***
The new Camel (Puxi) is those same lads six years later embracing the next stage of evolution. Or maybe Shanghai thrust evolution upon them. They’ve got craft beer and a nicer menu. They’ve changed the name in front from “The Camel Sports Bar and Gastro Pub” to “The Camel Sports Bar and Kitchen”. That gives you a good indication of where they are heading.
So, yeah, in addition to the cosmetic changes (more on those below) the new Camel now has 20 beers on tap, including several craft beer options — you gotta have the craft beer — and a new food menu which tips them into a higher class and price range. Their new chef did a stint at M1NT. Although the menu still offers their standard nachos, burgers, and parma, they’re also offering top-end pork belly dishes and the like. It’s nicer. It’s a “kitchen” and not a “gastro pub”. For drink, beers on tap include Karl Strauss’ Aurora Hoppyalis, Little Creature, Goose Island, Punk, Boxing Cat, in addition to a brand new cocktails list.
Getting into the renovations, they’ve re-purposed the place to accommodate the newer direction. Tables are now closer to the ground and thus more conducive to actual proper meals as opposed to shoving a burger in your face while watching sports on TV. They’ve knocked down walls and opened up their three separate sections. They’ve got a heated smoking patio. The private room at the back has been redone. Overall, they’ve cleaned it up. It's entirely non-smoking.
You can no longer urinate on the television in the men’s room. (Well, you can, but you probably shouldn’t. You’d have to aim up and be pretty talented.)
And speaking to TVs, they’ve got even more — 4 new massive TV walls and 11 new 70-inch TVs. All upgraded to HD. All gigantic. Everywhere is a giant flat-screen so you don’t miss a second of sports action. People may be growing up and having babies and families and whatnot, and therefor need a nicer, non-smoking place to eat and drink in, but let's not forget that sports are the most important thing in life. Sports is why we're all here. For sports fans, The Camel is the same as it ever was. If there's sports on they're open. They show everything. If a sport is being played somewhere in the world they're open and they're showing it. They still "live for sport". Some things never change.
*
Opening party details: The Camel is soft open now from 4pm daily until midnight-ish usually. Their Grand Opening party is December 16. Sounds like it's going to be a rager. In addition to live music, they're giving out boatlads of free booze. To wit: 7pm to 8pm free mulled wine; 9pm to 10pm free Carlsberg; midnight free tequila. They've also got free menu samplers from the aforementioned new chef Mark Beckwith throughout the night. Details here.
SMARTSHANGHAI
7 comments.
I remember writing a pretty scathing review of the Camel when it first opened many moons ago because one of the staff couldn't figure out how to put the NCAA basketball on at 6 in the morning and I ended up cabbing over to Bamboo. Over time, have to really hand it to these guys. They've turned this space and many new ones into Shanghai staples. Can't wait to try out the new setup and food and hopefully this time around no issues with the basketball!
When I was there, I asked the managers/owners about what big sports stuff they've got on in the near future. They specifically said NCAA so they've got your back this time for sure... They're also committed to never ever close if there's someone there who wants to see a game. Apparently, they've had stretches where they've been open continuously from Thursday night to Monday morning or something like that.
M-organ,
saw many of those exact same Brawl on the Bund photos over at That's.
Don't let em' chump ya.
The difference is we post them ironically.
I really hope they've improved the food, because it was slipping into City Diner circa 2008 territory.
"You’d have to aim up and be pretty talented." ..challenge accepted.
@Tyleronline Please choose the middle stall. Left or right would mean you'd have to arc over onto your neighbors.