The way we ate(2)

It's a family affair

Xingyeli, Bugaoli, and Jiuxingli are the names of old shikumen (traditional Shanghai-style houses with stone gates) buildings dotted around the city, but now a restaurant located near the Cool Docks has included all of these names in its dining space.

Matou Renjia (Family on the Dock), boasts shikumen-style interiors and a series of traditional Shanghai dishes.

According to the manager, surnamed Si, the establishment of the restaurant was inspired by a true story from the nearby docks. The tale goes that Du Yuesheng, a feared gangster, and his wife once frequented a family-run restaurant on the quayside.

And to honor the vanishing longtang culture in the city, the entrance to the restaurant and the doors of the private rooms resemble those of traditional shikumen buildings. And each of these rooms is decorated with paintings and calligraphy depicting nursery rhymes from the 1960s.

The highlighted dishes include deep-fried shrimp, stewed pork with brown sauce, fried pork liver with sauce, as well as a selection of snacks such as ci fangao (glutinous rice roll), and chuansha caotoubing (pan-fried glutinous rice roll).

Business hours: 11 am to 9:30 pm

Add: 6/F, Building 2, 505 Zhongshan Road South 中山南路505号2号楼6楼

Tel: 400-880-9488