By Kay C. (cityweekend.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-03-31 11:45

Nothing says Monday night like a trip to Xintiandi to sample the menu at a new luxury prime rib restaurant. Shanghai is the newest Asian venture for this U.S. import and the decor was what you would expect from a steakhouse-mobster chic with deep reds and dark woods, large banquet ceilings and white tablecloths.

We ordered the Lawry Cut (460 yuan), the most popular dish, and were floored by the size of the meat portion-two inches thick, covering the entire plate, impressive in both size and taste (the smallest cut, the California Cut, is 335 yuan). Prime rib meals are wheeled to your table, cut from the patented Lawry's large stainless steel prime rib station, and are accompanied by their spinning salad (mixed tableside and dressed in an upscale version of Thousand Island dressing), Yorkshire Pudding and a lonesome scoop of mashed potatoes and gravy. Additional steak sides, such as creamed spinach, asparagus and creamed corn, are ordered -¤ la carte for 45 yuan. Expensive cocktails range in price, beers are 55 yuan and Lawry's own label house wine is 68 yuan per glass.

Or you can choose a bottle of wine from a selection priced from 330 yuan to upwards of 1,200 yuan. Service was prompt, efficient and knowledgeable but sadly, the pomp atmosphere is punctuated by the obtrusive thump of bass music emanating from the club next door-very disagreeable. The only problem with the "best prime rib in the world" is that, like most meals in Xintiandi, "the best" comes with a hefty price tag.

Lawry's The Prime Rib
Add: Unit 1, No. 22-23, North Block Xintiandi, 181 Taicang Lu
Tel: 6387-0096