by S.J. Gintzler

Friday, October 21, 2005

Dinner at Shanghai Jazz hits many high notes. Deftly prepared Chinese and pan-Asian food is served alongside exciting live jazz. It's a winning combination.

AMBIENCE: Access the snazzy supper club, in its 10th year, via a front or rear entrance (there's a parking lot in the back). An eat-in barroom overlooks the classy dining room, spotlighting entertainment five nights a week.

STAFF: Topnotch.

FOOD: Upscale Asian

From start to finish, dinner didn't skip a beat. A lively jazz ensemble began as our appetizers were served: crisp shrimp rolls complemented by a mild peanut dipping sauce; meaty, fat-free barbecued spareribs; dumplings filled with seasoned minced pork, served in a bamboo steamer; lo mein chock full of sizzling roast pork. Three dipping sauces were a five-alarm chili, a snappy sesame-ginger-scallion and pungent soy vinaigrette.

Attractively plated entrees came with rice. Tender sliced beef sautéed with peppers and scallion in a rich brown sauce came Korean-style with crisp leaves of romaine lettuce in which to wrap the meat. Also winning was succulent seafood of basil�. Dishes wee garnished with a daikon radish shaped like flowers.

Desserts were a delicious coda. A sampler for four had a house-made warm chocolate brownie sundae, Belgian chocolate truffle (dark chocolate over pistachio gelato, mint chocolate chip ice cream in a chocolate tuile and a profiterole served in a martini glass.

Shanghai Jazz offers a unique evening of great food and entertainment. We'd head back in a heartbeat.

FOOD: 3 ½ Stars out of 4

AMBIENCE: 3 ½ Stars out of 4

SERVICE: 3 ½ Stars out of 4

OVERALL: 3 ½ Stars out of 4