Today we went to Oxford. Just to meet up and have lunch with our friend Gabriella who is here from Sweden for a few days. We were all surprised to realise that the last time we met was in Washington, DC almost exactly 4 years ago! Which is somewhat scary. We all said the others hadn’t changed.
The friends Gabriella is staying with had recommended a Chinese restaurant called Shanghai 30s in St Aldates, almost opposite Christ Church (which is where Charles Dodgson, aka. Lewis Carroll, taught mathematics).
If you weren’t looking you’d miss the restaurant. It is in a slightly shabby but ordinary looking building, through a communal door and up a slightly seedy passage and stairway. Inside it is very definitely Chinese-colonial 1930s.

Do not be deceived, though. The food is everything the outside isn’t: sumptuous, delicious, slightly unusual, sizzling hot and beautifully presented.
We started with the Hors d’Oeuvre Platter (to share): Qi Family’s Almond Chicken; Champagne Spare Ribs; Crispy Ji-Li King Prawns; Veggie Spring Rolls. These were definitely finger food, but so hot you couldn’t pick them up. OK, so Spring Rolls are Spring Rolls, and everyone does King Prawns in Filo Pastry, but these were good. The Almond Chicken was basically minced chicken patties rolled in flaked almonds and fried — an unusual (to me at least) idea and very yummy. The ribs were marinaded and cooked in a honey and champagne BBQ sauce; individual portions wrapped in foil — seriously sticky and seriously yummy.
Then we shared a selection of main courses:
Sizzling Seafood in Black Pepper Sauce — prawns, squid, scallops; very sticky; very tasty.
Tsingtao Beer Duckling — slow cooked duck with black mushrooms & peppers.
Pork a la Shanghai — belly pork with ginger, garlic and vegetables in a rice wine sauce.
Pak Choi with Black Mushrooms
Noodles (with all sorts of additives: meat, prawn, squid …)
Jasmine Rice
Somehow we all then managed a pudding, if only crispy fried ice cream!
OK so we didn’t push the boat out with the drink (just a couple of bottles of sparkling mineral water and I had a couple of small beers). But at under £35 a head (including service) for something which was really delicious was very reasonable. If we’re in Oxford we shall certainly go back.
Added to which I spent the meal looking at this painting:

Shanghai 30s, Oxford. Rating: ★★★★★
When we eventually managed to regain full vertical hold, we meandered through Oxford, just enjoying what had turned into a lovely sunny afternoon. And, following a diversion into the Oxfam Bookshop, we adjourned to the King’s Arms for a drink before saying our good-byes.
Basically it was a lovely, relaxing lunch and afternoon; full of chat, catching up and some gorgeous food.