Shanghai Me Dubai — Restaurant in Dubai

The hostess at the door along with the security man on duty work on “eye service”, returning customers are not always welcomed especially if you are a man and a person of color for that matter, there is a 50/50 chance you may not be welcomed here. Shanghai me management has clearly given too much power and authority to the front door staff who pick and choose who they let in.

I was at Shanghai me a week previously with my partner where we dined and we had a good time and I honestly couldn’t fault the place however when I returned the following week with my younger sibling and a friend that was visiting the security at the door wouldn’t let us. I spoke to the security staff politely trying to understand why and come to an understanding, he just acted like who couldn’t remember me from the week before. The girl at the door who was the hostess also did the same in such ignorance even though my partner and I had a long chat with both of them the week before. She acted like she didn’t recognise me.

When I asked for a particular supervisor, the security staff told me that the manager/ supervisor I was asking for doesn’t work there as he tried to make me look stupid, the hostess then said she will get the manager only for her to go and not do anything she didn’t ask for the supervisor to come out and speak to us, according to her she was in charge and no one was going to overrule her decision, fyi this is what power does to people who think they are better than others.

We watched as the security let other guest in jerseys and sport attire into the establishment without any issue. He also let guests with no reservations in.

To the Shanghai Me management - This experience will not make me return to your establishment to spend a dollar - Treat your customers with respect irrespective of who they are with, that’s customer service and that’s showing that you care stop treating people like they don’t matter.

Your establishment is clearly discriminatory and sexist. It was acted out in plain sight and there is no denying that.

Apart from the front of house experience the staff inside the establishment and the service is good.

Just a night ruined by two front of house staff who were extremely...

Shanghai Me offers a pleasant modern Chinese culinary experience with a variety of dishes.

The “Ground Wagyu Beef Corn Shells” (8.5/10), these tacos stand out with their rich, savory flavors and perfectly crisp shells, making them a must-try.

The “Sesame Prawns on Toast” (8/10) are equally delightful, with a nice soft prawn layer and a satisfying crunch. A delicate balance of flavors.

The “Shanghai Crispy Calamari” (8/10) offers a well-executed dish that is quite common in todays fine dining restaurants. Nice and crispy.

The “Crispy Duck Salad with Pine Nuts & Cress” (8/10) is refreshing and well-balanced, offering a pleasant mix of textures and flavors.

The “Sweet & Sour Prawns with Mixed Peppers” (7.5/10) are flavorful but could benefit from a bit more complexity in the sauce.

The “Prawn Egg Fried Rice” (7/10) good but was slightly dry, lacking the moist texture that would make it exceptional.

The “Sweet & Sour Chicken with Mixed Peppers” (7/10) is solid but doesn’t quite stand out although the chicken was fairly tender.

Finally, the “Coconut Flan with Ginger Ice Cream” (7.5/10) provides a refreshing end to the meal, with a nice crispy base of coconut. The ginger ice cream added a nice contrast to the dish. With some slight tweaks this dish could easily jump a whole point to make it more delicious.

In addition to the well-crafted dishes, the service was excellent, ensuring a smooth dining experience. The vibrant and energetic atmosphere of the restaurant further enhanced the overall enjoyment, making it a great spot for an upbeat night out.

Overall, Shanghai Me delivers a satisfying dining experience with a few minor areas for improvement to make it achieve and 5...

Panda Express.

Make it expensive.

Remove any proper AC and ventilation.

And you get Shanghai Me.

But on a more serious note. The food was technically good, specifically the dumplings. But the mains (all we ordered were their “ME” marked Chef Specials) tasted good but not what I expected from reading all these positive reviews.

The meat mains ranged from seasoned blandly to heavily salted with almost no in-between. I was not entirely kidding comparing this place to Panda Express or Panda Chinese. One of the beef mains tasted almost exactly the black pepper beef at Panda Chinese.

On top of that the service was somehow both on-point and disappointing.

On one hand we were seated promptly and courteously, but on the other the lack of properly working AC (in Dubai’s summer) meant the waiters tried to keep the Lounge (which did have working AC) “fenced off” so-to-speak for most customers. We had to request a second time on moving before they accepted and changed our table to the Lounge area.

I suggest doing the same or otherwise you’ll be sweating or greeted by the loud blowing noise of the impromptu portable air conditioners strewn about the restaurant, completely ruining the otherwise gorgeous interior.

Also, when we first requested changing our tables, they informed us that the other room was a Smoking Area. Which came as a surprise because the entire restaurant—“smoke free” area included—reeked of tobacco…

It could be the bad cooling system and/or ventilation to blame. But oh well.

Would not revisit. I’d suggest ordering Chinese takeout and getting a pack of Marlboro if you really want to experience...