There’s no dearth of beige-and-white, starched tablecloth dim sum places to take your parents to on Sundays, but the new opening at RWS promises a bit more fun. Named after a 1940s filmmaker-turned-avid dinner host’s residence in the Shanghai’s French Concession, Avenue Joffre has a kitschy-cute, Disney-meets-Oriental facade with red French windows, lattice work and turquoise blue eaves.
Inside, the menu is largely Shanghainese, Cantonese and Sichuan, with dishes like the homemade Sichuan pickles with chicken feet ($12), Shanghai smoked fish ($13) and their signature marinated chicken in spicy sauce ($15). You’ll of course want to try the Peking duck ($75) and the roasted crispy pork belly (from $20). Seafood fans, there’s the braised king prawn with homemade tofu ($22) or the Szechuan chef’s poached sliced fish in chili oil.
But the highlight is the dim sum menu. Prices start at $5, and you get a selection of dumplings and other savory and sweet classics. Pan-fried pork dumpling are $7 and mini glutinous rice dumplings go for $5. For healthier options, try the steamed crystal prawn dumplings ($6) or the steamed egg yolk bun ($5).
