[Shanghai Girl Eats] Xixi Bistro 喜喜小馆

Xixi Bistro 喜喜小馆 | Dianping
Address: Xintiandi North Block, Unit 16, No 2, 181 Taicang Lu / 新天地北里太仓路181弄16号02单元
Date visited: 2017.05 (open for lunch and dinner)
Price: RMB100-150 per person
Will return: Yes
What to get:
– Crispy pidan, avocado, tofu
– Spicy shrimp rice bruschetta
– Spring roll with ragu filling
– Chicken soup with black truffle
– Pesto fried rice

Xixi Bistro, formerly on Wuyuan Lu near Wulumuqi Lu, has reopened in the heart of Xintiandi. Owners Pier and Ivan are back with favorites from the original Xixi along with a number of new dishes. Xixi is cute Chinese with an Italian twist. It is good value, always a crowd pleaser, and something different from the usual Chinese fare.

The entrance of Xixi is slightly hidden from the rest of the restaurants in Xintiandi north block. Go to the corner where Kabb, Godiva, and Aniseed intersect and you will find these stairs up to Xixi, where it has has taken over two floors of beautifully designed spaces for food and drinks. The first floor has a tiki bar and a lounge bar while the second floor is the main dining area. Every detail from the walls and furniture to the plates and menus were tastefully done by Pier and his sister.

Tiki Bar (1/F)

Xixi Lounge (1/F)

Xixi Dining (2/F)

Sunflower seeds and Haw flakes full of childhood memories for snacking.

Crispy pidan, avocado, tofu (RMB58) with sesame vinegar sauce
Recommend: yes
Pidan doufu (century egg and tofu) is a tried and true traditional Chinese cold dish. Xixi elevates this dish by frying the century quail eggs and adding avocado and cherry tomato. Excellent.

The fried pidan is the highlight of this dish. A small but brilliant change to the traditional pidan.

Spicy shrimp rice bruschetta (RMB32)
Recommend: yes
Cifangao (fried rice cake) is a childhood street breakfast that has become increasingly more difficult to find. Xixi uses these fried rice cakes as the “bread” in its bruschetta. There are several different toppings you can choose from such as a.) jellyfish and smoked salmon, b.) prosciutto, cherry tomato, and osmanthus, and c.) smoked mozzarella with cherry tomato and osmathus. My favorite is the spicy shrimp.

Spring roll with ragu filling (RMB38)
Recommend: yes
I am not the most adventurous eater so when I see a description like this on the menu, I won’t order it. But it just takes one person at the table who is more adventurous than me to insist on trying this — and it turned out to be delicious. For a more traditional take, the Shanghai style spring rolls with prosciutto and cabbage (RMB32) is a great option.

Chicken soup with black truffle (RMB38)
Recommend: yes
Smell the truffle aroma as you close in on this hearty soup. Portion is good for 2-3 people.

Pesto fried rice (RMB38) with chicken, toasted pine nuts, and parmesan crisp
Recommend: yes
My all-time favorite from the original Xixi menu — now with a parmesan crisp that you can break up and mix into the rice. Delicious.

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