This author admittedly despises Western cuisine in China for its lack of authenticity. However, he is glad to report that Grandma’s Kitchen has finally provided him with a place that truly reminds him of home. The first bite of a club sandwich with properly buttered bread immediately transports you to your favorite deli. The restaurant’s ambience is reminscient of a New England seaside cafe with quaint furnishings. Sandwiches are Y15-25 with entrees ranging from Y40-120.

Directions: 73/75 Kehua Beilu. The restaurant is south of the intersection of the first ring road (yihuan, 一环路) and Kehua Beilu.

Numerous great hotels in Shanghai offer fantastically elaborate Sunday brunches and meals on special holidays.  The Westin’s brunch is particularly noteworthy – and for good reason.  My first experience at the Westin was on the Sunday of New Year’s weekend, and it was heaven.  The food was fantastic, waiters attentive, champagne constantly flowing, and the entertainment was… well, entertaining (I have been told that on normal weekends the entertainment is a lovely opera singer, making the experience all the more amazing).  Overall, it was a fantastic 3 hours of eating, drinking and relaxing.  There is only one seating per brunch, so there was no rush.  We ate slowly in an effort to manage at least a bite of everything that was served . This proved to be an impossible task as I got stuck on the sashimi and crab legs – YUM. 

The Verandah is managed by the same group as the Peninsula Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Like the hotel, the highest quality service and fare are guaranteed. British high tea is served in an environment which transports guests back in time, producing a taste of the colonial history of Hong Kong.

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Like most of the restaurants on Dongping Lu, diners simply can’t go wrong with Lapis Lazuli. The restaurant has a cool ambiance, polite staff, and pricey yet tasty food. Even when one can’t avoid the wait for a table, Lapis Lazuli even has a well chosen ceramics shop downstairs that always seems to be having a sale.
 
The food is mainly continental, with a little Asian flare tossed in for good measure. At night the restaurant is bustling, so I recommend making a reservation. The best time to come, however, is during lunch, when the patrons are mainly “ladies who lunch” and employees that work in the neighborhood.  The lunch specials are quite a deal, and perfect for those with an appetite.  I like the club sandwich special, which comes with a salad, soup and tea or coffee for RMB 48. At dinner time the prices are significantly higher, so while the food is indeed good… well, let’s just say it tastes a lot better when it’s not making such a dent in the pocket.
 
Nonetheless, Lapis Lazuli is a cool locale well worth checking out, and if dinner is all you have time for, I still recommend it.  I love the wood furniture, which feels almost Thai, and the flowers and artwork definitely exude an enjoyable tropical feel. Try to swing a seat by the window to take advantage of a good view of the drinking crowds piling into Zapata’s and Sasha’s next door. The menu is really easy, so those worried by a group that might be hard to please can rest assure that the wide selection certainly won’t disappoint.
 

Take Metro Line 1 to Hengshan Rd station.  Exit onto Hengshan Rd. and head northeast to Dongping Rd., about a 10-minute walk. Take a right on Dongping Rd. to find Lapis Lazuli.

I must admit that I was taken to Mexico Lindo on a bad date, so perhaps I am a little biased. Tucked away on a restaurant alley on Hongmei Lu, I found Lindo to be a tad cramped. However, their margaritas and steak tortillas soon won me over. This is definitely not a place to take the kids, but is a quieter alternative to Zapata’s down on Hengshan Lu. It’s a convenient option if you are staying in the Marriot, the Sheraton or the Renaissance.