(From left to right)Parfait with foie gras and pistachio nuts at Jing'an Restaurant. Photo: Cai Xianmin; Dining area of Mesa & Manifesto. Photo: Courtesy of Mesa & Manifesto; Desserts at City'super Christmas feast. Photo: Courtesy of City'super

Main courses at the City'super Christmas feast. Photo: Courtesy of City'super

Back in the 1990s, Christmas would come and go in Shanghai with barely a sprig of holly on public show, still less trees and decorations. But since the turn of the millennium, the city's shopping malls have woken up to the untapped potential of a holiday season celebrated by an ever-growing and affluent expat corps. And it's a market that restaurants have also been keen to take advantage in recent years. And for many people, this means enjoying a festive dinner in the style they are accustomed to back home.

Hamming it up

The Jing'an Restaurant in the Puli Hotel is probably one of the best kept secrets in town. And its New Zealand-born chef Dane Clouston seems to appreciate the fact the restaurant isn't too busy. "I need the time to make sure every dish is prepared well with love," he said.

The restaurant's menu has an international twist. Among the eclectic entrées are scallop, salmon and parfait with foie gras. And for the main course, diners get to choose from turkey, roast beef, or whole turbot.

The Global Times particularly recommends the turbot with hazelnuts and Iberico, which has a light and refreshing flavor. According to Clouston, the turbot is locally caught and arrives fresh every morning at the restaurant. The pairing with shaved Iberico ham from Spain adds a subtle twist to the texture.

Choices for dessert include the hearty Puli Christmas pudding with vanilla ice cream, a cherry trifle with cinnamon and chocolate, or the lime curd pie and coconut.

Add: 1 Changde Road

Tel: 3203-9999 ext 6988

Santa's grotto

Mesa will be celebrating Christmas day all day, starting with a home-style buffet lunch from 11 am to 4 pm. According to Mesa & Manifesto restaurant assistant manager Jadd Pan, the Christmas lunch buffet has always been fully booked a week before Christmas since it was first started in 2004.

"What differentiates us from other restaurants is that we also have a playroom for kids with a Santa, and lots of gifts for the children," Pan told the Global Times.

Mesa & Manifesto will be serving a buffet dinner for 418 yuan ($63) per person (120 yuan for under-12s). The choice of dishes is extensive, without being overwhelming and includes foie gras parfait, prosciutto, salami, honey roasted leg ham, smoked turkey and farmer's terrine as cold starters. For mains, diners can take their pick of smoked salmon, prawns, tuna tataki, roasted turkey, and roast beef.

Add: 748 Julu Road, near Fumin Road

Tel: 6289-9108