MOST people think the dishes at five-star hotels charge exorbitantly for small quantity. We have now done some exploring for you of popular five-star hotels in Shanghai and Hangzhou that offer dishes or set menu of great value and comparatively lower prices. Check the list below.

Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai

Sautéed Crab Roe and Egg White with Mashed Peas is a signature Huaiyangnese dish that require great cooking techniques. The sautéed crab preserves perfectly the sweetness and natural flavor of ingredients. The egg white is as smooth as silk with an interesting semi-stable and semi-liquid status. The smoothness and texture make it absolutely delicious and rich in aroma. Finally, the seasonal mashed peas drives more appetite with its fresh green color. You can enjoy the delicacy at Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai at a reasonable price.

Price: 438 yuan (US$63), plus 16 percent
service charge

Shanghai Marriott Hotel
Pudong East

Sit back and savor in weekday Italian carnival at 128 yuan per person at Casalingo Italian Restaurant at Shanghai Marriott Hotel Pudong East.

The popular weekday Lunch Semi Buffet elevates the experience of guests who can enjoy the Italian delicacy accompanied by aromatic and vibrant atmosphere from antipasti buffet, unlimited soups of the day, a choice of homemade pizzas, pasta, tasty meat or fish and palatable desserts that will definitely satisfy your appetite. A truly Italian experience gives your weekday a new twist.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30am-2:30pm

Price: 128 yuan per person, plus 15 percent service charge

InterContinental Shanghai NECC

For its 70th anniversary, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts recently conducted the first InterContinental Michelin Insider Chef Roadshow in China. The InterContinental Marseille Michelin-starred Restaurant chef Lionel Levy and InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam Michelin-starred Restaurant chef Rogér Rassin were joined by 15 other InterContinental Insider Chefs in China on this tour to give the guests a taste of the InterContinental life through a journey of visual and gustatory feast. Moreover, Lionel Levy and Rogér Rassin were personally involved in guiding each InterContinental Insider Chef in China in designing a special menu for local guests and gourmets to enjoy. InterContinental Shanghai NECC chef Rick Bartram’s tailored menu was endorsed by Rogér Rassin. Influenced by his global travels, Chef Bartram is renowned for his Asian-inspired Californian cuisine using organic ingredients and creative techniques that bring food back to its simple roots. Evocative dishes, such as lightly baked Irish oysters with Spanish smoked paprika oil, grilled apple brined Iberic pork loin chop.

Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday through December 29, 6-10pm

Price: Four-course menu at 300 yuan net per person

Sheraton Grand Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort

The Sheraton Grand Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort offers a few price-value dishes.

Stir-fried lamb spine with spiced salt

Selected lamb spine with a bone marrow thoroughly cooked and fried till it turns crispy.

Price: 88 yuan per portion

Stir-fried lamb feet with oat

Lambs from young goats weighing 8-10kg are especially tender and filled with collagen.

Price: 138 yuan per portion

Boiled mutton

Mutton blood is used to make the mutton skin flesh and compact.

Price: 108 yuan per portion

Hairy crab preserved with yellow wine

Chef’s special recipe with mellow yellow rice wine marinated with hairy crabs for five days make for an unforgettable flavor.

Price: 48 yuan each

Braised lamb in soy sauce

Stewed lambs with oil and black bean.

Price: 258 yuan per portion

Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai

Located on the 2nd floor of Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai, American-style Steak House is recognized as “one of the best steak houses in Shanghai” with its premium ingredient, excellent menu and outstanding service.

Executive Chef Edward Mair, with 17 years of experience around the world, has come up with brand-new menu this season. By using the most premium beef, Stockyard Gold Label Black Angus, guests can enjoy authentic dinner with selective signature dishes. They will feel the satisfaction from the first bite of the flavorsome and juicy beef that are of finest quality.

The four-course set menu offers classic Caesar salad or crab cake as starters, wild mushroom soup, grilled Wagyu beef or black cod fish as the main course, and a signature dessert. All this is available for 258 yuan only.

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 5:30-10pm

Price: 258 yuan, plus 15 percent service charge

JW Marriott Hotel Hangzhou

You can enjoy more than 100 Cantonese dim sum, including shrimp dumplings, pork and mushroom siu mai, egg yolk custard buns, mango pancakes, double boiled milk with ginger sauce, stir fried flat rice noodle with beef, both sweet or spicy, steamed dim sum or boiled congee that will satisfy families and friends.

Some loyal Cantonese guests who live in Hangzhou come to enjoy dim sum lunch buffet on weekends. The food here reminds them of their hometown and brings back memories of childhood.

Chef Thomas Liang hails from Guangdong Province and insists on high quality ingredients, follows strict principles on cooking, and serves excellent Man Ho dishes.

Hours: 11:30am- 2pm

Price: 138 yuan per person, plus 15 percent service charge

The Dragon, Hangzhou

It is time to preserve heat for the winter. The roast duck, or kaoya in Chinese, is a popular dish for banquets and home-made family dinners alike. The Dragon, Hangzhou chooses high-quality duck weighing 600 grams. The ducks are hung from a hook and dangles over the roast oven with fruity wood for nearly 50 minutes. You won’t miss the duck’s shiny brown with a crunchy skin and succulent meat.

Price: 88 yuan

Midtown Shangri-La, Hangzhou

Walnut cake is a traditional Chinese rice cake that uses homemade caramel and takes two hours to make. Hangzhou is known for its excellent quality of walnuts. The walnut cake offered by Midtown Shangri-La Hangzhou reminds the guests of home and mom.

Price: 18 yuan

JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai Changfeng Park

Park Cafe has introduced a semi-buffet lunch with all the popular choices at Salad Bar that can meet the daily requirements of nutrients.

There are selections from the Caesar Salad, Green Vegetable Salad or DIY salad station where you can fill your choices with crunchy fresh veggies and six different dressings. Add cold appetizer spreads in both Western and Asian style and enjoy free flow of coffee or tea.

The delicious and healthy option are available from Monday to Friday for only 38 yuan per person. You can add another 48 yuan and satisfy your taste buds with the luxurious seafood and sashimi counter, or the dessert spreads to sweeten your day.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 12-2:30pm

Price: 38 yuan, plus 15 percent service charge

Wyndham Grand Plaza Royale Hangzhou

Tiger prawns are famous culinary classic of Thailand. The resident Thai chef Khun Uthan has promised to bring the delightful taste of his homeland straight to your table! Enjoy either lunch or dinner and savor the plump, juicy prawns in a variety of delectable styles.

Hours: Through January 2017, 11:30am-
2:30pm, 5:30-10:30pm

Price: 68 yuan plus 15 percent
service charge