Shanghai Chinese Restaurant

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Shanghai Chinese Restaurant Review: Chinese Flavors with European Polish

Introduction. Shanghai Chinese Restaurant is MSC's dedicated Chinese dining venue, found aboard select ships including MSC Musica and Poesia. It serves Cantonese and broader Chinese cuisine at specialty pricing (approximately $20-$35 per person), offering a focused alternative to the pan-Asian options elsewhere on the ship. For guests craving proper Chinese flavors — particularly those with European expectations of Chinese cuisine — it fills a genuine niche.

Food & Drinks

The Peking duck, when available, is the signature dish — carved tableside with thin pancakes, scallions, and hoisin sauce in the traditional presentation. The skin is properly lacquered and crispy, and the ceremony of preparation adds value to the experience. Steamed dim sum (shrimp har gow, pork siu mai, vegetable dumplings) are well-executed and arrive in bamboo steamers with proper presentation. The sweet and sour prawns are a cut above the buffet version — battered properly, with a sauce that balances tang and sweetness. Wonton soup is hearty with well-filled dumplings. Where it falls short: the menu plays it safe for a European/international audience — don't expect adventurous Sichuan, Hunan, or authentic regional Chinese cuisine. The kung pao chicken is mild by authentic standards, and the fried rice, while decent, lacks the wok hei of a proper Chinese kitchen. Some dishes arrive lukewarm rather than sizzling, suggesting the kitchen-to-table distance works against the food. Chinese tea is properly served and worth ordering over the cocktail options.

Service

Service is formal and attentive, with staff who understand the menu's conventions — they'll guide you through the Peking duck presentation and recommend appropriate accompaniments. Pacing follows a multi-course rhythm, with dim sum served as starters followed by shared main dishes, which is the proper way to enjoy Chinese dining. The team handles special requests and dietary needs professionally.

Atmosphere

The design incorporates Chinese decorative elements — red and gold color schemes, traditional screens, lantern-style lighting, and Chinese artwork — that create a visually distinct space. On older ships, the room can feel dated compared to the sleek specialty restaurants on newer vessels, but the intimate size (typically 40-50 seats) keeps the atmosphere cozy. The setting works best in the evening when the lighting creates warmth and the room fills with the aromas of the kitchen.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.6/5. Shanghai Chinese Restaurant offers a focused Chinese dining experience that outperforms the ship's buffet Asian stations by a comfortable margin. The Peking duck is a genuine highlight, the dim sum is well-prepared, and the formal service adds occasion to the meal. It loses marks for a menu that plays too safe, dishes that can arrive below optimal temperature, and limited representation of China's diverse regional cuisines. Tip: order the Peking duck early (it requires preparation time), start with the steamed dim sum, and pair everything with a pot of oolong tea for the most authentic experience.

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