el Willy
| PHONE: | 5404 5757 | |
| ADDRESS: | 20 Donghu Lu,
near Huaihai Lu |
|
| 东湖路20号，
近淮海路 |
||
| RESERVATIONS: | Reservations recommended for dinner | |
| AREA: | French Concession | |
| HOURS: | Mon-Sat, 11am-11pm
Closed on Sunday |
|
| CARDS: | Local and international cards accepted | |
| PRICE: | $ $ $ $ $ | |
| WEB: | www.elwilly.com.cn | |
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We tagged this venue with:
Donghu Lu, Sherpa's Delivery, Historic Building, Old Shanghai, Seafood, Romantic, Dog friendly, Villa, French Concession, Mediterranean, Spanish, Outdoor Seating, Tapas, Suitable for Business, Organic,
Donghu Lu, Sherpa's Delivery, Historic Building, Old Shanghai, Seafood, Romantic, Dog friendly, Villa, French Concession, Mediterranean, Spanish, Outdoor Seating, Tapas, Suitable for Business, Organic,
Home delivery through Sherpa's is available for this Restaurant.
Click here to view the online menu on the Sherpa's website.
Click here to view the online menu on the Sherpa's website.
Editor's Description
Last updated: January 19th, 2010
el Willy is the eponymous restaurant of Guillermo "Willy" Trullas, and it's a wildly popular, mid-range Spanish joint. Willy's cooking is more contemporary than traditional Spanish -- he does "juicy rice", not traditional paella -- but stops well short of molecular fine dining. It occupies the first floor of the lovely Diage house, including a spacious outdoor terrace with plenty of seating, and is consistently packed. Good wine list, and, courtesy of The Willy, plenty of personality.
Related Stories on SmSh: Diage the Sequel (Mar 3rd, 08) [My Weekender] with el Willy (Jul 25th, 08)
Jan 3rd, 2010
" "
| Value for money |  |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service |  |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
I've tried many times El willy, and each times I really think it's one of the best compromise in Shanghai.
1/ Food and presentation are not overrated, Good and Modern interpretation of what could be a TAPAS.
2/ Really good atmosphere, even if sometimes the service are so-so, the Spanish Chief are very nice and creative (So rare in Shanghai!!) !.
3/ Compare with many restaurant in particularity the 'expat venue', the price are still OK for this kind of food.
Even if I like Jay Jay johanson (often for lunch time or brunch)It should be nice to have more music !:)
1/ Food and presentation are not overrated, Good and Modern interpretation of what could be a TAPAS.
2/ Really good atmosphere, even if sometimes the service are so-so, the Spanish Chief are very nice and creative (So rare in Shanghai!!) !.
3/ Compare with many restaurant in particularity the 'expat venue', the price are still OK for this kind of food.
Even if I like Jay Jay johanson (often for lunch time or brunch)It should be nice to have more music !:)
Nov 28th, 2009
" Overrated "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
3 of us went for dinner. We ordered 6 tapas and some wine. The bill came to over 1200RMB and we were still hungry. None of the dishes were 'amazing', nor anything to write home about. The wine was great, but came at a hefty price. I would not recommend dining here.
Aug 19th, 2009
" A Supreme Let Down, Twice. "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
I gave El Willy two honest tries. Im not sure if people go their to see the chef, or for the food.
If people are going to see Willy, fine. He's a nice enough guy.
If people are going to for the food, they've obviously never had good Spanish food.
Expectations ran high. The decor, menu, and service were all what you'd expect of a higher end establishment.
The "Gambas al Ajillo" used very inferior shrimp. About half were mushy and had zero flavor.
They were also luke warm when they arrived. Perhaps the time it took to plate shrimp in a empty sardine took its tool. Hot on Arrival > Whimsical plating please.
The black truffles they used were of the Chinese variety, lacking in every aspect a decent truffle should have. No intensity of flavor, their lack of veining and dark color, was an instant sign I was in for disappointment. Ive seen places use decent truffle oil to cover lost ground, but El Willy stuck with the tasteless bits of cheap truffles.
