" For All The Hype, A Small Let Down "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

For all the hype on SuperFuture, SmartShanghai, and other forums, I was let down. If this is the best Japanese Shanghai has to offer, then connoisseurs should be aware. The only thing the No. 803 Julu Rd. location has to offer is its Shintori-famous decor--which certainly delighted my guest and me. However, there are far better quality locations the world over: Kappo Seafood in Torrance, CA and various locations in Taipei are some of the best outside of Japan.

What specifically disgruntled me was the defrosted sashimi, a telltale sign that an establishment does not understand the fineness that is Japanese dining. To compound my unhappiness, the dinner menu failed to provide a sake and sochu list, instead opting for a wine list--meticulously constructed, according to several reviewers on the Internets--of a selection of Californian reds and whites.

While I am disgruntled, I will return for the famous Shintori ambience if nothing else. It is still a marvelous place to visit (granted, for the undiscerning palate), and patrons should definitely order the Rock & Roll Salad.

" Decoration Is Great But Too Pricy "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

Decoration is great. Minimalism is their theme and each outlet is decorated with bamboo. However, food portion is terribly small and we felt like unfed even after spending several hundred each and need to go someplace else for another dinner immediately.

" Easy On The Eyes "

Value for money		Suitable for...
The food		.. a date
The service		.. business dinner
The decor		.. with friends

Serious fans of architecture and design will love Shintori. It's huge open spaces, concrete industrial interior and spare furnishings will delight the artsy set. Proportion and scale have been properly attended to and the overall effect is one of harmony, taste and deserved grandiosity. The food... not so much so. I can't really say anything negative about it. It's good, presentable and occasionaly interesting. But the flavors and freshness aren't exceptional and sometimes the whole thing feels assembly line - like. I guess my biggest complaint is that in a restaurant of this pedigree and staff to diner ratio the sushi/sashimi should be breath-taking. Here, the only thing awe-inspiring is the size of the bill you will be presented with. Haiku stocks the same quality of fish and saki at about a third of the price.