Terrakota Shanghai: A Mediterranean Haven in Jing’an

Mediterranean dining claims a new stronghold in Jing’an with Terrakota Shanghai, a vibrant bistro that entertains a stylish crowd in a beautiful dining room. Expect an insane amount of house specials and a thriving atmosphere.

About Terrakota Shanghai

Leading the charge at Terrakota is a powerhouse duo, chefs Aitor Olabegoya and Juan Campos (RAW, Sakaba Malabar). The menu creation at Terrakota is largely captained by Aitor, who hails from the Basque region of Spain and is a proud proponent for the restaurant’s cuisine, Mediterranean and food inspired by the regions surrounding the Atlantic Sea. Or as he puts it plainly, “sailor food.”

Aitor Olabegoya

The space is magnificent. Awash in terracotta tiles and lively greenery, the main dining room boasts a stunning open layout, its spaciousness emphasized by the double-heighted ceiling with vaulted glass roof. The timber-braced roof is also retractable and opens for a full al fresco room. Beautifully designed is an understatement.

Other warm touches like rattan armchairs, dark jade colored leather, and ceramics enhance the overall theme. There’s even a small private room that seats up to 10 and a narrow outdoor terrace.

For a restaurant that I would consider as rather low-key on social media, it does bring in an impressive crowd. Weekends see a trendy, well-dressed audience, high on conversation. Word of mouth, I believe, is basis of its success.

What To Order at Terrakota Shanghai

The food at Terrakota is Mediterranean and cuisine from around the Atlantic Sea in the bistro style of rustic share plates and large format entrées.

Dishes are geared toward seafood, but other courses like the signature whole roasted chicken, UYYU wagyu beef, and whole oxtail stake their own claim and are equal stand outs. Ingredients are sourced as local as possible, utilizing fresh and seasonal products like the line-caught wild cod fish, Dalian mussels, and Linglong tomatoes.

A wide selection of constantly changing specials, introduced with beautifully hand-sketched and colored art pieces, underscore the Terrakota’s pursuit for creativity.

Dinner at Terrakota Shanghai

And now, a glimpse into what is on the menu at Terrakota:

Foie & Fig & Flaky Bread (¥118) – A light bodied silky-smooth foie gras with a rich marmalade of bittersweet orange peel.

TK Bread (¥35) – A generous breadbasket with an addictive honey chili butter. Worth it just for the butter.

Atlantic Seabass Escabeche (¥88) – A crudo with three-year-aged chardonnay vinegar dressing. Velvety fish with a burst of freshness paired with a tangy, citrusy sauce.

Wagyu Angus Tartare (¥148) with bone marrow emulsion, smoked cuttlefish, and tiny diced pickles, served with their truly amazing hand-cut fries. Beefy flavors amplified by the bone marrow.

Fried Linglong Tomatoes (¥28) – A simple dish of blistered tomatoes with salt and seasoning. Don’t skip the leafy tip, as it gives an added flavor! It tasted like roasted seaweed to me.

Seared Caramelized Cabbage (¥88) - The humble cabbage rises to the task with a hint of char, balance of acidity, spike of mustard and sweet chili, and nuttiness from the celeriac purée and roasted almonds. The shaved truffle takes it over the top.

TK Signature Corn-Fed Chicken (¥338) served two ways. Comes with a side of hand-cut fries. A solid portion for four or more to share.

Chicken thighs are served over a salad of watercress, endive, and garden greens, and hard boiled eggs.

The filleted breast is served with tzatziki.

Specials at Terrakota Shanghai

Of the specials available during my visit, I had the slow-cooked oxtail, olive salad, line-caught cod fish, grilled petit camembert, and Stracciatella. Specials change often, though, some do graduate to being a staple on the main menu.

Olive Salad (¥88) – Romaine lettuce, piquillo peppers, marinated mini figs, orange segments, smoked dried tomatoes, baby capers, mixed olives. There is a lot going on! Dressed in a tangy sweet chili sauce that reminds me of the flavors of Thailand.

72-Hour Slow-Cooked Oxtail (¥480) – A whole oxtail served with hand-cut fries and powerfully spicy piparra peppers. It is an impressive length of meat, glazed in a caramelized red wine jus, and peels off the bone like butter. A very fatty, very rich cut, but oh-so delicious.

Grilled Petit Camembert (¥148) with roasted apple and aged vinegar. The thick cubes of roasted apple have a gentle sweetness and mild dusting of cinnamon, and a phenomenally tender texture. Works like magic with the velvety soft, salty cheese.

Stracciatella (¥288) – Milky strands of Stracciatella cheese topped with intense and heady pistachio paste and truffles. A very unique and delightful combination of cheese and pistacchio paste, at least for me.

Cod Fish (¥488) – Whole line-caught cod fish is served whole or as half. It’s a fleshy, meaty fish with gelatinous skin, served smartly deboned for maximum dining pleasure.

It’s salted and oven roasted, dressed with a delicate Mediterranean-style sauce of fresh citrus, roasted garlic, briny olives, and charred piquillo peppers.

For fillers, Terrakota has a number of rice and risotto dishes.

Octopus Seafood Stock “Meloso” Rice (¥398) – Grilled octopus over rice, cooked with seafood stock, cream, parmesan cheese, and laden with tiny shrimp. A satisfying filler.

Cuttlefish Risotto with 5J Iberico Ham (¥188) – Alternatively, they also have a risotto with cuttlefish and 5J ham tossed in a creamy squid ink sauce sauce spiked with chili.

Desserts at Terrakota

As for dessert, most come with an element of surprise. A white dome conceals a pumpkin and marmalade center, the flan is flambéed tableside, and a tart with an unexpected creamy filling intrigues the tastebuds.

Basque Fresh Milk Flan (¥88) topped with cotton candy fluff that is then flambéed with Carlos I brandy. Eggy, not too sweet and a bouquet of vanilla. It's also a massive portion, suggest to share.

Citrus Pumpkin Dome (¥78) with vanilla ice cream. Mild pumpkin notes with a heavenly marmalade.

TK Soufflé with Blood Orange Sorbet (¥78) – A very light, fluffy, and eggy soufflé topped with a mild citrus scoop.

Tart of the Season (¥78) – Chichio brand of ultra-potent fresh pistachio paste with white chocolate miso cream covered with a savory biscuit and sprinkles of popping candy, plus a scoop of lemon yogurt sorbet. It tastes like pistachio flavored dulce de leche. A highlight.

Drinks at Terrakota Shanghai

As for drinks, Terrakota has a wide selection of wines and house cocktails. Signature cocktails are ¥75, mocktails are ¥50, wines by the glass start from ¥65, and bottles from ¥325.

KOL - Non-alcoholic; raspberry shrub, hibiscus, lime juice, tonic water, ginger ale.

Fresh Green - Cocktail; vodka, pandan syrup, lime juice, pineapple juice, ginger beer.

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Terrakota
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