This previously highly recommended Chinese restaurant is still a solid choice, but the overall quality of the food has slipped in the past year. The decor is minimal and spacious, and the eatery provides a sectioned-off area for large groups of people if booked in advance; but there’s no mood to speak off, and whatever cosiness the place could have had is killed off with harsh lighting and Chinese television. That’s not to say the decor is without merit: customised bamboo-shaped cutlery adds an interesting touch to the table, and the ceiling woodwork (although more Japanese than Chinese) adds an Asian theme.
All that aside, the service is exemplary, the staff friendly and well-rounded, and the food’s good to very good (but not award-winning). Starters are strong, with some decent steamed dumplings on offer and the well recommended money-bags. The menu offers an extensive collection of beef, chicken or seafood-based mains (the squid is a safe choice here) as well as some fine Peking duck. And to top that all the prices are rather reasonable, which makes Shanghai Surprise well worth the visit.
