Located near the Xinjuejiang shopping district,
on Saturday night at 10 PM we were the only group of customers.
However, after a while, two to three other groups came in.
The space on the first floor isn't very large, around 20 seats.
There is a private room on the second floor.
The lighting is dim and comfortable,
with decorations primarily in dark wood tones.
The music matches the ambiance of the place. 👍
However, the height of the bar and the chairs isn’t very suitable;
the bar is a bit too high.
Originally, I saw that everyone highly recommends the udon noodles,
but since I wasn't very hungry that day, I didn't order them QAQ.
I left with a bit of regret, giving me a reason to come back next time. (?
Classic Golden Crispy Fries with Tomato Sauce/Truffle Sauce $180
You can choose either tomato sauce or truffle sauce.
They put it in a small dish on the side instead of drizzling it over the fries.
The fries are just sprinkled with salt, and the saltiness is just right.
The fries are very crispy and delicious. ٩۹(๑•̀ω•́ ๑)۶
Mini Margherita Pizza $200
Comes with four small pizzas.
When I saw it on the table, I really thought the size was super cute!!!
It was just freshly baked and very hot; I had to wait a bit before eating.
It tastes just like tomato and cheese.
I don’t like the crust on large pizzas,
so this small pizza didn’t have that thick crust. 👍
Pepper Salt Matsusaka Pork $390
The grilled dish takes a bit longer to wait for.
I initially thought that selling Matsusaka pork for $390 was a bit pricey,
but when I got to eat it, it was grilled just right.
The skin was a bit crispy, and the meat was very tender and juicy.
The texture is great when you bite into it.
If you like Matsusaka pork, you can order this.
It’s really worth the $390.
No. 1 $350
A sweet and sour drink leaning toward sweetness, with a medium alcohol taste.
If you like sweet drinks, you can order this.
However, the chemical taste of the passion fruit is a bit obvious.
If it sits too long, it starts to taste a bit like medicine.
You should drink it quickly.
No. 2 $350
A cocktail primarily flavored with spices, and it's a lighter drink.
I was really looking forward to the Sichuan pepper in the drink,
but I couldn’t really taste any pepper flavor.
Perfect Martini $340
Fewer places tend to put this drink on the menu,
or they might list it along with the Dry Martini.
But they only have this one, thinking it’s less common, so I decided to try it.
It has a strong alcohol taste, and I don’t know why, but it’s somewhat bitter. (?
It was a bit different from what I imagined.
The ambiance in the store is nice and not too noisy.
The food performs really well.
The overall performance of the cocktails is somewhat below average.
The willingness to revisit is low,
but if I really want to try the udon noodles, I might come back.
Where to go in Busan for a Christmas dinner? I highly recommend this place!
This time I came here for dinner, but I believe the restaurant's peak time is around sunset. Since the restaurant is by the sea, you can see the gradient sky and coastline through the large windows on both sides 🌄
Two people will be seated at the bar, while three or more will be at a dining table.
Perhaps because there are few foreign diners here, they do not provide a Chinese menu, but there was a Korean person who spoke Chinese, so communication was totally fine.
We ordered five dishes, and I can confidently say that each one was delicious...
If you want to try it out, you can make a reservation using the international version of Catch Table, with a deposit of 20,000 won per person, which will be deducted on the day of your meal.
𓌉𓇋 Cheddar Cream Pasta ₩ 16,000
(cheese cream pasta/about NT$ 360)
·My friend's top choice, the rich cheese flavor bursts in your mouth when you bite into the pasta.
𓌉𓇋 Spicy Beef Tteokbokki ₩ 15,000
(Spicy stir-fried rice cakes with beef/about NT$ 335)
·The stir-fried rice cakes have a slightly spicy and sweet taste. The moment I tasted the beef, my friend and I’s eyes widened; the charred flavor of the stir-fried beef was incredibly intense, and the rice cakes were chewy and delicious.
