Shanghai 30's
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New, upmarket Chinese cuisine on the site of the renowned 'Elizabeth'. Welcoming to wheelchair users, but on the first floor. |
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82 & 83 St. Aldates Useful links: Oxford Restaurants Oxford Hotels Oxford Pubs & Bars Oxford Concert venues Oxford Gig venues Ads by Daily Info:
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We had a lovely meal on Saturday: Firecracker Prawns and Pao Jiao Beef with duck fried rice and spicy vegetarian noodles. We don't live in Oxford so probably won't visit again for a while but will definitely return next time we're in the area.
S & K, 08/05/08 My family was in Oxford a week or so ago. We had dinner at Shanghai 30s one evening and didn't have enough room for dessert so I insisted we come back a couple of nights later for dessert. We ordered Crispy Fried Pineapple Rolls and Almond Banana Roll in Honey Sauce and ice cream. It was wonderful! The green tea ice cream was light and much more palatable than any I had tasted in Japan or elsewhere. The Orange ice cream was also delicious as were the Crispy Pineapple Rolls, but I was especially delighted with the Almond Banana Roll. Warm but not soft. Perfectly toasted almonds. And the honey sauce was the perfect complement to the other tastes and textures. I also loved the shape and the resemblance to a sushi roll. So unusual and creative and satisfying. Thank you for a wonderful dinner and fun evening of tasting desserts while we were in Oxford! Lisa, 14/04/08 In name of the Belgian Wudang Tai Chi Chuan Team, I would like to thank Shanghai 30s for their hospitality and the delicious plates we had there last Sunday evening. We were in Oxford for the British Open Tai Chi Championships and next year we will come back and of visit the restaurant again! Thank you and goodbye! :) xièxie he zàijiàn, 08/04/08 It was a friend of my wife's birthday and while looking on the net my wife came across the Shanghai 30's restaurant, so last Saturday we had a trip into Oxford. My wife had booked a table for four explaining what the occasion was. We arrived at 7.45 to a very warm welcome by the Manger and Staff. The restaurant had a very warm and pleasing atmosphere. The staff were very attentive. We had two of the Banquet Menus and we could not find fault with any of the dishes - they were perfect. Then to top it all The Dim Sum chef had made a birthday cake as a surprise. I run a website called oldmoaners.co.uk but there was nothing here that I could moan about! It was a delicious culinary experience and we will return. SteveC, 28/03/08 This is coming from an american who most recently lived in New York City, so I may perhaps be a bit jaded. Lovely decor, fantastic service (they even gave me a box of chocolates for my birthday) but the food is really only so-so. I had the seafood salad, which was meant to be a chef's specialty - and spicy - and it was lukewarm and bland. The barbeque ribs were bland with a strange, too-soft texture, with lots of gristle and fat. My partner and I shared the duck with pancakes, and honestly, it tasted like the hoisin duck I grabbed for a quick on-the-run lunch from M&S. Altogether, not great - but I can see why the reviews are so fantastic - decor and service-wise, this is far superior to anything I have experienced outside of London. Kate, 03/02/08 I have dined at Shanghai 30's several times after discovering it when walking home one evening. The service is by far the best I have experienced in any Oxford restaurant. It's the little things they do well like providing tissues when they see a guest is sneezing, having your coat ready when you leave. Occasionally there are translation issues when making requests but how good are most English people at speaking Chinese? The first time I ate here I had one of the beef dishes and I could tell that the beef was from a decent part of the cow rather than the cheap cuts you often get in takeaways and other Chinese restaurants. All dishes are presented well and are tasty. I visited on Saturday 19th January 2008 to try their Dim Sum. Although not as good as Dim Sum I've had in other restaurants in Melbourne and San Francisco it was a pleasant experience and not overly expensive. In short Shanghai 30's is an excellent Chinese that I'd recommend to anyone. Neil, 22/01/08 9 of us had a wonderful meal at Shanghai 30's. The food was amazing, and service perfection, the place was beautiful and the staff were lovely. When someone manages to refill your water glass without you even