No reservations, no tips

Peanut butter icecream [Photo provided to Shanghai Star]

Commune Social is one of those rare restaurants that serve eggs as a lone category on the menu. There are Spanish breakfast eggs, an omelet with crab, and fried duck egg with duck liver and Romesco.

Both of us ordered the duck egg. It came in a pan, its bright yellow yolk peering out amid a foliage of tender pea shoots, roasted pepper sauce and cherry tomatoes.

It soon becomes clear that the chefs at Commune Social have colorful, sunny dispositions that are mirrored in the dishes they prepare.

We also ordered beef tartare, and it came looking like a Miro masterpiece. Little piles of freshly chopped beef came with mayonnaise, tiny onion rings, sliced mushrooms ... and flower petals.

As the plates are cleared from the table, we prepare ourselves for dessert.

The waiter places a saucer of something on our table, still smoking with little white wisps. Frozen popcorn, on the house.

It was brilliant, really. It made us happy to wait for our elaborate confections of peanut butter ice cream and beetroot ice cream with smoked chocolate. Some things cannot be vicariously experienced, so go line up outside the door and order your own when you get in.

IF YOU GO

Commune Social 511 Jiangning Road, near the Kangding Road junction

Other choices

Las Tapas No 259 Hongfeng road, Pudong 

Tel: 021-3382-1686 Floor 1-2, Building 32, 45 Sinan Road

021-6426-0660

Floor 2, 323 Tianyaoqiao Road  Tel: 021-6426-8788