/ Food
A Decade of Dining at Luna
Shanghai's dining scene changes faster than the lights on the HuaiHai Road/ShaanXi S. Road junction. Restaurants open in a fanfare of press releases and laudatory reviews, then close barely a year later, submitting with a whimper to the advancing wrecking balls and the inexorable march of Starbucks. That cute little place with the cut-price mojitos and the kooky fusion cuisine? Likely as not, you'll return in six months to find a construction site for yet another residential high rise.
In the face of all this flux and change, a restaurant that makes it to its first birthday is doing well. Consider then that the remarkable Luna recently celebrated its ten year anniversary, and you can appreciate why January 2011 passed in a flurry of customer promotions, special gifts and even a lucky draw with a grand prize of a round trip to Europe.
The secrets of Luna's longevity would appear to be the holy trinity of prime location, consistently good food and an elegant yet relaxed ambience. Situated in the heart of XinTianDi, it's a handy place to fortify yourself with anything from a decent macchiato (Luna prides itself on its coffee) to a glass of wine from the extensive French, Italian and Spanish selection ahead of an onslaught on the bustling boutiques and shops. The combination of a large indoor seating area and al fresco terrace ensure you'll never be short of somewhere to sit and rest those feet, weary from wandering the shikumen lanes. At first glance, the pale, neutral décor and minimalist styling might suggest over-refined dining, but the large windows make the most of the weak Shanghai sunlight, allowing an unmistakably Mediterranean warmth to permeate the space.
The Continental vibe is reflected in the wide-ranging menu, which runs from combination tapas platters to authentic Italian pasta dishes just like Mamma used to make. Chef Erik Berger hails from California, so there are Pan-Asian and Tex-Mex influences evident in dishes such as the satisfying empanadas (spicy minced pork enfolded in buttery pastry) and the juicy Thai-inspired seared tuna kebabs. Dessert goes beyond a chocoholic's wildest fantasy with the Luna Signature Warm Chocolate Obsession.
Food and drink alone might make Luna a worthwhile destination, but as dusk falls, the popular live entertainment by featured local musicians adds a further string to this cafe-cum-restaurant's bow. Provided its unique alchemy is preserved, Luna looks set to be celebrating a second decade of successful dining in 2021.