noticing I think they win. Cam, 02/09/07 Went to Shanghai 30's last winter on a weekend break to Oxford with my boyfriend and what a great choice of restaurant it was. The staff were extremely helpful and the food was amazing. But it's also the romantic atmosphere that did it for us. This small restaurant is a real find and the flowers on the plates were a great touch. We've been raving about Shanghai 30's since and have recommended it to all our friends. Can't wait to go back! oxford-visitor, 13/08/07 Spent a very enjoyable Friday night in Shanghai 30s. From the initial booking of the restaurant to the end of the meal it was an exquisite experience - the ambience is so relaxed, the service very polite and impeccable, the food sublime, wine good value. We spent a very pleasant 4 hours and on my return to Oxford, Shanghai 30s will be top of my list! 19/07/07 I was of a party of six last Friday night, and was very impressed by the quality of food on offer at Shanghai 30's. Upon entering the restaurant, I could feel myself relax - the decor and furnishings were very calming. The service was excellent, and what really stood out was the quality of the food. It was so unlike anything I have experienced in other chinese restaurants. The flavours were very delicate, and all dishes were delicious. We never felt rushed, and were given fantastic service. The manager had a lovely, personable charm. The whole experience was hugely enjoyable in relaxed surroundings. I would well recommend it, and am already looking for an excuse to visit Shanghai 30's again. 16/07/07 Undoubtedly the worst experience I have had in Oxford, ever! We went to celebrate our friend’s 40th birthday. Initially we were supposed to be eight guests but two could not turn up. We carried on in good spirits and had to endure a very long wait between courses. Starters did not come at the same time, but spaced out in 5 or so minute intervals…. likewise with the main courses (all very stingy portions). We also had four bottles of wine of very poor quality…. The “icing on the birthday cake” was the bill. Our bill came up to 231 pounds which we were happy to pay, however the manager was also charging us 11 pounds for the two people that did not show up! What was more unbelievable was the manager’s patronising attitude trying to explain to us why the extra was being charged. Quite frankly, the place was not even full that night and we felt that although two of our friends had not shown up we had ordered more than enough and the bill was comfortable enough for the manager on what looked a less than the usual busy Friday night in the Oxford scene. Needless to say, we did not pay the money and never ever again will come back. In a nutshell: ok food, bad service and thoughtless management. Al, 30/06/07 My partner and I visited Shanghai 30s having won a meal at auction on Daily Info. From the beginning the evening seemed set to be a success – the location is excellent, and the service immediately established itself as assured and friendly, but discrete. For starters we had King Prawns, and Crispy Duck. They were excellent, with a slightly smoky delicate flavour and firm juicy meat. The quarter duck was generously apportioned and nicely crispy. The sauce was good as it lacked the MSG overtones so common in this sort of food, but my partner found it lacking some of the piquancy of the sauce they serve in China. As a main course my partner went for squirrel fish, while I had the sizzling beef fillet. We were very impressed with the fish – the sweet and sour sauce was very tasty and light enough to allow the flavour of the fish to come through, something not always done particularly well in Chinese food, where overpowered sauces can compensate for poor ingredients. The beef was some of the best I have ever had in a Chinese restaurant – tender, still pink, and full flavoured – nothing like the tough, stringy or jelly-like beef that many Chinese restaurants serve. Dessert was snowpears with ice cream and chocolate sauce for my partner, and an almond and banana roll with green tea ice cream for myself. The roll was stupendous – a great honey and almond cracking surface, which broke and flaked down into the soft warm banana and gave the whole a fabulous texture. Overall, the food at worst was still better than at any Chinese we’ve eaten at in Oxford, including Xi’an in Summertown (my previous favourite out of a frankly bad bunch) and the service was much better – courteous, quick, attentive, reliable. The rooms have a wonderfully mixed cultural feel (a bit like Chiang Mai on the