Last year there was a lot of fanfare over the opening of Ascendas Plaza on Tianyaoqiao Lu near Nandan Lu because it seemed like Xujiahui was finally expanding in a necessary direction. Ascendas, however, proved to be a disappointment with bad restaurants and a stuffy, drab layout, and Xujiahui residents had to look elsewhere for convenient dining options.




A few months ago, though, Novel Place opened a block up the street and we love it. The space is open instead of boxed in, so you can walk around in the fresh air as you window shop. It's also pleasant to look at, with a tastefully modern look. There's your usual selection of clothing shops, but the main attraction is the smart selection of restaurants under the street level. And! Finally! City Shop! Near Xujiahui! Yes!

The first restaurant we tried here is Applebee's, an American suburban diner chain. This is their first location in China. We walked in on opening day and were greeted by a cheery management staff who looked like they were still in Kansas City, with their tucked-in white company polo shirts. We found the burgers almost passable, but it was for the salmon that we’ve since returned for a few times. Just like in North America, you go to Applebee's for the ease, comfort and reasonable prices, not to be awed by the food. What we like best about the place is the service, and they've done a very good job at training the staff. They come by your table and ask if the food is okay, and when the meal is done, they leave the bill on the table so you can sort it out at your leisure, instead of doing that nervous hover dance.

Next stop is Pankoo, the Korean grill chain. This isn't the best Korean in town, but it's certainly above average, and the prices are very reasonable – meat mains running 25-40rmb, with a hearty selection of sides. Korean beers are 12rmb. Two of us stuffed ourselves for 68rmb here. Our only gripe is that the wait staff have an annoying habit of bringing the bill mid-meal, which makes no sense in an ala-carte style grill place.

Across the courtyard is a place we'll never go into. It's called Baby Doll, but it might as well be BabyFace. With the lights on full blast, it's a gaudy eyesore and the menu looks like a nightmare Asian-fusion train wreck. We peaked in the window to see a poor couple poking at a bastard burrito-sized sushi roll covered in toxic-orange goop. No way.

Then there's a teppanyaki place, a hot pot place, Brix 12 dessert café, the popular Zen Cantonese chain, and the latest Blue Frog. Blue Frog seems to be the most popular of the lot, packed with their happy hour specials (and two-for-one burgers every Monday!). Although the Frog doesn't have the down-home comfort vibes that Applebee's does, the burgers here are superior (albeit more expensive), and we appreciate that it's a Shanghai-based institution we can root for.

Across the street is the shiny new Spartan Club Gym, where we just ponied up for a membership, to enjoy the sauna over the cold winter months ... only to find a few weeks later they closed the sauna for renovations – and refuse to refund our membership. Totally unfair. Avoid places like this.

And so, Novel Place is our latest favorite little addition to this developing metropolis. The whole thing feels very suburban North America, but we mean that in a good way.

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