Jishi

Whether you’re looking to come here for lunch or dinner, you have to ask your concierge to make a reservation at this local hot spot. If you do, chances are you will be one of only few Westerners in this tiny place. Don’t be intimidated, though: the wait staff is friendly and the menu translated (it helps to get your concierge to write down the Chinese names of some classic Shanghai dishes to make sure you get a good mix of food).

The food is classic, simple and deliciously prepared Shanghainese, meaning a little sweet and uncomplicated. When I had lunch here with my husband, we sampled fried rice laced with pork sausage and vegetables, sweet glazed pork ribs, sautéed snow peas prepared with lots of garlic, and tiny dates stuffed with glutinous rice, all the while watching the surrounding tables grow more boisterous with every glass of rice wine consumed. It was the first—and only—time I felt like Shanghai slowed down enough to reveal a glimpse of its nostalgic, old-world self. Don’t miss Jishi for an authentic local experience.