The Place
Image courtesy of Gaga Garden
Your friendly neighborhood hangout. That is the ethos Gaga Garden evokes, an urban oasis which serves up Western favorites at a fair price. The eatery is a new concept (you guessed it, part of the Gaga brand) and is housed in a beautiful reclaimed factory at the G&G Creative Park in Shekou. From the decor to the food, everything about the restaurant is satisfying, simple and just right.
The Food
Image by Phoebe Kut/That’s
The seasonal menu is divided succinctly into brunch bites, small bites and mains. We started off the evening with the fried cauliflower bites (RMB58) and baked brie (RMB88). Although simple dishes on paper, the garnishes and toppings elevated these appies to the next level. The generously-sized, crispy fried cauliflower dish was topped with bonito flakes to give it a delicious umami flavor, whereas the baked brie was paired beautifully with honey and fresh berries.
Image by Phoebe Kut/That’s
For mains, we tried the zucchini ‘risotto’ (RMB78) and the lamb chops (RMB98). The meat was nicely seared, tender and rich with flavor. The risotto is a good option for vegetarians; however, it didn’t really have the creamy, cheesy consistency that one would expect. As it was a weekday, we decided to try one of their fresh fruit teas, which did not disappoint. The pineapple and strawberry punch tea (RMB33) was a blended concoction that’s flavor profile leaned more towards the fresh strawberries than pineapple.
The Vibe
Image courtesy of Gaga Garden
We stopped by on a Monday night, and were met by an atmosphere and decor reminiscent of a trendy New York City restaurant. The foundations of the space – a former glass factory – have been kept intact but given new life with simple furnishings. It’s a great place to gather with friends or snap a few pics (we saw a boyfriend dutifully snapping pics of his other half). Gaga Garden has a genuine community feel that we would definitely come back for.
Price: RMB135
Who’s going: urban creatives, out-of-towners, Nanshan neighbors
Good for: laid-back lounging, shareable appies, late-night nibbles
Nearest metro: Shuiwan Station (Exit C), 9 minutes’ walk
Open daily, 11-1am. See listing for Gaga Garden.
[Cover image by Phoebe Kut/That’s]
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