Rating: ★★★★★

Address: No. 3 The Bund, 4th Floor, 3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road (entrance on 17 Guang Dong Road) Shanghai 200002 上海市黄浦区中山东一路3号4楼(近广东路)

Telephone: +86 21 6321 7733

https://www.jean-georges.com/

Situated in an illustrious historical building on the Bund, Jean Georges Shanghai is considered by many as the best French restaurant in the city. Designed by the celebrated architect Michael Graves, the restaurant displays elegance and grandeur, and has a sizeable lounge area as well as a dining room complete with large leather armchairs, dark wooden tables and a tall ceiling.

Jean Georges has a contemporary French menu, and the kitchen uses fresh, organic local produce. Service was professional and assured, and dining at the restaurant while looking at the stunning view from the Bund was a mesmerizing experience.

As we were out till late partying the previous night, we found the fine cuisine and civilised service at Jean Georges Shanghai absolutely invigorating. For a mouthwatering 3-course lunch costing only RMB 248, we could not have asked for a better hangover cure.

(1) We were famished and could not stop digging into the delicious bread basket, and only finally stopped when the Sea Scallops with Caramelized Cauliflower, Caper – Raisin Emulsion was served. The scallops were exquisitely tender and juicy, and had a divine butter taste. Its surface was attractively crunchy, and the caramelized cauliflowers looked inviting and tasted fantastic. The emulsion was thick and heavenly – even though we could not really taste the capers and raisins individually, the overall flavour was complex and delectable.

(2) Tuna Tartar is one of my all-time favourite dishes (see Liberty Private Works (Hong Kong) for a shining example of tuna tartar), and the one at Jean Georges Shanghai, served with avocado, spicy radish and ginger marinade could not have made me happier. The tuna tartar had an excellent texture and was in complete harmony with the soft avocado and crisp radish. The ginger marinade, however, tasted like soya sauce and and could have been less salty.

(3) My main course was a Pan-Seared Salmon, served with roasted porcini, jalepeno and garlic. The dish looked alluring, and tasted magnificent too. The fish was skillfully fried so that it was crunchy on the outside, and soft and delicately raw in the middle. It was simply seasoned with salt and pepper, and the skin, which was separately presented, was gorgeously crispy. The roasted porcini, jalepeno and garlic simply melted in the mouth, and the taste of the vinegar jus was spot-on.

(4) The Parmesan Crusted Organic Chicken with Nuts and Seeds, Sweet and Sour jus was equally accomplished. The crumbly, fried skin was decadent and scrumptious, while the chicken had a nice and firm texture and tasted incredibly fresh. The sauce was citrus and buttery, and swiftly cut through the strong and substantial taste of the chicken.

(5) The desserts at the restaurant were simply delightful. This Creme Fraiche Cheesecake, Berry Sorbet, Mixed Berries Compotes was soft, light and refreshing. The mixed berries’ freshness, and berry sorbet’s citrus tang and the cheesecake’s creaminess came together gently and beautifully, producing a wonderful plate of dessert that made my heart sing.

(6) We knew we had to order the Jean-Georges Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Ice Cream as soon as we saw it on the menu. The chocolate cake was a demonstration of ingenuity, with a thick, melted chocolate sauce wrapped in warm, tempting chocolate cake. The slightly bitter chocolate cake and the fresh vanilla ice cream were in complete unison.

One feels so pampered and loved at this restaurant. Enticing food, a breathtaking view and an opulent dining room is a simple and foolproof recipe for a happy meal – oh, and a decadent piece of chocolate cake wouldn’t hurt either.