Shanghaiist: City Diner should open sometime this week (we think)

Jarrett

Wed, 19 Apr 2006 16:07:32 +0800

Just had lunch there today. Fantastic homemade corned beef hash with two perfect poached eggs. Good chilli with lots of cheese and sour cream, nice hunk of cornbread on side as well. Big portions. The hamburgers looked great but didn't try one. Great spot but give em time. The service is still struggling.

Nick

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:20:42 +0800

Oops - forgot to mention how the burger actually was. It tasted average. Not bad, but nothing on Blue Frog's burger taste.

Nick Withycombe

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 19:15:44 +0800

I went for lunch today. I like the suede. It's very comfy. I was hoping for cheesy diner-ness but on second thoughts I was glad they didn't go there. Themed diner-style would have had a lack of permanence. The comfy seats went well with the ambience. I suppose it was Kelley Lee I briefly talked to, plus Eduardo. Nice people. I tested their burger. The good point is that it's 50rmb and you can add any or all of egg, bacon, cheddar cheese, onions + chilli beans for no extra cost. They have a few quick lunch sandwiches for 30rmb +, eg BLT (with option of fried egg for no extra cost). The breakfasts look varied and at a decent price. They have a large range of different fries. I also had the shrimp + avocado sandwich -- delicious! The shrimps were big and juicy, the bread was nice, and it was 40rmb. I forgot to ask about wireless. I will definitely go back there for more sandwiches, they looked interesting. They do a different main dinner dish each night, eg rotisserie chicken. I haven't tried their cakes/pies/shakes but will do soon. It's hard to know exactly how a place is at this stage, obviously, especially because we ate in it with only one other person in the corner, so it was nice and quiet. They said that the soft opening would go on for two weeks, then they'd have a party for the 'real' opening. I think it's definitely a very good addition to the area. They might want to lower the price of their 18RMB soft drinks though (even if there are free refills).

machiatto

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 18:11:30 +0800

Lunched at Eat Drink Man Woman today and got a glimpse of City Diner while I was at it. Lots of waiters lurking around, but it doesn't look like it's officially open yet. Hurry up Mr. Vargars, I can't wait to sink my teeth into a reuben for lunch (i work but a stone's throw away), or a shortstack at 2am when pancake cravings suddenly hit. BTW, Eat Drink Man Woman seems to be losing it's touch. Their pineapple fried rice now comes minus the pineapple they used to serve it in. The cashews were missing too, resulting in a rather unpalatable dish.

A.Robb

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:55:58 +0800

They're smart restauranteurs. Surely with some mix of timing, smoking&non sections, and/or a big air filter they'll get it right...

blueplate

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:33:47 +0800

It's gonna be hard to enforce that no-smoking policy at 3am ARobb, maybe a time table would be more appropriate (smoking after ten?). Plus, where are the wrinkly waitresses gonna puff on their Virginia Slims? Meatloaf - bring on the brown gravy and mashed potatoes. Mmmmmm.

A.Robb

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:51:35 +0800

The other day, I had a sneak peak at the menu, from meatloaf to milkshakes, corned beef hash to Reubens, grilled cheese to full on 'blue plate specials' it's real folks... And in a few weeks they'll be open 24/7 and provide 24/7 delivery? Moon River can kiss my grits, City Diner is going to kick ass. And the prices are totally reasonable - clearly lower than Malones et al. I was there on Sunday with a friend who was talking some business with the management. Yes, they still have some decoration matters to attend to. Hope they can swap out the suede booths soon. But what's of greater concern to me is the smoking policy. While some cigarette addicts cannot imagine a diner table without an ashtray, I'm hoping they will uphold a no smoking policy. It's basically a one room place and a few smokers would choke out the rest of us. If Starbucks, McD, and KFC can thrive without smoking, I hope City Diner can too. BTW - all baking done on premises means fresh bread and deserts. I only tasted the carrot cake (3 layers!) and an espresso (Illy!) and both were great. I suppose anyone's real reviews should wait a few weeks for them to 'officially open' etc.

Jarrett

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 15:30:25 +0800

I agree - diners should be comfortable and cheap. Pleather booths, surly waitresses, stained coffee cups and that upright glass coffin of rotating desserts. In reference to the City Diner story, it should be noted that Kelley Lee, an American who was once the Exec Chef at Azul and later left to open iiiit! and other ventures, is also a partner in the diner and will be designing the menu and running the kitchen. Kelley knows a thing or two about diner food so it should be good. Here's hoping they've got a nice, greasy patty melt and piles of chicken fingers...

马耷

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 10:34:19 +0800

Diner is 20% about food, 10% coffee, and 70% about a "home-away-from-home" or "comfort-zone-around-the-corner" atmosphere. In fact, Barry Levinson's 1982 movie, the poster of which you laudably used as the banner, would explain the charm of a hometown diner more eloquently than anything we could ever attempt in writing. I am not too optimistic of these new diner ventures coming to town. A diner serves cheap, casual, hearty, homely food. High-priced diner food is self-contradictory. It is also self-defeating, if the vanity factor that always comes hand-in-hand with higher prices in Shanghai, kicks in and takes away the comfortable, at-ease ambien.

yu888

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:56:26 +0800

Reliable sources say that Moon River Diner will let City Diner pave the way downtown. Conjecture says they will develop businesses where there is more families and such as the "soccer mom" crowd really does fill their places up on both sides of the river. As for City Diner, many a ShanghaiExpat will be anxiously waiting for its opening as JingAn Area is far more convenient! As for "Diner" it is not the "prefabricated structure" that defines it, rather it is the food. Diner food is American comfort foods at its best (and worst if you are on a diet) :)