[Shanghai Girl Eats] Jean-Georges Brunch
Jean-Georges Shanghai | Dianping
Address: 4/F, Three on the Bund, 3 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu (entrance on Guangdong Lu) / 中山东一路3号外滩三号4楼(大门在广东路上)
Phone: +8621 6321-7733
Price: RMB298 set menu or a la carte + 10% service charge
Will return: Yes
This is 1* Michelin star restaurant in the 2018 guide
Jean-Georges was one of the first western fine-dining restaurants to arrive in Shanghai alongside M on the Bund and it is one of the few that has withstood the test of time while other have come and gone. While I have always loved Mercato by Jean-Georges upstairs, two things really triggered a newfound fondness for JG. Last year, the restaurant underwent extensive renovation that transformed it into modernity; this year, the restaurant introduced a la carte offerings in addition to the existing set menus.
Paul Eschbach, who runs all the JG concepts at Three on the Bund and in Greater China, has been doing some great things to make JG an accessible luxury by adding a la carte option, discounting egg caviars (originally RMB388 down to RMB88) during Friday happy hour, and serving up an amazing brunch.
The JG brunch menu is a delectable selection of sweets and savories that can be ordered a la carte or RMB298++ for 3-courses (two dishes and a dessert). Some of the dishes require supplement (marked below). An excellent value for this caliber of food, service, consistency, and straight on Bund view in Shanghai. After JG, my next go-tos for brunch these days are Highline and Mr and Mrs Bund.
Toasted egg yolk with herbs (RMB388 a la carte or RMB188 supplement to set menu)
Recommend: yes
This is one of Jean-Georges’ signature bites. It consists of 3 egg yolks, chives, and a heap of caviar. I cut it in half and eat in two bites but some people just shove the whole thing down in one go.
Tuna tartare, avocado, spicy radish, ginger marinade (RMB148)
Recommend: yes
A refreshing and light start. I prefer this diced tuna version over the dinner version, which consists of long ribbons of tuna.
Lobster Eggs Benedict (RMB146 a la carte or RMB48 supplement to set menu)
Recommend: yes
This is exactly how a good Eggs Benedict should taste with heaps of lobster atop soft buns to soak up the perfectly poached egg yolk and hollandaise sauce. Comes with a potato latke on the side. Choice of ham or smoked salmon are also available (a la carte RMB98) but I always choose the lobster option; smoked salmon belongs on a bagel with cream cheese! Please note: truffle are not included in this dish and you can opt to add fresh truffles when truffles are in season (market price).
Poached eggs with roasted mushrooms, parmesan, herbs (RMB98)
Recommend: maybe
A fine dish but in the grand scheme of this menu, not special enough for me to order when there are so many other things I want. Please note: truffle are not included in this dish and you can opt to add fresh truffles when truffles are in season (market price).
House made brioche French toast with poached pear (RMB88)
Recommend: yes
A thousand times yes to this French toast is incredibly moist on the inside and rivals that of Mr and Mrs Bund, which blew my mind when I first tried it. Emphasis on the moist.
Passion fruit and chocolate chip souffle with passion fruit sorbet and vanilla creme anglaise (RMB88)
Recommend: yes
This is my favorite dessert at Jean-Georges regardless of the time of day. The flavor combination reminds me of Pierre Herme’s passion fruit and chocolate macaron. The best way to eat this is to make a cut through the souffle and dump all of the passion fruit sorbet and vanilla creme anglaise in. There will probably be some overflow but that is okay. Sophistication is the word you are looking for to describe me — I know.
Satsuma diplomat, chestnut confit with cocoa sorbet, dark chocolate ganache (RMB88)
Recommend: maybe
I don’t love this myself but I know others do, which is fine because they can eat this while I am devouring the entire passion fruit chocolate chip souffle by myself. Don’t be deceived by the small pieces — everything on the plate is quite dense.
Nothing beats this skyline on a sunny blue day (when we have them).
