La Pedrera Spanish Restaurant, Shanghai

Expanding from their well-known Hangzhou success, the new La Pedrera, opened inside the lobby of one of Shanghai’s historic Bund buildings, continues to offer fine Spanish cuisine with a Catalan flair. Entering through their honeycomb-designed doors, I was of quickly impressed by the open feeling of the spacious dining area and raised ceiling. The uniquely Gaudi-styled decorations are intriguing and comforting, with a generous use of warm, rich colored ceramic tiles and stained glass. The smooth curves of the central pillars, spiral-shaped ceiling, and rolling open staircase in the middle of the main room drew my eyes up to the open, wrap-around second floor bar lounge and extended dining area.

La Pedrera’s strong cooking team, flown in from Spain, can satisfy even the pickiest Spaniard with their large offering of many authentic, well-presented Valencian treasures. Also on offer, served from the longest, and possibly most stylish, bar of any Spanish restaurant in Shanghai, are a wide range of great, hand-selected Spanish wines, Sherries, and liquors.

Our party of diners began the evening’s festivities with a pitcher of white Bubbles Sangria (¥318), a refreshing twist on the more traditional red sangria which matches semi-bitter flavors of sparkling white wines, along with sweet, diced fresh fruits.

The bright citrus tastes of this nouveau-styled sangria opened up the fresh ocean flavors of  our first tapas selection, mouth-watering crispy and juicy Prawns with crunchy Roasted Garlic Chips (¥68) served bubbling in an iron skillet.

A platter of delicious Iberian Ham (5J) (¥320/60g) was next on course. We all marveled as the talented chef carved off nearly translucent slices of this melt-in-the-mouth delicacy right in front of our eyes. The slightly chewy, aged ham was flavorful without being greasy.

Also a winner in my mind, a Catalan tapas favorite, was the quickly devoured Scrambled Eggs with Seasonal Mushrooms and Ham (¥58). This dish also engaged the diners into the action by scrambling the eggs in a hot iron skillet after arriving at the table, allowing the eggs to remain delightfully moist.

We all found our next tapas, another typical Spanish favorite – the Clay Pot of Elvers and Prawns in Spanish Style (¥108) – to be delicious to the very last morsel. This was my first time eating elvers (glass eels) and certainly won’t be my last.

One of my personal favorite tapas of the night was the well-crafted Button Mushrooms Stuffed with Cuttlefish and Shitake (58¥). Deep juices from the roasted mushrooms and fish burst out from every bite, I took pleasure in how the smooth, full-bodied Mibal Tintafina 2008 (¥68) Spanish red wine, with hints of black currants, paired deliciously with the earthy tones of the mushrooms.

From the soft and warm textures of the tapas, our meal next moved on to the cool and creamy textures of Tasmania Oysters (¥48/pc). Each medium sized pearl-breeder provided an abundance of ocean flavors, slightly briny and rich with minerals.

Moving from surf to turf, our appetites were renewed by the wafting aromas of the thick, marbled slabs of grain-fed Australian Beef Steak (¥528/500g) sizzling tableside on the hot stone grill. The red wine’s deep berry taste also proved a great pairing with the stout meaty tastes of the juicy tender beef.

Continuing on our culinary treasure hunt, everyone’s mouths dropped open as the sprawling Grilled Seafood Platter (¥596) presented itself. This awesome grilled seafood combo includes generous samples of fresh and flavorful King Prawns, Giant North Atlantic Wild Scampi, Giant Mediterranean Wild Red Prawns, baby Octopus, Scallops, Mussels, and Clams. Best yet, most of these jewels from the sea were simply seasoned with some sea salt.

Another unexpected star which quickly disappeared without any complaints was this evening’s last entre, Black Angel Hair Fideuà Cooked with Squid Ink, Cuttlefish, Clams, and Prawns (130¥/pp). “Fideuà” is a typical, traditional Valencian main course, similar to “paella”, but made with vermicelli-like noodles rather than rice. Reminiscent of some kinds of Chinese-prepared “fensi bao” (clay or iron pot prepared bean thread noodles), this gem, previously unknown to this reviewer, quickly became a new favorite for which I’ll soon return for more. Each bite of the soft angel hair pasta permeated with rich, savory squid ink, and, combined with soft, fresh, succulent seafood, brought pleasure to our mouths. I really appreciated how the intense nutty aroma and spicy character of my glass of Leonor Palo Cortado Sherry (¥40) heightened the rich taste of the squid ink and seafood.

Speaking of culinary treasures, be sure to save room for their, soon-to-be ubiquitous, Chocolate Gold Bar (¥58)! The abundance of chocolate taste of this hand-made treat rivaled the elegance of the presentation of the gold bar, sitting amidst other small chocolate trinkets and presented in a golden wood jewelry box. The sticky, decedent, and delicious Nectar Pedro Ximenez Sherry (¥25) accentuated the richness of the pure, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate bar. My sweet tooth rejoiced with every bite.

As the décor and ambiance of the open and roomy main dining area creates a soft, comfortable, and intimate environment, La Pedrera becomes an ideal choice for a quick, romantic night with that special someone or group of friends. I personally love the colorfully tiled, dome-shaped bread oven that is visible through the windows of the semi-open kitchen. All this, matched with their attentive and friendly staff, and their team of world-class chefs serving authentic Spanish cuisine, predicts a night to remember. Despite the slightly expensive prices, the meal is still a great value and I’m already counting the days until I return.

(Thanks to Nico for the great pictures!)