𓌉𓇋 Truffle Potato Pancake ₩ 14,000
(potato pancakes with truffle/about NT$ 315)
·I thought it would be crispy, but when I took a bite, it was filled with finely shredded potatoes. The truffle flavor was a heavenly experience.
𓌉𓇋 Shrimp BBQ Pasta ₩ 18,000
(shrimp barbecue pasta/about NT$ 400)
·The chef really knows how to control the firmness of the pasta, and there’s an intense shrimp flavor. The only downside was that it was a bit salty and mildly spicy.
𓌉𓇋 Olive Ice Cream ₩ 4,000
(olive ice cream/about NT$ 90)
·Some people say that adding olive oil to ice cream instantly elevates it. After trying it, I understood; the ice cream has a bit of a grainy texture, and I noticed other diners finishing theirs quite quickly.
[𖤐 ̖´- Beverages here are a must-try, mostly alcoholic drinks. They have sparkling wine, red and white wine, and beer. For those who don’t drink alcohol, there are non-alcoholic options available. This time we chose two highballs, and they both had a pretty strong alcohol flavor~]
𖠚ᐝ Adelphi Highball ₩ 15,000
(Adelphi Highball/about NT$ 335)
𖠚ᐝ Cheetah Highball ₩ 15,000
(Cheetah Highball/about NT$ 335)
*The location is on the second floor, which might be a bit inconvenient if you are dragging a suitcase.
*We were told that we couldn’t enjoy a birthday cake in the restaurant, which was somewhat disappointing.
🚇 Take the subway to Jongdo Station (Line 2), exit 7, and walk for 15 minutes.
There’s a bus stop about a five-minute walk away, which is quite convenient.
The Christmas gathering was booked exclusively, the environment is very nice and you can still see Taipei 101 from the outdoor area. On high floors, each unit is separated so you don't have to worry about disturbing others. It seems like it would be hard to make a reservation for good days. Based on the number of people, the price seems customizable.
It's great for large gatherings, and there's also karaoke. The buffet has a lot of options, and the desserts and fruits are quite abundant. There's plenty of drinks available, and the separate restrooms with dedicated service provide a very good experience.
I found this restaurant frequently appearing when I searched for taverns on Instagram, and it seems many people have dined there before! This sparked my curiosity.
I made a reservation by calling them directly. It's not easy to get someone on the phone, so if you have inquiries, you might need to call several times! Booking a table online is definitely the easiest option…
We ordered a lot of dishes, and I’ll mention a few that are close to me:
❤️ Chicken Mushroom 🍄 Risotto
I’m not quite sure if that’s the actual name for this dish, but the risotto tasted creamy and mushroomy, topped with tender fried chicken. The overall flavor wasn’t particularly bad; it’s just a risotto that’s generally acceptable!
❤️ Cherry 🍒 Duck Breast
According to custom, I find it hard to say no to cherry duck breast, but I was a bit disappointed when it arrived because it was a bit too dry and tough. While the surrounding sauce brought a sweet and sour flavor that paired well with the duck breast, unfortunately, the quality of the duck meat itself wasn’t good, making me feel that this was not worth the money!
❤️ Pumpkin 🎃 Soup
If I preferred a slightly sweeter pumpkin soup, I might have found it okay, but I personally thought it was a bit too sweet, like drinking a sweet pumpkin soup.
I don’t personally think this restaurant is as worthy of the internet recommendations as advertised, and the owner seemed a bit too eager to make money. For a large group like ours, they automatically upgraded us to a set menu. In the midst of the chaos, it’s easy to end up paying without realizing it, and the food didn’t turn out to be as good as I imagined. Additionally, the prices were on the higher side for the southern region, so I wouldn’t particularly recommend it!
Located near the MRT Shuanglian Station, this convenient gastropub has an entry method similar to a speakeasy bar abroad; you need to find the right way to get in, making for a nice experience.
They have quite a variety of drinks, and this time, my friends and I ordered several to try out.
My personal favorites are the red guava cocktail and the passion fruit cocktail.
