Overall Review: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Dixon's foodie update is here #201
#dixon.local.foodie
This time, I'll be reviewing a well-known Italian pizza bistro!
This Old Oven Italian Pizza is a small but somewhat famous restaurant in Taipei, as its name suggests, specializing in pizza.
In addition to pizza, they also offer a variety of Italian dishes, including pasta and other European cuisine.
Indeed, after dining here, I can see why it has gained popularity and is difficult to book a table. Each dish is distinctive and doesn’t quite resemble the typical flavors found in Taiwan.
Of course, whether the food is delicious is subjective, but I can say that every dish leaves a memorable impression. Apart from that, the atmosphere of this place is quite pleasant, making it suitable for both romantic dates for two or gatherings with friends!
Additionally, the owners and staff are very warm-hearted. Even if their Chinese is not very good, they enthusiastically introduce each dish to us!
Although there was a bit of a miscommunication at times, you can really feel the owner's passion for each dish and their desire to share the history behind each meal!
As a pizza bistro, they also offer various drinks on the menu, including white and red wines and cocktails. Guests can mix and match as they like! The menu is rich with different dishes, making it quite challenging to try a bit of everything in one visit! 🤣🤣
So if you’re very interested in Italian cuisine and flavors from diverse countries like pizza, I personally highly recommend coming here to give it a try!
Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖
Price: 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Location: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
⭐️Food Section
The menu here offers a wide variety of flavors, from appetizers to main courses, including pasta and various side dishes. You can find almost everything on the menu.
On the day I visited with my friends, we ordered several different categories of dishes, starting with appetizers:
👉 Blue cheese with figs and prosciutto $550
This was the first appetizer served. The flavors of blue cheese and figs intertwine very complexly, but the prosciutto brings a strong meaty flavor. Together, these three create a new taste experience! 🤣🤣
👉 Venetian milk cod mousse with crispy corn cake $450
The name itself indicates its complexity, but simply put, it’s a corn cake topped with milk cod mousse. The portion is quite small, just enough for one bite.
The mousse is predominantly milky in flavor, and when paired with the corn cake, it’s also quite complex!
👉 Slow-cooked traditional duck leg ragu with handmade flat pasta $580
When this pasta dish arrived, it looked somewhat like a standard meat sauce pasta. However, the handmade flat pasta is quite wide!
The shredded duck is quite tender and not overwhelmingly flavorful. Personally, I found this pasta just okay. 🤣🤣
👉 Special chestnut sauce with pumpkin gnocchi and fresh truffle $650
This dish surprised me with its green hue when served! The gnocchi's shape is unique, and visually, it stands out!
In terms of flavor, since the gnocchi is primarily made from pumpkin, the overall taste is quite pumpkin-flavored. Although it mentions fresh truffles, the taste is not very strong. There are many spices involved, and you might even find bits of almonds and chestnuts, giving the dish a nutty flavor. 🤣🤣
👉 Tender seared duck breast with asparagus and candy beet with roselle truffle sauce $1100
This time, we ordered duck breast as our main dish, and the menu items are quite lengthy. I think the duck breast is handled very well.
However, the downside is that for its price, the portion is a bit too small. Besides the duck breast, it comes with asparagus and beets, paired with truffle sauce. The duck itself is well-prepared and delicious, while the beets and asparagus provide a complementary texture. If you’re looking to order a main dish, I definitely recommend the duck breast.
Now moving on to pizzas:
👉 Devil Pizza $440
Since we’re already here, how could we not order pizza? The pizzas come in various flavors, and the menu details the ingredients and contents, allowing everyone to see if there’s anything specific they want to try or avoid.
On that day, we ordered only one pizza, the Devil, which primarily consists of tomato red sauce, cheese, and salami. It’s a very basic, conservative choice.
When the pizza was served, it indeed looked like what you’d expect — a red tomato base topped with some salami.
As for the flavor of this pizza, I found it very okay. Since we chose a more common flavor, I didn't find anything particularly memorable about it, just that it was tasty and easy to eat.
Moving on to desserts, we ordered tiramisu that day. However, this tiramisu is primarily focused on the alcohol flavor. Such a flavor profile can be hit or miss for people, but personally, I really enjoy this boozy version. However, I think some people may find it hard to accept this authentic Italian soft and boozy tiramisu. 🤣🤣🤣
In the food section, the two types of pasta we ordered were quite distinct from what I had previously tasted – definitely special!
Regarding the pizza, this place primarily uses a thinner crust, with fillings depending on what customers order.
