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Chopsticks at the ready, Shanghai Restaurant Week is coming
If you've been drooling with envy over the Restaurant Weeks in New York, Singapore, Vienna and Paris, wipe yourself down and get ready for Shanghai's very own version
Local gourmands are puckering up as some of the top Shanghai foodie venues take part in the first Shanghai Restaurant Week.Shanghai might be known as the financial capital of China, but to those who love to dish, this is also the foodie hub of the Middle Kingdom. With legions of diners with appetites for gratifying gourmet, Shanghai is the logical next stop of the expanding, global Restaurant Week.
Restaurant Week is already one of the biggest culinary events around, held in countries such as The Netherlands, Austria, the United States and Belgium. Now, the first Shanghai Restaurant Week will be organized by DiningCity.com April 26 to May 2 (just in time for the 2010 Expo opening).
The concept isn't a difficult one to get your head around. Restaurant Week features middle and high-end restaurants offering customers a premium three-course menu for a fixed price during a one week period. For the Shanghai Restaurant Week, local venues will offer a a special three-course dinner for RMB 250, and a three-course lunch for RMB 150. Although it's still a bit too far away from a final head count, we're told there are about 40 restaurants participating in the inaugural Shanghai Restaurant Week including the likes of Jean-Georges, Mr & Mrs Bund, T8, M1NT, The Chinoise Story, Casa 13 and Kathleen’s 5. Not exactly cheap but considering who's dishing it up, it’s not a bad deal. If there was ever a time to make a power lunch meeting, this is it.
How Shanghai Restaurant Week works
Online bookings will start from 10am, April 7 at www.shanghairestaurantweek.com. Although the 'Hai is still not a reservation-mandatory city, this event is, and if Shanghai Restaurant Week is anything like its predecessors around the world, booking in advance will be necessary.
Siem Bierman, managing director of DiningCity.com for China, explained that they’re (finally) bringing Restaurant Week to Shanghai because “we believe it’s a good opportunity for the restaurants to promote their concept, by presenting their experience menu to the dynamic dining society in Shanghai.”
As with many new ventures in Shanghai, we’re sure Shanghai Restaurant Week will have its growing pains, but you have to start somewhere, and we're just glad it's starting at all.
