Located at the end of an alley between the center of town and the Hongqiao district, the classy “One-Two-Two-One (Yi Er Er Yi)” has been quietly serving consistently fine food at reasonable prices for the last 8 years. Offering Shanghai cuisine (with a touch of East/West fusion cooking) that’s neither too greasy nor too sweet, this chic, tastefully decorated restaurant has a large and endearingly loyal following in the expatriate and business community.
Most things on the menu will delight, but some standouts include drunken chicken, Shanghai smoked fish, lionhead meatballs, and braised pork with preserved vegetables. Also worth trying are the spicy Sichuan beef with sesame bread, and the crispy duck. Wash it all down with eight-treasure tea (babaocha), steeped with streams of hot water skillfully poured from long-sprouted teapots. The efficient, no-nonsense service could be friendlier but that seems a small quibble in an otherwise excellent dining experience.