China Blue

Beguiling, fringed lamps and lanterns evoke old Shanghai at China Blue, a restaurant whose elegance and style could have worked as a backdrop for Ang Lee's Lust, Caution. The TriBeCa establishment is the follow-up to Yiming Wang and Xian Zhang's glamorous Café China in Midtown. Menu highlights here include slippery potstickers that are juicier than the norm and "eight delicacies" (shrimp, pork, chicken, smoked tofu, edamame, peanuts, bamboo shoots and mushrooms) in spicy sauce—a classic, complicated, delicate dish. Caramelized, crispy eel is another specialty of the house, an excellent appetizer to share. The decibel level is kept low, so it's ideal for quiet conversation and business discussions.