Zimbu's Review of Expat-Style Restaurants in Shanghai
Tags : property, business, travel, technology, nightlife, events, food, food
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zimbu
Reacher
Joined: Oct 13, 2006
Posts: 242
Location: Stop poking my tail with your eye!
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 Posted:
May 27, 2008 - 09:29 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Bali Bistro Indonesian |
Zimbu score for Bali Bistro:
6.5/10 for the food
Rendang was ok tasting but meat was tough.
Chicken curry was so so but slightly bland.
Chicken something soup was so so but bland even after adding the little bowl of red sauce.
Corn cakes were pretty good.
Flavorful rice was pretty good.
Fried green beans were extremely bland.
The bland was also a little too bland for my taste. But I am sure the locals will love it since it tastes just like bland local bland.
5/10 for the decor
Bland dark brown tables, brown chairs, black wall. Very bland 70's vibe for some reason. Not much in the way of Indonesian character since this, of course, would clash with the bland.
5/10 for the service
The staff is accustomed to the idiot customers from the attached grunge/marble office building not knowing what to order, so they repeatedly suggest ordering the Gado Gado...to every single table...over and over again.
"Sorry, the second floor is still being cleaned"...at 12:30 in the middle of the day!?!? No, I don't think so. I think you just want to sacrifice my comfort and enjoyment in order to make your restaurant look busy and attract some more customers in the front door. Thanks for your concern. I'll be sure to mention it on the internet.
"Sorry the coconut mixed vegetables is sold out"...at 12:30 in the middle of the day!?!?
3/10 for the annoying big-mouth customers smoking and talking loudly on their cell phones because they are so important and modern and have offices in a grungy marble-ish building that purports to be non-grungy.
Summary: I might order take-out to give it a second chance, but would not eat at the restaurant again.
(Cross posted from the Indonesian food thread) |
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mshenoch
Newbie
Joined: July 06, 2007
Posts: 2
Status: Offline
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May 31, 2008 - 08:27 PM |
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Chinese restaurant ?
Do they serve personal portion ?
What I don't like from these restaurant is the SHOW of people wasting the food by ordering too much.
Why I prefer non Chinese resto is I can order just for myself, one portion at a time. |
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Buzzd
PopStar
Joined: Jan 30, 2008
Posts: 1092
Status: Offline
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June 04, 2008 - 12:09 PM |
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| Quote: |
Checked out Uncle Mike's tonight.
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Uncle Mike? That guy owes me twenty bucks! |
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boredengineer
SuperStar
Joined: Oct 17, 2007
Posts: 1344
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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June 04, 2008 - 12:11 PM |
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That guy touched me when I was small... |
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leidelaohu
Wonder Wit
Joined: June 11, 2007
Posts: 3778
Status: Offline
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June 04, 2008 - 01:37 PM |
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| boredengineer wrote: |
| That guy touched me when I was small... |
Did you get big then ? |
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CIA
LoopKicker
Joined: Mar 23, 2008
Posts: 890
Location: Least Expect
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Aug 09, 2008 - 04:42 PM |
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Let the scathing begin:
Fountain Bistro Wine Bar in XTD
Unit 4 Building 10-12 Lane 181
Shanghai, China 200021
86-21-6326-8800
86-21-5306-2907
info@fountainxtd.com
What can I say good about this experience. Hmm, let's see.... I guess we'll have to come back to that.
First I know what type of restaurant this place claims to be or represent - so I understood what to expect before walking in, so I thought. I had my reservations for various reasons, but I decided to give it a spin anyway.
Where to begin, stopped by there for lunch. Not really busy, quite a few tables inside had people already seated and eating. No one was outside because it was a little hot in the sun, understandably. Was sat at a tall table in front of the bar which is also near the large window face of the entrance. Tables were filthy, looked like they hadn't been wiped down for a week. Pressed on.
Was shown the specials, probably 6 times from the same 3 people. Yes, I know what your specials are, not interested. After reviewing the menu ordered the chicken panini and a large bottled water (hot outside), shown the specials yet again by another waitress, great, but really, no thanks.
