It's time for your monthly serving of new restaurants, bars and tasty gossip tidbits. This month we are doling out that juicy, juicy gossip, in “value meal” servings since Shanghai’s food & beverage scene is super-sizing these days. Goodbye portion control.

Bar Goodman

Everyone’s favorite smash burger joint Goodman shocked Shanghai’s hungry masses by closing this past March, but it has flipped back onto the scene this past month, repositioned as Bar Goodman. The new digs are in the previous second floor Little Catch space along Yanping Lu in Jing’an.  This low-lit neighborhood bar features a menu of classic smash burgers, shareable plates (fresh oysters, steak tartare, fried chicken, fish schnitzel, steak- frites, and the like), and a signature, sub-zero cocktail program.

Nono's Seafood Tower

Backed by the majority of the same team, Nono’s, sister restaurant to the iconic Yaya’s, just launched an epic brunch lineup, all in the same Italian-meets-Chinese vein. Think overflowing seafood platters made all the more enticing with the addition of homemade XO sauce, locally-sourced seafood, and Taiwanese berry and soy sauce preserved fish crudo, creamy burrata swimming in an oxheart tomato salsa with basil, Shaoxing wine-marinated tuna with a nip of Sichuan peppercorn heat, Hong Kong diner stye scrambled eggs with char siu, croque madame pizza, roast chicken with a ginger scallion, and so much more.

I reported this past April on celebrated mixologist and owner of Union Trading Company, Yao Lu opening another bar in Shanghai, poetically dubbed Alma Luna. Well, the time is now, and Alma Luna is currently in soft opening. Inspired by the romance and rhythm of steamy Havana nights, the bar features warm lighting, vintage décor, and subtle patina, exercising restraint rather than excess in a space for 45 patrons. This is not a high energy outpost like UTC, but rather a space for casual conversation, connection, and presence over tasty tipples. Regarding said tasty tipples, the cocktail program bridges Cuban classics and contemporary creations like a frozen Miami Vice, a smashable daiquiri, and a booze-forward El Presidente, to name a few. On the food front, Alma Luna is collaborating with Chef Ling of Spanish resto Pirata on a lineup of sharing plates and snacks. Alma Luna is officially open to the public August 2 along Xiangyang Bei Lu.

So Mezze

With three solid years under its belt already, Turkish “tapas” resto So Mezze has expanded with another location, So Mezze Turkish, in EKA Tianwu, an art and design district on Tianyaqiao Lu in Xuhui District. Come hungry and ready to enjoy a mix of marinated and flame-licked meat skewers roasted over hot coals, mezze sharing plates, wallet-friendly wines, and more!

Lai Lai Lai

Similarly, casual Thai canteen Lai Lai Lai has also opened a second branch with a more expanded menu along Jiashan Lu. Like the trendiest Bangkok bistro with Chinese flair, Lai Lai Lai is cheap, cheerful, and quaint. The new location brings more dishes, like roasted pork ribs, roasted threadfin fish with fresh herb salad, stir-fried curry lamb chops, and other hearty curries and mains to the hungry Former French Concession crowd.

Soyfish

Another expansion, Shanghai’s latest sushi and New York-style handroll bar, Soyfish has swung open a second set of doors in Huangpu District on Nanjing Xi Lu. The green-hued space is doling out signature creations, like a deluxe seafood rice bowl, a bluefin tuna roll with black truffle, and a sriracha tuna roll, among many others.

16è

Last month, I covered the expansion of the Guangfu Lu area along Suzhou Creek near Fotografiska, and another round of F&B openings is underway, with Parisian bistro 16è leading the charge. This modern French style restaurant’s focus is a 10-course set menu, which is currently being offered at a 50% discount for soft opening through the end of the month. Look forward to creative-meets-classic French fare with an Asian twist, like Brittany blue lobster with burnt corn, oxtail and smoked duck liver ravioli with duck consommé, pigeon breast with asparagus and green pea purée, and freshly baked strawberry madeleines.

Candyshop

For the night owls, Candyshop is the city’s newest live music venue, which opened on July 24 on Fenyang Lu. This curated lounge was created by the former hip hop club Ninja team delivering a relaxed and comfortable lounge atmosphere with energetic party undertones fueled by shisha and cocktails. Expect live DJ sets spanning afro house to Latin dance to hip hop and R&B.

102 House

Onto the closures, two Michelin-starred 102 House recently shuttered, shocking the city’s fine dining crowd. Having started as a private kitchen in Foshan, 102 House matured into a Bund-side restaurant, specializing in traditional Shunde cooking methods and Cantonese banquet cuisine by respected chef Xu Jingye. Chef Jingye is currently focusing on collaborations and pop-ups with hopefully reopening news (or a new opening perhaps) down the line.

Yak & Yeti

Nepalese restaurant and bar Yak & Yeti celebrated its last hoorah last weekend along Xiangyang Bei Lu, with owner Anup Rajbhandari aiming to move onto greener pastures. RIP the most refreshing Yeti Spritz.

Tap House

In Shankang Li, cheap and cheerful beer hall Tap House closed last month leaving a prime real estate vacancy in this bustling lifestyle hub. Fingers crossed an equally lively venue takes its place.