Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our August 2018 issue:
New Restaurants
Magpie
Image via Magpie
Magpie, tucked inside A5 in tones of brass, wood and deep cerulean blue, will soon be reservation-only as increasingly sophisticated diners flock to its smart northern cuisine. The summer menu finds a lamb Wellington (market rate), Scotch egg (RMB40), ragut of game meat (RMB75), tartare of horse (RMB70) and so much more protein. The veggies are also impressive: “some tomatoes” (RMB60) piled in a basil-rich olive oil, with a confident smear of burrata on the bowlside; and red rice (RMB60), a rich warm porridge with carrot butter and chunky beetroot purée.
Price: RMB200-400
Who’s going: OCT-Loft visitors, venturesome diners
Good for: creative fusion fare, seasonal surprises
Nearest metro: Qiaocheng East (Exit A), 18 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Magpie.
Marche Movenpick
Image via Evelyn Wang/That's
Buffet dinners don’t always scream ‘luxury.’ But with a tantalizing array of international dishes and a sleek appearance, the new Marche Movenpick at UpperHills mall manages to give off upscale vibes. Rosti – fried, golden-brown potato pancakes – are advertised as a specialty, and a cheddar-covered one (RMB54) doesn’t disappoint. The marinara sauce in our pasta (RMB85) is also hearty, although the handmade spaghetti has an off-putting, gummy texture. The sides, however, pleasantly surprise with skillful use of fresh ingredients. A crusty slice of bread topped with tart tomato bruschetta (RMB9) is a highlight of the night, while the cream of mushroom soup (RMB19) is chock-full of finely-chopped Portobello.
Price: RMB80-120
Who’s going: families, homesick expats
Good for: pigging out on Western food, custom meals
Nearest metro: Lianhuacun (Exit C), 20 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Marche Movenpick.
Woodpecker
Image via Adam Robbins/That's
Chef Francis, recently of Glass Hammer during its brief glimpse of culinary glory, guides the kitchen toward taste-of-home Southern comfort foods: Kansas brisket (RMB35/100g-RMB140/500g), Memphis ribs (RMB50-100), fried okra, biscuits and gravy, collard greens, succotash and more. Sliders (RMB55) come three to a plate, delivering succulent pulled pork in a sweet Carolina BBQ sauce atop airy buns with just the right amount of crunch. Cornbread is a big tender pancake, with mashed corn for moisture inside. Collard greens feel authentic: bitter antioxidants against savory bacon fat.
Price: RMB75-200
Who’s going: Shuiwei barhoppers, nostalgic Southerners
Good for: smoked meats, friendly vibes
Nearest metro: Fumin (Exit D), 11 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for Woodpecker.
New Bars
Tictac Pong
Image via Bailey Hu/That's
Riding on a wave of theme bars (or so we’re told) in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong, Tictac is equipped with state-of-the-art beer pong tables and upscale drinks priced at RMB90 and higher. That’s right – here, a college-kid staple is served up alongside a broad array of single-malt scotches and custom cocktails. At the bar, we sample a neon-orange, fruity Tictac coated in sour plum powder, followed by a tart 9¾ Ameyoko that pairs sake with passionfruit and lime (both RMB98). For traditionalists, there’s also fancy imported beer sold by the glass (RMB90), or modest pitchers of Liefmans, Vedett or Asahi (RMB200).
Price: RMB90 a drink
Who’s going: lovers of the game, recent college graduates
Good for: high-tech beer pong, high-end hangouts
Nearest metro: Convention Center (Exit D), 10 minutes
Read our full review here. See listing for TicTac Pong.
Zhenker Craft Beer
Image via Adam Robbins/That's
Just blocks from Shenzhen North Station, in an urban village in the mold of Baishizhou, Zhenker features robust, mature Chinese beer and customers refining a taste for it. The brews taste fresh, matured from years of home-brewing practice. Elton lowers the IBU to appeal to Chinese tastes; the effect is agreeable in the sampler we were served (RMB28/three 180-milliliter glasses). Hefeweizen (RMB30/500 milliliters) is most popular, with a clean, almost creamy taste from its multitude of tiny bubbles. But Elton points us Americans to his IPA (RMB40/500 milliliter). Even with the reduced IBU, it offers a good hoppy kick.
Price: RMB30-40 per 500mL beer
Who’s going: dice-rolling locals, expats of the north
Good for: mellow beers, practicing your conversational Chinese
Nearest metro: Minzhi (Exit B), 8 minutes
See listing for Zhenker.
Read more Shenzhen restaurant reviews and bar reviews.
[Top image via Magpie]
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