(That's Shanghai)
Updated: 2007-10-16 11:06

Ainuland pays homage to the cuisine of far northern Japan, the land of the Ainu people, centered in the city of Hokkaido.

Though the menu’s culinary influences are wide-ranging, the fresh ingredients, minimal preparation, unobtrusive service and sleek presentation are distinctly Japanese. We began our meal with an assortment of sushi (RMB 100/6 pieces) accompanied by a light, neat sake (curiously absent from the drinks list but available on request).

The assortment was attractively and ably prepared, though some pieces used a too liberal amount of wasabi. The delicate and delicious teppanyaki-style Wagyu beef (RMB 250) displayed more obvious Continental tendencies, piling tender morsels of beef under an imposing pyramid of fried potato lace.

Ainuland also offers kaiseke tasting menus and a lunch set for RMB 60, an affordable way to sample some tasteful and tasty Japanese fusion.

Ainuland
Open: Daily 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm.
Location: 1/F, 698 Yongjia Lu, near Hengshan Lu
Tel: 021-64677157
Cost for two (excluding drinks): RMB 410