Foodie Tempo: Casual Riverside Italian Eatery

By That's Shanghai, June 4, 2024

The Place

Situated in bustling Panlong Tiandi – the newest, up-and-coming Xintiandi-esque lifestyle park just west of Hongqiao Airport – Foodie Tempo is a casual, Italian-leaning bistro boasting approachable European fare and ample outdoor terrace space split across two levels.

With seating for more than 200 people – and over half of that being charming outdoor space with river views.

The name Foodie Tempo relates to experiencing the charm of culinary culture tailored to every time and occasion, and the inviting establishment makes it the ideal spot for everything from work meetings to social gatherings to a family meal.

The restaurant is backed by Tracy Chen, a restaurateur with more than a decade in the industry, including experience in Western cuisine management at Element Fresh and Urban Hotel, as well as venues under the Gordon Ramsay Group.

She also helped co-found the Brunch With and Vital Tea brands, before opening Foodie Tempo in April 2023.

The Food

The Foodie Tempo team is committed to globally sourcing high quality ingredients, selecting healthy and fresh options and combining both Eastern and Western flavors for a more contemporary dining experience.

The head chef brings over 20 years of culinary experience – from the American Club, Grand Hyatt, The Ritz-Carlton Pudong, and Marriott hotels.

He also designed the Wagas menu and co-founded the Brunch With brand, successfully opening five stores across Wuxi, Suzhou and Yangzhou.

The menu is packed with Western classics – Iberico Pork Ribs, Roast Chicken, Margherita Pizza, Italian Cold Cuts, Tomahawk Steak, and Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Seasonal Vegetables.

First up, for starters we went for the Traditional Snack Plate (RMB89) featuring a quintet of appetizers: Smoked Salmon Toast; Crab Meat Croquette; Melon and Prosciutto; Mushroom Tart; and Mixed Salsa Toast.

Other equally appetizing options include Cheese & Spanish Cold Cuts (RMB158), Sweet Chicken Wing (RMB55), Spicy Chicken Tacos (RMB58) and Pan-Fried Foie Gras (RMB79).

A generous portion of Black Truffle & Parma Pasta (RMB88) sees spaghetti noodles slick with mushroom cream, tossed with sautéed mushrooms, onions and bacon, before being crowned with pleated prosciutto and a dusting of shaved black truffle.

The pizzas options span a variety of classics – Margherita (RMB88), Parma Ham (RMB118), and Italian Salami (RMB108) – to the inventive – Foie Gras & Mushroom (RMB118), Smoked Salmon (RMB118), and Spicy Beef (RMB118).

There’s also soups, salads, pastas, burgers, sandwiches, risotto and more... before even getting to the mains!

Said mains range from steaks to ribs to chicken to combination platters, culminating with the Mixed Grill Plate (RMB398) – a heaping tray spilling over with Cheesy Prawns, Roasted Chicken, German Sausage, Grilled Beef Filet, Tortilla Chips and Fries, Roasted Tomatoes and Potatoes, plus Sauerkraut and Pickled Garlic on the side.

Desserts include all of the heavy hitters – Chocolate Lava Cake, Mango and Caramel Cheesecakes, Raspberry Tart, Gelato, and the requisite Tiramisu (RMB55) – a must on any Italian menu.

Image courtesy of Foodie Tempo

There's also a daily brunch menu available from 11am-4pm with expansive options like the Foodie Breakfast Plate (RMB108), Smoked Salmon Benedict with Dragon Fruit (RMB75), Croissant Shrimp Sandwich (RMB68), Berry Soufflé (RMB58), Australian Steak Salad (RMB98), Avocado Chicken Salad (RMB78), and much, much more!

In addition to non-alcoholic summer sippers, like the Ice Lemon Tea (RMB35), Roselle Tea with Bubbles (RMB35), and Sparkling Grapefruit Tea (RMB35), there’s also a lineup of tap and bottled beer, wine, and classic cocktail.

Swing through any day of the week from 4-8pm and enjoy buy-one-get-one free on all draft beer, house wine and soft drinks.

The Vibe

Foodie Tempo offers a warm, relaxing atmosphere, replete with soft lighting augmented by ample natural light, plus green plants abound in the garden.

In addition to the restaurant seating, the restaurant also offers a wide range of customized banquet services.

Whether it’s celebrating special occasions – like weddings, birthdays, or anniversaries – or organizing team building events, the Foodie Tempo team provides everything from tailored arrangements and customized menus to personality party setups to ensure an exceptional experience for customers.

Seeking innovation with intention and placing customers as top priority is the Foodie Tempo motto, and this is reflected in the attentive service and vast menu, with offerings to satisfy all appetites.