Chen Long Hang Xie Wang Fu (成隆行蟹王府) is one of Shanghai's popular restaurants famous for its crab dishes, especially hairy crabs during the autumn season. 

Last year, when I went to the restaurant without reservations, I was turned away. The receptionist said, "No reservation, No table." This year, I made sure that reservations was made in advance. Booked two days prior, we finally had a table. 

The interior was decorated as if one was back in the ancient city era where the restaurant (客站) had a very nice feel. There were two musicians on stage - one was playing a zither and the other a erhu. It was beautiful and the dining experience was memorable.

We ordered many dishes in small serving so that we can try the different ways of cooking crab from steamed to pan-fried to savoury and so on.

The interior was decorated like in ancient China.

Crabmeat with Shark Fins (王府蟹肉翅) was amazing. Unlike the regular shark fin soup, this is unique and I love to have this again. (Food rating: 4.5/5)

The steamed crab pincers over steamed egg (清蒸蟹钳) was priced at RMB126 per one serving. The egg was like silken tofu and the crab pincers were freshly steamed. The portion looked small but it was just right. (Food rating: 4.5/5)

Crabmeat Tofu (蟹粉豆腐) was amazing. It was the first time I had this dish and I enjoyed this immensely. The tofu was very soft and crab meat gravy was curry-like. (Food rating: 4.5/5)

The lionhead meatball (四季蟹粉狮子头) mixed with pork and crab meat was a simple dish. The crab meat sauce was drizzled over the tender pork meat ball. The pork was very minced to perfection that it was soft and melted into the mouth. Together, they became a formidable combination. (Food rating: 5/5)

Crabmeat in Orange (蟹粉酿橙) was refreshing. More importantly, it is very addictive. I could not stop eating it until everything was gone. (Food rating: 5/5)

The Sauteed Crab Meat (清炒蟹粉) was amazing. Cooked together with crab coe, the crab meat was not served miserably but chunks. Priced at RMB158, it was a serving for one.

Crab Roe with Glass Flat Noodles (蟹膏银皮) was extremely rich. The glass flat noodles were very chewy. The crab roe has a beautiful golden yellow colour and the thick roe gravy needs time to savour and appreciate. (Food rating: 4.5/5)

Savoury Crab meat and roe over rice (禿黄油捞饭) is similar to Chirashi (Sashimi over rice bowl). Instead of sashimi, the crab meat and roe mixed with the chewy rice was awesome. The taste was rich but not queasy. This was one of my favourites. (Food rating: 5/5)

Crab meat (蟹粉小笼包) and Crab Roe Dumplings (活拆蟹黄小笼包) were beautiful. The dumpling master had superb skills where the dumpling was thin, yet chewy. The crab meat with rich broth was light yet flavourful. You can just eat it on its own. Food rating: 4.5/5

Tomato Thick Soup (番茄酸汤花胶羹). This is the best tomato soup I have ever eaten. It was savoury and sweet at the same time. Like Hot & Sour Soup, you will find fungus, and other ingredients in the awesome soup. (Food rating: 5/5)

 

Address: 上海市黄浦区九江路216号(河南中路口)
Price: $$
Rating: 5/5
Ambience: I love the interiors as if I've returned to ancient China. The service was great and the servers were very attentive and know their stuff very well.  The overall experience was marvellous.
Recommendation dishes: To be frank, all of them are recommended. They were very delicious and I will come back for more. 

T'ang Court was first awarded three Michelin stars in the 2018 Shanghai Michelin Guide. In the 2019 guide, the restaurant has dropped from three stars to two stars. Is T'ang Court worth this many stars? 

A Cantonese restaurant, T'ang Court, is housed under Langham Hotel in the famous Xintiandi. The restaurant has a elegant interior and the service was excellent. However, the food was tasted  ordinary that food from household brands like Imperial Treasure or Canton Paradise tasted better.

Jizong mushroom marinated in homemade sauce (凉拌鸡枞菌), priced at RMB100, was refreshing and amazingly deliciously. The mushrooms were beautiful and the sauce was light. The sauce tasted like the sauce in the Hainanese Chicken Rice - soy sauce with sesame oil. (Food rating: 3/5)

BBQ Combination (烧味双拼) of BBQ Pork and Suckling Pork skin, priced at RMB330, was delicious. The crackling sound from the pork skin confirms that the skin was roasted to crisp. The BBQ pork, on the other hand, was overly sweet. (Food rating: 3/5)

Red Lobster sauteed with spring red onion and shallot (三葱爆龙虾) was acclaimed with the "Best of the Best Culinary Award" and "Gold with Distinction Award". Priced at RMB1,500, the dish was over-rated. The lobster was freshly prepared but the taste was a mere ordinary. It was the worst choice made by ordering based on the awards this dish received. I was utterly disappointed. (Food rating: 2/5)

