Shanghai's 2011 Christmas Dinners
If you’re still in town for the holidays, you’re in luck. Restaurants around town are offering some of the best meals we’ve seen all year for the upcoming festivities.
Christmas Eve Dinners
Ambrosia Japanese & Yakiniku Restaurant
A non-traditional Christmas dinner for the books, Ambrosia invites diners to spend Christmas Eve enjoying their holiday buffet of Japanese favourites, including a sashimi bar and Kobe beef stations. Dinner includes free-flow Paulaner beer, house wine and non-alcoholic beverages, and there’s a lucky draw with prizes including an iPhone 4 and iPad 2.
24 December. RMB 388 + 10% for lunch (no alcohol), RMB 858 + 10% for dinner. 150 Fenyang Lu. Tel: 6431 3935
Ambrosia Teppanyaki @ Expo
On Christmas Eve, Ambrosia Teppanyaki is offering a nine course set dinner featuring lobster, foie gras, Australian Kobe beef, sashimi, Champagne sherbet and a glass of Prosecco.
24 December. RMB 888 + 10% per person. 555 Shibo Avenue. Tel: 2206 0878
The Fat Olive @ Silver Court
Head to the Mediterranean with this Greek-inspired Christmas menu. Greek fisherman’s soup, Greek salad and a lamb roast make up the bulk of this four course menu that includes a glass of wine.
24 – 31 December. RMB 228 per person. 6F, Silver Court Building, 228 Xizang Nan Lu, near Huaihai Lu. Tel: 6334 3288
Maya
According to the Mayans, 2011 might be the world’s last Christmas, so the gang at Maya is doing it right this year by offering their Christmas set on the eve and day of. Enjoy four courses, including an Achiote Guajillo chili butter roasted turkey. The meal also comes with two glasses of mulled wine, Malbec or Sangria.
24 – 25 December. RMB 350 per person. 568 Julu Lu, near Xiangyang Lu. Tel: 6289 6889. Web: www.cosmogroup.cn/maya
Mr & Mrs Bund
Fresh off being named number seven in this year’s Miele Guide, Mr & Mrs Bund is hosting a festive week of holiday dining. They have five menus for the feast upon, from the ‘French Tradition’ that highlights the best of the region’s cuisine and the ‘I Love Truffles’, a four course ode to the earthy fungus. We can’t resist the ‘Paul Pairet Classic’, which includes favourites like the jumbo shrimp citrus jar, passion-choco foie gras opera and lemon & lemon tart.
24 – 31 December. RMB 750 – 3,999 per guest. 6F, 18 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Nanjing Dong Lu. Tel: 6323 9898. Web: www.mmbund.com
NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen
With a festive five course menu that includes a glass of Piper Heidsieck Champagne, NAPA is celebrating Christmas Eve in style. Take advantage of their wine expertise and opt for the wine pairing (RMB 400 per person). After all, it’s Christmas!
24 December. RMB 620 per guest. 57 Jiangyin Lu, near Huangpi Bei Lu. Tel: 6318 0057. Web: www.napawinebarandkitchen.com
Paulaner @ XTD
While enjoying a special Christmas set menu, diners will be serenaded by the house band and have the chance to win great prizes, including an iPhone 4 and iPad 2.
24 December. RMB 988 per person (ground floor) or RMB 858 per person (second floor). Xintiandi, North Block, Lane 181 Taicang Lu, near Madang Lu. Tel: 5466 5700
Paulaner Bräuhaus @ Fenyang
A semi-buffet awaits holiday revellers this year, along with free flow Paulaner beer, house wine, holiday Glühwein, long drinks and more. A live band will jazz up the festivities at the flagship restaurant, and lucky draw prizes include an iPhone 4 and iPad 2.
24 December. RMB 758 per person. 150 Fenyang Lu. Tel: 6474 5700
The Purple Onion
One of the few a la carte options in town, The Purple Onion is offering a small selection of starters, mains and desserts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Options include chestnut and truffle soup, roast turkey stuffed with prunes and Christmas mince pies.
24 – 26 December. RMB 48 – 178. Lane 351, 16 Huashan Lu, near Changshu Lu. Tel: 6248 8747
Christmas Day Dinners
Alchemist Cocktail Kitchen
The gastropub is serving a five course menu that includes a glass of Moet Imperial Champagne. Famous for overworking their sous vide machine, Alchemist offers contemporary twists on holiday favourites, like their compressed salad of dates, pecans, arugula, aged balsamic and parmesan starter.
25 December. RMB 888 per couple. Sinan Mansions, 45 Sinan Lu, Block 32. Tel: 6445 0660
Kafer by The Binjiang One
Celebrating Christmas in classy style, this European restaurant on the Huangpu has created a brunch buffet with free flow Proscecco. Diners also get an ice cold shot of vodka in the Snow Bar and the chance to win 30,000 awards miles on Lufthansa.
25 December. RMB 358 per person. Fu Cheng Road, Shi Bu Jie, near Binjiang Dadao. Tel: 5877 7500
Madison
On its own, Austin Hu’s personal brand of hospitality makes Madison a great choice for spending Christmas. His six-course tasting menu is just a bonus! The menu includes duck fat poached sea bream, ravioli with goose ragu and music egg and Chinese wagyu with seared foie gras – and a celebratory glass of champagne.
25 December. RMB 688 per person. 3F, 18 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu. Tel: 6437 0136
NAPA Wine Bar & Kitchen
After opening your presents, head to NAPA’s Champagne lunch. Traditional Christmas dishes are served family style, and the supply of bubbly is bottomless.
25 December. RMB 298 per guest, RMB 198 per guest for free-flow Piper Heidsieck Champagne. 57 Jiangyin Lu, near Huangpi Bei Lu. Tel: 6318 0057. Web: www.napawinebarandkitchen.com
