We've lived in China for seven months and get to Shanghai regularly on long weekends. We stayed at a hotel near the French Concession (GreenTree Inn, on WuDing Road, No. 661) and like the hotel - but we loved the the little Italian place (doors open right through the hotel lobby) even more.
Only open four months, Lange, is not trying to keep up with the slick, hyper-priced La Dolcevita a few blocks over - Lange isn't flashy but is comfortable with huge leather chairs ala Starbucks for a cozy lunch with a book, square tables, real linens, dark wood with some tasteful mirrors and interestingly framed travel pictures (who is that guy!?) spread throughout a small dining room. Great windows with street views from the front, more romantic seating in the back. The music was a bit loud at times, the service was spotty at best, but the food is worth waiting for while they iron the kinks out. Expect drinks in a flash, wait fifteen for appetizer, main course comes quickly, wait fifteen for dessert, etc.
Each time we visited, Shaun (GM) took care of us personally, with a lunch set at 50 yuan ea. and also dinner specials they offer genuine northern Italian from a master chef who I had to confirm myself is actually Chinese - he is that good. I lived in Italy a few years and look for the good stuff. Wine list is not long but the wines we had were delicious, some Chinese, most Italian (25 per glass). Try the house Italian red...
They offer soups, salads, genuine Italian pizza, pasta, risotti, main courses, and desserts. I recommend asking about the specials because they are a great deal - one night had a buy one get one half off, and another night if you spend 150 yuan we got a bottle of Italian red wine to take home for free. We went on weeknights so don't know about weekend crowds, specials, etc.
The food is consistent and amazing for the price. I can recommend the vegetable soup, the fusilli pasta with mushrooms and bacon, any of the pizzas, the sliced tenderloin over arugula, the lasagna(!), the chicken Parmesan, and the seafood risotti is perfection - just enough calamari and shrimp in a light tomato sauce with stunning, tender risotti.
If you are patient while they train the wait staff this place deserves, one visit to Lange costs 1/3 less than the more popular places in this area and you too will be saying Benissimo!