Wagyu Beef Sauteed with onions (香葱爆和牛), priced at RMB580, tasted good. The  beef cubes were cooked to perfection. The meat was tender and easy to chew. The vegetable flower made from Bok Choi was soft and easy to eat.  The taste was ordinary and I expected better. (Food rating: 2.5/5)

Assorted Imperial Mushrooms with vegetables (珍菌炒翠绿), priced at RMB110, was interesting. This dish was sauteed with minced garlic, in superior soup and oyster sauce. The imperial mushrooms looked very much like Shimeiji mushrooms. As for the greens, it was very interesting and I was not able to identify it. Overall, this dish is so-so. (Food rating: 2.5/5)

The fried rice was so-so and forgettable. (Food rating: 2/5)

Address: 5/F The Langham Xintiandi Shanghai, No.99 Madang Road, Luwan District, Shanghai 200021, China

上海市黄浦区马当路99号新天地朗廷酒店5楼(近太仓路)

Price: $$$

Rating: 2.5/5 (This restaurant is indeed over-rated.)

Ambience: It is a fine-dining restaurant but the food was seriously over-rated.  

Recommended dishes: NA

I had the opportunity to try his desserts during the soft opening. The interior was simple, yet elegant. More importantly, it allows diners to relax and enjoy the delicious desserts in the cafe. 

Similar to Grinch Babe at Ambi Cafe, this dessert has a nice green tea flavour and fragrance. The matcha ice cream is sandwiched between the buttery puff. Delicious crushed almonds were sprinkled atop the dessert. I loved the matcha ice cream which was neither sweet in sugar nor strong in matcha. The proportion was just nice. Matcha dessert - you rock! Food rating: 4/5

While having sweet delicacies, enjoy a cup of fresh tea with lemongrass, sensha, ginger, grapefruit, orange and lemon. Each pot of tea costs RMB58. The tea was refreshing and warmed the cockles of my heart during the cold winter.

Priced at RMB48, this éclair comprises of strawberry cream, red glaze and almond paste. Beautifully decoration as a strawberry, the dessert was sweet and the puff has a nice fragrance. Somehow, compared with the green tea custard puff, I love the green tea better. The strawberry did not suit my taste.

Address: 卢湾区淮海中路333号(近马当路)

Founded more than 30 years ago, Taro King or 芋頭大王 serves more than 200 kinds of taro products. The dessert shop's taro or yam are served in big chunks, which are both soft and smooth with a refreshing sweetness, making it an all time favourite.

Above, the taro cubes with Yam ice cream was delicious but a little too sweet. Nonetheless, it was nice and delicious. (Food rating: 2.5/5)


Mango flavoured shaved ice.

Pura Brasa, a Spanish restaurant chain, opens its seventh outlet in Singapore. It is also its first restaurant outlet in Asia. Created by Josper®, the internationally renowned brand of charcoal ovens, the restaurant aims to inspire Josper's customers and teach them how to implement the grills and ovens and the variety of applications they have. 

Located at street level of Tanjong Pagar Centre, Pura Brasa is gaining popularity in Singapore. Through a friend's recommendation, we dined at the restaurant without table reservations on a weekday night. Almost 8pm, the restaurant was almost filled.

The ciabatta bread sticks with tomato and olive oil were amazingly delicious. The bread sticks were crispy on the outside and yet soft in the inside. The tomato tasted refreshingly delicious and there was a light sweetness in it. Every bite on the bread was heavenly. (Food rating: 4.5/5)

The Grilled Octopus on "trinxat de la Cerdanya" were served with potato and cabbage. The server carefully cut the octopus tentacles into bite sizes. 

The Spanish Omelette with spicy sausage "chorizo" and "all i oli" was delicious. The omelette was served in a shape of a cup. When cut, the delicious sausage broth seeped. The texture of the omelette was somewhat similar the Japanese souffle egg omelette. Served together with the dish was more ciabatta bread sticks with tomato and olive oil. (Food rating: 4/5)

A definite must-have dish when you are at Pura Brasa. The tender lamb ribs with mango "all i oli" was fabulous. The "all i oli" or Mediterranean sauce made of garlic and olive oil was a good complement to the lamb ribs. The lamb ribs was tender and succulent. Lightly salted, the lamb was amazingly delicious. Thinking back makes me salivate again. (Food rating 4.5/5)

The Charcoal Seafood Paella by Josper® was one of its bestsellers. The paella was rich with seafood sweetness. The rice were cooked to perfection with every rich grain being chewy and delicious. The seafood was plentiful and generous. This dish requires skills and precision and the chefs at Pura Brasa had nailed it. Kudos to Pura Brasa! (Food rating: 4.5/5)

Address: 5 Wallich Street #01-16 Tanjong Pagar Centre Singapore 078883

Price: $$

Food rating: 4/5

Recommended dishes: Ciabatta bread with tomato and olive oil, Seafood Paella, Tender Lamb Ribs.