I don’t know if Chinese cuisine has any mantra, but the one above mentioned would fit it to a T. It is the only place in the world where the jokes with "fried scorpions sandwiches" would not be humorous, because, there is, no doubt, a grocery store that sells a range like this (maybe with...grasshoppers topping). China is that heaven-like corner of the world, appreciated by the culinary adventurers, the courageous ones, by those who are fond of experimenting,"thrill-seeking" in a plate. Therefore, that’s definitely NOT for me!

If you want some food, somewhat recognizable in Shanghai and you look for a place where you can have a good, tasty meal and if you want to know exactly what you are being served on your plate, here are the Colored tips for you:

• Nanxiang Xiaolong Mantou - a restaurant with a 100 years tradition, in the Old Center, situated next to Yuyuan Gardens. It is said that it is the most renowned, for its xialongbao, that is to say some dumplings with soup, typical of Shanghai, which consist of pork with chicken or with shrimps, or with vegetables and other variations on the same theme
• Ding Tai Fung - is a chain of restaurants, famous for xialongbao with an open cuisine, so you can see how these special dumplings are being cooked
  
  

• Crystal Jade - the cuisine here is a typical Chinese one; they have got extraordinary dim sum-s, being a well-known and highly appreciated chain, too, spread all over Asia. The decors are very elegant and the food is really de-li-cious!
  
  

• Whampoa Club - I enjoyed the decor, quite a lot, it has Art Deco touches and a bit of glamour, but also an impressive menu with teas and tea sommeliers!! And there’s a tea ceremony in the private saloons. Awesome!
  
  

• Yongfoo Elite - seemed the fanciest restaurant in the city to me, a very inspired option, especially when you want to celebrate something or have an afternoon tea, Chinese style (with all those Chinese cookies and snacks). For example you can choose a Tibetan crysanthemum tea. Interesting, isn’t it? You can find pancakes with sweet-salty cashew nuts in the menu, dumplings with herbs and mushrooms, shrimps with ginger, mushroom soup, lotus seeds, beef with truffles and many other wonderful dishes
  
  

• Jade on 36 - things are a bit different here, because the French-Chinese fusion, typical of this restaurant, but also the skill and qualification of the French chef, with Michelin stars, contribute to a top gourmet style which, as a matter of fact, ranked this place as being among the best in China - foie gras on Gillardeau oysters bed, baked lobster with butter, shellfish and satay sauce, smoked mackerel with reglisa and thai basil flavored yogurt, mint and cucumbers jelly, desserts with pears, chestnuts, oranges and bourbon...oohhh la la!
  
  

• Sir Elly’s Restaurant - a restaurant with French influences, too, given by the the Chef, David Chaveau, who mixes Asian elements with Europeans ones to accomplish little works of art, in a space of  a classical refinement and haute cuisine. You have also a splendid view over the Bund and the Pudong
  
  

• Yi Long Court - a very good restaurant, of a classical refinement, with Art Deco details, with Cantonese cuisine, renowned for its dim sum brunch, served on Saturday or Sunday.
• Lei Garden - I tasted typical Chinese sweets - donuts with sesame and lotus paste, baked papaya with sweetened almond cream, tarts with egg cream, sago pudding with lotus paste - extremely interesting and tasty
• Mr.Choi - you can stop here for a coffee and a cake, because Mr.Choi is a pastry shop, the kind of gourmet, of course. With Napoleon cakes, mille-feuille and superb cheese cakes, fondue cheese and...many others! Too many!
• The Clouds – a very eclectic and cosmopolitan restaurant, at least the design, where the food is perfect
  
  

• Kommune – in the Taikalung Lu area you find this super famous restaurant, who looks as Chinese as possible, with industrial accents, but also relaxed, even a little hipster. I enjoyed there a delicious soup in a thermos!
  
  

Other colored restaurants:

• Mr.and Mrs. Bund -with modern and relaxed French touches, too, with a minimalist, but not simplistic set up. A thai consommé with mushrooms or a Sashimi salmon? With a champagne or perhaps a wine?
• M.Restaurant - belongs to the group M restaurants and is a sophisticated, modern space where you can have a very good meal, and not only Chinese specialties but also international ones
• Tono Palace 131 - is actually, a cafe, where, if you feel lonely or you are an animal lover, you will be over the moon about drinking a tea, close to a cute cat. Don’t worry, they know the way and they come next to you, in order to be stroked, or, why not, to sleep by your side
  
  

• Teddy Bear – to end in a cute way, at Teddy Bear café you can eat a cookie next to a teddy bear. They are all over the place, in various sizes and extremely lovable
  
  

Nan Xiang Xiaolong Mantou
Address: 85 Yuyuan Lao Lu, near Fuyou Lu
Tel: + 86 21 6355 4206

Din Tai Fung
Address: 11A, Second Floor, Bldg 6, Xintiandi South Block, 123 Xingye Lu, Luwan district

Cristal Jade
Address: South Block Xintiandi, 2nd floor – 12A7B, Nanli 6-7, Lane 123 Xynie Road, by Madang Road
Tel: +86 (21) 6385-8752

Whampoa Club
Address: 3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Lu
No. 3 on the Bund, 5th Fl.
Shanghai, 200002, China
Tel: 86-21-6321-3737

Jade on 36
Address: 36th Floor, Grand Tower, Pudong Shangri-La, 33 Fucheng Lu, near Minsheng Lu, Pudong – in Shangri Hotel
Yongfoo Elite
Adresa: 200 Yongfu Lu, near Hunan Lu, Xuhui district

Yi Long Court

Sir Elly's restaurant
The Peninsula Shanghai
Address: No. 32 The Bund
32 Zhongshan Dong Yi Road
Shanghai 200002
The People's Republic of China
Tel: +86 21 2327 2888
Fax: +86 21 2327 2000
E-mail: psh@peninsula.com

Mr. Choi
Address: 1/F, Rm F05, 618 Xujiahui Lu, near Dapu Lu, Luwan district

M Restaurant
Address: 7/F, No.5 The Bund ( corner of Guangdong Lu )
Shanghai 200002 China
Tel: (86 -21) 6350-9988
Fax: (86-21) 6322-0099

Lei Garden
Address: Third Floor, IFC Mall, 8 Century Avenue, near Yincheng Zhong Lu, Pudong