The red guava drink has a rich guava flavor, and the alcohol taste isn't particularly overwhelming; it definitely has a boozy feel, with a nice balance of sweet and sour.
The passion fruit cocktail leans more towards the sour side, but its alcohol and sweet-sour notes are well-matched, making it great for those who enjoy a more tart flavor.
The atmosphere of the place is nice, but it's generally a bit dark, which can make taking photos a bit challenging. That's a bit unfortunate. However, they do provide an outdoor smoking area on the second floor, so customers who need to smoke don't have to go all the way to the first floor—very considerate.
Regarding the food, we ordered two servings of fried items, which were quite tasty. It does take a bit longer to get served during peak times, but that’s understandable given the circumstances.
The only slight surprise was that their drink prices are not cheap. Each drink, including service charge, generally exceeds 400 TWD, but I guess that's the norm in Taipei (even in the second-floor environment).
This year, the discussion is very high, and every dish from this no-fail bistro is delicious.
The four of us shared and finished everything super quickly.
Even for the common meat sauce spaghetti, we were counting how many pieces of pasta each person could get (hope the portion could be a bit larger).
Currently, on even-numbered weeks, reservations for the "next two weeks" are open on Fridays at 5:00 PM.
The time slots for reservations are at 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM.
The second floor retains the original high ceilings and slanted roof of the old building.
A friend shared that if you want to book the second floor, you need to reserve the next slot right after finishing your meal that day (reservations on the official website are all on the first floor).
If you're celebrating a birthday, they will give you a small birthday cake 🫶🏼.
The dishes we ordered this time:
♡ Slow-cooked silky cheese 300
♡ Hokkaido scallops / fresh figs / fennel salad 420
♡ Charcoaled little squid from Northeast Coast / Argentinian green sauce / pork back fat 350
♡ Charcoaled broccoli / macadamia nuts / pine nut sauce 300
♡ Beef liver mushrooms / mushrooms / chicken thigh pieces / bird’s nest noodles 400
♡ Bolognese meat sauce / large pipe pasta 400
♡ Crab juice / rose shrimp / lime / Italian aged rice 420
♡ Kavalan bone-in pork chop 8oz / sourdough bread sauce 720
♡ Baked apple crumble / vanilla ice cream 250
♡ Roasted tea tiramisu 250
The minimum spend per person is 500 TWD on drinks/beverages.
Overall Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Dikson's Fooday Food Review #272
This visit was also to a bistro.
It is a bistro located near Dapinglin in Xindian.
Recently, I've seen many introductions and advertisements for it.
Compared to general bistro-style establishments that lean more towards a bar feel,
I personally believe this one has a more restaurant vibe,
with dining as the main focus and drinks as a supplementary aspect.
After all, just looking at their operating hours,
it's clear they’re going for a restaurant series,
not really a bistro that stays open late.
However, the transportation situation is a bit inconvenient.
It's located in the area of Dapinglin in Xindian,
and it's not too far from the MRT station—about a 5-minute walk.
But because it’s not in a so-called bustling neighborhood,
it could be a bit troublesome if you are considering it as a place for a date.
Food: 🌕🌕🌖🌑🌑
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
⭐️ Food
In terms of overall food,
although some dishes have slightly unique features,
the overall wow factor is somewhat lacking.
Additionally, each dish's portion is a bit too small,
making it feel a bit expensive for the price.
On that day, I had dinner here with three friends.
👉 Salted Egg Yolk Fries $220
For the fries, I felt they were typical of bistros or restaurants serving salted egg yolk fries.
There's nothing particularly special about them.
👉 Confit Duck Leg $660
The duck leg was quite flavorful and well-prepared.
However, as mentioned before,
the portion is really too small.
I would guess it’s about enough for one person.
So if you’re coming with friends,
and everyone wants to eat duck leg, I personally suggest ordering multiple portions.
After all, from the photo, you can see that one serving of duck leg is quite limited.
If everyone shares, each person can only get two or three bites.
So even if it’s delicious, the portion is really too small.
