Though 2016 is already upon us, we can’t yet close the book on 2015 without singling out the foods and restaurants that made last year one to remember.

This week, we bring you our Best of 2015 list, which includes both notable new restaurants opened within the past twelve months as well as several dining industry veterans worthy of recognition.

Best New Restaurants

Sale e Pepe

Founded in 2015, Sale e Pepe — meaning “salt and pepper” in Italian — already has four branches in China, including three in Shanghai.

The restaurant group’s executive chef Norman Lee has 16 years of experience in the culinary industry. To develop Sale e Pepe, he and founder Asai Ken consulted Michelin-starred restaurant La Gallina to learn the secrets of traditional Italian cooking.

In addition to its pastas and risottos, the menu features a range of classic pizza choices, including Margherita, Primavera and Prosciutto e Rucola. There are also hearty meat dishes like the wood-fire oven roasted steak and lamb chops.

One house specialty is the risotto with mushrooms, porcini, saffron and goose liver. This dish includes two thick slices of foie gras and is served with a grapefruit sorbet to refresh the palate.

Archwalk branch

Tel: 6260-0263

Address: L411, Shanghai Archwalk, 179 Maotai Rd

SML Center branch

Tel: 3356-2686

Address: L205 Shanghai SML Center, 618 Xujiahui Rd

800 Show branch

Tel: 6217-5058

Address: 1F-2A, 800 Show, 800 Changde Rd

The Bull & Claw

Opened in May, 2015, The Bull & Claw specializes in three things: steak, lobster and craft beer. This simple surf-and-turf focus has already earned it a loyal following among local diners.

Customers can crack open a whole lobster for 248 yuan (US$39.4), while a lobster meat sandwich will set you back 148 yuan.

One popular choice is the half lobster and 250-gram veal fillet combo (378 yuan). Diners can choose to have their lobster steamed, grilled or thermidor-cooked (baked with cream, brandy, onion, garlic and cheese).

With its cozy and welcoming ambience, The Bull & Claw is worth a visit if you’re looking for no-frills, back-to-basic dishes prepared with fresh ingredients.

Tel: 6266-6819

Address: 466 Xikang Rd

Best Well-Established Restaurants

Deda Western Restaurant

Originally named Cosmopolitan Restaurant, Deda was first opened in 1897 on Tanggu Road. It later relocated to Nanjing Road W. in the 1990s. In 2009, a second branch was opened on Yunnan Road South.

For many people in Shanghai, Deda was where they had their first taste of Western food. It has been serving German cuisine for more than a century, using a menu that’s stood up well against the test of time.

Deda’s prices are also hard to match. Its eponymous potato salad and borsch, for example, each cost only 15 yuan. The restaurant is also known for their fried pork chops and steak filets.

Though the service is sometimes questionable, Deda is still a favorite among many older Shanghainese thanks to its familiar dishes and nostalgic setting.

Tel: 6321-3810

Address: 473 Nanjing Rd W.

Xinya Cantonese Restaurant

Xinya has been serving up Cantonese cuisine since 1926. Among many Shanghainese, it’s still a go-to place when it comes to authentic Cantonese cuisine for family get-togethers.

Be warned though, this place often gets crowded. If you want to enjoy dim sum breakfast at Xinya on the weekend, be sure to make reservations.

Bookings on Chinese New Year’s Eve also get snapped up well in advance.

House signatures include Beef sautéed in oyster sauce, smoked pomfret, roast pigeons and shrimp dumplings.

Xinya also serves other regional dishes, like Peking roast duck.

Tel: 6351-7788

Address: 719 Nanjing Rd E

Most Pet-Friendly Restaurant

Cotton’s

Cotton’s has two locations in Shanghai. Both have small gardens perfect for summer days and indoor fireplaces for warming up on cold winter nights.

In keeping with its chilled-out atmosphere, Cotton’s also allows customers to bring their pets indoors.

In contrast, many other establishments only allow animals in outdoor seating areas.

The casual menu features cheese quesadillas, spicy fried rices, steaks and pizza.

