Get your taste buds and wallets ready for the 7th Biannual China Restaurant Week: Autumn Edition, beginning Sept. 3. During the eleven-day extravaganza, many of Shanghai's best and most expensive restaurants will get involved by creating more affordable, Restaurant Week-only set menus, making it possible for a wider clientele to sample some of the city's fanciest fare. While prices are on the expensive side, with maximum cost tipped at 128RMB for a three-course lunch and 258RMB for a three-course dinner, you’ll be fulfilling your fantasy to dine like the Shanghai elite. Restaurant Week was first held in New York City in 1998 and since then has expanded to 36 major cities around the world. Within China, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and our own Shanghai all host their own . This year, Shanghai Restaurant Week includes over 150 swanky participating venues, each with its own indulgent and unique set menu. Throughout the event, restaurant goers will be able to vote for their favorite eateries to win the coveted "Best Restaurant" award, most recently held by Hakkasan, which is also one of the city's Michelin star-holding establishments. Here are some of the top picks from the last Restaurant Week to help guide you this season:

Ecole Institut Paul Bocuse

This restaurant is located on the campus of the legendary French chef Paul Bocuse’s culinary school. Every aspect of its management, including designing the menu, is completely run by students. Given its location and heritage, the Ecole Institut combines the best of French cuisine with Chinese influences.

UNICO by Mauro Colagreco

Founding chef Mauro Colagreco’s notable menu combines the flavors of Latin America in an innovative and modern presentation. The menu primarily consists of tapas, each with a modern twist.

M1NT Restaurant

The famous nightclub, known for its wall of sharks and luxurious Bund views, also serves up “the most upscale dining in Shanghai." The restaurant combines the best of an American steakhouse with the unique flavors of various Asian cuisines. Bookings start on Aug. 24, and reservations can be made at http://www.restaurantweek.cn/. In next week’s issue, OCA will be featuring reviews from participating restaurants to help you make the most of this year’s Restaurant Week. This article was written by Abel Hegyes. Send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit:Lucille Riesbeck