The group that brought us the popular Bellagio chain is clearly aiming to offer something grander and more upscale with the opening of Fontainebleau Cafe (风丹白露). Located on the nondescript corner of Hongxu and Yan'an roads, a block north of the backside of the Hongmei Pedestrian strip, this new venture combines Bellagio's distinctive flair for presentation, competent cooking, and beloved desserts and refreshments with a newer and broader canvas of regional Chinese cuisine. The result is an utterly delectable pan-Chinese offering that is bound to make Fontainebleau a preferred destination for diners located in the Hongqiao/Gubei area as well as for those of us closer to downtown.
One of our favorite restaurants in all of China is Dan Gui Xuan (丹桂轩), and we were pleased to learn that Fontainebleau's head chef and general manager were brought over from the high-end Cantonese restaurant chain famous for its high quality food and incomparable service. From an atmospheric perspective, Fontainebleau is best described as a Bellagio cranked up on steroids. With a sleek waterfall, a bevy of private dining rooms, and imported fixtures, it's clear that the owners wanted to invest heavily in creating what has indeed turned out to be a beautiful restaurant space.
The selection and quality of the dishes also matches the decor. Gone is the former's core selection of traditional Taiwanese specialties; the new menu focuses on the food of south ...
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