By Michael (smartshanghai.com)
Updated: 2008-01-21 10:47

Next stop is Pankoo, the Korean grill chain. This isn't the best Korean in town, but it's certainly above average, and the prices are very reasonable – meat mains running 25-40rmb, with a hearty selection of sides. Korean beers are 12rmb. Two of us stuffed ourselves for 68rmb here. Our only gripe is that the wait staff have an annoying habit of bringing the bill mid-meal, which makes no sense in an ala-carte style grill place.

Across the courtyard is a place we'll never go into. It's called Baby Doll, but it might as well be BabyFace. With the lights on full blast, it's a gaudy eyesore and the menu looks like a nightmare Asian-fusion train wreck. We peaked in the window to see a poor couple poking at a bastard burrito-sized sushi roll covered in toxic-orange goop. No way.

Then there's a teppanyaki place, a hot pot place, Brix 12 dessert café, the popular Zen Cantonese chain, and the latest Blue Frog. Blue Frog seems to be the most popular of the lot, packed with their happy hour specials (and two-for-one burgers every Monday!). Although the Frog doesn't have the down-home comfort vibes that Applebee's does, the burgers here are superior (albeit more expensive), and we appreciate that it's a Shanghai-based institution we can root for.

Across the street is the shiny new Spartan Club Gym, where we just ponied up for a membership, to enjoy the sauna over the cold winter months ... only to find a few weeks later they closed the sauna for renovations – and refuse to refund our membership. Totally unfair. Avoid places like this.

And so, Novel Place is our latest favorite little addition to this developing metropolis. The whole thing feels very suburban North America, but we mean that in a good way.

Ascendas Plaza
Address: 333 Tian Yao Qiao Lu, Xujiahui near Nandan Dong Lu, Xietu Lu

 

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