High Street). A great place to go as a couple. Thoroughly recommended: we’ll be going back. Roly, 28/06/07 What a lovely little find! Stashed away near Alice's Shop on St. Aldates, Shanghai 30's is bursting with character and warmth. Authentic, freshly made food (soups are fabulous) at good prices. They are attentive without being intrusive... a perfect evening out with my husband. As it was my birthday, a luxurious bottle of wine was presented to me at the end of the meal, all dressed up in a beautiful Chinese embroidered gown. Do go! G&O, 05/05/07 We had the most wonderful dinner at the Shangai 30's last week. The food was the best Chinese food I have ever had. The atmosphere and service were just as good. If you are looking for a great place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, I would highly recommend this place. We will return soon. Anita, 16/04/07 We've only recently found Shanghai 30's even though we live fairly close to it. Quite an oversight on our part! The food is excellent there - very tasty (I'm an avid fan of their hot spicy chicken dishes) and the service is 5 star. We’ve been there 4 times since discovering it, and it hasn’t failed to impress us every time. This is by no means a ‘student restaurant’ as the menu is more a la carte, and the prices and service reflect this. However, the food literally does ‘melt in the mouth’ and the atmosphere is far more intimate and carefully arranged, down to the smallest details, than the usual Chinese restaurants. Definitely a place to try for a special occasion. An excellent restaurant. I can highly recommend it. Rich, 30/01/07 Wonderful service, wonderful staff, delicious food. My only regret is that we found this on the night before we migrate to Australia!! Thank you. Absolutely Charming. Much Regards Gaby & Paul, 21/01/07 We had another lovely meal here. Food was delicious and beautifully presented, service excellent. Talati (of Old Peking), 17/01/07 We were really disappointed by this restaurant. The atmosphere and decor are lovely, the welcome was friendly and we were really looking forward to a delicious meal. However the food was bland and tasteless, and I have had better from basic takeaways (e.g. Rice Box on Cowley Road). It is also really expensive. When we were asked if we were enjoying our meal we politely said that it wasn't very tasty and that we weren't really enjoying it, that it lacked flavour. The waitress just smiled and walked away. I don't know if she didn't understand or whether she just didn't know what to do! We didn't want to make a scene so asked for our bill, paid reluctantly, and left! We won't be going back. Very surprised to hear how positive other people's experiences were. We felt a little bit cheated out of our evening and were hungry for the rest of the night. Kath, 06/01/07 Shanghai 30's provided the best service I have ever experienced in a restaurant ever! It was the perfect place for a romantic dinner and the food was out of this world! I will most definitely be going there again and plan to recommend it to everyone. I have never bothered to write a review about anything, so this is something. Best service, best food, best atmosphere - if you want all of these visit Shanghai 30's! amanda, 30/11/06 Thank you, thank you, thank you. I celebrated my hen party at Shanghai 30's this weekend, and everyone had the most fantastic evening. You may think this is a strange place to celebrate a hen do but you would be wrong. From the moment we booked the table my friend experienced fantastic customer service, and when I arrived on the night I was given lots of treats. There were 23 ladies of various ages eating and they were 23 extremely happy ladies when they left. Wonderful service, food and surroundings, I really can't thank you enough from me and all my guests because they certainly wont forget my evening for a while. Everyone was saying that they didn’t know you were there before, but without doubt they will be coming back. Sally, 22/10/06 Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! That's all I can say. Food is way above average (8 out of 10 - if not more) and service is 12 out 10. When my friend went into a sneezing attack (she had a cold), a brand new pack of 10 tissues was discreetly placed next to her. The Shanghai Pork is to die for (cut off the fat if you're not into that). I had Sea Spiced Chicken (shredded chicken breast) and it was very good too. A bit pricier than most Chinese, but definitely worth more than one visit. I'm going back - soon! DD, 10/10/06 Thank you for a great meal and great service on