👉 Saffron Risotto $580
The risotto tasted quite flavorful,
but there was nothing particularly memorable about it. 😅😅😅
👉 Boneless Short Ribs $700
The boneless short ribs were a bit excessive.
I feel this price could buy a decent regular steak elsewhere,
but the portion here is also a bit too small.
In terms of cooking, I think the handling is acceptable.
It feels like just basic grilling of the beef,
with nothing particularly memorable about it.
It simply has the essence of eating beef.
But unfortunately, the portion is really too small.
👉 Scallop Spanish Baked Omelet $320
This baked omelet was one of the more memorable dishes of the day,
with some special ingredients added for flavor.
So it gives a different feeling when eating the whole omelet.
If I have friends visiting,
I would definitely recommend ordering this dish!
👉 Cold-Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil Garlic Shrimp $380
This dish comes with bread for pairing.
There were about six to eight shrimp in the serving,
making it one of the better deals among today’s dishes.
This dish works well with the bread;
placing the garlic shrimp on the bread to eat
gives it a nice overall flavor.
But the taste of the olive oil and garlic was a bit overwhelming,
resulting in a strong flavor for the shrimp. 😂😂
👉 Brioche Bread Tart $160
This dish was actually my top recommendation of the day.
It looked fantastic when served!
And it was very refreshing and delicious to eat,
with plenty of fish roe on top.
The portion isn’t too large,
so one bite each is easy to finish.
👉 Basque Cake $150
I didn’t find the Basque cake dessert particularly memorable.
It’s just a very typical Basque cake that you’d find in regular dessert shops. 😂
👉 Deconstructed Apple Pie $180
This dessert was my second recommended must-order item of the day.
The entire dessert resembles an apple ice cream,
with plenty of peanut powder beside it.
Though it is quite sweet overall,
it’s definitely an eye-catching specialty dessert.
Overall, each dish here looks quite nice in appearance and presentation,
but it’s unfortunate that
most portion sizes are on the small side.
It seems to lean towards a refined cuisine route,
but the flavors of the food don’t stand out or have special characteristics,
so it can only be said to be mediocre at best.
So for those looking to try some unique culinary offerings,
I feel this place might be a bit disappointing.
The food isn’t bad,
but it lacks distinctiveness. 🥹🥹🥹
⭐️ Drinks
The drink menu here is quite rich,
with a wide variety of cocktails listed.
The menu also provides detailed descriptions of each drink’s ingredients,
so for those looking for something unique,
you can refer to the cocktail combinations in the menu.
If you really don’t know what to drink,
you can also ask the staff.
They will carefully introduce each cocktail's content and flavor,
helping you find a taste and sensation you prefer.
I personally think the cocktails here are quite good.
I had two cocktails that day, and both were satisfying to the max.
They also have a genuine alcohol flavor,
not like some bistros where drinks taste like just sweet soda.
Compared to the food here,
I feel the cocktails surpass the meals quite a bit!
So if you visit,
definitely try ordering some cocktails!
⭐️ Atmosphere
The overall dining atmosphere of this place is quite excellent.
The ambiance, decor, and greenery are very well done,
making it perfect for gatherings with friends or dates.
The environment design is also fantastic,
with spacious seating arrangements,
resulting in a pleasant dining experience.
⭐️ Service
The service from the staff here was quite basic,
including taking orders and serving food, etc.
When each dish was served,
the staff would give a detailed description of the dishes and how to eat them.
However, it’s a bit unfortunate that
maybe due to the staff member being new that day,
they were wearing a mask,
so even though there were detailed introductions for each dish,
the speed of their speech was a bit fast due to nervousness,
and therefore, I didn’t hear quite clearly for each dish. 😂😂😂😂
So that was a bit unfortunate.
However, the service here is quite thoughtful,
still introducing each dish’s detailed content,
which is very much needed during dining!
⭐️ Price
As previously mentioned,
the portions for each dish here are rather small,
and since the flavors of each dish aren’t exceptional,
the prices make it feel a bit overpriced.
