Curry Try

A recent stroll down Yongjia Lu revealed a happy surprise: a new home to curry lovers is open; that is Le Voyage. The French accent in its name might confuse you in its Thai fare.

Tucked away in a secluded residential strip, its modest décor at doorsteps is perfectly integrated with the old Shanghai houses and villas around in French concession. Walking through its corridor to the floor-to-ceiling glass-paneled door, you are overwhelmed by its thick aroma of curry. Once inside, cozy nooks with candlelight and patios with tropical greenery make it a romantic locale for gentle whispering or meditating for a while. It captures the grace of old Shanghai and the exotic mystery of Thailand.

As the manager told us, simply walking in without a reservation is not recommended as you might not get a table, for it’s usually packed at weekends. You’ll be surprised that open for only less than 3 weeks, it has already gained so much popularity among locals and expats.

Food can speak for itself.

Its menu is basic with some Thai specialties. Fish cakes dipped with sweet chili sauce functions well as an appetizer; Veggie Spring Rolls have won all the votes from expats yet half from locals; the Special Pork Neck Salad with fresh leafy greens is definitely worth a vegetarian’s try; chicken fillet braised in coconut milk, lemongrass, mint and mushrooms, is well-presented as an ideal introduction for first-timers; Thai Green Curry is a must for seafood lovers; and if there’s still room in your stomach, then don’t miss the Thai Fried Rice sprinkled with pineapple cubes.

There are also plenty of freshly-squeezed juices on offer to complement its Thai spicy flavour. Otherwise you could choose reasonably priced drinks from the beautiful wine wall.

Yet the only downfall here is its slow service, and occasional slip-up made by the attentive waitstaff.

Fairly speaking, portions here are ample with affordable prices; its array of simple and authentic dishes offers a quick fix for curry cravings. For one of these alone, you might just become one of the regulars.

Le Voyage, 335 Yongjia Lu, 永嘉路335号, Tel: 86 21-54669335

Colour And Flavour

SIN Restaurant, which opened late last year, has launched a new menu for those food adventurers.

Walking into SIN Lounge, it’s hard to focus on your dishes, because of its chic and unique décor. The tones and colours have filled up every nook and cranny here, adding a blend of mystery, romance and nostalgia. Once you sink into one of the “eye-catching” chairs and watch the lights dance off the mirrored walls, you realize this is somewhere different and then your dining experience begins…

 Candles set the mood as you steal away into one of the more intimate nooks for a quiet glass of red wine to start with.

You might be impressed by its wide selection of colours, and even the fragrance of towels before dinner: ginger, lavender…

If you are not an oyster eater, don’t risk the Marinated Oyster as your appetizer, or you may end up regretting it later!

As a fish lover, your favorite might just be the Poached Alaska Cod. Its tender fillet, served up with wasabi mashed potatoes, dressed with sautéed Chinese beans in fennel sauce, certainly deserves a try.

Vitaminic, which is thick soup of carrot, orange, ginger and coriander, is an appetizer for another round, ushering in Grilled Angus Beef Tenderloin, with deep-fried sweet potatoes and mushrooms. But the only pity is that the beef was not cooked based on diners’ needs, leaving some not completely satisfied.

Dessert-inspired sushi comes highly recommended due to its fresh idea. Don’t be fooled. There is no sushi elements at all here, except the rice: “salmon” is from watermelon, “wasabi” ginger and mango, “sushi vinegar” chocolate. That may be another sinful trick from SIN.

And then it was real dessert time. For a sweet tooth, give it a try; it won’t let you down. Marinated pineapple with coconut ice cream and Rum Sabayon just brings you another sweet breath.

After the final bite or sip, just sneak into the comfy sofas with your friends, enjoying the glamorous view of Shanghai, which gives a perfect ending of you tonight.

Expect SIN to more customize the diners’ needs; you just can’t beat that kind of luxury.

SIN Lounge, 23/F 211 Shimen Yi Lu, 石门一路211号23楼, Tel: 86 21-62677779