Suzie Fine French Bistro in Shanghai (Closed)

Suzie is a fine French bistro that on Jianguo Xi Lu operated by the same people behind SOiF, Ottimo, and theWarehouse. It’s a splurge-worthy special occasion destination for traditional, buttery French food and Grand Cru wines.

The Space

Located a couple doors down from The Capella Shanghai, Suzie is a classic luxury restaurant with coattail donned maîtres d and candlelit tables under low-lit chandeliers. Still, it is an intimate space with dining rooms spread across two floors of a remodeled lane house.

Second floor dining room

There are also two private rooms for up to six guests per room, along with a cocktail bar, and a walk-in wine cellar.

First floor dining room, cocktail bar

Intimate balcony seating

The wines are mostly from Burgundy, and are largely Grand Crus or from prestigious wineries, alongside champagnes. These are curated by expert in-house sommelier Yonex Zhang.

The name Suzie was inspired by a fictional French hostess, beloved for her desire to please guests with food and wine.

And like the group’s other venues, they endeavor to provide excellent wines at good prices.

The Food

In the kitchen is French chef Freddy Raoult, previously at The Nest, who has joined the group full-time. (He also consulted on the food at SOiF.)

Suzie serves a small menu of traditional French dishes. Think oysters baked with sabayon, truffles shaved over foie gras, steaks with charred vegetables, and butter-rich sauces.

Before you begin your meal, it's advisable to select your wines to pair. Bottles start from ¥600. Do ask the sommelier for recommendations!

What to order

Oysters “Gratinées” with champagne sabayon (¥78/piece) - Fresh Gillardeau oysters over stewed spinach drenched in champagne sabayon and garnished with chives. It's a flavor bomb. Definitely get this to start.

Venison Tartare “Nordic” (¥130) - Chef Freddy's affinity for Nordic flair. Finely diced venison with pickled cucumber and kohlrabi, smoked mayo and spicy herb dressing. Garnished with crunchy lichen.

Truffle Toast (¥128/three pieces) - Toast, butter sauce, foie gras,and fresh grated black truffle. How can you not love this!? (It does resemble a particular toast at a Bund-side restaurant, though.)

For mains, there are single-serving steaks like the oyster blade (¥195) to the biggest cut of charcoal-fired bone-in ribeye (1kg) for ¥1,400, served with Sarawak black pepper and aged sherry vinegar béarnaise. However, I think the best steak to share is the M9 Uruguayan T-bone, which allows you more room to try the other mains.

M9 Uruguayan T-bone (¥798/500g), always medium rare. Served with anchovy, mustard and chive butter.

Side dishes (¥50 each) are simple and tasty wood-oven roasted vegetables. Above is cabbage and maitake mushrooms.

Pigeon and Foie Gras Wellington (¥638) - Uber flaky, buttery pastry encasing perfectly tender pigeon with diced ceps. Extra black truffle sauce on the side. Definitely worth ordering.

Quenelle of Sea Bass and Lobster (¥468) - A recent addition to the menu. Sea bass is whipped with egg, flour, and cream, then shaped into an oval to poach, resulting in a fluffy cloud of fish. Traditionally, pike fish is used.

It's served with in a seafood bisque with whole Canadian lobster and lobster glaze. This dish is fantastic.

Suzie’s Garden (¥130) is a luscious vegetable dish that’s basically all butter, mostly in the mashed parsnip base. On top are stewed root vegetables with lemon-truffle salt, herbs and fresh shaved truffle.

Albufera Morrel Pasta (¥268) - Rigatoni with morel mushrooms and creamy, cheesy sauce topped with fresh shaved truffles. Again, impossible to not like.

Chocolate Soufflé (¥95) with vanilla ice cream.

Warm Chestnut Brandy Tart (¥75) with porcini-maple syrup ice cream

Finish off your meal with a night cap or digestif at the cocktail bar on the first floor. My drink-industry dinner companions also remarked on the great selection of spirits, excellent glassware, and technique from the bartender. Well-made cocktails that are well-priced. Classic cocktails for ¥89 and non-alcoholic cocktails for ¥79.

Penicillin - Chivas scotch whiskey, smoked whisky, ginger, lemon, and honey.

In Summary: Special Occasion

Suzie is a certainly a special occasion destination that's worth while. Sure, it's not cheap, but you're getting some quality, premium ingredients and top-shelf wines. The service is attentive and friendly, too. If you're looking for your next date night restaurant, this is it.

*All interior photos by Graeme Kennedy

---

Suzie Fine Bistro
Address: 464 Jianguo Xi Lu, near Yueyang Lu 建国西路464号, 近岳阳路
Tel: 54489799, 18964036698
Hours: Tue-Sun, 5:30pm-11pm