Lawry’s The Prime Rib Shanghai opened in the prestigious Xintiandi well over a decade ago. I loved it, but the timing was poor and they couldn’t make it work. So for many years, I had to visit Lawry’s in Hong Kong and once, even in Taipei to get my fix of prime rib, or what we in England call roast beef.
If you’re looking for one of Shanghai’s best special occasion steakhouse experiences, Lawry’s delivers excellent prime rib, polished old-school service and generous set menus — though it comes at a premium price.
This time around, they’ve chosen a more understated location in Changning district, where rents are presumably far lower than in Xintiandi.
Lawry’s originates from the United States, opening its first store in Beverly Hills Los Angeles in 1938. I love businesses that focus on one thing and do it exceptionally well and for Lawry’s, that’s prime rib. Although it’s a very close approximation to English roast beef, it’s more decadent than a typical English roast and they serve it with mashed potato and creamed spinach rather than roasted potatoes, carrots and peas which is a more typical English way of enjoying it.
This visit was on a Sunday and we went for their weekend brunch menu. If you choose the prime rib (and why wouldn’t you), it comes with what they call their Jade Cut, which seems to be a small cut created just for the China market. I can’t imagine customers in the US being satisfied by such a small cut of beef.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib Weekend Brunch:
- Weekend brunch set: 398 RMB including the 110g Jade Cut
- Add-on California Cut (170g): +168 RMB
- Full Lawry’s Cut upgrade (280g): +298 RMB
- Children 288 RMB (basic set)
The beef is, as you would expect, top quality, kept at perfect temperature by their special trolleys that keep it warm but at the same time, prevents it from overcooking or drying out. The meat can look rarer in photos than it does in person, but despite the colour of the beef, it is cooked correctly to your chosen level of doneness.
Although prime rib is still the key focus, they do offer alternatives for people who aren’t keen on prime rib or for the lucky few who have the means to visit frequently and may want a change. My son was very impressed by the burger, which came with handmade potato chips. They also have roasted chicken, Crab Cake Benedict and Filet Mignon (158 RMB supplement).
The set also includes a salad buffet, a small dessert selection and a grilled seafood plate. This was my least favourite part of the meal and it felt like they had ventured a little too far from what they do best.
Also included is coffee, tea or a soft drink. The coffee was very American – large in volume (served in a large mug) and rather weak – the opposite of European style coffee which I would prefer.
It’s definitely a premium option and, for us at least, more suited to birthdays, celebrations and special occasions — something Lawry’s handles very well. For my birthday we were impressed to see a happy birthday balloon on our table upon arrival and a Lawry’s teddy bear which we were told we could take home with us. A nice touch.
They also gave us a complimentary birthday dessert and a neatly stencilled “Happy Birthday” message – great for social media or even blog posts!
If you don’t want the brunch set or if you come in the evening, you can opt for their classic prime rib dinner which is the typical Lawry’s experience that I am used to. You only have to select your cut of meat:
- 170g California Cut (515 RMB)
- 280g Lawry’s Cut (650 RMB)
- 650g Diamond Jim Brady Cut (950 RMB)
- 1KG Family Cut (1680 RMB)
There’s also an English Cut for 565 RMB that is three thin 60g slices of meat which I don’t recommend.
The classic dinner comes with their trademark spinning bowl salad, creamed corn or spinach, mashed potatoes and Yorkshire pudding, which is great. Ask for extra gravy to soak up the Yorkshire pudding and the meat. What they provide as standard is never enough for me.
One thing that also makes Lawry’s feel different from most of Shanghai’s modern restaurants is the old-school service style. The prime rib is carved tableside from a silver roasting trolley, which adds a bit of theatre to the meal and makes the whole experience feel more formal and traditional. Even the famous spinning bowl salad — dramatically tossed over ice in front of the table — feels like something from another era of American dining.
The brown-and-white uniforms worn by the waitresses add even more to that retro atmosphere. Styled in a distinctly mid-century American way, they feel almost frozen in time and fit perfectly with Lawry’s deliberately classic image. Combined with the tableside carving and polished service, it creates a dining experience that feels very different from Shanghai’s more modern steak and grill restaurants.
So is it worth it? Well, yes, Lawry’s offers something quite different from Shanghai’s usual steakhouse scene: slow-roasted prime rib carved tableside in classic American style. Make sure you mention the occasion when booking so you can get some special treatment.
If you’d like more ideas about where to eat in Shanghai, we have a carefully curated restaurant guide or read our review of Aster for a very different style of dining.
Location & Reservations
- 168 Wuyi Road, WYSH, Changning District, Shanghai
- Nearest metro: Jiangsu Road
- Reservations recommended (especially for special occasions)