The only downside is that Cotton’s is not a smoking free establishment, which could offend some.

Xinhua Road branch

Tel: 6282-6897

Address: 294 Xinhua Rd

Anting Road branch

Tel: 6433-7995

Address: 132 Anting Rd

Best Neighborhood Restaurants

The Sailors

Fish and chips is one guilty pleasure that’s hard to stay away from. Fortunately, you can satisfy your cravings at The Sailors.

A casual restaurant in a residential area, The Sailors has a simple menu of comfort foods prepared with fresh ingredients.

The big platter for two includes flounder, pollack, sea bass, squid rings, prawns, sausages and chips.

In the evening, The Sailors is also a great place to grab a drink.

Tel: 6271-0366

Address: 163 Yanping Rd

Hungry Lung’s Kitchen

Hungry Lung’s Kitchen has a slogan: “eat, love, laugh.” The restaurant serves an impressive array of satisfying comfort foods.

Hungry Lung’s first opened in 2012 in a small, cozy spot on Yongkang Road before moving to a bigger space on Jiashan Road in 2015. That same year, it also opened a new outlet in K11 Art Mall.

The menu is a melange of Western and Southeast Asian crowd-pleasers, like hearty beef lasagna, lemongrass grilled chicken, tom yum soup and laksa.

This friendly restaurant also serves breakfast all day. Diners can choose from eggs Benedict with three toppings (roast duck, smoked salmon, ham and cheese) or indulge in a full English breakfast.

And don’t miss the apple crumble pie served with vanilla gelato.

Tel: 5465-5291

Address: 99 Jiashan Rd

Jiao Xiu

A good neighborhood restaurant is one that’s comforting, inviting and predictable, and Jiao Xiu hits on all three points.

In 2015 we reviewed this small eatery in a narrow lane off Zhu’anbang Road E. that serves classic Sichuan dishes and Chengdu-style snacks.

The restaurant — whose name translates into “pepper shy” — was opened by two graduates of the Shanghai Theatre Academy who decided to start a business after leaving school.

Jiao Xiu’s one-page menu features choices like ranmian (burning noodles), wontons in spicy chili oil, meat and vegetable skewers in spicy broth and hot pot vermicelli. Ingredients are flown in from Sichuan Province and the quality of the food has been consistently impressive.

The service is friendly, the dishes are served fast. The restaurant stays opens till midnight for late night snackers.

Tel: 6224-2510

Address: 55 Zhu’anbang Rd E.st Business Lunch

Ji Yue Hot Pot

First opened in 2012, this upscale establishment is among the most expensive hot pot joints in town with the average price exceeding 500 yuan per person.

On weekdays though, it serves a much more affordable business lunch priced at only 228 yuan for two, plus service charge.

The most popular option is the pepper pork stripe and chicken combo. Before cooking the meat and vegetables in the hot pot, it’s best to start with a bowl of soup to warm the body.

The set lunch includes chicken, vegetables, rice noodles as well as dessert.

Customers can also grab frosty beverages from the restaurant’s private dining rooms at no extra cost.

Ji Yue is known for its attentive service, with waiters ready to help with cooking and serving throughout the meal. If you can take a long lunch break, Ji Yue is the perfect place to enjoy a great deal on a warming meal.

Tel: 3366-2796

Address: 3F, South Building of Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Rd M

Most Creative Restaurant

Lady Bund

Located in the historic Bund 22 building, Lady Bund is a fine dining restaurant and lounge that mixes the new and old as it dishes out contemporary Asian fusion cuisine.

The restaurant was designed by French designer Thomas Dariel, who incorporated elements of tattoo art and origami with futuristic materials and 3D projection lighting.

Signature dishes of Lady Bund include braised pork belly, short ribs and its “morning Shanghai” selection of classic breakfast items like tanggao (sugar cake) and pepper salt oven rolls.

One creative and popular dish on Lady Bund’s menu is black cod soup stewed with agarics and hotbed chives and served with crispy fried rice cake.

Tel: 6333-1798

Address:

4F, 22 Zhognshan Rd E2