Here are all the new restaurant and bar openings we featured in our May 2019 issue:
New Restaurant:
Wagyu Lab
Image by Jonathan Zhong/That’s
The latest in a procession of so-called foodie labs in the city, Wagyu Lab recently opened at Wongtee Plaza in the heart of Futian District.
Although you can order certain menu items separately, such as the thick-cut beef tongue (RMB98), the truffle Futian shao (roast beef, RMB258), the braised Wagyu with sauce (RMB68), along with approximately 20 other options, customers are encouraged by staff to order a set meal at the eatery. The prices of the three available set meals, however, aren’t particularly customer-friendly. Depending on your selection, prices can range from RMB680 and RMB1,380 per person to RMB1,980, with each set consisting of around 13 courses. In addition, if you can’t read Chinese, the ordering process can be a bit challenging, as the restaurant currently lacks English translations or pictures of the food.
The establishment occupies a large space consisting of a number of private booths and a public area. Stylish art pieces adorn the walls, which, together with a giant pond in the outlet’s hall, ensure a tranquil vibe.
Price: up to RMB1,980, plus 10 percent per person
Who’s going: beef lovers, Futian dwellers, tuhao
Good for: Wagyu beef, friendly service, going bankrupt
Nearest metro: Gangxia (Exit B), 7 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Wagyu Lab.
New Bars:
Re-C Whisky & Cocktail Bar
Image via Re-C Whisky & Cocktail Bar
Life in Futian District can be hectic at the best of times. While the central business district may be better known for high blood pressure than mellow vibes, Re-C, a brand-spanking new cocktail and whisky bar, aims to change that perception.
During our visit, we were delighted to learn that visitors are encouraged to customize their own drinks (though popular cocktails, for example a whiskey sour, are available if you ask for them). We requested something fresh and fruity from the barkeep, who threw together a Back on Boogie Street (RMB105), which you won’t find on the menu. Made with dragon fruit puree, strawberry puree, Re-C’s self-distilled vanilla vodka and bitters, this pink concoction is a creamy and sour delight, reminiscent of a Singapore sling.
Re-C’s European-style wooden interior design gives the place a luxuriant and elegant touch. While Re-C may not be your first choice for a cheap evening with the gang, if you’re out for a special evening, Re-C may be one of your best options in central Futian.
Price: RMB200
Who’s going: dates (the romantic kind, not the fruit), cigar snobs, spirit lovers
Good for: absinthe-infused cocktails, escaping springtime showers
Nearest metro: Convention & Exhibition Center (Exit B), 7 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Re-C Whisky & Cocktail Bar.
Goon Goon by Young Master
Image by Bryan Grogan/That’s
On certain days, Upperhills Shopping Mall can seem like a ghost town. While trendy shops and F&B outlets have already opened at the relatively new development near Lianhua Bei Metro Station, a large portion of the outlets have yet to see the light of day.
One of the recently opened venues, tap house and restaurant Goon Goon by Young Master, sits in the shadow of WeWork’s new Upperhills loft, near Lianhuashan pedestrian bridge, and is the perfect location for a nice cold brew after a weekend stroll.
We complemented our beer and jerky with the softer shrimp taco (RMB58), an East Asian twist on the traditional Mexican dish. Fried shrimp, mango and leek paste all co-mingle on a Malaysian roti bed, making for a fluffy, fruity and light dish. Moving on, and buoyed by the delightfully bitter and creamy taste of their classic pale ale, we dove into a plate of their Hell’s Chicken (RMB88). With boneless and irascibly spicy pieces of breaded chicken sitting on a pair of toasted slices of bread, this dish is classic bar fare, but also surprisingly crunchy and sweet.
Price: RMB75-150
Who’s going: craft brew-dogs, homesick Hong Kongers
Good for: well-crafted beers, delicious fast food
Nearest metro: Lianhua Bei (Exit A2), 10 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Goon Goon by Young Master.
New Cafe:
Compass Cafe
Image courtesy of Hank Chiang
Located in the center of Shenzhen’s Futian District and surrounded by soaring skyscrapers that give the area its distinct sense of joie de vivre lies Compass Cafe, Curator’s latest food and beverage establishment and sister venue to The Compass Bar.
It’s no coincidence that the best way to describe the menu at Curator’s second F&B establishment in Shenzhen is “highly curated.” The list of food and drinks at Compass Cafe is both simple and worldly, presenting extensive combinations of cuisine offerings not easily found elsewhere in Shenzhen. Looking for chorizo, fresh sourdough bread, black truffles and steak tartare? Compass Cafe has it all.
For carnivores looking for more traditional dishes, the cafe offers a steak au poivre with spinach and French fries (RMB198), a safe option for meat and potatoes types. However, for those looking to venture out into more exciting territory we recommend the oven-roasted salmon with chorizo and potato mash (RMB168), which is a nice choice even for those who seldom eat fish. Alternatively, try the black truffle morel mushrooms with linguine, cream and parmesan crisps (RMB88), which is an excellent foray into the world of black truffle hype.
Price: RMB150-200
Who’s going: entrepreneurs on a work lunch, Tantan third dates
Good for: fancy drinks, truffles
Nearest metro: Gangxia (Exit B) or Exhibition Center (Exit A3), 5 minutes’ walk
Read our full review here. See listing for Compass Cafe.
Read more Shenzhen restaurant reviews, bar reviews and cafe reviews.
[Cover image courtesy of Hank Chiang]
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