I think that's probably what frustrates you a bit. 🥹🥹🥹
⭐️ Overall
I think this bistro has a truly wonderful atmosphere,
from the landscape outside the entrance to the interior decor,
everything is quite high quality.
Although the location isn’t in a bustling area,
it's in a place that feels a bit like a paradise,
and the atmosphere is indeed quite lovely.
Unfortunately, though, the food aspect is lacking.
Every dish looks quite exquisite and special,
with great presentation,
but sadly,
the flavors and textures of the dishes don’t showcase their distinct character,
resulting in fewer memorable points.
Additionally, the excessively refined portions are genuinely small.
However, I think the cocktails are quite good,
with a very smooth and enjoyable flavor
that isn’t too weak.
Having two cocktails that day felt pretty good!
Personally, I feel this bistro is worth visiting if you happen to be nearby,
but because of the location,
I wouldn’t want to make a special trip to come here.
After all, there are better options in the bustling areas of the eastern district and Xinyi district!
Of course, if you are interested in the decor and appearance of this place,
you can certainly make a special visit here!
Recently, I visited a restaurant and bar in Kaohsiung that combines an escape room experience, bringing a very novel and unique experience. As soon as I entered the venue, I was enveloped by a strong escape room atmosphere; the entire decor and design details were filled with a sense of mystery and immersion. The entrance to the second-floor restaurant was especially creative, as you had to solve puzzles and complete challenges to gain entry, which was both surprising and fun!
The food was also impressive. The risotto had a perfectly textured center, exuding rich Spanish flavors, and the sauce was thick yet not greasy, with a wonderful depth of flavor. The pasta similarly performed well, with the texture of the noodles and the pairing of the sauce leaving a lasting aftertaste.
The selection of drinks was very rich, and interestingly, some items on the drink menu incorporated interactive game elements, adding fun and making the dining experience even more enjoyable and diverse.
Overall, this is a restaurant and bar with a fully immersive atmosphere. From the design to the food to the interactive details, you can feel the care put in by the owners. Whether you love escape rooms or just want to experience a fun restaurant and bar, I highly recommend coming to experience it for yourself!
The potion school is located at the intersection of Section 1 Anhe Road and Ren'ai Road, near the famous Ren'ai Road Roundabout. The style of this gastropub is clearly leaning towards British fantasy, with some people saying it’s a Harry Potter-themed restaurant. But of course, everything here is just a tribute.
Today, the four of us enjoyed a variety of dishes, totaling 5,192 Taiwanese dollars. Since we were dining as a group, there were some shared dishes and some individual servings, making it convenient to select a few items for detailed tasting and sharing our impressions.
Butterbeer (0%):
This generous beer mug makes you feel like you’re in a tavern in Ironforge from World of Warcraft, but the taste is complicated to describe — it’s quite sweet. The combination of malty flavor and creaminess greatly depends on personal preference. My wife thinks it tastes like apple cider with a milk cap, um… quite subtle.
Plum Pear:
Also very sweet, this non-alcoholic cocktail has a sweet and sour profile. However, to balance the flavor, the citrus slices on top have a slight bitterness that can neutralize the sweetness.
Golden Exploratory Potato:
Well, with a name like that... let's just discuss the taste! These sweet potato fries drizzled with syrup will be delightful for those with a sweet tooth. It's hard to tell if the syrup is maltose or something else, but the fries styled like candied sweet potatoes are quite surprising. There are also some small bits of bacon sprinkled on top to enhance the dish.
Baby Cabbage / Beer Clam Sauce / Salmon Roe:
This is an appetizer, seemingly consisting of lightly charred baby cabbage with a delicate grilled flavor. The rich cream and beer clam sauce provide a sweet and flavorful sensation. Although there aren’t many salmon roe on top, when bitten, they give off a freshness unique to fish roe, surprisingly complementing the base of baby cabbage.