Lastly was the "Juicy Lobster Paella". Who are we trying to kid here? Good food starts with good ingredients. Trying to extract lobster flavor from a farmed Spiny Lobster is uber fail.
There are a few restaurants in town going out of their way to import Langoustines, or at least use Maine lobsters. El Willy needs to follow suit. This dish resembled a flavorless risotto rather than any resemblance of Paella.
If you are going there, I'd suggest heading directly upstairs to Oyama, El Willy's polar opposite in terms of food quality. Spare yourself the disappointment.
If people are going to see Willy, fine. He's a nice enough guy.
If people are going to for the food, they've obviously never had good Spanish food.
Expectations ran high. The decor, menu, and service were all what you'd expect of a higher end establishment.
The "Gambas al Ajillo" used very inferior shrimp. About half were mushy and had zero flavor.
They were also luke warm when they arrived. Perhaps the time it took to plate shrimp in a empty sardine took its tool. Hot on Arrival > Whimsical plating please.
The black truffles they used were of the Chinese variety, lacking in every aspect a decent truffle should have. No intensity of flavor, their lack of veining and dark color, was an instant sign I was in for disappointment. Ive seen places use decent truffle oil to cover lost ground, but El Willy stuck with the tasteless bits of cheap truffles.
Lastly was the "Juicy Lobster Paella". Who are we trying to kid here? Good food starts with good ingredients. Trying to extract lobster flavor from a farmed Spiny Lobster is uber fail.
There are a few restaurants in town going out of their way to import Langoustines, or at least use Maine lobsters. El Willy needs to follow suit. This dish resembled a flavorless risotto rather than any resemblance of Paella.
If you are going there, I'd suggest heading directly upstairs to Oyama, El Willy's polar opposite in terms of food quality. Spare yourself the disappointment.
Aug 16th, 2009
" El Willy Rocks "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
This place is great but hard to get in unless you have a reservation, especially on peak hours. Love the tapas, one of the best tapas I have tried in Shanghai so far. Great ambience, like the way they use cloth to break up the room, give it a very cosy feel.
Outdoor terrace is good but a bit tight. The chefs creative jackets is always fun to look at too.
Outdoor terrace is good but a bit tight. The chefs creative jackets is always fun to look at too.
Jul 6th, 2009
" Overrated "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
Way overrated...just because it's cheap. Funny how the Spanish food propaganda is coming over here. Shanghaï is overrated so their western restaurants!
Welcome!
Welcome!
May 11th, 2009
" Oishii! "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
Every Time I visit el Willy i can enjoy the moment in various situations such as business meetings, dating or with friends .
I love el willy's feeling, caz we don't use to eat such a big portions like westen food, we really like tapas like IZAKAYA style. also in asian culture, we have soup and rice at the end of the meal.
el willy has excellent seafood soup and paellas also They use good products from Japan.
Chef, Willy is such a funny talented guy. It seems like he is a wine lover because the wine selection is great!
Lately, the garden of this restaurant open is so nice!!
I love el willy's feeling, caz we don't use to eat such a big portions like westen food, we really like tapas like IZAKAYA style. also in asian culture, we have soup and rice at the end of the meal.
el willy has excellent seafood soup and paellas also They use good products from Japan.
Chef, Willy is such a funny talented guy. It seems like he is a wine lover because the wine selection is great!
Lately, the garden of this restaurant open is so nice!!
May 1st, 2009
" Casual Creative "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
How can someone compare el Willy with el Bulli?? No asparagus air or olive oil finger rings there, but real inventive food that actually fills you up - in a blissful way.
el Willy might not be the best place to go to have a quiet date, especially on a busy night. But the value for money is to me the best in town: the food standard is that of the Bund's institution restaurants but for 30 to 40% cheaper - not many places in Shanghai can claim that.
I have been a regular customer since the opening, and whether on my own or with a bunch of friends I was never disappointed. Some dishes are sometimes long to come, but the friendly and welcoming atmosphere makes you forget about those small details. A high school student or a CEO will be treated in the same way at Willy's - and will most often both be greeted by the chef himself, which does add a little something to the evening.
