Replacing beloved former Mesa and Manifesto is Husk, a mod Med venture from Shanghai’s culinary dream team Cabell and Zhao.
Shanghai gourmands will fondly remember Mesa & Manifesto, the beloved Spanny bistro and bar from dining doyens Charles Cabell and chef Michael Zhao, which sadly shuttered and ended its legendary brunches in 2011.
Joyfully, the duo have joined up once again to deliver their modern Mediterranean smash hit, Husk. Sat pride of place in Jing’an, she’s swish and sexy true to the Cabell crib M.O., with lashings of dark wood framing a showy kitchen, moss green booths, sleek slate underfoot and a bright white outdoor patio.
One look at the sharable menu will transport Mesa fans back, with familiar starters like pear and endive salad and seared scallops over cauliflower, but we think Zhao’s expert pan-handling shines brightest on meaty mains like aged Australian Wagyu, lamb rump with mint pesto and an aromatic tea-braised duck – one of several Sino-inflected wok dishes.
Top Euro and Oz drops plus a few boutique ales pair well, but to add a little spice, wave over the custom-designed martini trolley and order the bay leaf-infused Dirty Bay or peppery Sichuan Taste. Ganbei!
Husk, 218 Fengxian Lu, Shanghai, +86 21 6245 9137, husk-sh.com
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