The place only has Voss water available, ok if that is what you carry. The guy server quickly brings it to the table and in one motion opens it without taking his hand off the lid and pours the water into an empty glass. Sets the remainder of the bottled water on the table and leaves. The printing on the Voss bottle looks like it was used at the Last Supper [almost invisible and mostly missing] and tastes like room temperature, tap water. After further inspection of the bottle, the security label / sticker doesn't align between the bottle and the cap. Hmm. Interesting since this is 60 RMB water. Water tasted like typical nasty Shanghai tap water, which I'm not being an arrogant snob about, but if you're going to charge me $10 USD for water - don't serve me piss.
Then comes the food. Fries were ok, but nothing special. If you describe a chicken panini as a nothing sandwich on invisible bread, then this is the dish for you. One piece of squash, one piece of lettuce and a half millimeter thin piece of what appeared to be chicken [but only on one half of the sandwich]. Hmm. Ok, mental notes kicking in.
European couple comes in and sits at the adjacent table. They also order a Voss water, seems like this one is legit [looked much colder and from a brand new bottle].
As I'm finishing up my eats, the waitress picks up the empty Voss bottle from the Euro table (after they've finished pouring it) and promptly takes it to the dishwasher window where the dishwashers don't throw it away..... yep, that's right..... they wash it with the rest of the dishes. Hmmmm. Interesting again, why would you be washing something that is a disposable one-time use item? Weird.
I put 2 and 2 together and get 3 at this place. Bill comes, whereby the waitress tries to pour the rest of my Voss water into my glass and return the bottle to the "kitchen area". I decline the pour as I tell her I'm taking it with me, she looks extremely confused... "how can the customer take the bottle away if we're supposed to wash them" she's most likely thinking.
All in all I can't say I enjoyed that rip off one bit, especially at those prices. $10 USD waters should, at least, be originals and new, no?
Oh well, circling back to my original comment of what I can say that is good about this place.............. they had squeeze bottles full of cold ketchup on the tables....... does that count?
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_________________
| wrote: |
| Every evening I died, and every evening I was born again, resurrected. |
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zimbu
Reacher
Joined: Oct 13, 2006
Posts: 242
Location: Stop poking my tail with your eye!
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Aug 10, 2008 - 05:48 AM |
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Hey, someone finally resurrected my thread...Yay!
Well, if you haven't guessed by now, Zimbu has left the building. I am now typing this at a Java Jones coffee house on State Street in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Can't decide which of five great Mexican restaurants to visit tonight for dinner (probably Carlitos)...Or maybe one of the many Thai places...Or maybe a nice authentic steak...or maybe some nice seafood at Brophy's Bros. So many nice choices and so little time...Yum!
Enjoyed writing this thread and hoped you all enjoyed reading it. I have no plans to return to China (nearly 20 years in China was more than enough!), so don't expect any new reviews. On the other hand, CIA did a good job of writing a Zimbu-esque review (see above), so perhaps the Zimbu spirit will continue to live on in my absence...
Thanks for the fun! |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18039
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Aug 10, 2008 - 11:25 AM |
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KJ
Ranter
Joined: Sep 28, 2005
Posts: 541
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 11, 2008 - 08:36 AM |
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ZIMBU'S GONE! ZIMBU'S GONE! ZIMBU'S GONE! RESTAURANTORS REJOICE AND UNITE! THE WICKED WITCH IS GONE!
ha ha, all in fun. Hey, I'll miss your column.
How about some reviews from stateside? Go hit the American Chinese places to see how they are demolishing Chinese food????
KJ |
_________________
Bubba's: Smokin' the Good Stuff Since 1996 |
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ThomasCaron
Raver
Joined: Dec 11, 2006
Posts: 472
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Aug 11, 2008 - 08:50 AM |
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| Post subject: Re: Zimbu's Review of Expat-Style Restaurants in Shanghai |
| zimbu wrote: |
Here is my three cents about the various restaurants in Shanghai:
Blue Frog: My favorite. . . |
Sorry, Z, but you shot your credibility right there. . . |
_________________
"Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 18039
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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Aug 11, 2008 - 09:23 AM |
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Buzzd
PopStar
Joined: Jan 30, 2008
Posts: 1092
Status: Offline
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Aug 11, 2008 - 11:37 AM |
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Zimbu! Say hello to El Capitan for me.