Those who need 5 waiters and 2 sommeliers sticking around their table might not appreciate the home-style feeling that characterizes this restaurant, but I highly recommend it to all of those who feel like indulging themselves with a really interesting gastronomic experience (the scallop ceviche and the beef cheek on banana and passionfruit are absolute must-haves!)
el Willy might not be the best place to go to have a quiet date, especially on a busy night. But the value for money is to me the best in town: the food standard is that of the Bund's institution restaurants but for 30 to 40% cheaper - not many places in Shanghai can claim that.
I have been a regular customer since the opening, and whether on my own or with a bunch of friends I was never disappointed. Some dishes are sometimes long to come, but the friendly and welcoming atmosphere makes you forget about those small details. A high school student or a CEO will be treated in the same way at Willy's - and will most often both be greeted by the chef himself, which does add a little something to the evening.
Those who need 5 waiters and 2 sommeliers sticking around their table might not appreciate the home-style feeling that characterizes this restaurant, but I highly recommend it to all of those who feel like indulging themselves with a really interesting gastronomic experience (the scallop ceviche and the beef cheek on banana and passionfruit are absolute must-haves!)
Apr 29th, 2009
" How Can You Confuse : Bacon With High Speed???? "
| Value for money | |
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| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
I have a simple question for all the people that are thinking with free of moral changes, compare EL BULLI with El Willy.
Did you ever been to EL BULLI ??? Of course not. Clear like water!!!
Anyone who compare these restaurants obviously never been to EL BULLI. That's for sure!!
Good Luck and keep trying
...How can you confuse Bacon with high speed????...
Did you ever been to EL BULLI ??? Of course not. Clear like water!!!
Anyone who compare these restaurants obviously never been to EL BULLI. That's for sure!!
Good Luck and keep trying
...How can you confuse Bacon with high speed????...
Apr 26th, 2009
" None Of Our Dishes Was Surprising Good "
| Value for money | |
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.. with friends | |
It is a bad joke to compare "El Willy" with "El Bulli" .... sorry guys .... not everyone who likes to be an Einstein is also an Einstein! Mixing tastes and textures or creating new ones is as difficult as it is highly artistic and creative. I would appreciate if more of the reviews would just mention what is so good or so bad here instead of just giving comments without evidence. We went there (already some time ago) and had that dish with bitter chocolate (I do not remember anymore in detail)it was just bad taste as the bitter taste was disturbing, did not fit, not elegant or sophisticated or whatever. The paella, whatever a real contemporary spanish paella is, had a consistency of a thick soup without any special flavour .... None of our dishes was surprising good but the price level and the name raises expectations. Maybe their quality is going up and down - maybe.
Apr 23rd, 2009
" Tapas From El Willy "
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After reading some comments regarding the Paella or the tapas and saying that they were not as expected, I realized the lack of knowledge about the Spanish cuisine. It seems that everybody has a thought of our cuisine (I am Spansih) as the typicall Paella they can eat on the beach with cheap sangria and some really simple tapas. Then, when they find something more elaborated, they complain and they say that this is not Spanish cuisine (like if they were experts). I would just remember to them that for 4th consecutive year, El Bulli, a Spanish restaurant, has been considered the best restaurant in the world. And within the top 10, there are 3 more Spaninish restaurants. Please check the menu of these restaurants and you will realize what is the actual contemporany Spanish cuisine (more alike with el Willy's line).
Mar 13th, 2009
" Real Paella Needed "
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The paella did not taste anything like paella, which was the main reason we went there! The tapas weren't really tapas either (french fries are NOT tapas), however the tapas did taste better than the paella. Decor is great, but food should also be just as good, especially for the price.
Mar 9th, 2009
" Great Dinner Experience "
| Value for money | |
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.. a date | |
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.. business dinner | |
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.. with friends | |
Finally made it here for the first time. Saturday night. Great vibe, great service even though it was packed. All of the food was delicious. This is definitely a place we will put in the circuit!
