CONCESSION MUSIC RESTAURANT

170, WuQuan W. 4th St.
(04) 2378-3576
Hours: 7 pm-3 am
10% service charge. Credit cards accepted.
Parking available.

---By Niang Chen Translated by Sho Huang

Concession Music Restaurant is filled with a thick Shanghai atmosphere inside and outside. Stepping inside, you are immediately swallowed by loud music which makes normal conversations out of the question. However, as one begins to swing with the music and get into the themed environment here, you start to appreciate everything more, including the disco lights.

In many ways, the staff reflect the simple, relaxing, warm and hospitable environment of Concession. Waiter Jung Hou (whose name means "loyal and amicable") was shuttling back and forth serving drinks, introducing the menu, cleaning up the tables and other doing other tasks. Despite working here for four years, experienced waitress Shiao Ing neither smokes nor drinks.

There are regular live performances by professional bands and the bar features different daily themes from Monday to Sunday. Monday is Ladies' Night, when for only NT$300 female customers can drink vodka cocktails to their hearts' content. All the wait staff dress in traditional Chinese dresses or old-style official outfits on Wednesday Retro Nights, when Old Shanghai folk songs are also performed on stage. Friday is Drinking Competition Night, with winners being rawarded NT$2,000 drink coupons.

One very special drink at Concession is the NT$1,800 "Ba Gua Lien Jun" (Eight-Nation United Army), featuring a potent mixture of nine different liquors, vodka, gin, tequila, brandy and others, and enough for 10 people.

Besides the drinks and various nightly activities, tasty cuisine is another big draw for crowds at Concession. Working with top-end kitchen facilities is veteran Chef Liang--who actually runs his own restaurant by day and helps out at Concession by night. Delicious snacks, which vary according to season, go great with your drinks here. There include the Fried Penghu Sponge Gourd (NT$180), which tastes refreshing and appetizing, either sprinkled with miso powder, steamed or deep-fried. Lemongrass Roast Chicken Leg (NT$180) features tender chicken that exudes a light, lemon grass fragrance each time you take a bite.
Minimum charge Sunday through Wednesday is NT$200, and NT$300 on Thursday through Saturday.