The Place
Located on the west gate of Fuxing Park next to Sinan Mansion and Huaihai Lu, Rose Garden is a newly opened western restaurant that once housed Park 97 bar. Sitting pretty with downright bucolic views of Fuxing Park’s manicured rose garden, the venue’s new life as a smart little restaurant is more fitting than its erstwhile existence as a bar.
The Food
We paid Rose Garden a visit during the day and were impressed by the value-driven lunch menu – RMB108 per person affords two courses plus a drink (RMB128 for three). We start with Asian-style chicken slaw that sees crisp wonton skin, walnuts and all sorts of shredded vegetables paired with ginger and sesame soy dressing. Zesty, refreshing and appetizing, the hearty portion is worth adding to your order.
For mains, the ‘highly recommended’ roasted duck pizza with arugula proved to be… just above average. The overly thincrusted pie comes with a generous amount of cheese and roasted duck, but it would be better if it weren’t painted with cloyingly sweet barbecue sauce. Pork herb sausage with creamed corn mash and onion glaze on the other hand, is a much better choice, thanks to juicy and savory sausages. More diversified choices await on the dinner menu. Seared scallop (RMB98) and lobster risotto (RMB268) are nicely executed, but our RMB598 expenditure on the Australian 400-day grain-fed wagyu ribeye proved to be the best investment of the evening. Served with roasted tomatoes and vegetables, the thick slices are tender and luscious.
Food Verdict: 2/3
The Vibe
Rose Garden’s spacious dining room and rear-facing cocktail bar are elegantly furnished with natural wood fittings, complementing the relaxed setting. Opened by Martijn van der Valk, who formerly worked at the luxe PuLi Hotel in Jing’an, this attention to detail and eye for aesthetics comes as no surprise. If you decide to come for lunch, pick a sunny day and reserve a table by the windows to catch the afternoon sun as it illuminates the adjacent park.
Vibe Verdict: 1/1
Value for Money
The lunch deals are undoubtedly great value for a restaurant of this caliber. When it comes to the à la carte dinner menu, we’d advise bringing friends to share the large portions and costs. The food might be a little predictable, but all things considered, this is an understated and stylish little restaurant. If you’re looking for somewhere casual yet sophisticated to impress dates or friends, Rose Garden is the place you’re looking for.
Value for Money: 0.5/1
Total Verdict: 3.5/5
Price: RMB108/128 per person for lunch; RMB300-400 per person for dinner
Who’s going: young locals, business people
Good for: steaks, special occasions, small groups
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