Asian Food with a Trendy Twist

Restaurant:
Shi Shang
Address:
Calle Concepcion Arenal, 3
T: 91 523
1220
Buffet:
weekday lunch: 8.90; weekday dinner: 10.90; weekend lunch: 10.90; weekend
dinner: 10.90

At lunchtime do you often find yourself stuck in
the Center desperately searching for a restaurant that is quick, inexpensive,
healthy and relaxing? Add this to your
list of culinary options: Shi-Shang. Mere feet away from the roaring traffic and
crushing crowds of Gran Via there is a new pan-Asian restaurant specializing in
vegetarian food.

Not only
have they changed their culinary approach, their take on decoration has shifted
as well. Whereas the typical Chinese
restaurant offers a rather utilitarian view of décor: florescent lights,
cafeteria-style seating, and gleaming white walls. Shi-Shang has toned everything down just a
notch. The lighting is indirect, the
seating area is divided into two separate zones, and the walls are a subdued
cream color. Am I starting to sound like
an interior decorator trapped in a writer’s body?

Anyway, the
food and business practices are in line with this revised way of thinking. Their “all you can eat” vegetarian buffet has
food from China, Japan, Thailand
and India. These dishes are divided into fruits, salads,
main dishes and desserts. Often the fear
with vegetarian food is “What if I walk away still hungry?” Not a problem here as you are welcome to
return to the buffet as many times as you like.

There are
other nice touches like take away food, dishes low in oil, salt and sugar, and
the possibility of renting the dining rooms – not to mention the home-made soy
milk brewed fresh every morning. Indulge!