Shang Hai Ling

Ph: (03) 9383 1848; 449 Lygon St, BRUNSWICK EAST 3057

Chinese, $
Open Wed-Mon 6pm-10pm; Mon,Wed-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm; Licensed, BYO, Corkage $1.50 person; No cards, Kids welcomed

Mietta's Review
A brightly painted newish restaurant now found even further into East Brunswick. As the name suggest the speciality is Shanghainese food with some Sichuan and Cantonese dishes included for good measure. It's best to stick to the Shanghainese specials. There's a minimal wine list but you can BYO for $1 a person.

Other published opinions

The Age Matt Preston, 5-12-2005 "From a list of house specialties come little freshly steamed Shanghai-style pork dumplings served with a soy dipping sauce; a couple of firm-doughed steamed buns stuffed with a sparky filling of chopped bok choy and mushrooms; and fried pumpkin cakes. These little orange discs are encased in a strange glutinous membrane that seems to emphasise their sweetness. It's probably heresy, but I loved them dipped in the salty soy sauce. It's an impressive start, especially given the complimentary overture of a simple vegetable soup flecked with egg white and fine shreds of cabbage and carrot. Simple, delicious and all very child-friendly."

The Age Cheap Eats 2006 Complimentary cups of silky mushroom soup are a clue that this red-and-gold diner (decorated with Chinese poster girls) makes an extra effort. It's confirmed when entrees arrive

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "THE freshly painted red and gold interior colour scheme looks uncannily like the Shell servo across the road, but pre-revolutionary posters for decadent cigarettes and gin transport you to another time, another country."