Qing Mai is situated on Jinxian Lu, a street newly experiencing a revitalization these past few months. Judging by the new shops, cafes and restaurants moving in, it looks like they're seeking to recreate the sort of vibe that Xinle Lu and Julu Lu are currently known for -- a mix of mid-to-upscale trendy boutiques and even trendier eateries, nightspots, and cafes. Just for a frame of reference, Shanghai landmarks in the area include the Mind Offices, Citizen Caf¨¦, Osteria and Southern Babarian.

When walking by on your way to the always reliable Citizen Caf¨¦ or Southern Barbarian, you might miss Qing Mai, as at first glance, it isn't much to look at. If you happen to give it the once over, however, the Thai signage and simple decoration inside signify this as a budget Thai place. Long story short, I tried it out the other day, and now it's a new gem for me.

Luckily we got there relatively early before the dinner crowds came and manage to secure the last table. I guess I'm not the only one who has managed to happen upon this little Thai restaurant. It was a bit crowded and, in the end, if you're looking for ambiance and a romantic setting then you might want to choose somewhere else during peak hours. If you're not bothered by crowded restaurants, though, Qing Mai has great character and offers a great dining experience for couples.

The menu has most of the recognizable Thai dishes, from Fish cakes, spring roles, Tom Yum Soup (35rmb), Green Curry (45rmb) to Phad Thai (48rmb). The prime selections are all on the seafood page, and this category occupies the center of their menu. I took a quick look at what everyone else was having and apparently their crab dishes were quite popular. Or perhaps everyone was just copying each other. Whichever the case, the crab we got was definitely delicious, and the right choice.

All the dishes we ordered were on par with most of the standard Thai establishments around town for taste. The portions at Qing Mai are rather large, and even a small soup can be shared between four people. On first glance the prices appeared expensive to me, but after seeing the portions, it's easily justified and in the end it occupies that low-medium category of Thai restaurants (dishes between 18-50rmb, Lunch set 38rmb).

So Qing Mai is a simple restaurant that offers great taste and value. The only draw-back is the size, and luckily Jinxian Lu is interesting enough for a stroll if you have to wait for a table.

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