Interview: Grace Before Meals post-rocking Shanghai
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Xinjiang riot leaves 3 dead, over 20 injured
Sometimes we get nostalgic for the spring of aught-four, and afternoons and evenings whiled away outside at the original Cotton's, on Yueyang Lu near Dongping Lu. The bar that occupied the space after Cotton's forced departure was to be avoided at all costs and then came Freelance, which despite helping Shanghaiist throw a damn fine 80s party, never really caught on for whatever reason. And so now we have Abbey Road, which we told you about at the beginning of the month. We've been there a few times now and we are happy to report that the look, the feel of Cotton's is back. A few notes:
- Amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do. The new owners have really brightened up the place and done away with the dark, bachelor pad basement feel that Freelance had. They also reopened the street entrance to the garden, a good move.
- Yes, there is a Beatles theme, but it's not in your face — a couple things on the wall and one night they did put on a Beatles mix, but no early stuff ("Drive My Car," "I Want To Hold Your Hand," etc.), which in our opinion is a good thing. And the Swiss owner's last name is Aebi (pronounced "Abbey"), so there you go.
- Not quite the beer selection as the place across the street but Abbey Road has Hoegaarden and Newcastle for RMB 35. Not bad. House wines are the same price.
- They have a 300g steak for 80 kuai. Yes, you read that correctly. And that price includes side dishes. Steak wasn't bad, either — could have used some steak sauce (they didn't have any).
- Decent breakfast, too, served most of the day on the weekends. We had scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, a bowl of fruit, yogurt and meusli, tea and a glass of freshly squeezed OJ for RMB 55.
- For what it's worth, a friend says the chairs at Abbey Road aren't as comfortable as the ones Cotton's had.
- Another friend suggests you stay away from the Riz Vegi, a fruit curry that comes with loads of white rice, whipped cream and a cherry on top. But ... fruit curry?
Anyway, a nice place to enjoy a drink or a meal outside before Shanghai's miserable summer is upon us ... which could very well be the middle of next week. (And, yes, the fact that Abbey Road is a short walk from Shanghaiist Headquarters makes it all the more appealing to us.)
Abbey Road, 45 Yueyang Lu, near Dongping Lu. Tel: 6431 6787. Hours: Mon-Fri, 4pm to late; Sat and Sun, 8:30am to late.
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So how long do you think it takes for the bad karma from the Post Cotton's fiasco to fade? Same landor still milks the bar owners right? Sad.
Sound slike a nice place,sounds like it has potential.
don't waste your time. the review is overrated. the food menu is all over the place and the music when i went was dismal; nearly silent. we stayed for one drink and beat it outta there. gone by the end of the year i reckon.
I used to go to the bar when the very first "owner" converted the space into a bar. Taiwanese guy, spoke excellent Mandarin, he was still swindled by the landlord. The scam was, neighbors complain about noise (there was none, soft music inside only--the complaints were made by the security next door, at the school that "sublets" to the landlord. When my buddy was frustrated enough to sell, the "contract" had a clause that said the landlord had to approve the new owner. So he introduces a few people to the landlord, landlord doesn't like any of them, puts a lock on the door.
And guess who the landlord finds as a new owner? One of the people my friend introduced him to. It gets better: my friend is not a complete idiot, just a taiwanese had been living in America for awhile and too trusting. He decides to try and sue, but uses his Shanghai friend to advise him, who is his apartment landlord. They get him a lawyer, introduce him to a judge, etc, who then just milk him for money for nothing basically. he pays out anotherfew grand to recover part of his investment to a group of dodgy lawyers and "judge" that have no jusrisdiction on his case.
May sound funny to you, but he went thru a lot of pain. If I could wipe that greedy scumbag landlord off the face of the planet I would, he seems to have pulled this scam 4 or five times now in this space. And he keeps getting people stupid enough to fall for it. Incredible.
And shame on you shanghaiist for recommending a place with such bad karma to your readers. Are we really that desperate for outdoor seating in Shanghai we need to recommend a Beatles theme bar in a location plagued with problems?
Shame on me for saying I enjoyed a steak, a breakfast and a few beers (not all at the same time) at a comfortable place in my neighborhood?
Do you think this is the only unscrupulous landlord in Shanghai? If we based all of our dining and nightlife choices on which places had honorable landlords, we wouldn't be left with many options.
Anyway, I thought we covered the whole karma topic before Freelance opened and the consensus was that we shouldn't blame the new tenants for having an asshole landlord. Cotton herself even gave it the OK.
But I appreciate you voicing your opinion — that's what the comments section is for — and by all means feel free to keep your boycott alive.
Dan, didnt mean that last comment to come off as a flame, I just have seen with displeasure a sequence of bars pop up in that spot and go through the same sequence as my friend. I have heard from others that the owner enticed them with thoughts of buying cheaper and pulling one over on the current tenant to keep the space from remaining empty...
I can't keep up with who did it, but after reading that last reader comment, who slammed the place, I have to wonder why everyone keeps paying so much attention to the place when the landlord is obviously pocketing a lot of money from our efforts. In my book, he is not a smart businessman, but a criminal...
And sorry, I did not read the karma post before...I am a daily Shanghaiist reader, but not that long...But as the people have decided to help out any new owners, how long will that go on...
If this new place only lasts six months, do we support the new owner, or just pity them?`
Decent point by boya - going to the bar just lines the pockets of the landlord even further. Stupid laowai.
i wasn't planning on going to abbey road, but now that i know bob chippens won't be there, i probably will.
Hahah, great reply, Ruthie! One gold star for you.