Kathleens 5

Today we decided to have dessert before lunch, and it was probably the best decision for the day (more later). The Dairy Queen Blizzard (RMB18, medium) was as good as always, we should have gotten a large one actually.

Then we headed over to Kathleens 5. I had been there for drinks before (loved the location) but it was my first time sampling the food. The lunch menu was pretty big and you can pick between a 2-course for RMB120 or 3-course for RMB140, plus a number of side dishes like fries (RMB35) etc.

C went for the arugula pear and pine nut salad with balsamic dressing. She said the dressing was nice and the ingredients fresh, but it was rather monotonous. There was too much arugula and not enough pear slices.

U got the smoked salmon avocado on cucumber salsa and horseradish. The salmon and salsa were nice but where was the horseradish? It's a good thing that she didn't want horseradish on hers but anyone who expected it would be highly disappointed.

I went for the salt pepper cuttlefish and tofu salad with papaya snow pea sprouts and chili lime dressing. The cuttlefish was flavourless and a little to the chewy side. The batter was light and crispy but unfortunately had no taste. The tofu was interesting but again it was very blah. While the snow pea sprouts were adding some extra dimension to the otherwise bland dish where was the papaya? There was some kind of cucumber salsa (suspiciously similar to U's salmon dish) but no sight of papaya. Not that I am a big papaya fan but it would be disappointing if one is expecting it. The dressing had no zing whatsoever like one would expect with a chili and lime dressing. What's with that?

C took the waitress's recommendation and ordered the fillet of sea bass with spinach, sauteed potatoes and sauce mousseline. Wow a round of applause first ladies and gentlemen: we actually got what's being described on the menu for once! C was pretty happy with the dish she said fish was lovely.

U opted for the linguine pasta with semi dried tomatoes, black olives, chili, Parmesan cheese and lemon. She didn't comment much and I suspect it's average? It's a really simple dish to be honest and perhaps even I could make a slightly tastier version.

My Moroccan chicken with preserved lemon, green beans and saffron couscous looked so good and promising that it was such a let down when I tasted it. I even asked U and C whether Moroccan chicken should be bland and have no taste in general? I suspected not. The slap of chicken thigh was fatty and previously frozen. Despite the dollop of orange sauce on top and the seemingly tasty herbs all over it had no bang at all. Quite talented if you ask me. At least the couscous was not lumpy.

We were glad we had dessert beforehand. Perhaps the chef works evenings only? The sample menu on the web site looks so much more sophisticated, and yet the selections on the lunch menu seem so simple (almost home-made kind of food...smoked salmon with toasts and rocket salad anyone?). I like simple food but it should be tasty you know. For what they are charging I'd rather go to Mesa.

Kathleens 5

325 Nan Jing Rd. West (near Huang Pi Rd.), Shanghai. Tel: 6327-2221