(City Weekend)
Updated: 2008-04-03 09:23

Casa 13, Eduardo Vargas's latest offering, is utterly charming. This converted villa features three distinct dining environments: a Spanish-influenced interior, a verdant garden with simple al fresco seating and an intriguing “glass house” dressed in shades of white.

Our dishes, however, were far more straightforward; the ambiance is clearly the star of this show. The creatively presented arugula salad (RMB 40) was served fresh, though with only scant bits of sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan chips. Meanwhile, the roast cod fish with escargot butter (RMB 150) and lamb chops with rosemary and port sauce (RMB 180) were simple but satisfying. In short, if you’re searching for home-style fare and a reasonably-priced wine list, then this is the place to be.

Casa 13
Tues-Sat 11am-3pm, 5-10pm; Sun 11am-3pm; closed Mon.
Bldg 13, 1100 Huashan Lu, by Xingguo Lu
5238 2782