Friday 22nd September. You have a lovely restaurant with just the right ambience and you made us feel very special from the moment we walked in. It was the perfect setting for my proposal of marriage to my girlfriend Angela; you have given us both a memory we can treasure and look back on with pleasure, we both agree it was the perfect place to get engaged. Thank you for the good luck gifts we will treasure them as a memory of the perfect night and a perfect holiday. Ken & Angela Kent., 27/09/06 We had the pleasure of eating here recently and had an amazing experience. The first thing that impresses is the decor of the building both inside and out. It really makes you feel special. Original oriental furniture and some beautiful pictures. On to the menu which is above your standard Chinese fare. I had the spicy beef salad to start and the marinated belly of pork as a main. Both were stunning especially the pork which simply melted in your mouth. Everyone at the table commented about how flavorsome the food was. The food although plentiful wasn't over glutinous which made a refreshing change and we even had desert which I don't normally do but the banana and almond rolls were delicious and not to be missed. Final mention has to go to the service, the staff were courteous, helpful and Chinese which made the whole thing more authentic. Although the wait between courses could be considered lengthy we were more than happy given the quality of the food. It proves that all the food was fresh! All in all a very enjoyable experience and one that I hope to have many times in the future. Tim, 25/08/06 Our experience was clearly very different from most of those on this site. We went in for a quick lunch: we were there for an hour and twenty minutes, and waited 35 minutes for our first course to be served. The food was no more than average, and the portions small. As for the decor... if you like soft porn, then Shanghai 30's is for you. I spent the entire time facing a fifth-rate painting of a half-naked courtesan staring at herself in a mirror, which would have put me off food of a far higher quality. The service was friendly but amateurish. Chrysippus, 16/08/06 Splendid Hors d'Oeuvres in wonderful surrounds. I love the language learning tape playing in the loos, and all the Chinese decor! Great food and a great ambience. Susannah Bland, 25/05/06 My husband and I were the former owners of RESTAURANT ELIZABETH, I am delighted to see the standard and reputation being upheld. J Bell, 09/05/06 I have never been in such a friendly, warm, sincerely courteous restaurant--anywhere! And the food is also delicious, good value, and well presented. Thanks to the staff for 2 great dining experiences. LONG LIVE SHANGHAI 30'S! Sharon, Co. Wicklow Ireland, 09/05/06 MOST ENJOYABLE EVENING. Food 9/10 Service 10/10 Wine 9/10 And in all we will be back again.......again and again!!! Rod, Charlotte, Tina, Elaine, Robert, Les., 09/05/06 I had read the reviews and was expecting good things (I also knew well the old Elizabeth Restaurant which is where the new Chinese venture is housed). The surroundings, service and presentation were all good; but the food was mediocre: the chicken and almond starter was dry and unflavoured; the squid dull. The Shanghai fish was good but hardly outstanding and the shredded duck had neither duck nor flavour. Frankly, given the obvious care and attention given to the surroundings, someone had better get a grip on the food. A disappointment but one which can be remedied. Gillian, 12/04/06 Shanghai Elegant shall be the Wine; Tender shall be the Chicken; Smooth shall be the Jazz; Juicy shall be the Scallops; Blossomy shall be the Lily; Sweet shall the Fish; Express shall be the Language; Crispy shall be the Green Beans; Classic shall be the Painting. 30’s Care is poured; Art is added; Comfort is filled; Culture is mixed; Smile is blended; Warm is heated; Attention is streamed; Passion is deep-fried; Confident is served. Shanghai 30’s, an ultimate experience! Mr & Mrs Liu, 02/02/06 It's good although a bit expensive compared with other Chinese restaurants in Oxford. Chao, 08/01/06 As a tourist visiting Oxford, I serendipitously happened onto Shanghai 30’s after my visit to Christ’s Church. And I must say it was one of the most pleasant and enjoyable Chinese restaurants I have ever visited – which includes my hometown in New York, and my home country of Taiwan. The food is quite good, with both the more standard dishes like beef with broccoli and some unique finds, like Shanghai 30’s Seafood Deluxe, a menagerie of seafood in