Shanghai Restaurant Review: Bites & Bottle-O

The place

Danshui Lu is one of our favorite places in Shanghai. An 'Old Shanghai' street that always seems full of life, dotted with a mix of tiny bars, cafés and local eateries. Bad news is that this historic neighborhood’s days are numbered – the street is earmarked for demolition to make way for new development in this prime heart-of-the-city location. 

By way of good fortune, there’s still a few years left before this happens, meaning you still have ample opportunity to visit Bites & Bottle-O, a new, pint-sized wine bar and kitchen on our beloved Danshui Lu. 

The Food

Wine is a major feature of this unpretentious little spot, and there are plenty of reasonably priced bottles to keep you going for an evening. Nor would it be a shame to drink the house white instead – on our visit it was an excellent 2013 German Riesling, almost underpriced at RMB40 a glass. 

There are no formal menus; the day’s offerings are etched onto a single chalkboard front of house, and are almost exclusively under RMB100. 

Out of the lot we tried, best were the white wine steamed clams, roasted bone marrow with toast and angel hair with onsen egg, truffle and sautéed mushrooms. As the name implies, dishes are small, but do not lack in flavor or attention. We enjoyed most everything here, and the petite portions allow you to simply try more dishes. Great if you’re switching wines.

Food verdict: 2/3

Vibe

A little too casual for formal dinners, Bites & Bottle-O lends itself to intimate dinners with friends or a date. Space is limited, so don’t show up with a party of 10 and expect it to be roomy. 

Owners Anthony Chow and Joey Cheong are hospitable and friendly. As former ad men, these food fanatics turned restaurateurs are living out their dream of owning their own spot, and all that comes from the kitchen is from their recipes and inspiration.

Vibe verdict: 1/1 

Value for Money

There’s certainly value for money to be found here; the menu is devoid of trickery and upsells, just honest, homey food to be partaken with wine. We’ll be back here for sure, ready to drink our way through that RMB40 Riesling. 

Value for money: 1/1

TOTAL VERDICT: 4/5

Price: RMB200 per person (with wine) 

Who’s going: local wine lovers, expats

Good for: casual dinner, dates, small groups, wine

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