Cue is a new space that is hard to define, to say the least. Is it a Southeast Asian restaurant? A nightclub? A jazz bar? A hookah lounge? It seems the answer to all of those questions is simply “yes.” This new spot wears many hats, but it wears them all quite well.
Cue is tucked away on the third floor of Liangmaqiao’s Grand Summit. It takes some escalator-surfing to arrive, but you'll know it when you're there. The interior is clean and chic, all marble countertops and purple neon lights, with electronic music pulsing duly in the background. There’s no doubt, it’s quite a hip place for a party of any kind.
But while it feels partially suited to being a nightlife hotspot in Liangmaqiao, following its opening, it's clear the intentions are to really solidify it as a fine-dining establishment. And the food is good. For starters there are fried offerings like their Southeast Asian calamari (RMB88) and curry-fried jumbo shrimp (RMB78) – or you can opt for more classic Western fare like their take on a chicken caesar salad (RMB78) featuring flavor-packed grilled chicken and boiled eggs (but also, more questionably, sun-dried tomatoes and a thin caesar dressing that leave more to be desired). Also on offer: classic main entrees like steak and lamb shank, alongside a selection of traditional Chinese noodle dishes.
While “the hutong” sesame noodles (RMB68) prove slightly underwhelming, the highlight of all this East-meets-West fusion was by far the dessert. The Boom! Boom! Boom! (RMB88) is one of the best dishes we've had in a long time, and while the owner seems to like to keep the ingredients a secret (in fact, the contents of every dish were excluded from the menu at the time of our visit) we'll try to do this delicacy justice. One large scoop of smooth vanilla ice cream sits atop an extremely tart lemon sauce, all of which is smothered in homemade whipped cream and topped with Rice Krispies and a sprinkling of spice. While the cereal snaps, crackles and pops, the lemon and spice battle it out for your taste buds, while the ice cream cuts through it all, completely living up to its apt title.
In addition to a bomb dessert (forgive us), the bar features expertly made basic cocktails like negronis and Manhattans. You can even imbibe out on their terrace when it opens, just in time for the summer season. Perhaps a bit out of place are their hookah offerings that, while impressive in their highquality selection, might be a bit of a turn-off for some diners.
Cue will not be the perfect spot for everyone, but we recommend you try a cocktail and their signature dessert for yourself. While there were some issues with the waitstaff, including misunderstandings and general inattentiveness, after meeting the gregarious owner we're certain that these issues will be ironed out in time and this establishment will become a destination for date nights and parties alike.
[Images via Curtis Dunn/That’s]
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