Atmosphere: After taking off with a bang, Together has survived more than a year in the fiercely competitive Shanghai F&B industry and after sampling their lunch menu I can see why. Dreamed up by some of Shanghai’s well-known culinary giants the restaurant follows a familiar path of French-Asian fusion cuisine. The space is simple and sophisticated.  Think clean lines, pale wood and a brick clad courtyard, which gives it a warm and inviting vibe. Inside, diners get a peek at how the action unfolds with an entire row of seating that overlooks the open kitchen. 

Food: To me Together stood out because of their flavours. The combinations of ingredients were well paired, showcasing a playful mix of French and Asian style cooking. Bomb sauces and perfect seasoning. You only need one bite of the desserts to tell that there is a mastermind behind these creations. Nothing too fancy, just a selection of classics done exceptionally well.

Dishes of mention:

Crispy chicken with celeriac puree and bacon – lathered in an outstanding sauce

Miso glazed salmon with broccolini – miso glaze was beautifully sweet atop the crispy salmon. Pockets of a rich mole-like sauce took the broccolini to another level!

Fries – well seasoned and seriously crispy, garnished with what appeared to be a sprinkling of a furikake salt – YUM!

Salted Caramel ice cream with bruleed banana – nailed it.

Chocolate brownie – incredibly decadent with a mousse-like texture.

Sadly there isn't a huge selection for vegetarians and vegans on the menu, but I'd be intrigued to see if they were flexible with adapting certain dishes on request. 

Service: If it isn’t obvious already I left Together in a really good mood despite it being a relatively pricey lunch.  The service was pleasant and well timed, a successul execution of fusion cuisine. While the portions look small don’t be fooled, the richness in flavour will leave you feeling satisfied. What can I say, I’m itching to go back and see what the dinner menu has to offer. 

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We are officially in the Shanghai sweet spot between the rainy end of winter and the scorching heat of summer, so now’s the time to seek out and enjoy al fresco dining. In this city, nice decks and good food are usually mutually exclusive, but the aptly named Together accomplishes the rare feat of doing a great job with both.

We went for lunch on a sunny workday and were able to grab the last table out of about a dozen on their deck. The dishes all seem pretty simple at first sight but have subtle creative flourishes to elevate them to the next level.

The burrata had the creamy consistency you would expect in Italy. But paired with beetroot, grapefruit and pistachios, the dish had a much more unique and complex flavor than the typical preparation.

The Tournedos Pork with pepperoncini sauce was a much larger portion of meat than I was expecting. I couldn’t tell if this dish was more Asian or western, but I could tell it was delicious. The meat was tender and the sauce had a kick that helped balance the richness.

It is close enough to the Jingan business district to get in and out for lunch, and just far enough that you probably won’t run into a judgy co-worker catching you having a glass of wine in the middle of the day.

Kid friendliness: Waitstaff were very friendly. They have a large outdoor patio, but on a sunny weekday, most tables were taken up by business type lunches, and we still caught a bit of side eye.

148 RMB for lunch set including starter and main

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This was my second visit to Together for dinner. The first time was during the soft opening and it was not disappointing at all. I was amazed how perfectly every detail was planned and how smooth was the service in such an ambitious culinary project, preceded by the people behind The Commune Social.

This time the experience was different. The seating plan changed, the tables are much closer to each other. The service wasn't smooth and the food was't astonishing like the previous time. Went with my partner in crime and had the braised octopus, the tuna tartare and the oxtail bone marrow for starters. For mains, we shared the roasted truffle chicken and the grilled salmon on miso sauce. I have to highlight that you can choose half or full portions of the mains which is very convenient so you get a taste of everything.

The verdict: not awesome not bad, a sort of 马马虎虎 in Chinese –so, so-. The tuna tartar was a little savorless, the homemade gnocchi’s that come along with the bone marrow were overcooked and the chicken and salmon average. The sides - potatoes and brussels sprouts- were slightly dry as well. The desserts were okay, homemade gelato and a blueberry tart -you can choose any portion of tart/cake you would like from the desserts table.

The place is really well designed since you have several options for seating: a bar facing the kitchen, the general salon and a private one -although now the tables are much close in the general area. The style is minimal, the lighting is very appropriate but a bit noisy.

I guess Together is a successful restaurant as you may see is always full, but don't get relaxed guys, keeping the quality of the food –specially the flavors- and the service, in a long term basis, is the most difficult task in the gastronomic world.

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