/ Reviews / Spanish
Beating the mid-week Blues
by Zach Etkind
on Friday, November 11, 2011 12:00 AM
With life in Shanghai moving at such as wild and frenetic pace, it sometimes seems impossible to avoid getting overly stressed out during the workweek. The Little Weekend Parties, hosted every Wednesday night at Chai Bites Lounge, provide the perfect venue to do just this.
Located in the Embankment Building, built in 1935 by the prolific businessman Victor Sasoon and filled with unique contemporary Chinese artwork, Chai Bites Lounge is a cozy tapas and cocktail restaurant that combines modern décor with a historical setting. A Spaniard named Tucho founded this lounge a year ago hoping to create a space that expertly balances elements of both European and Chinese culture. Art aficionados and novices alike will be delighted to find that original pieces of artwork not only adorn the walls of this establishment but cover the pages of its cocktail menu as well.
Each Wednesday night, a new theme is introduced based on one of the lounge's signature cocktails. In addition, a special tapas and dessert platter is available. This past Wednesday, the theme was Havana Nights and the special cocktail was the Shall We Dance (RMB60), a mixture of rum, orange juice, and cane sugar that added some Cuban flare to the evening. The tapas platter (RMB180) came with Seared Scallop infused with essence of lime and passion fruit, Sobrasada (pate of Spanish chorizo), Grilled Eggplant with toasted parmesan and honey roasted fig, Iberico Bellota Ham on a bed of tomato, and a Russian Salad (a blend of tuna and cubed potato with a pickle and olive garnish). The highlight of this platter was the eggplant dish; the sweetness of the fig blended perfectly with the sharp bite of the cheese. Anyone looking for an authentic taste of Spain will love the sobrasada, which was spread on a piece of hearty toast to give it a salty and savory kick. The only downside of the platter was the scallop dish, which was overpowered by the fruitiness of the passion fruit. The French Chef, Emma, says she tries to use local ingredients to create Mediterranean-Asian themed tapas that are filled with substance without coming off as too pretentious.
Between its laid back and art-centric interior to its delicious tapas menu focusing on giving local ingredients a European twist, the Little Weekends at Chai Bites Lounge is a worthwhile mid-week retreat for anyone needing to take a step back from overcrowded and busy streets of Shanghai.
Chai Bites Lounge
G/F, 410C Bei Suzhou Rd, near Henan Rd
北苏州路410C G楼（近衡山路）
5234-2709
