Dinner and a Show Take Center Stage at Shanghai Jazz

There are some things that one would never think to put together in a million years. Live jazz and Chinese food, for example, might top the list—but that's exactly the winning dining and entertainment fusion that husband and wife team Martha Chang and David Niu have created with Shanghai Jazz.

Music is definitely the main draw to Shanghai Jazz, which was named "one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world" last year by Downbeat Magazine. Six nights a week, patrons can enjoy musical selections from a variety of soloists, duos, trios, and jazz bands. The restaurant books two sets on Friday and Saturday nights (6:30 and 8:30 pm) and does not charge a cover fee for the shows.

Shanghai Jazz takes its music seriously and does indeed offer up some truly talented musicians from Broadway and venues all over the world. As a result, its food takes a bit of a backseat. Diners are welcomed to their tables with a greeting of "enjoy the show" rather than the more customary, "enjoy your meal," and service is swift and silent, letting the audience focus on the sultry notes floating out from the corner stage area. The lights are kept low and succeed in creating a cabaret ambiance. If it wasn't for the fact that food is put in front of you, it would be hard to tell the difference between a traditional nightclub and Shanghai Jazz.

To their credit, Shanghai Jazz's chefs do put out solid, upscale Chinese fare with a few tributes to other cultures as well. Steamed Vietnamese spring rolls ($8.95), a few sushi rolls ($7.95-$8.95), Shanghai fried shrimp rolls ($8.95), salads ($7.95-$8.95), and roast pork spare ribs ($9.95) are available as starters. Their Little Dragon Dumplings, one of six different dumpling appetizers ($8.95 each), are a particular treat. The delicious pockets of pork are cooked and served in a bamboo steamer and are just as juicy as—and shaped more like—soup dumplings than pot stickers or wontons.

For mains, the jazz restaurant offers several chicken, seafood, and beef dishes, including a crispy red snapper served whole ($29.95), a battered sea scallops plate with orange sauce ($21.95), Beijing Duck ($29.95), Hoisin Chicken Explosion ($16.95), Firecracker Beef ($17.95), and filet mignon ($21.95). The menu also carries a few selections for vegetarians.

Both the seafood sautéed with basil ($22.95) and the Triangle of Three Precious Ones ($17.95) were delicately prepared and visually interesting, although not as spicy as advertised. The seafood dish included a very respectable compilation of shrimp, scallops, and lobster tail pieces in velvety garlic sauce. The meat combination highlighted shredded beef, chicken, and pork, green and red peppers, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts.

Beer, wine, and spirits are all readily available at Shanghai Jazz. The modestly-sized wine list includes a variety of whites ($7.90-$8.75 by the glass, $36-$69 by the bottle) and reds ($8.50-$12 by the glass, $38-$70 by the bottle). Beers include the Chinese Tsingtao, a standard mix of other international options, and two microbrews on tap made specifically for the restaurant by New Jersey's own Climax Brewery: the Shanghai Jazz red ale and nut brown ale ($6.50 each). There is also a menu of jazz-themed cocktails.

Desserts and cordials don't seem to be the main attraction at Shanghai Jazz, although there are about a half dozen options such as red velvet cake, key lime pie, and apple cobbler. The brownie a la mode ($7.50) was an unremarkable but sweet finish to the night.

With live jazz in the spotlight, an evening at Shanghai Jazz is all about the musical entertainment. Quiet conversation can be difficult, but not many actually try to engage in such activity. And although the cuisine is definitely enjoyable and meant to be refined, the portions and meat-to-vegetables ratios can be a wee bit shy. The prices are also somewhat inflated, most probably to offset the wonderful, free jazz performances. However, it's hard to find fault with the intriguing Main Street establishment. All things considered, an evening spent at Shanghai Jazz will leave you full in all the ways that count: heart, mind, stomach, and song.

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Shanghai Jazz

24 Main Street, Madison

(973) 822-2899

Hours of Operation:

Lunch, Friday, 11:30 am-2:30 pm

Dinner, Tuesday through Thursday, 4:30-10 pm

Dinner, Friday, 4:30-11:30 pm (Jazz sets at 6:30 and 8:30 pm)

Dinner, Saturday, 2:30-11:30 pm (Jazz sets at 6:30 and 8:30 pm)

Dinner, Sunday, 3:30-9 pm

Private parties available.

All major credit cards accepted.

$15 food & drink table minimum (per person) on Wednesday and Thursday nights, $25 per person on Friday, $35 per person on Saturday, and $20 per person on Sunday nights.