Haven't tried dinners - yet. But it is a once or twice a week lunch stop for me. For which it offers perfect quality/price value. Food is different in its detail, with some original use of spice or dressings. The proposed lunch sets are always appealing, and staff and management makes genuine efforts to cater to their customers. It's low key, deprived of any attitude or arrogance, and has managed to keep us all happily fed and served for over half a year now. In other words, Cantine became our cantine :P
Went there yesterday for dinner with 4 friends.
The Minute Maid corporate design-like environment (or is it supposed to be some design bs?) didn't worked on me at all, I think it makes the place cold, even cheap.
Staff was friendly, but not well trained or professional.
As for the food, I have to say it was outstanding.
The chef is definitely Cantine's strength. Main dishes are quite elaborated for this price range, while remaining comestible (unlike in many other places trying to do what is done at Cantine). Quality of the ingredients is high, execution is sharp, savors are balanced, presentation is neat. Additionally to this we were all bluffed by the desserts, simply excellent. They offer a nice selection of affordable wines.
In my opinion, if Cantine could accommodate the Chef's talent with a more simple/authentic (or less modern-urban-gay-living style) environment, the place would be quite a hit.
They charged us a bottle of white wine we didn't had tough... but I believe this was an honest mistake.
I live in the Jing'An area and enjoy going to Cantine. The service is neat, the food is very good. Prices are reasonable given the well executed dishes, and sometimes interesting combinations. They have tasty wine which starts at around RMB150 a bottle, which adds to the pleasure and tend to make you have a bit more than you should :-)
Keep on the good work!
Cantine opened in October, and since, I went 4 times at different days & times of the week & week-ends. The food and service are equally good whenever you go. The salads and the mains are excellent. I never tried the sandwiches and the desserts, but my boyfriend loves the chocolate fondant (all warm inside) and I like the cheese platter!
I am chosing something different each time and everything so far was delicious. The portions are generous. The presentation is good and makes you drool just by looking at your plate. I recommend the caribbean salad as a starter.
I do not think the place is over-priced given the up-and-coming location, the nice and simple interior, the service and the quality French food. Mains are between 65 and 115, depending if you go for pasta or the 220g prime fillet of beef. The real bargain is the Australian wine (Delish) at 140 for the white and 165 for the red.
The deli next door sells some of the products to take away (at half price); good stuff.
Anyway, this place is now my local and when I crave my homecountry food, I just go to eat at Cantine and chat with the French chef, et voila, I'm happy again!
This place is too expensive seeing the location on Yanping lu. Not bad food but just good and will probably survive because of the French imigrants in the area (Yun He and San He garden).
It would have been good if they would not charge more than other western restaurants. Above 100 rmb a plate I just stop going.The word Cantine in french means often cheap and easy food.Have a try anyway...
I have just returned from my 5th visit to Cantine. Would love to tell a horror story, but there just isn't one. Every time we have been served really top notch food that I think could actually hold its own on the Bund restaurant scene. I have been toying with the idea of keeping this place secret, but alas if more people don't support it I fear it may disappear no matter how great the food is. So, GO! What with a superb steak for about RMB115 and a lovely little bottle of wine at RMB145, you would mad to miss this little Jingan gem.
Find anything wrong or missing in this profile ? Contact us here
