Results tagged “cantinaagave”

The That's Shanghai Food & Drink Award winners were released over the weekend, for all you foodies that are curious about what Shanghai likes. And what Shanghai likes, for the most part, is established chains - whether or not they are actually the "best" in their categories. Hey, don't get huffy with us. The guys at That's Shanghai thought the same thing.

So after last night's festivities, City Weekend revealed the winners of its Readers' Choice Awards. Most of the entries weren't too surprising: Jean Georges won for best French in the city, Cantina Agave swept up Best Mexican and “Newcomer of the Year,” and Whisk was the crème of the crop for desserts. We were surprised, however, by Element Fresh's win for Best Wi-Fi. Really? While the Jinqiao location's wi-fi isn't bad (though nothing to write home about), the Portman-Ritz Carlton one only works on the second floor most of the time, and spottily at that. Oh well, we guess it was a hard to quantify category to begin with. Read who won what at the City Weekend site.

It's almost as though Shanghai restaurateur Kelley Lee is reading our mind. First she opens Shanghai's best Mexican place, Cantina Agave, a short stroll from Shanghaiist headquarters (and she always has the flat screen tuned into classic NBA games). And now, we learn (from her) that she is opening a Boxing Cat Brewery almost next door to us. (If next Kelley takes over the Iranian consulate building and turns it into an art house movie theater, the wife may start to get suspicious.)

Someone in Shanghai is looking out for us Californians. First, Cantina Agave arrived and delivered Mexican food the way we remember it. Now, a cafe on Jinxian Lu has brought us New England clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl.

The wait is over. We've finally found a Mexican restaurant that has satisfied our too-long simmering desires for big hearty burritos, soft fish tacos, chunky guacamole, and a selection of salsa both sharp and subtle. The new Cantina Agave, located on the Fumin side of the new Mansion complex on Changle Lu, has brought the California-style Mexican fare we fell in love with back home to Shanghai, wrapped up in reasonable prices and a much appreciated focus on authenticity.