Set on a sprawling estate overlooking magnificent Gardens, this exclusive restaurant is where Shanghai Powerbrokers do business......
Government cars lining the driveway, businessmen in private rooms toasting with baijiu, your choice of swallows nest soup or sea cucumbers.

I would have to say that I usually leave these types of places to the locals, however I am glad that I gave this restaurant a punt and quite possibly tried the best local food in Shanghai! (well I have actually said this about the last local restaurant that I went to, but who is counting).

The thing is, you don't have to get a room and toast everyone with baijiu because they have a nice private area on the first floor of the restaurant overlooking the garden. It seems that they use this area for small groups or couples - which was great because I was with my girlfriend.

On the menu they had all your meals that you would expect to find in a Shanghai style restaurant, with a few southern cuisines as well. I went for some crispy diced pork, honey beef clay pot, fried battered cabbage, minced beef with vegetables and pork buns. The crispy diced pork with different sauces would have to be my favorite - delicate soft pieces of meat with a crispy little edge.

The service was attentive and on cue, in fact a little too attentive because the staff were just standing there watching my every move. I know it probably shows that they are just being polite but I just don't like people staring at me while I eat my crispy pork.

The total damage for a dinner for two was just over 300rmb, and this was ordering the very average priced items on the menu. If you wanted to indulge then expect the price to be over 1000rmb.

I would go back if it wasn't for the out of the way location.