abalone sauce. We wanted to try the Baked Lobster, but a few days’ advance notice is required for that. They also have a fine selection of homemade desserts – beyond orange slices, ice cream and fortune cookies (although all of these are certainly available) – which is rare for a Chinese restaurant. Although I did not have any wine, they do have a decent selection of wines, which we were informed was specifically selected by wine experts to complement the unique Shanghai flavors. Aside from the food, the real joy is in the restaurant ambience and the dining experience itself. Upon ascending the stairs after going through a short tunnel, you are welcomed into what is can be described as a parlor or living room of a 1930’s Shanghai merchant. Antique benches beckon for you to rest your weary feet while you sip a drink served from the nearby bar and wait for your table. I felt immediately at home, which is unexpected when visiting a restaurant. Throughout the restaurant, there are unique touches that contribute to a transporting experience – from the audio in the restrooms to the pet goldfish. The waiting staff are very friendly and attentive, yet unpretentious. Everything contributes to increasing your comfort level and a desire to linger just a little bit longer. It seems a great place to take a date, celebrate a victory, bring your parents, or woo your clients. With two distinct rooms – one of oak paneling, the other of porcelain blue, both furnished with Chinese antiques (we sat in the latter) – you can find the right ambience for your special meal. All in all, I had a very memorable meal, and I highly recommend this restaurant. And I would most certainly stop by again the next time I am visiting Oxford. Victor, 03/01/06 Visited Shanghai 30's for the first time with my girlfriend on Christmas day and have to say that overall impression was very positive. Good food, friendly service, great atmosphere. Highly recommended. Ronald, 29/12/05 We were very excited by the other reviews of Shanghai 30s on the Daily Info website; perhaps our expectations were just too high but our impression of the food was very disappointing. We had the salt and pepper squid and the scallops to start, then the pork a la Shanghai and the sizzling fillet beef. The beef was rubbery, the pork was nice - but the sauce was straight from a bottle and the squid was utterly bland, only the scallops had real merit - a nice gingery soy flavour on crunchy vermicelli. We were expecting a feast of fresh and exciting flavours, but the food we got was equivalent to just that from a reasonable take-away. It's a beautiful venue, and the staff were all very nice, but if you're after a culinary adventure - better go to Chiang Mai kitchen. John, 17/12/05 When I found out that a Chinese restaurant was opening at the old Restaurant Elizabeth's location, I had my doubts. So now that Shanghai 30's has opened, I had to go give it a try. Walking up the stairs and entering the bar/waiting area, I immediately felt like I was being transported to another place, another decade. It was very warm, inviting and I begin to feel myself relax. Because I was with a small group of people, we had the luxury of trying several dishes. The prawn rolls and the scallops were wonderful, but my favourite appetizer was definitely the Salt and Pepper Squid. The squid was lightly battered and fried, simply seasoned with salt and pepper, and topped with a combination of chopped sweet and sour peppers. For main course, we had Sea bass, Pork a la Shanghai, Lobster with ginger and scallion, and Crispy Beef. I cannot tell you which one was my favorite as they each had such different and wonderful flavours. With our meal, we had a bottle of Riesling and a bottle of Australian Merlot. They were both excellent for their prices. I have to agree with the previous reviewer that the Banana Almond Roll was a dessert to die for. The snow pears was also good but I usually like a heavier dessert. Some of us ordered the Muscat dessert wine and others ordered after dinner drinks, but all of us had one of the most lovely and relaxing dining experiences in a long time. It's about time Oxford has an authentic/up-scale Chinese restaurant that one can go to and enjoy a three course meal for both its creative food and ambience. I will definitely return again and again. John, 27/11/05 The entrance to Shanghai 30s is a little inconspicuous and, coupled with a rather modest sign, the restaurant at first sight seems slightly uninviting. This must be the only explanation why the restaurant was not terribly busy on a Saturday