World-renowned Singaporean chef Justin Quek brings his much-lauded modern French cuisine to one of Shanghai’s smartest enclaves.

Having wowed gastronomes in Singapore (Les Amis) and Taipei (La Petite Cuisine), Justin’s latest signature French restaurant Le Platane opens in a renovated shikumen dwelling in Shanghai’s Xintiandi, a downtown nexus of trendy restaurants, bars and boutiques.

The two-storey grey and terracotta stone-gated house stands opposite the site of the Communist Party’s first clandestine meeting in 1921 and beside an ornamental lake, providing a serene, wooded setting in the middle of the office towers. The restaurant takes its name from the plane trees – or le platane – that line the streets outside. A quintessentially French tree, the platane is nevertheless very much a part of Shanghai’s character, making it a fitting moniker for this exciting new restaurant that marries French style and tradition with local spirit.

Le Platane presents two distinct European-style dining experiences on different floors of the shikumen villa. The casually elegant Brasserie and Bar on the first floor offers what Justin terms “high quality comfort food” in a warm, relaxed setting, accompanied by a soundtrack of French jazz classics. Beneath slow-whirring wood fans, the mustard walls are hung with black and white images of Shanghai. Pin-stripe chairs and crisp, white-clothed tables seat up to 70 people. The animated dining scene is reflected in a tall, gilt mirror at one end of the room, while a regularly updated selection of seasonal specials are chalked up on the obligatory blackboard. Beside the marble and leather upholstered bar, a climate controlled glass wine wall holds a connoisseurs collection of old and new world wines, including limited edition bottles of Le Platane Pinot Noir and Syrah by Bass Phillip from Australia.

The menu downstairs changes quarterly and features classic French brasserie favourites with Justin’s signature Asian accents. Specialities include Fresh mushroom cappuccino soup; Baked crab bisque soufflé; Truffle-infused foie gras xiaolongbao; Wild mushroom risotto with sautéed foie gras and seasonal items. Main courses include the signature Roasted crackling suckling pig with spiced red wine and Char-grilled côte de boeuf. A delicate French apple tart is a dessert favourite. The Brasserie’s daily set lunch menu is priced from RMB 150.

Upstairs, the more formal area of Le Platane lavishes “the full fine dining experience,” says Justin, who showcases his signature six-course degustation menus with wine pairings in a 65-seat dining room that blends Chinoisserie and French whimsy. 

Pale green silk wallpapers specially hand painted with flowers, tendrils and swallows dance around the elegant space and creep right over mirrors and silk screens. A customized lighting installation of tiny glass lanterns stretches right across the ceiling, reflected in the mother of pearl dressers and glint of the finest crystal and silverware.

Several distinctive private areas offer exclusive spaces for special occasions and corporate functions. The screened ‘Alcove’, with its own chandelier and cushioned lounge, is an intimate place for a digestif and cigar, while a walled alfresco terrace is popular for pre-prandial cocktails or a romantic dinner.

Two opulent private dining rooms – ‘Truffle’ and ‘Caviar’ – seat 12 diners each and offer numerous configurations for different functions. The ‘Caviar’ room also comes with a private powder room, and sliding doors that open to reveal a window to the show kitchen hung with copper pots, molteni kitchen range and sporting a microphone link-up so Chef Justin can communicate with diners as he prepares their menus. There is a private street entrance to this room for high-level diplomats or celebrity diners.

Le Platane’s various spaces are in hot demand for fashionable events and corporate meetings. In addition to the casual Brasserie and opulent rooms upstairs, Justin offers stunning alfresco dining by the willow-studded lake outside for up to 200 people. 

Le Platane is located at 373 Huangpi South Road, near Xingye Road, Shanghai.

 (information provided by the pr company)

For reservations or enquiries, please contact (86 21 5383 2998 / ) or check out more online at www.justinquek.com.

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