There's only one thing we like better than a good cheap drink, and that's lots of good cheap drinks.
Union Trading Company, a much-lauded cocktail bar by mixologist Yao Lu in the former French Concession has finally put on a happy hour, where a rotating selection of classic cocktails like old fashioneds, martinis and daquiris are RMB50 from 6-8pm every Sunday to Thursday. That gives you roughly two hours of sippin' time if you high tail over right after work.
Since most drinks here come in at around RMB80, that's a fair, if not earth-shattering discount, right? Except there's FOOD AS WELL.
Designed by Austin Hu, who has a stake in the bar, Union Trading Company's bar food has been a well kept secret of ours for a long time. It's basically a menu of souped up tater tots, deep fried chicken wings, Cuban sandwiches, bastardized French dips and slogans like "chocolate mousse so good you may $h!t your pants." Classy.
Like the drinks, the happy hour dishes are all RMB50 and includes:
Spaghetti and meatballs. On a date? Go right ahead and recreate that scene from Lady and the Tramp! There's every chance the staff won't judge you. We were really feeling the lack of gimmicks or add-ons in this blissfully basic dish; just good tomato sauce, sketti, meat b's and cheese. Normcore food at its very finest.
The UTC Burger. Wagyu beef, Hu's smoked bacon and a housemade bun, RMB50 burgers don't come much better than this in Shanghai. A lot of places go fancy with their cheeseburgers and use 'real' cheese like aged cheddar and other some such ideas. This one has an American cheese single instead, and it is better because it melts evenly and without going hard and greasy. You know I'm right. Say no to non-cheese singles on your cheeseburgers.
Sichuan chicken tenders. A meeting of minds between the Sichuanese love of laziji (辣子鸡, 'spicy chicken') and the "American pursuit of boneless convenience," these are juicy and wonderful. Peppery but not numbing, we'd say they're still good for entry level spice eaters. Extra shout out for the crispy scallions.
It's not included on the happy hour menu, but curiousity pushed us into trying the 'Double Brown Note' chocolate mousse (RMB58), so-named for reasons I will allow this Wikipedia article to explain. It's much like a very intense chocolate pudding cup topped with cream and crushed pretzels.
Did I shit my pants? That's between me and my dry cleaner.
Happy Hour at Union Trading Company runs Sunday-Thursday, 6-8pm.
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