night, as everything else was pretty much faultless. The decor and atmosphere is beautiful, and very relaxing. Shanghai 30s would be the perfect place for a romantic meal! The staff are extremely welcoming, and the service is very efficient, yet not intrusive. The menu is quite large, but not exhaustive. The food is, quite simply, wonderful. My dining partner and I chose to share the platter as one could sample various things. Most notably, the almond chicken was delicious and the champagne spare ribs were lovely and tender. For the main course, I tried some of my friend's Pork a la Shanghai, which although was lovely, was not as nice as my Crispy Beef in a Berry Sauce served on a Crispy Pancake. Wow. This was a fantastic main course and I'd definitely order it again if I went. We shared a portion of egg fried rice but unfortunately we couldn't finish our meals. However, this did not deter us from trying dessert! We shared the snow pears which were lovely (although a bit pricey for the portion size) and the almond and banana roll which was to die for! Altogether our bill came to £57 for two people which included three courses each, a bottle of wine and a service charge. At less than £30 per head, this meal was definitely value for money! I found it very similar to Chiang Mai Kitchen, but if I had to choose between the two, I think I would go to Shanghai 30s. Becky, 21/11/05 Shanghai 30's, located in a 15th century building across the street from Christ Church gardens, is the latest addition to the Oxford dining scene. Next door to 'Alice's Shop', better known as The Old Sheep Shop in "Alice Through the Looking Glass", Shanghai 30's occupies the building that was formerly the Bishop's Palace and more recently housed the famous Restaurant Elizabeth. Over 50 years The Elizabeth built a reputation for serving quite simply the best food in Oxford and its name is still synonymous with quality. Shanghai 30's are very much continuing that tradition and an elegant and refined atmosphere is exuded throughout this graceful Chinese restaurant. There are two dining rooms; the larger one is classy and stylish and more than capable of hosting the most ostentatious banquet whilst the other is a cosy panelled room offering a snug and inviting ambience. The food is modern Chinese and Shanghai 30's offer an authentic taste of real China - not the bland fare served up by most places in an attempt to pander to English tastes. Even something as standard as the Jiao Zi dumplings we had to whet our appetites were spectacularly flavoursome and the first indication that the lunch was going to be something very special indeed. Mixing and matching our appetizers and main dishes we ordered the Spicy Beef Salad, Sea Spiced Chicken, Potato with Peppers and Pork à la Shanghai which came with steamed fresh vegetables. The spicy beef was mouth-wateringly tender and the chilli dressing was zesty and invigorating (all spicy dishes are highlighted in the menu) and the chicken had a sensational combination of flavours. The potato and vegetables made the perfect accompaniment to the meat dishes but the piéce de resistance was without a doubt the pork. Slow cooked with ginger and roasted garlic in Shao Xing wine it is incredibly moreish and the only complaint was that we didn't have a bigger plate! Feeling thoroughly well-fed we decided to pass on the desserts and enjoy the delicious green tea we were drinking. The waitress then asked if we would like a fresh fruit salad and we decided we could probably manage it after all. This proved so refreshing that we asked for the wine list, which is comprehensive by any standards and especially so for an Asian restaurant. We opted for the eminently quaffable house red, a fruity Shiraz Cabernet, and sat back to enjoy it. Our waitress then suggested that we might like some ice cream and after a moment's thought we agreed that she was probably right. Faced with a choice of flavours we opted for a scoop of each; the ginger and mandarin scoops proved to be a revelation although I have to say I couldn't see the point of the Green Tea ice cream. We had a thoroughly agreeable lunch and stayed far longer than we had intended. The staff were incredibly friendly and obliging and we were made to feel very comfortable and at home. We shall most certainly be returning, if for no other reason than to experience the Pork à la Shanghai again, and I expect that Shanghai 30's will soon become the destination of choice for discerning epicureans of Chinese food in Oxford. Nick, 02/11/05
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