The Lakeside Veggie, a vegetarian restaurant in new and pretty nice shopping development Shi Guang Li mall not far from the West Bund area, feels pretty fancy. It’s decked out like the banquet hall of a stately country home, with high ceilings, chandeliers, and big private rooms. It’s a bit much maybe, but once you settle in its kind of charming. It’s kitsch, intentionally or not, and more atmospheric and date-worthy than your average mall resto.

For whatever reason, the self-conscious refinement of the setting and the attentive service made me worry that the food would be a little tame. Fortunately, I was proved wrong. They aren’t afraid of salt and a little oil at The Lakeside Veggie like they are at other vegetarian restaurants. There is plenty of bold seasoning and great cooking to be impressed by and savor.

We hit up the Dianping deal that gets you a spread of their signature dishes at RMB 258 for two. Fried, mushroom-stuffed sweet and sour lotus root slices are a crunchy, satisfying starter, as are chilled mala mushrooms (a meat-free replica of Sichuan favorite fu qi fei pian, or spicy beef intestines). Stir-fried mushrooms are a highlight, as is the mushroom soup served in a tea set - its rich, earthy, and nourishing. A lot of depth. Lot of mushrooms on the menu here.

The set also includes a selection of iced vegetables, served with soy sauce for dipping. They pour water into the serving board to make loads of steam pour out of it, covering the veggies and the table. It looks great. Decent Moments / Instagram fodder, but it’s probably the least exciting part of the meal flavor-wise. Fresh vegetables, though.

It might be out of the way for some, but The Lakeside Veggie is more than worth the trip whether you’re looking for a new meat-free spot or just looking for a place to find some fresh, interesting Chinese cooking.   

Price: RMB 258 for two

Summary: Spiffy vegetarian restaurant offering up fresh ingredients and quality meat-free cooking with plenty of flavor in a mall down south. Decked out pretty fancy with a few private rooms and good service, but reasonably priced. A cut above your average ‘faux meat’ joint. 

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