Sep 21st, 2008
" Outstanding Flavors "
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.. with friends | |
Well - It's interesting to note the polarizing effect that El Willy has had on Shanghai's dining scene. It appears as though Chef Willy is shaking things up in a somewhat moribund post-olympic atmosphere. Four of us dined there a couple of weeks ago and all agreed that it is our new favorite restaurant. The food is playful and non-traditional with a noticable Andalusian underpinning. Prepare to be surprised and delighted with the Tapas offerings. BTW - for the guy who was wondering... "El Willy" is a tongue in cheek take on "El Bulli". If you don't what that is, then I can't help you.
The have a nice selection of fine, dry ports and sherries on the menu which is a nice find. The emphasis here is clearly on flavor and texture rather than presentation. Presentations are interesting but uncomplicated, and the taste always takes priority. Service was haphazard when we were there, but since we had ordered a bunch of small plates it didn't really matter. We were too busy talking and laughing and exclaiming, "My God! What was that? That tasted amazing." It's really nice to see a chef's name over the door and actually find the chef buzzing around the dining room like a mad dervish, expediting and entertaining guests. If you're a staunch traditionalist or looking for a qiet, out of the way date place then you might not find your comfort level here. As far as value for money, I think you'd pay far far more for food of this quality in most places in Shanghai or anywhere else.
The have a nice selection of fine, dry ports and sherries on the menu which is a nice find. The emphasis here is clearly on flavor and texture rather than presentation. Presentations are interesting but uncomplicated, and the taste always takes priority. Service was haphazard when we were there, but since we had ordered a bunch of small plates it didn't really matter. We were too busy talking and laughing and exclaiming, "My God! What was that? That tasted amazing." It's really nice to see a chef's name over the door and actually find the chef buzzing around the dining room like a mad dervish, expediting and entertaining guests. If you're a staunch traditionalist or looking for a qiet, out of the way date place then you might not find your comfort level here. As far as value for money, I think you'd pay far far more for food of this quality in most places in Shanghai or anywhere else.
Aug 1st, 2008
" Overall A Nice Experience "
| Value for money | |
Suitable for... | |
| The food | |
.. a date | |
| The service | |
.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
Last weekend I decided to try out El Willy, I had heard and read good reviews and decided to go.
I was impressed with the decor inside, but preferred to sit outside on a hot night.
The out door seating area was ok, but could be improved to match the more impressive interior.
I felt the Tapas were over priced and the selection was minimal.
But overall it was a nice experience, and the beer was reasonably priced.......Although, after a large group had left their table outside, the staff proceeded to eat the left over's of the discarded plates and pack the rest of the left over's into plastic containers. The staff didn't think twice that this might be odd behavior even after seeing our shocked faces.
Again another Shanghai restaurant where the staff let down a potentially good business.
I was impressed with the decor inside, but preferred to sit outside on a hot night.
The out door seating area was ok, but could be improved to match the more impressive interior.
I felt the Tapas were over priced and the selection was minimal.
But overall it was a nice experience, and the beer was reasonably priced.......Although, after a large group had left their table outside, the staff proceeded to eat the left over's of the discarded plates and pack the rest of the left over's into plastic containers. The staff didn't think twice that this might be odd behavior even after seeing our shocked faces.
Again another Shanghai restaurant where the staff let down a potentially good business.
Jul 9th, 2008
" Try Again? "
| Value for money | |
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| The food | |
.. a date | |
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.. business dinner | |
| The decor | |
.. with friends | |
Actually I don`t quite get the juicy paella.The rice was undercooked with unreasonable price.What i ordered was not timely delivered as well.Bad service.For the compliment I`ve seen about this restaurant,Maybe I just didn`t come the right time.Anyway,I`ll give another try.
Jun 27th, 2008
" Good Quality Tapas "
| Value for money | Suitable for... | ||
| The food | .. a date | ||
| The service | .. business dinner | ||
| The decor | .. with friends | ||
I have been in "el Willy" allready several times since it opened and every time i go i leave more than satisfied. The management is very friendly and they make me feel like at home. The food represents the new Spanish cuisine and is persistent and perfectly executed, the prices are more than reasonable..it reminds me to my trip to Barcelona i will definately keep on going back!
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