2930 Craig Rd. website

While Shanghai Bistro is a restaurant first and foremost, featuring high-quality sushi and pan-Asian cuisine with flavors ranging from szechuan to hunan and even a little bit of Italy, they’ve also become a mainstay in Eau Claire’s jazz community. Every Friday and Saturday, some of the area’s most talented jazz combos converge on the bistro, adding an electric energy to the trendy dining room, which is always open to all ages and smoke-free. Wednesdays and Thursdays also feature live music ranging from new age ambience to local singers and songwriters. Diners can get up close and personal to the music, or enjoy the sounds from a secluded back corner of the room. The best view of the tunes might be from the full service bar, which features top shelf liquors and beers, including Japanese brews.