Dolar Hot Pot in Shanghai
By Mad about Shanghai
Rose suggested going to Dolar Hot Pot for dinner. Over the phone, I suggested meeting up at 7.00 p.m. She counter proposed with a later time at 8.00 pm where the queue would significantly be shorter. I have not tried Dolar Hot Pot before but I thought that place must be pretty good there is still a queue outside the shop at 8.00 p.m. on a weekday, past the more usual dinner time of between 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. We arranged to go to the branch at Longemont mall.
Upon arrival, true enough, there was a queue at 8.00 p.m. We did not get a seat till 30 minutes later. Can this restaurant live up to the anticipation?
The color theme of the the restaurant is crimson. Upon entering, one can see most of the fixtures, drapes, seats and menus to be of all that color.
Each diner gets an individual hot pot, your preferred type of soup base, easily more than twenty types of condiments and sauces to choose from and a vast selection ala carte food from the menu to go with your hotpot. The "must order" item on the menu, apparently, is their specialty meat paste (see the pic below).
Food wise, everything is fresh and up to the mark. Service is ok too. Though the wait staff were busy, our requests were met pretty promptly.
Throughout dinner, we had great fun trying out different food with different condiments and soup bases. We ordered easily more than enough food for three person but nonetheless managed to finish them all, well, almost in two hours or so till almost closing time.
Bill came to RMB200+. Worth a try if you have not tried it yet. I am going back for sure.
