Best Food In China

Location

Blue frog… it’s one of those chain places right? Right and wrong, Blue Frog is not the usual paint by numbers franchise operation we are used to in Shanghai.
There are 7 outlets in this city alone, and though they all follow the same well-crafted formula they each retain their own character (a little hyperbole on my part as I have only been to four of them). This one in Xujiahui is the latest addition to the Blue Frog family and I’m sure the thousands of XJH office workers are welcoming its addition to the Tianyaoqiao strip.

The food style here I guess is what you call an upscale American diner. With pastas, soups, salads and the other usual subjects like chicken wings and the popular Blue Frog Burger. Something new on this visit or perhaps something I hadn’t noticed before is the seasonal menu insert at the front of the food menu; currently this is sporting a few interesting looking Autumn inspired dishes. Finally worth mentioning are some higher-end main options, including; Grilled Sea Bass and Veal Sausages with Mash, which if prepared with the same attention as the cheaper options, should be delicious.

Once again I totally enjoyed my latest dining experience here, after a long day in the office it was just ‘easy’. Our server was very pleasant and spoke better English than your average ICS TV presenter. The food came out in the right order and everything cooked to the right degree, including my medium-rare burger. The atmosphere was relax, the beer cold and the food all tasted good.
Talking of the food, I heartily recommend the burgers, I know the term ‘best burger in Shanghai’ is thrown around a lot, but as far as chain restaurants go at least, these guys are a definite contender (I like to take the standard and add chilli and cheese, and an egg if I feel I need the extra protein boost). For those less gluttonous than me, the pastas and salads are also solid choices. The Caesar, which is a culinary yardstick for me, was extremely generous in its size and impressively used real cos lettuce, which is something you don’t even find in a lot of the upper-tier places around town.

On the other hand if you are here for just an after work snack and a bevvy, the chicken wings are some of the best value in town. Matched with a couple of cold San Miguel or Heinekens at happy hour (4-8pm everyday), the list of better value after work hangouts looks pretty lean.

To sum up, this is the place to suggest when a group of friends are stumped for somewhere to go. It hits all the marks; affordable, good atmosphere, friendly staff, good eats and drinks. Enjoy!

Tip: Blue Frog has something going on every night of the week, be it 2-for-1 burger deals Monday, steak specials on Wednesday or the brunch on Sunday (‘Frunch’, for marketing purposes). Check out the usual media around town for details

by Sam White

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