Fine Italian Bistro New Wave by Da Vittorio Will Impress (Closed)

This venue is now closed. For more restaurants in Shanghai, click here.

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New Wave is an Italian restaurant located within the UCCA Edge museum in Hongkou, Shanghai.

It opened early 2022, and is the sister restaurant of Da Vittorio Shanghai, a Michelin two-starred and Asia’s 50 Best restaurant. If I were to compare the two, I’d say New Wave is “fine bistro,” casual yet sophisticated, and much more approachably priced.

The Space

It’s located on the third floor of the partnering museum. The space includes a coffee shop out front, and a bar that leads to the dining room, which is half parlor, half glasshouse with private rooms on both sides.

It’s casual yet elegant, and a great destination for wooing your special someone.

The Food

The experience is one that’s made to impress, especially on service, which is flattering and exceptional. As for the food, it’s a mix of traditional and modern, menu designed by chef de cuisine Francesco Bonvini.

House focaccia

I had the six-course tasting menu priced at ¥998, which borrows from seasonal a la carte dishes and then some.

There were plenty of high notes: legumes in a rich seafood broth that was comforting yet luxurious, velvety amberjack, a playfully spicy oyster, and luscious fresh pasta with lobster. The sirloin, while enjoyable, did not showcase much else except being a cut of good meat cooked well. Had I known, I’d have opted for something more exciting.

Note: additional images are from my dining partner’s menu.

Also, I might add that New Wave caters for certain dietary restrictions quite well.

Appetizer. Intense tomato flavor, a sliver of clam, toasted breadcrumbs for texture, and burst of freshness from basil, served in an Andy Warhol inspired Campbell's soup can. Soup so delicious you strain to get every last drop.

Fregola From The Sea – Seafood soup with lentils cooked with lobster, scampi, shrimp, and garnished with salted pistachios.

Chicken liver pate with Xinjiang pear and Lambrusco jelly.

Amberjack – Tataki-style crusted in pepperoncino served with parsley sauce. Creamy, velvety fish with a delicate sauce.

Char-Grilled Gillardeau No.1 Oyster – Hot and cold in one bite. Baked oyster with tomato jelly and crouton. It’s spicy, briny, and bursting with umami. A fun flavor bomb.

Homemade fresh fettucine pasta with lobster – A signature dish. Would definitely recommend the a la carte portion, ¥298.

Fresh Casoncelli Bergamasca-Style ravioli – Wrapper-shaped pasta filled with meat, vegetables, cheese, and breadcrumbs, served with fried pancetta and sage.

Roasted Australian M5 beef sirloin with eggplant “parmigiana”.

Pre-dessert: raspberry sorbet.

Esotico Tropical Breeze – Coconut parfait, mango sauce, mango gel, and passionfruit finished with a spritz of mint essence.

The meal ended with their version petit fours, cream-filled cannoncino and chocolates.

The Drinks

Overall the meal was pretty impressive. The drinks were equally good, courtesy of bar manager Fabio Sajeva.

Fabio Sajeva

The cocktails were great, but I especially applaud the effort in the non-alcoholic selection, which are innovative and enjoyable, and far from just juice and sugar topped with soda water. For wines, speak to sommelier Camilla Mora, who will charm the pants off you with her exuberant energy and knowledge about wine.

Bubbles & Balloon (¥108) - Gin, strawberry, barrel aged plum liquor, Franciacorta sparkling wine.

Color Me Purple (¥108) - Tequila, watermelon, chili, lemongrass, hibiscus, Italian bitters.

Tropical Snow (¥108) - Rum, passion fruit, apricot, dry vermouth, basil, coconut granita.

Tropical Sicily (¥78) - One of the mocktails. Pineapple, coffee, pandan, pistachio.

The bar does stay open until much later. Recommend staying for a nightcap.

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New Wave by Da Vittorio
Address: 3/F, UCCA Edge, 88 Xizhang Bei Lu 西藏北路88号UCCAEdge三层南侧
Tel: 61202068
Hours: Tue-Sun, 11:30am-2pm, 6pm-9:30pm