Head-to-Head · Shanghai
Taian Table vs Otto e Mezzo
Taian Table holds Shanghai's only three stars; Bombana runs its best Italian. Book Taian Table for the special night.
The Verdict
Taian Table is the top-rated seat. German chef Stefan Stiller runs the only three-Michelin-star restaurant in Shanghai, a rank he has held for five straight years, from a 20-seat counter around an open kitchen at 161 Lane 465 Zhenning Road in Changning. The set menu folds Chinese ingredients into European technique, and the counter format makes it one of Asia's benchmark seats. It scores 10 for food, 8 for the room and 7 for value at the four-dollar-sign tier.
8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana is the Italian pick. Umberto Bombana holds two Michelin stars at 169 Yuanmingyuan Road near the Bund, and the kitchen runs the finest Italian cooking in the city, from handmade pasta to white truffle in season. The room is polished and flexible, with à la carte and lunch as well as the tasting. It scores 9 for food, 8 for the room and 6 for value, with the ceiling on price set by the truffle and the cellar.
Scores, Side by Side
| Score | Taian Table | Otto e Mezzo |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 10 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
| Atmosphere | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Value | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 |
Which One for Which Occasion
| Occasion | Editorial Pick |
|---|---|
| Special night | Taian TableThe only three-star in the city, served as a single counter menu, is the headline meal. |
| Impress clients | Otto e MezzoA polished, well-spaced Italian room near the Bund suits a confident business dinner. |
| Solo dining | Taian TableA counter seat around the open kitchen rewards a single diner watching the cooking. |
| Italian cooking | Otto e MezzoBombana's pasta and seasonal white truffle are the best Italian plates in Shanghai. |
| Value lunch | Otto e MezzoThe à la carte and lunch options give a cheaper way in than a fixed counter menu. |
Price Comparison
Both are top-tier bills. Taian Table runs one nightly set menu at four dollar signs, a fixed and serious commitment with the wine pairing on top. 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana sits at the same tier but offers à la carte and lunch, which can lower the spend, before the white truffle and cellar push it back up. On flexibility and value Otto e Mezzo wins, while Taian Table earns its price as the city's only three-star kitchen. Set both against the wider field in our best Italian restaurants guide.
How to Book
Taian Table releases its counter seats ahead on its own channels, and with only 20 seats for one nightly service the weekend books out first. 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana takes reservations for lunch and dinner with more seats and more flexibility, so weekday tables are easier. Plan Taian Table well ahead, and Otto e Mezzo you can usually land sooner. Start from the Shanghai dining guide, then read the Taian Table review and the 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana review in full.
For occasion fit beyond this pairing, weigh them against our guides to rooms to impress clients, the best anniversary restaurants and tables to close a deal. For more Shanghai match-ups see Jean-Georges vs Le Pavillon and 1515 West Chophouse vs Morton's, and browse the full set on the compare index.