[Shanghai] The Commmune Social (Lunch)

The Commune Social | Facebook | Dianping
Address: 江宁路511号(近康定路) – 511 Jiangning Rd near Kangding Rd (静安区 Jing’an District)
Date visited: 2013.08
Total bill: RMB¥336 for two people (lunch set ¥168 per person)
Will return: Definitely
What to get:
– Spanish breakfast
– Scallop ceviche
– Goat’s cheese dessert

Update: see my second post for more dish recommendations!

Anything Jason Atherton–I’m there. The Commune Social is the Shanghai counterpart to Jason Atherton’s 22 Ships in Hong Kong–with a lot more space. Just like 22 Ships, The Commune Social serves up tapas with a modern flair. The food looks and tastes great.

The same regular menu is used during lunch and dinner plus some variable specials. For lunch, The Commune Social offers set course options:
– RMB¥168 for 3 dishes from chef’s choice blackboard and a tea, coffee, or soft drink
– RMB¥198 for 4 dishes and a drink
– RMB¥228 for 5 dishes and a drink

Some dishes on the blackboard are regular menu items while others are specials. I have labeled a la carte prices for items that appear on the regular menu.

Today’s lunch set offerings:

Iced tea
Cup remind me of Honi Honi Tiki Lounge in Hong Kong.

Spanish breakfast, chorizo and potatoes (RMB¥68)
Recommend: yes, must get!
I really don’t get excited often enough to add exclamation marks (one is already one too many for me most days). There is a runny egg hiding in there as well. Perfect.

Scallop ceviche, yuzu dressing, soy and cucumber and apple (RMB¥78)
Recommend: yes
Tender scallops complemented by crispy and fruity garnishes.

Pressed ham hock, foie gras, potato, octopus, and mustard dressing
Recommend: yes
The foie gras is inside the center of the ham. This was on the heavy and salty side compared to the other dishes.

Tomato tar-tar, sour dough, tomato air dressing (RMB¥58)
Recommend: no
My friend wanted to be healthy so we got this. I can only take tomatoes in small doses. It was okay, just a bunch of different tomatoes.

Beef tar-tar, oyster escabeche, smoked fat dressing
Recommend: no
Ah my love-hate relationship with beef tar-tar. I love the idea of it but I have never liked any that I have tasted. This one had a really distinct raw beef taste (and I’m not talking about the rarity you taste when you get a rare filet, which is excellent) and it was just too much for me. Maybe this is what beef tar-tar is supposed to taste like and I just don’t like it. I think I just need to stay away from beef tar-tars in general.

The oyster was pretty good although I was a little confused about the beef and oyster pairing. Raw surf and turf perhaps?

Frozen caramel popcorn (Complimentary)
Look at the liquid nitrogen flowing down the sides jajaja.

Goat’s cheese, yogurt sorbet, honey combe, sweet walnuts (RMB¥55)
Recommend: yes, must get!
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is one of them. I especially liked the goat cheese and yogurt sorbet combined.

And last but not least, a take home gift: squid batter that they use for their salt and pepper squid dish. Er, Shanghai Girl Cooks up next?

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