XO Sauce Hokkaido Scallop Pasta:
With four tender scallops, the texture of the pasta is also just right. The combination of spices, tomatoes, and garlic adds to the deliciousness and balance of the dish.
Overall, it’s a fantastical gastropub with a British vibe. Even the washbasin in the restroom has special designs, making it feel like you’ve gone to a magic school for a meal. Although the prices are not low, it truly is a rare and valuable experience.
Highly recommended to everyone!
This is a scenic restaurant, but unfortunately, this time our seats were not placed where we could see the view. 🥲
We came here to celebrate a birthday (but there weren't many special birthday promotions; only the credit card benefits could yield a bit more return). We don't have much experience dining at bistros. The two of us ordered a set menu for 3-4 people because the guy has a big appetite. Usually, when ordering individually at restaurants, it doesn't turn out to be very economical, especially since we were quite hungry after not eating much at dinner. 😅 When we were ordering, the staff reminded us that two people might not be able to finish the meal. (I don't think anyone else comes to a bistro to eat as much as we do; other tables had several people sharing a couple of dishes and a few bottles of wine, while we ordered enough to fill the table.) To everyone's surprise, the portions turned out to be quite large. 😵💫
Passion Fruit Yogurt Salad $320
The fruit fragrance was very strong, and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. The yogurt was slightly sweet and paired very well. Besides the usual vegetables found in salads, there were plenty of fruit pieces and nuts, making it acceptable even for those who usually don't like raw vegetable salads.
ABV Signature Fried Chicken Wings $300
The skin was very crispy, and the meat was tender and juicy. Eating them solo was quite nice. The accompanying sauce was a bit sour and tasted fresh, reminiscent of authentic foreign cuisine, but it didn't align well with Taiwanese tastes, so we hardly used the dipping sauce and just enjoyed them on their own (which tasted great!).
Fried Potato Cubes with Spanish Tomato Sauce $240
These are simply fried potato cubes, very fresh and tasty, perfect to pair with beer. They were quickly devoured. The Spanish tomato sauce tasted quite different from the commonly found tomato sauce in Taiwan, so it's probably better for those who might not be used to it to order regular crispy fries.
Spanish Sausage Cold Platter $190
The seasoning was quite salty, sliced thinly. We found it surprisingly good with bread. The flavor complemented it well and balanced out the salty taste.
Portuguese Piri Piri Grilled Chicken $360
The meat was very tender, and the seasoning was just right. However, it was super hot when it was served! You have to be careful; you can't eat it immediately.
Sweet Potato Stir-Fried Shrimp $360
This was my favorite dish from this meal, far exceeding five stars. Previously we had the fried potato, but it was too dry, while this dish, with stir-fried shrimp, had a sauce that infused the potatoes with flavor, making them soft and soaked in broth, which was absolutely perfect, especially with the fresh shrimp as a garnish. Just stunning! 😍
Hungarian Red Pepper White Sauce Pasta $460
The shrimp in this dish were a bit older than those in the previous dish, slightly tough, and the flavor was not particularly memorable. The portion was standart, not like many high-end restaurants that only serve for display.
Port Wine Grilled Meat Rigatoni $420
The pasta had a unique shape I hadn’t tried before; it felt a bit like separated lasagna. The seasoning was just right, but the only downfall of the entire dish was that the grilled meat was quite dry. 🥹 Not recommended.
ABV Classic Dark Beer Cake $240
It was a slightly moist and dense brownie with very rich chocolate, moderate sweetness, and it was delicious. There was a dark beer... gel? on the side. You couldn't taste the alcohol and weren’t sure how to pair it, but it was still a very delicious dessert! Highly recommended!
This time, the two of us ordered the above dishes (in set menu style), along with two bottles of beer and a 10% service charge, totaling 3156. We were very satisfied with the dining experience and would definitely come back. But truly, I advise everyone not to be like us and order so much, as we ended up very full and couldn’t drink much wine. If you want to properly savor the food while chatting and drinking, it's more suitable to have 4-5 people ordering a few dishes along with some bottles of wine!
