Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EATING
|VIETNAMESE
4CORNERS$$
; Shichahai)
A laid-back spot with a cosy outside area, 4Corners serves up a medley of
zingy Vietnamese, and some Thai, dishes. The catfish in coconut (¥78) and hot and sour
fish-head soup (¥45) both burst with the flavours of Southeast Asia - all lime and chilli -
and there's a tremendous selection of spring rolls for those who just want to graze while
imbibing one of its excellent martinis (¥40). There's live music some nights too. It's hidden
down a
hútòng
just off Gulou Xidajie.
KǑNG YǏJǏ$$
( 6618 4915; Deshengmennei Dajie, Shichahai, Hòuhǎi Nan'an, dishes from ¥28; lunch & dinner; Jishuitan)
Shàoxīng in Zhèjiāng province is famous as the birthplace of Lu Xun, the man who inven-
ted modern Chinese literature, and its eponymous, sherry-like wine. So it's entirely appro-
priate that this restaurant, which takes its name from an alcoholic character in one of Lu's
stories, serves some dishes - such as drunken shrimp (
zuìxiā
) and drunken chicken (
zuìjī
)
- swimming in Shàoxīng wine. Rest assured it tastes better than
báijiǔ
(a white spirit). Also
popular at this big and bustling place, with a fine outdoor area, at the northwestern edge of
the Hòuhǎi lakes are the many alcohol-free pork and fish dishes, such as the very addictive
dōngpō ròu
. No English or picture menu; take a look at what other people are eating and
point. Despite the address, the restaurant is actually by the Hòuhǎi lakeshore. To get here,
turn down narrow Dongming Hútòng from Deshengmen Dajie and then right at the end of
the lane.
|CHINESE ZHÈJIĀNG
YUÈLÙ SHĀNWŪ$$
( 6617 2696; Shichahai, 19a Qiánhǎi Xiyan, dishes from ¥28; 10.30am-1am; ; Guloudajie)
With a
wonderful view over Qiánhǎi Lake, this pretty and civilised Húnán restaurant - whose
name means 'house at the foot of the mountain' - serves a range of mostly spicy but some
mild dishes from the province renowned for its searing flavours and for being the birth-
place of Mao Zedong. It's appropriate then to try Mao's homestyle pork (¥48), but it does a
good boiled frog (¥78), too, as well as excellent, country-style
dòufu
(bean curd). The
stewed snake with ginger is especially fiery. A bottle of
huángjiǔ
will ease it down.
|CHINESE HÚNÁN
HÚTÒNG PIZZA$$
|PIZZA
