[Radar]: La Verbena

 

Area: Pudong (gah!).

On the north side of Binjiang Da Dao, next to The Kitchen Salvitore Cuomo -- about a 10-minute stroll from the still-majestic-after-all-these-years Oriental Pearl TV Tower.

What is it: After a three-year stint as a traditional Spanish pavilion restaurant, La Verbena went back to the drawing board, renovating the place (they secured the services of Spanish architect Santi Parramon), re-opening this month (April 2009).

New look. New menu. New direction. They’re going chic Spanish contemporary, offering everything from tapas to a heavy duty authentic Spanish multiple course meal.

Atmosphere: The restaurant is composed of glass walls and surrounded by abundant greenery that makes you wonder if you’re not dining on some café by a canal in Amsterdam.

Specifically, though, the atmosphere depends on which of the many areas of the restaurant you’re in:

One, there is outdoor cabana-like dining area next to the river promenade ideal for a daytime meal when the weather is easy; two, there are indoor tables with white table cloth for romantic dinners; three, there is a tapa bar designed for patrons to sip on wine and nibble on tapas while watching the chef prepare dishes in the open kitchen; four, there is a normal bar at the entrance serving wine and cocktails if you’d rather go sans tapas; five, there is an outdoor lounge area with comfy cushions to recline on in the after work hours; and six-my personal favorite -- in true Barcelonian “everyone-love-everyone” style -- a long, high table where you eat your dinner and sip your wine while getting to know a bunch of strangers.

I know this may sound weird, especially if you are sitting next to Mr. Hideous or Miss Socially Inept, but apparently in Barcelona, you sit (but more often stand) around these high tables, take a bite here and there, air kiss with incoming friends, take a sip between kisses, share a toast with that foxy mama at the other end of the table, chat up a storm and just basically kick back and have a good time. What a romantic notion, n’est pas?

Selling Points: The menu -- La Verbena has 35 different tapas, soups, salads, rice dishes, main courses and a 6-page wine list of mostly Spanish wines. Its versatility has something for everyone, and also you’ve got to keep coming back to try it all.

The environment -- ideal for business lunches, romantic dinners, happy hours, brunches, impressing out-of-towners, and special events.

Damage: Mistake me not, this is not some Xinjiang noodle shop pon di corner. You can stroll into this place in patched jeans and wife beater but expect to cough up a pretty penny if you’re looking for a truly well-rounded, authentic Spanish meal consisting of multiple tapas and a couple glasses of wine. Expect to spend between 500rmb