Deyuelou (Ligongdi)

This lakeside branch of Deyuelou, the Ming-era heritage restaurant traced to 1522, stands on the Ligongdi causeway beside Jinji Lake in Suzhou Industrial Park, in Jiangsu province, China. Unlike the old-town flagship on Taijian Lane, it belongs to the modern eastern district of Suzhou, where Ligongdi is a landscaped waterfront strip of restaurants, cafes and bars that is a popular evening destination for locals and visitors staying near Jinji Lake. The menu follows the house Su-style banquet tradition: freshwater fish, shrimp and eel prepared with light sweetness, careful knife work and seasonal ingredients. No chef lineage or Michelin status is attached to this branch; its appeal is a recognisable heritage name combined with water views. Signature dishes listed for the branch are squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, fried shredded eel and Su-style braised pork. The mandarin fish, scored and fried so the flesh fans out under a sweet-sour sauce, is the most emblematic Suzhou banquet dish, and fried shredded eel is a classic Jiangsu preparation. The braised pork offers a richer, slow-cooked counterpoint. The dining room is oriented toward group dinners, with round tables and windows facing the lake, and the mood is relaxed and celebratory rather than formal. Dress is casual. Tea, beer and baijiu are the usual drinks, and there is no notable wine programme. Evening service is the most atmospheric, when the causeway is lit and lakeside walkers pass by. Reservations can be made through Dianping (大众点评) or Meituan by searching 得月楼 李公堤; a booking is advisable for weekends, holidays and any table by the water, and larger groups should reserve well in advance. Prices are in the upper-mid range for Suzhou, with a shared fish, eel and pork meal for a small group typically costing a few hundred yuan. Visitors based in the old town should allow travel time, as Ligongdi is in the Industrial Park, several kilometres east of Guanqian Street.