This Australian chain is among the many foreign contenders for the espresso market. Since I'm always in favor of the minority shops, I try to go here and Coffee Beans over Starbucks. Their drinks are made better than Starbucks in my opinion. They use the "green label" type of milk that ordinary consumers cannot get their hands on. One time I asked the barista if I could buy their milk, and instead, he taught me how to make perfect frothing with your regular Bright Light milk (blue carton kind which tends to puff up too much when you try to froth). The trick is to heat up the milk a bit (but not burning it), put it in the frig for a couple minutes to cool down, and then froth it. I tried it and was happy with the results.
Anyhow, my point is that Jamaica Blue is holding its own in this competitive markets, and they just need to have more locations to compete with the bigger guys...
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Tags: breakfast,
espresso,
sandwiches,
wifi internet
Nestled on the short stretch of JinXian Rd near Shaanxi Rd, this low-key, classy cafe is a haven from the bustling streets of Shanghai. During the day, you can spend hours sipping on your coffee while surfing the net for free. At night, enjoy a candlelight lounge scene over some yummy martinis, romantic jazz music, and beautifully arranged flowers. They do a decent job on appetizers and light fares. I like their quesadillas, chicken wings, pastas and sandwiches. The fries are very good too. They also serve a nice but limited brunch menu on the weekends. If you're looking for a place to relax, this is it.
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This is their 2nd cafe on Changshu Rd., not the original Wukang Rd location, and it's in a much bigger 3-story glass building. In my opinion, it's MUCH nicer than the original one, although it's not much of bar/night lounge as the original one seemed to have been. I was really happy when it opened, because it's close to where I live, and has by far the best brunch deal around. Free wifi internet is also available, along with all the free English magazines such as SH, City Weekend, Shanghai Talk, and That's Shanghai, etc. Ranging from $80-90RMB, you can choose between Italian (my favorite with salmon filet, salami, prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella), Scandinavian, American, Mexican, and coffee (espresso drinks included) or tea is included. The price is a bit on the high side, but with ingredients they put in there, it's a far better value than some of the other places I've been to. The burger is pretty good too, while the other selections are more standard fares. A nice French manager who was working there gave us free refills on espresso drinks but he's gone now... It's interesting to see that these western restaurants start off using Filipino waiters but later switch to local staff --- to save some money?
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Cafe serving yummy sandwiches, steaks and other creative dishes..
This cafe used to be on ChangShu Rd hidden in a cute courtyard. I guess it was too hidden so it was shut down and moved to the current location on Julu Rd near Fumin Rd. Embre joins a group of chichi restaurants-hidden-in-old-houses on this stretch of Julu Lu, including Velvet Lounge/Casanova, People 7, Shintori, Nepali Kitchen, etc. The new place is in a 3-story non-descript building, with minimal deco and no trees. There's a small garden out front, although it's a bit close to the sidewalk so not very private. The wait staff doesn't appear to be carry-over from the old place and doesn't seem to know about the old place. The menu is the same as that at the old location, which has a similar look as those of a Future Perfect and Arch. I usually get the sandwich set (~$60-70RMB), which comes with a soup and a nicely dressed salad on the plate. My favorite is the caviar with eggs on Italian bread. The bread is done less crunchy than at the old place (hmm, I just really miss the old place...) The breakfast can be order a la carte, but I find the pricing to be on the high side if you starting adding everything you want up. The meat and fish entres are done with an interesting tangy twist in the sauces; prices are reasonable for the taste and portion you're getting. The juices are way overpriced --- they should consider giving drink discounts to people who are ordering meals.
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