 each with loads of booze and I could hardly walk afterwards, there was no need to eat that much really but I can never help myself..

by tristan

tristan — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:34:29 +0000

Review by tristan

Rating: 3.00
Tags:
Local Chinese restaurant with Karaoke rooms and Dim sum. Fast service. Cheap and cheerful. Has booths at the front that in the winter seem a bit cold and a more traditional feeling restaurant seating area in the back.

by TrustedBot

TrustedBot — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 18:20:08 +0000

Review by TrustedBot

Rating: 0.00
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A journey to Dalston, to the main road and down to a restaurant named Shanghai, is a chance to be treated to a mix of East London tradition and fine ´Old Shanghai´ cuisine.

Traditionally an East End Eel, Pie and Mash shop, the front of the house still retains the original decor of the Grade II listed building. A unique combination of East meets West, the restaurant itself blends traditional London with traditional Chinese to match its fine and varied meals.

The chefs have kept with the traditional Chinese cuisine, but have included a selection of modern dishes and taste combinations for the more adventurous customers. It is in fact for the more adventurous patron that Shanghai is the most rewarding. The wine list is also carefully planned and bottles have been chosen to complement each meal.

Food is freshly prepared on the premises, with home-made sauces, ground spices and Shanghai´s own pastry. Head chef Paul S Cheng creates between eight and twelve signature dishes each month - reacting to customer comments to create new and delicious dishes.