Goga
Add: 1 Yueyang Lu, near Dongping Lu 岳阳路1号, 近东平路
Tel: 6431 9700
Hours: 6:30-10:30pm
Prices: 300~350 RMB/person (without wine)
Visited: May 2011 (visit 2)
I was eating so much during the week of my birthday that I really should’ve been stuffed beyond limit, but when good food is on the agenda, somehow that capacity is never reached. So there I was, sitting at Brad Turley’s Goga at the end of my gluttonous week, eager to try his famed Californian cuisine that has swooned so many. It’s a small, unpretentious place that can fit perhaps 20 people sitting elbow to elbow. All that crowding does not make a quiet room, but I was looking for a deliciously buzzy evening, and Goga was exactly the place to be.
Before we talk about the food, here are some tips about dining at Goga:
Tip #1: Make a reservation (6:30pm and 8:30pm slots available).
Tip #2: Arrive on time and keep an eye on your watch, as you will really need to clear out by the end of your two-hour slot for the next table of guests.
Tip# 3: Sit at the counter so you can see the kitchen in full action.
Our meal started off with West Coast Lobster Roll (90 RMB), a buttery brioche sandwiching chunky lobster salad with lemon tarragon aioli. Excellent.
The waiter then suggested the Torched Tuna Tataki (95 RMB), which isn’t currently on the menu but will be by next month. Beautiful slices of torched tuna were placed amidst a generous splatter of miso soy mustard, then topped with a scattering of furikake dancing across the plate. The wasabi flavor was a too overpowering for me, but if you are a fan of this pungent horseradish, give the torched tuna tataki a try.
Next came the Cast-iron Seared Nantucket Scallops (180 RMB), accompanied by perfectly cooked white asparagus, porcini mushrooms, and a lobster champagne nage. Supreme, must order.
The S.F. Chinatown Chicken Salad (55 RMB), a sizable heap of mixed greens, grilled chicken, wonton crisps, walnuts, all dressed in a ginger sesame soy, was also very well-received at our table.
We then proceeded to order the off-the-menu blue cheese burger. Perfectly toasted sesame bun, tender and juicy beef patty that falls apart easily at the teeth, well-seasoned blue cheese sauce, plus one of the best garlic fries I’ve had in Shanghai – what more can you ask for?
The waiter then recommended the Goga Spice-Rubbed K.C. Ribeye Steak (375 RMB), which is again not on the menu yet but will be by next month. Served with duck fat roasted potatoes, candied bacon, and horseradish sherry gastrique. Not bad.
To finish, we shared a Chocolate Mousse (40 RMB). The bottom layer, punctuated with crisp cereal bits that added texture to the otherwise smooth and airy dessert, was an especially pleasant surprise. This would be the perfect ending if we didn’t have to clear the table for the diners waiting outside.
It’s hard not to fall in love with the bold, flavor-forward food at Goga. Brad seems to be the kind of chef who finds the best ingredients, and then coaxes all the flavors out of them. Goga isn’t for everyone – you WILL smell like the grill after your dinner and you WILL be asked to leave in exactly two hours – but if you are looking for good food and don’t mind paying the price for it, this is where you should be.
I was thinking about visiting this place recently. I have heard many good thing about this place.
My friends have been raving about this place and I finally went. It’s indeed very good :)
This looks amazing!! Especially the lobster roll. Dang, need to go to shanghai!
Yes! And please do let mr know when you visit so I can make some apecial recommendations for you :)
Finally..!! Glad you liked it!
It was delicious :) should’ve gone sooner.
Hmmm…from the photo, the bread in the lobster roll really doesn’t look like brioche but more like a buttered hot dog bun which is what places in the Northeast US use for their lobster rolls.
You could be right, I can’t really remember what the bread tasted like. Brioche or not, the lobster roll was delicious!
I went to Goga for the first time tonight — I’ve been wanting to go for quite some time. Sat on the rooftop terrace which was quite nice given the pleasant weather in Shanghai recently. I was keen on the off-the-menu Bleu Cheese Burger that you and others have talked about Unfortunately, they ran out of the bread where we could only order sliders. The waiter was quite honest in saying that the slides do not sum up to a full burger, where I passed on ordering — a bit disappointed. Ordered a full size of the Codfish and an order of the Chinatown Salad — the latter was excellent. Not worth the 650 RMB for this food plus a couple of drinks each. I don’t think I will go back. Good food but way over-priced. Perhaps if they can get their supply chain in order and provide a burger upon request will I go back.
I’ll be honest-I’m not impressed..I was recommended this place by the Spanish chef who works in Migas, Beijing. Finally managed to make it but don’t think will ever be back. Scallops were Perfect- no doubts but when it comes to lobster or any other seafood I personally prefer it with no bread…no regrets for visiting though.Goga Hai was Better!!!