Wishbone a dream come true for chicken lovers
Print Edition
FOR many, there are few delights that rival the crispy skin and the flavorsome juicy meat of a rotisserie chicken. Fortunately for roasted fowl aficionados here in Shanghai, Wishbone on Changde Road is ready to serve up succulent, slow cooked chickens along with a menu of hearty side dishes and finger-licking snacks.
Wishbone is run by Samuel Norris. Hailing from London, Norris trained at Westminster Catering College and has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Nobu London and Dinner by Heston Blummental. He also did a stint over at Mr & Mrs Bund and is credited with creating the menu at Dogtown.
Soon after Norris and his wife settled here in Shanghai some three years ago, they made a fateful decision to purchase a toaster with a rotisserie attachment. It wasn’t long before they were discussing the idea of opening a rotisserie restaurant.
“We thought it definitely had potential to fit in well within the expat and Chinese communities,” Norris explained. “We wanted to make sure we did not just have the usual side dishes but something a bit different from what was on offer in Shanghai at that time.’’
Norris’s eatery, which opened about nine months ago, currently sells about 25 rotisserie-roasted chickens each day. The chickens soak in a conventional brine overnight, then are stuffed with Gremolata butter and flavored with herbs, lemon zest and spices. Marinated for 24 hours and slow roasted for another 80 minutes, chickens can be ordered in quarter, half, or whole servings, with prices set at 78 yuan (US$12.2), 150 yuan and 280 yuan respectively — plus choice of two sides. The birds come with two interesting homemade sauces: a mustard sauce blended with roasted zucchini, and a jalepeno mayonnaise.
Equally mouth-watering are the side dishes, which include dripping potatoes (30 yuan, when ordered separately) — that is, potato pieces covered in melted chicken fat. For healthier options, try the okra, cherry tomato with parsley and lemon vinaigrette (30 yuan) or the mixed tomato, yoghurt and Xinjiang naan bread croutons (30 yuan).
Also on the menu are a range of bar snacks like the pulled pork croquettes with cheddar (38 yuan), the country-style pate with shitake mushrooms (38 yuan) and the popular Wishbone wings (38 yuan).
“Our Chinese customers love the wings. We like to serve food in a way that allows everyone to try a bit of everything,’’ Norris said. The wings are made with a Chinese-inspired sweet, vinegary and soy-based sauce. They also have the distinction of being the most popular item on Wishbone’s menu.
Not only does the eatery offer delicious food, they also have a respectable selection of craft beers and creative cocktails. “We recently changed our beer to incorporate Boulevard from Kansas City (50 yuan), which customers love and is a perfect match for the Wishbone wings,’’ Norris said.
Location wise, Wishbone is positioned close to Changping Road metro station, which definitely helps with foot-traffic from the after-work crowd.
“We felt that development in Jing’an District is taking place and it will become an even better location in the future with a new mixture of restaurants opening on a monthly basis,’’ Norris said.
There are currently two Wishbone outlets in town. A 15-square-meter three-table take-out bar on Changle Road opened four months ago. Delivery service from this location is currently offered through Sherpa’s.
WISHBONE
Tel: 6257-8511
Opening hours: 11am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-10:30pm (Monday to Friday); 12am-10:30pm (weekends)
Address: No. 3, 888 Changde Rd
Average per person: 100 yuan
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