"Black Truffle Foie Gras Buns So Good You'd Fight Over Them! These 5 Dishes at Xin Rong Ji Are Must-Tries or Your Visit Doesn't Count"

"Girl, this birthday needs to be something different!" When my bestie dropped this line, I never imagined she'd drag me into that "palace-level" restaurant on West Nanjing Road - Xin Rong Ji. The elevator doors opened to crystal chandeliers casting dreamy light, servers bowing in perfect 90-degree synchrony, a personalized birthday noodle bowl already waiting with gold-embossed chopsticks... This wasn't dining - it was starring in a "Socialite Birthday Extravaganza"! 👑 But! Don't think it's all about ceremony! As a foodie who's visited this Black Pearl restaurant 5 times, this guide reveals "how to maximize your $150-per-head budget + secret services + Instagram hacks" - even the staff won't tell you these details! 👇 ------ 🏛️ Ambience: Every corner from entrance to wine cellar screams "I'm worth every penny" 📍 Address: 2F, Hengji 688 Plaza, 688 West Nanjing Road, Jing'an District (390m from Exit 5, West Nanjing Road Station, Line 13) 🚪 Doorway Easter Egg: Looks like a European castle from afar, but the brass door handle reveals an engraved "Rong" character - pushing it feels like stepping into Downton Abbey. 🛗 Elevator Surprise: Don't rush to press buttons! The walls are entire panels of colored glass changing hues with each floor - my friend instantly snapped a "Cyberpunk Socialite" selfie. 🍷 Wine Cellar Secret: Servers will discreetly open a hidden door revealing a climate-controlled cellar with 2000+ bottles, including a $18,000 Romanée-Conti - enough to buy 100 squabs! 🎂 Birthday Perks: Book "birthday setup" 3 days prior for personalized bone china + longevity noodles (in 10-year-aged Huadiao broth) with hidden abalone! 🍽️ Must-Try Dishes: Skip these 5 and your visit doesn't count! 1. Crispy Squab (MANDATORY!) 🔥 Hook: Dubbed "Teenage Squab" - only 13-15 day old Zhongshan Shiqi pigeons. Skin shatters like glass, juices literally spray to neighboring tables! 💡 Pro Tip: Ask servers to separate legs for dipping in Puning bean paste - umami doubles! 2. Black Truffle Foie Gras Buns (Girlfight-worthy!) 🍞 Texture: Flaky palmier exterior with foie gras mousse and truffle filling - like biting into "solidified luxury perfume". 💡 Insider Info: Only 30 daily! After 5pm = likely sold out. 3. Sea Anemone & Bean Thread Noodles (Taizhou cuisine GOAT!) 🍜 Wow Factor: Silky-soft anemones with broth-soaked noodles - outsharks Buddha Jumps Over Wall! My friend finished 3 bowls + took broth home. 💡 Hack: Request "Taizhou style" for extra anemone scoop! 4. Pomfret with Rice Cakes (Jiangzhehu folks' soul food!) 🐟 Specialty: Wild East China Sea pomfret + handmade chewy rice cakes. Dipped in fish broth = instant empty bowl. 💡 Freebie: Unlimited rice cake refills! We got 2 extra - server joked "Girls got appetite!" 5. Osmanthus Bird's Nest Tangyuan (Dessert lovers scream!) 🍡 Plot Twist: Looks regular but bursts with bird's nest! Osmanthus syrup perfectly balanced - soothes your throat. 💡 Photo Op: Capture stretchy pull with spoon against wine cellar - 100+ likes guaranteed! 💁♀️ Services: Detail-obsessed heaven! 90% miss these freebies ✅ Complimentary parking: Spend $150+ = 3hr parking voucher (Hengji 688 underground) ✅ Valet: Uniformed guys at entrance (Mercedes S-class prioritized) ✅ Birthday Surprise: Besides noodles, get handwritten card + seasonal fruit (we scored cherries!) ✅ Dish Storytelling: Servers explain origins (e.g. squabs are "Zhongshan air-shipped") 📸 Instagram Guide: Frame-worthy tricks 1️⃣ Entrance Shot: Post-6pm with full chandelier glow + portrait mode for bokeh magic! 2️⃣ Cellar Pose: Side-angle shot holding champagne (free from staff) - caption "Tipsy evening"~ 3️⃣ Food Close-ups: 0.5x lens for squab's glaze or bird's nest tangyuan before cellar - hashtag 🚇 Transport Hacks: Don't trust maps! ⚠️ Drivers: Xin Rong Ji's reserved B2 spots fill by 6pm - arrive before 5:30pm! 🚇 Subway: Exit 5 from West Nanjing Rd Station (NOT Exit 2 - longer walk!) 🚖 Taxi: Pin "Xin Rong Ji (West Nanjing)" - "Hengji 688 Plaza" confuses drivers!