KABB BISTRO BAR
KABB BISTRO BAR was established in the chic Xintiandi development in January 2001 as a sophisticated yet relaxed bar & grill serving sophisticated comfort food alongside an approachable wine list. KABB BISTRO BAR is the Xintiandi hotspot where executives make deals, ladies lunch, and friends brunch al fresco or meet for a drink after work. At KABB, you’re sure to run into someone you know.
the food
Comfort is a word often associated with our menu. We provide our customers with an authentic, high-quality Western dining experience. Our menu is filled with an array of moderately-priced, Western bistro-style foods and continentally-influenced dishes. Classics — such as steak, roast chicken, and lamb chops, along with fresh salads, hearty soups and traditional sandwiches — are all included in KABB’s extensive menu. We make everything from scratch and serve it fresh from the kitchen in generous portions. Our inspiration is the great home cooking that comes from loving moms, but we’ve updated these favorites for modern sensibilities and grown-up tastes, adding enough sophistication to be able to call them “luxe comfort foods.”
breakfast
Begin the day with a delicious KABB breakfast — whether it’s the American Breakfast (juice, eggs, home fries, ham, sausage or bacon, home-baked bread, and coffee or tea) the Breakfast Burrito, Eggs Benedict, or a stack of Pancakes. Our breakfasts stoke you up for the challenges of the day. On weekdays, we've got Breakfast Sets that get you going before the work day.
weekend brunch
A seat at KABB during our weekend brunch is hard to come by. Perhaps its our Eggs Benedict and French Toast, or the KABB Mimosa and our famous Bloody Mary Kit that have made us a favorite place to see and be seen every Saturday and Sunday. We always make you feel at home. KABB brunch is a time to linger (our brunch menu is available until 4 pm), to visit friends, and, if you’re lucky enough to be dining al fresco, to people watch.
lunch & dinner
KABB’s talented Chef Ling, creates the best of luxe comfort foods: homemade soups and delicious appetizers like Spicy Buffalo Wings and Roasted Baby Pork Ribs. Our Gourmet Salads are a meal in themselves — from the simple but elegant Garden Salad (made with four types of lettuce) to the Spicy Beef & Fig Salad. Sandwiches include classics like the KABB Melt (melted cheese on Turkish bread with your choice of tuna, turkey, or ham), the KABB Club, and deli classics like the Reuben on Rye and Grilled Steak Sandwich.
You’d be hard pressed to find a better burger than the KABB Classic Beef Burger — and not just because Bob Boyce grew up on a Montana cattle ranch and knows how to pick his beef. Our Chef knows how to cook it to perfection, too. There is a delicious Texas Chili Con Carne, based on Bob’s sister Ann’s own recipe (the one she spent decades perfecting), and our version of some terrific super-luxe comfort foods: Chicken Feta Pasta and Spicy Sausage Marinara. For fans of Tex-Mex, we serve KABB’s Famous Burritos, and a range of grilled items that include Rosemary Half Chicken and BBQ Norwegian Salmon Steak.
Save room for dessert: choices include the luscious, Decadent Chocolate Cake (quite possibly the best in Shanghai), Mile High Chocolate Cake, and our pastry Chef Benny's Chocolate Cheesecake — all baked fresh in our own kitchen.
the drinks
From after work drinks to long conversations over a bottle of wine or a couple of cocktails, KABB’s bar is a gathering place for friends, colleagues, guests, and travelers.
We pride ourselves on our approachable wine list, which offers both champagnes and sparkling wines as well as a good mix of wines from both Old and New Worlds. Thirteen wines are available by the glass — perfect for an early evening drink or as an accompaniment to one of our dishes.
Our extensive array of cocktails ensures even the most discriminating guest is able to find an old favorite. Classics such as the gin & tonic and the now famous KABB Bloody Mary Kit, as well as retro favorites: boiler makers, manhattans, and martinis. We’ve got frozen drinks like Cuervo Gold margaritas, frozen banana daiquiris and pina coladas, and a good selection of vodkas, rums, tequilas, gins, whiskeys, cognacs, liqueurs, and KABB specialty shots.
the service
Friendly, efficient service has become a KABB signature. Our philosophy is simple: we hire people with a keen desire to learn and an instinctive understanding of warm hospitality and service, and then we train, train, train. You can see the result in the smooth service and genuine caring at KABB.
the setting
Sophisticated yet relaxed best describes the setting at KABB, which is located in a historic Shikumen house (Shikumens are 19th and early 20th century domestic Shanghai buildings). The original Shikumen door frames are a focus of the dining area, the unfinished stone lintels adding texture and interest. Deep red doors and creamy yellow walls complement the dark wood furniture and the wine-hued banquettes that line the dining area. Jade and gold tile columns and warehouse-style lights overhead add interest. The terracotta floor adds an element of warmth. Above, a glassed-in skylight — originally open to the sky — allows light to flood in.
A wooden bar wraps around the bar area, juxtaposed with a pair of jade and gold tile columns. High tables and barstools upholstered in deep red create a stylish spot for unwinding. KABB’s al fresco seating is one of the most coveted spots in Xintiandi. You’re almost always sure to run into someone you know, and if you don’t, the KABB staff will always make you feel at home.
Visit the KABB BISTRO BAR website for more information.