Hunter Gatherer is a new ‘concept’ cafe and market that has sprung up on Anfu Lu. The latest in a mob of green health-food restaurants, you’ll find everything you’d expect: glorified salads and unnecessarily creative juice names.

The walls are stocked with artisan condiments (I’m sure the 60RMB jar of mayonnaise is worth it) as well as some other specialty goods. You can take your hand at the nut dispensers, which deceptively look like candy dispensers, or grab a jar of freshly grinded almond or peanut butter (arguably one of the few things here worth the steep price of 80RMB). The market’s showcase is their small selection of produce which boasts being grown in their own chemical-free farms. This is a nice touch, especially in China.

The cafe itself is an airy open space and welcoming of light. It’s a good spot to grab a quick lunch or sit down and work for a few hours - as made evident by the numbers of glowing apples.

Food is served in a cafeteria-styled lineup, starting at 62RMB. The starting price gets you a ‘base’, protein, two vegetable dishes, and a garnish. Bases range from different types of rice (like paprika or five-grain with goji berry) to chilled rice noodles or spinach and quinoa salad. The base price includes either tea-brined chicken or braised bulgogi tofu, or you can pay 16RMB extra for miso-marinated salmon or braised beef brisket. Vegetable selections include broccoli pumpkin pancake, chili and lime bell pepper salad, and roasted tomato and fennel. Lastly, you have the option to garnish your dish with either fresh herbs, toasted seeds, garlic chips, or nori flakes. You can also slap on a side or a soup for 16RMB or 20 RMB, respectively.

The drink menu includes juices and smoothies ranging from 38 to 48RMB. This may seem steep, but it’s quite standard for juices at these places. These prices may also be justified, as most of their refreshingly unique drinks involve ingredients such as goji berry, apple cider vinegar, and chia seeds. Their selection of five smoothies each hold a targeted health benefit, including good skin and immunity. My creation was spinach and quinoa salad, miso marinated salmon, beet and apple salad, citrus cumin roasted cauliflower, and toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds. I finished it off with a “Berry Berry Blue” juice (42 RMB)– blueberry vinegar, purple cabbage, and blueberries. It was… very blue. The total came out to an unexpected 120 RMB. Whatever, eating healthy comes at a price. The bowl was good, and honestly, better than I usually find these foods to be (sorry, I cannot deny that I would take some good fattening Cuban food any and every day of the week).

A sucker for a good patio, my favorite part of the restaurant was the terrace, featuring a wooden bleachers-styled sitting area. This is one of the most creative uses of an outdoor space I’ve encountered in Shanghai, and works really well to create a laid-back atmosphere. Perfect for sipping on your “Get Up & Goji”.

I suppose I would go back. I would just be prepared to pay for my good ol’ bowl of health, and will steer away from the market section. There’s only so much room for 80RMB peanut butter in one’s life. This article was written by Enrique Menendez. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo credit: Enrique Menendez