By the way...rumor has it that there might be some decent Mexican food coming to Shanghai. We'll keep you posted. |
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SnappySammy
Board Legend
Joined: Nov 01, 2007
Posts: 10108
Status: Offline
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Aug 11, 2008 - 09:19 PM |
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Mexicans in Shanghai!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Yank My Doodle It's A Dandy |
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randyman
Reacher
Joined: May 09, 2006
Posts: 253
Location: Hongqiao
Status: Offline
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Aug 12, 2008 - 09:10 AM |
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My complaint about Blue Frog should probably be directed at the parents who let their rug-rats play hide-n-seek under the tables after 9 pm. Send them into the kid play area or take them home and put in bed. Other then that, I usually enjoy the food and happy hour 2 fer 1. |
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Cecca
Newbie
Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 21, 2008 - 11:02 PM |
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| zimbu wrote: |
iiiit! Review
Yes, iiiit! is the most ridiculous name for a restaurant in all of Shanghai. What in the world could they have been thinking when they settled on this name? Now, I suppose they may be reading this and saying to themselves that there is no such thing as bad publicity, i.e. the fact that I am rambling on about this name is actually helping them. Sorry. No. It's just a really bad name. Strike 1.
OK, despite the dumb name, I went to this place the other day to check it out. I went to the branch near Jiang Su Metro Station. Here's what I found: I couldn't find it. It is located on the second floor of the Edifice apartment building. There are no signs outside at all. There are no signs in the lobby. And no signs anywhere along the way. Plus you need a resident's security card to open the door to get to the second floor. Plus the security guards in that complex have an combined IQ of 300 (that's the total for the 5 guards I spoke with when I was there). Strike 2.
Finally, I found it, walked in the front door...oops, that is the door to the kitchen. Then I walked in the real front door and found...sofas. Yes, sofas and little coffee tables. No regular chairs, and no regular tables. Vwat is zis?! Strike 3.
But this is China, so the owner did some guanxi work with the Shanghai party secretary before the guy was sentenced to 18 years for corruption (the party secretary, not the restaurant owner) and had the third strike removed from the system. Not realizing I had been hoodwinked, and therefore thinking there were only two strikes so far, I went ahead and tried the food.
The style is Element Freshy, but slightly more narrow selection than from EF. They have dips, bruschetta, salads, sandwiches and paninis, pizzas, and pasta/potato salads. Also some smoothies and other beverages. I ordered the chicken pesto pizza and Mrs. Zimbu got the steak panini with a smoothie. We also tried the hummus dip and breadsticks. (For the record, I also ordered delivery from them two days ago; marg pizza and pasta salad).
Guess what? It is just about the best casual food restaurant I have ever eaten at in Shanghai. Basically, this is 5 star hotel food served in a casual place for 1/3 the price. Everything that I have tried there is perfect. The small salad that comes with the panini is amazing: fresh and tasty. Hummus dip beats out even the experts at the Mediterrenean place on Hong Mei (and Da Gu Road). Pizza was the thin crust type and equals or betters that of Pasta Fresca and Jimix. (Gimme a break! Oily, grungy, canned-tomatoey "NY Style Pizza" from Jing An is not even close). Steak panini was a dream come true...Real little steak strips, cooked perfectly, served with mushrooms and cheese on grilled flatbread. Pasta salad was perfect. Even the smoothie, according to Frau Zimbu, was really good.
Who woulda thunk?!
Still a really dumb name for the restaurant. |
Jiangsu lu branch was closed 2 weeks ago...
However, I work just right behind the Wulumuqi branch, so basically ordering their freshly made salads everyday for lunch and sandwiches or paninis for dinner. California chicken salad is my fave!!Had it twice a day and never got tired.
What can I say? LOVE LOVE LOVE iiiit!!! |
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