Despite the fanfare and flurry of press releases surrounding the launching of a given revitalized neighborhood-of-the-week, it seems results are mixed in terms of actually getting people to go and spend money at them. For the most part, only one or two venues within the several Xintiandi-inspired creative spaces -- The (not so) New Factories, 1933, The Loft, et. al -- manage to do alright, with other adjoining shops, clubs, and restaurants perennially bereft of customers.

A weekend stroll around The New Factories for example, reveals ample opportunity to experience some really private dining.

Launched last year, The Cool Docks is, from the layman's perspective, one of the more unsuccessful entertainment complexes. There are a few venues that seem to be drawing people all the way out to the south Bund -- Stiller's, Kebab's on the Grille, and D2 -- and a few others that are already languishing.

Maybe it's that global economic thing, maybe everyone is just waiting on the Shanghai Expo for an influx of cash, or maybe it's that people are just lazy -- business could be better for the Cool Docks, I would imagine. Personally speaking, it took me a full year to finally get my ass in gear to make the Odyssean trek out to lush Greek bar / restaurant Mythos and we had the place to ourselves.

Mythos is a lavish stand-alone complex, spacious enough for some 200 diners, replete with decor imported from Greece. Everything is whites and Grecian blues, and with dining, bar, a lounge area, and a nice patio, it's an environment fit for the pantheon of Greek gods. Food is Greek of course with the emphasis being on the grilled seafood -- or rather, that's what I was emphasising. Curiously enough, they've also got Italian fare (a very Greek spaghetti bolognaise) and pizzas.

Actually, no more pizzas. We asked for one and they said they don't do them anymore.

We got a few appetisers and a tsaziki salad. Fine. For mains, we ordered something resembling a mix grill, which had lamb chops, quarter of a bird, souvlaki and mixed roasted vegetables. We had another souvlaki dish as well, this time with the obligatory pita bread sides. All were rather well presented, healthy, and raised quite a few orgasmic sounds from my dining partners. Adding to this with a bottle of Australian wine it came out to 200rmb per person for four.

It was alright -- a nice change. Speaking as someone who doesn't eat Greek very often, food was decent. It was a nice place. We had a good time.

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