Western food in Shanghai

Above is NOT Western food. It's the street noodles here that I often subsist on, which are unbelievably delicious, cheap, and lovely.

However, one does tire of Chinese food often. I mean, I've eaten it at nearly every meal for the last almost-three-months (wow I can't believe it's been that long!).

Anyway, my friends and I are constantly on the hunt for yummy, bu tai gui (not too expensive) Western food. Here are a few favorites:

• Saizeriya. A cheap faux-Italian restaurant quite close to our apartment. Favorites include the seafood spaghetti and tuna salad. The food leaves something (a lot of things, actually) to be desired, but at less than $3 US for a meal, you can't complain too much.
• Element Fresh. An absolutely delicious Western chain of restaurants with fresh salads, soup, and sandwiches. And it's really, really good. It reminds me of places in Palo Alto that are just so delicious and fresh. (I just used the word "fresh" three times in four sentences. And now four out of five...) It's a bit on the pricier side, though... about $10 US for a meal.
• Boxing Cat Brewery. Ate Sunday Brunch here with girlfriends and had the Eggs Benedito--a Spanish take on Eggs Benedict, my favorite brunch meal. There were poached eggs atop chorizo and laden with jalapeno hollandaise. It was scrumptious. Though I have to say I do prefer regular old Eggs Benedict. I miss the English muffin at the bottom! I can't wait to get back home and go to Rick's (one of my favorite breakfast places in my hometown) and eat some eggs benedict there. Or go to Hobee's. Mmmm.
• Cantina Agave. A Mexican place that has decent burritos. Nowhere near as good as Los Charros or La Costena but as solid as I've ever had in New York City.

Hope I didn't make you too hungry! As my idol/imaginary friend Julia Child would say, Bon Appetit!