I am from NYC (and familiar with crowded subways), but first trip to Shanghai ...... Since I will be on the Bund for a meeting in the late afternoon, drinks at M sounds good and then on to dinner ....... still thinking of French Concession area for dinner ....... have you no knowledge of Fu 1039? ..... how about Ruijin guesthouse for both drinks and dinner then? (too touristy?) Then metro back to Zhongshan Park station....
Again, Thank you

-though i'm not a bund booster, i think rouge has quite a bit more style than m, but they both get the job done (pass on new heights).
-i'm not familiar with the fu place, but i know ruijin park and vacinity quite well. the only restaurant over there that i would consider is the japanese place in the office building (even better than suntory; see below). face is definitely worth a drink or two, if you have time there
-since you're going to be on the bund at around dinner time, i suggest you try to find something in the area that works for you. if it were me, i'd jump in the tourist tunnel and head across the river to suntory (hsbc); has all the ambience of the places in the hyatt and delicious food to boot. after that, i might be inclined to stop by danelli's in the st. regis for dessert.
-if that's too much trouble, don't discount laris or m or even shanghai uncle (near the westin). (many of you know that i don't care much for these places, but i recognize that many disagree... so they deserve a fair shake)
-you shouldn't have to set foot on a subway as long as you stay near the bund or lujiazui until 9 or so. oh, and the idea of taking the subway from ruijin park (what's that, shan'xi rd stn?) to zhongshan park is not a good one imo

Stayed at Ruijin guest house and went over to check out Face Bar. Actually was going there to eat at the Indian Restaurant. Got there and the reception
person said " go to the bar and have a drink" while we prepare a table for you. This I had never seen in China before..they must have had a good marketing person there to know how to pump up the tab by steering the patrons in the direction of the bar first. Kind of a boutique style bar with a lot of Euros hanging there. Good place to relax...

MrZhu will have to try this Suntory – he did not realize it was in the HSBC building (which has some of the best toilets in Shanghai according to MrZhu).

Mr Zhu's Concern with Rouge is that it is loud. Anyone eaten at the Peace Hotel lately? It is romantic to lao wai and they have jazz shows in the lobby for post dinner drinks.

MrZhu is fond of Face but has only eaten at ruijin once (colours?) and was not overly impressed.

P.S. take NYC subway at its most crowded. Cube it. You have shanghai metro during rush hour. But after dinner just take a cab back to hongqiao.

月狗 is confident that MrZhu will be pleased with Suntory, but advises that he make his first trip during lunch, if possible because he will get a chance to test those waters for Y150 (as opposed to much more at dinner time).

Not necessarily...I've lived in both NYC and Shanghai. Think of Shanghai's day-time subways as equivalent to New York's rush hour, then think of Shanghai's rush hour as Hieronymus Bosch.