Spring Has Sprung (Along with the Pollen)

This month, patios and outdoor spaces are finally coming out of hibernation, spilling into the streets just in time to be covered by tree pollen. Restaurateurs and mixologists are shaking up a new spread of eats and sips in anticipation of summer. Without further ado, your monthly dose of Shanghai's food and beverage buzz is served – with a side of springtime sunshine.

NEW OPENINGS:

Yaya's Returns With a Sequel

Brandon McGhee

The biggest news this month is that the team behind Yaya's is gearing up to open their highly anticipated second location in Shanghai, following its third anniversary party last weekend.

Rumors are swirling about exciting new talent joining the lineup, bringing fresh energy to the next chapter of Yaya's. Ahead of the launch, an exclusive pop-up in April will offer a first taste of what's to come. Big things are on the way!

Semola: Comfort Italian, Nonna-Style

Semola

Derived from the word for semolina (a roughly milled durum wheat flour) in Italian, Semola is a – yep, you guessed it – Italian restaurant on Caoxi Rd serving up comforting Italian eats just like your nonna would make.

It was started by the duo Judy and Dennis, who work front of house and kitchen, respectively; it's essentially just the two of them running the whole show (well, and a dishwasher ayi).

The intimate, reservation-only outlet seats just 12 diners and offers a single Sharing Set Menu (498 yuan/person) spanning seafood, pasta, and Italian classics, like polenta studded with stewed oxtail. The wine program is small but curated, featuring predominantly Italian winemakers. They are fully booked until the end of April.

Plump Oyster Adds a Wine Bistro to the Mix

Sophie Steiner

Backed by restaurateur and oyster legend Rudy Guo, Plump Oyster is expanding its empire with a third location: Plump Oyster Wine Bistro on Yan'an Rd W., currently in soft opening. The cozy space offers East-meets-West, seafood-centric dishes, with a few spicier plates than the group's other outposts and – as the name suggests – a stronger emphasis on wine.

Pie Bird's Sweet New Nest at the PAC

Dianping

Pie Bird, one of Shanghai's go-to options for American-style dessert pies, is opening a large storefront in the PAC, Jing'an's newest lifestyle hub. (Want to know more about PAC? Check out last month's F&B Buzz here.)

There will be a new series of ice cream products inspired by traditional American desserts like sundaes, floats, frozen pies, and jelly. Oh yeah – and a pretty big terrace, perfect for enjoying these summery confections in the sun.

Peekazoo: Jungle Vibes & Playful Cocktails

Peekazoo is a new cocktail bar on the ever-popular Wuding Rd and Yanping Rd intersection, backed by the same team as Julu 758's Lieben – a bar renowned for its heavy beats and dark atmosphere, reminiscent of a Berlin nightclub. This new spot swaps the darkness for animal-inspired décor and laid-back music. Signature drinks lean sweet, highlighting ingredients like tropical fruits, corn flakes, coconut, yuzu, kimchi, and even horchata (a dairy-free yet milky-sweet beverage made from soaked rice, water, sugar, and cinnamon).

Rou Xian Lai: Meat First, Always

Rou Xian Lai (肉仙来) is a newly opened Dongbei (northeastern) restaurant on Huashan Rd near Jing'an Temple, backed by Daodao, co-owner of the famed Ningbo joint San Bai Bei (三佰杯) and Hangzhou's Wild Yeast.

The venue's name is a Chinese homophone meaning "meat comes first," and the menu centered around braised, smoked and grilled meats (xun jiang), Dalian seafood, and other classic Dongbei dishes.

This casual 60-seater makes for a perfect "grub and guzzle" hangout for lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks. To accompany the sharing plates, there's a wide selection of draft beer, northeastern-style fruit-infused alcohol, and other traditional bevvies.

Kitcho's Michelin-Starred Sushi Arrives Soon

Dianping

Michelin-starred, Taipei-based Japanese resto 吉兆割烹壽司 KITCHO is making its debut in Shanghai later this spring with a menu chock-full of sushi and izakaya fare. While the venue is keeping specific menu details close to the chest, we've been informed the opening will feature a variety of favorites from the original location, plus a few new bites tailored to the Shanghai dining crowd.

A Happy Anniversary... EPIC Hits 10 Years

This month, Cross Yu's globally acclaimed bar, EPIC, celebrated its 10-year anniversary – joining the double-digit ranks in Shanghai's beverage industry, no easy feat. In 2021, EPIC was recognized by Asia's 50 Best Bar Awards as the winner of the Campari One To Watch Award, a prestigious accolade presented to a rising-star bar with the potential to break into the main listing. EPIC did just that, landing at No. 41 that same year. Since then, the bar continues to represent the Shanghai scene globally through guest shifts and events. Kudos to Cross and the entire EPIC team on this milestone.

CLOSURES:

Ultraviolet Bids Farewell

On the flip side of the coin, we bid adieu this month to a Shanghai stalwart, three Michelin-starred, Paul Pairet's Ultraviolet, after a 13-year run. Rumors of the impending closure began a few months back, and the team has officially confirmed that the last day of service was March 29. The path toward opening Ultraviolet began with an idea way back in 1996, but failed three times over (in Sydney, Miami and Paris) only to find the utmost success in our own backyard of Shanghai. Serving up a full sensorial 20-course experience since May 2012, Ultraviolet will be sorely missed.

Boxing Cat & Liquid Laundry Tap Out

Another big one (or two) this month is the closure of Shanghai's original American-style kitchen and craft brewery, Liquid Laundry, along with all remaining locations of sister venue Boxing Cat Brewery. The latter first opened its downtown Shanghai location way back in 2008, earning its stripes as the city's first premier craft brewery.

Liquid Laundry was founded in 2014 by Shanghai F&B OGs Lee Tseng (now of ZUP Pizza Bar) and Kelley Lee (previously of Azul, iiiit!, City Diner, Boxing Cat Brewery, Closed Door, Cantina Agave, The Alchemist, Sproutworks, and more), Michael Jordan (who helped shape the beer program for both Boxing Cat and Liquid Laundry), plus chef Simon Sunwoo, who joined the gang about a year after Liquid Laundry's opening. More recently, Head Brewer Matthew Jimenez had taken up the reins on the beer front.

Both venues were acquired by AB InBev (the largest beer and brewing conglomerate in the world) in March 2017, and just this year, AB InBev made the announcement to shutter all Shanghai F&B outlets in their portfolio – aside from Goose Island. We'll definitely be pouring one out for our Boxing Cat and Liquid Laundry homies.

Rozebiff Closes (But Not Forever)

Sophie Steiner

Rozebiff shut its doors at the end of last month – but only temporarily. The team plans to reopen in a new location once they find the right fit. In the meantime, chef Jimmy Shi has another secret food project underway, so stay tuned for more street food flavors from the USA.

Other Closures

• The Spice in Jing'an
  
• Danyi Gao's Bun Cha Cha and Bun Cha Cha Grill
  
• Tianzifang wine bar Alors
  
• Metaverse-inspired, BFC-based bar The Sandbox Lounge