I believe the pizza here is quite good; however, since we were fewer in number that day and had ordered quite a few main dishes and pastas, we only chose one flavor of pizza. In terms of flavor, I think it’s above average, but perhaps because of the choices we made, there wasn’t anything too shocking.
However, the prices for various dishes are on the higher side. I think ordering pizza seems to be a better value for the money. The prices for pasta and entrees are slightly elevated, with smaller portions. Although the flavors are special, it depends on whether everyone can accept these more authentic European flavors.
I still highly recommend it for a visit! After all, these tastes and textures may not be commonly found elsewhere!
⭐️Drinks Section
When ordering at the beginning, the staff inquires whether you would like sparkling or regular water.
Of course, sparkling water incurs an extra charge, and that day they also opened a bottle of wine for everyone to share: Etna Rosso $1950. It was a very pleasant experience!
If you’re unsure about which wine pairs best with your meal, you can also consult the staff at the time, and I believe they will recommend suitable options!
⭐️Atmosphere Section
I found the atmosphere inside the restaurant quite great. The table and chair layout is spacious, and the distance between tables is not too close.
The ambiance leans towards an elegant and tranquil dimness, making it quite suitable for dates!
From outside, you can sense a foreign exotic flair, and upon entering, the decorations contribute to a high-quality atmosphere!
⭐️Service Section
Due to the fact that the owner is mainly a foreigner, sometimes during ordering or discussing dishes, they might not use Chinese effectively, leading to some miscommunication.
Nonetheless, you can see that the owner is very passionate and eager to introduce every dish and how to enjoy it, so in this aspect, I find the service quite excellent!
⭐️Price Section
I feel that each dish's portion in relation to its price is somewhat on the high side. Although it’s truly international cuisine, I think it’s acceptable to indulge in some different flavors occasionally. Still, I suggest checking the prices on the menu before deciding what to order.
Personally, I think the best value on the menu is the pizza.
If you’re coming here with a few friends, you can order two or three pizzas to share since each pizza’s portion is quite generous, similar to the usual sizes found in other pizza places.
For main courses or appetizers, you might need to consider the portion sizes shown in pictures online to get an idea.
As for the pasta, the portions are average, not overly large. For an adult male, one serving might not be enough. You'd likely need to order an appetizer and a main course, plus a few pizzas to feel satisfied.
Thus, dining here can turn out to be quite pricey! Especially since if you're in a good mood, you might also indulge in some drinks, the overall cost at this place can be considerable!
⭐️Location Section
This restaurant is located near the nearest MRT stations, Technology Building and Da’an Forest Park. So whether you’re using public transport or not, you will need to walk a bit to reach it. There isn't much special around the area.
Therefore, in terms of location, I think it’s just fairly okay.
⭐️Overall
I feel that this Italian pizza bistro resembles a European-style small restaurant. The variety of dishes is quite unique and each dish is above average and worth trying.
Given its extensive menu, I feel that you could visit multiple times to try everything!
Thus, I personally highly recommend coming here and would definitely consider returning! However, the challenging part might be to book a table! 🤣🤣🤣
🤪 Dixon's Foodie Chat 🤪
I’m sure many girls enjoy pizza or pasta! I also believe many have dreams of visiting Europe and want to travel there.
So why not take her to this Old Oven Italian Pizza Bistro? Since we can't visit Europe lately, at least we can enjoy pizza and European cuisine here!
Plus, the lighting and atmosphere are great! I believe the girls will be very happy coming here!
Just imagine: bringing a girl here for delicious pizza and pasta—doesn’t that enhance your relationship even more?! 😍😍😍😍
Catch you next time on Dixon's Foodie Chronicles! 🤪
Summary: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Dickson's food blog update is here!
Although it's all talk 🤪, it’s definitely heartfelt.
This time I want to introduce a very well-known Italian bistro.
From the exterior entrance to the interior, it's a cozy place with a lot of character. 👍
They offer a variety of Italian dishes including pizza, pasta, desserts, and steak.
The atmosphere is of high quality and elegance.
Though the space inside isn’t large, the overall decoration is very much on point.
Unfortunately, the seating is a bit cramped, and the table spacing is not very generous.
Perhaps due to the limited seating space,
making reservations is quite difficult! 🥺
As for the food, there are plenty of delicious pizza options.
Indeed, it’s the main highlight of the restaurant!
Additionally, the appetizers and salads are above average.
As for the steak, it’s just ordinary since it’s not a steak specialty restaurant.
Moreover, this bistro offers a variety of wines to accompany the meal.
We had champagne and red wine with the delicious food,
and dining with a few friends is truly joyful! 😊
However, the public transportation to this place is not very convenient,
so if you're meeting friends, be sure to pay attention to the travel time!
Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Location: 🌕🌕🌖🌑🌑
🤪🤪 Dickson’s ramblings 🤪🤪
Want to take a girl out for some quality and delicious pizza?
This is the right choice! 👍
This little bistro's pizza is freshly made and baked in a wood-fired oven right on site!!
With their special dough, it’s absolutely fantastic! 👍👍👍
This place is great for starting your night out—
I specifically brought my girl here to enjoy some pizza and appetizers,
paired with red wine, white wine, and champagne.
It seems like a subtle hint to each other
that the night is just getting started! 😍😍
Where to go next is up to your free choice~~
But you might need to look for nearby transition spots!~~
Received a text message:
【Napoli Pizza & Fried Chicken Anniversary Celebration】 From 9/5 to 9/18, takeout large pizzas or five pieces of fried chicken are on special for only 199 NTD! You can order online and pay in advance, which is quick and convenient.
Of course, I took advantage of Napoli's anniversary discount 🥹
This time, there are online ordering options, pick-up times,
and you can choose store electronic payment—
so when you arrive at Napoli,
you can just tell them your number and get your food quickly 😆
I think the wings and drumstick tasted a bit drier,
because we didn't order spicy,
so the seasoning didn't stand out much;
I had to add the pepper provided by the shop to get more flavor 😂
Overall, I think this discount makes it worth it to eat here 🤣
But it feels a bit guilty after eating!!
I need to pair it with some salad to balance it out, haha.
#Three Gorges
Recently, I've been seriously signing my stamp card at San Shang I (a food place).
At 10 o'clock, I can exchange it for a coupon for a small pizza when I spend $150 at Napoli.
This coupon is really a great deal.
Today, I brought my child to have dinner.
I ordered a personal meal with risotto and a drink ($149).
I upgraded the drink for an extra $15.
This way, I met the threshold to get the small pizza.
I chose the Nanyang (Southeast Asian) basil pork risotto.
I expected it to be a bit spicy.
In the end, it wasn’t, and my child also enjoyed it.
The risotto grains had a nice texture, not too soft.
The portion was quite generous, so it didn’t feel empty.
Moreover, the cheese on top was quite ample.
When eating, it was very stringy, which cheese lovers would find satisfying.
For a personal meal, the portion was quite enough.
I don’t have a big appetite, and I couldn't finish one serving. 😅
My child's Bologna sausage pizza looked a bit dark when I opened it,
but it still retained its deliciousness.
It tasted very good when hot.
The edges of the Napoli pizza are considered tasty.
They are not too dry or hard, and have a bit of crispiness.
The dining environment is quite nice.
The space is large, with a restroom and good air conditioning.
The staff even proactively asked if I needed a paper cup for my drink.
They were also very kind to the children.
The only downside during the meal was that
there were continuously fruit flies flying around.
It was quite annoying.
However, this coupon is too good to pass up.
Next time I collect enough stamps, I will definitely come back. 😆
This time, we visited "BANCO Wood-fired Pizza," located near the intersection of Bade Road and Yanji Street. It's said that this restaurant's pizza has won awards in international competitions, which is quite exciting. We ordered the Golden Pineapple Sauce Smoked Ham Pizza, Scallop Spicy Garlic Fresh Pasta, and Red Wine Braised Beef Hot Plate with Focaccia.
🍕 Golden Pineapple Sauce Smoked Ham Pizza - $500
This pizza is the restaurant's proud signature dish. The crust is baked to a wonderfully crispy texture, with a hint of sweet and sour pineapple flavor. After baking, it is topped with raw ham, creating a perfect balance of salty and pineapple's sweet and sour, combined with the rich cheese flavor. It truly deserves its award-winning status—very highly recommended.
🍝 Scallop Spicy Garlic Fresh Pasta - $340
The scallops in this pasta dish are quite generous, and just the portion makes it worth recommending. The restaurant uses fresh pasta, which is not dried, giving it a springy and chewy texture compared to regular pasta. Though I personally don't have a strong preference for fresh pasta, the taste of this dish is still exceptional.
🥩 Red Wine Braised Beef Hot Plate + Focaccia - $290
The salinity of this Florentine beef tripe is just right; it can be enjoyed on its own, but when paired with the crispy roasted focaccia, the flavors reach a new level. The tripe is tender and well-cooked, while the focaccia is slightly oily but pairs beautifully with the tripe and sauce—very delicious.
🏠 Dining Environment
We chose to dine at 2 PM on a weekend, and there weren't many customers in the restaurant. However, friends who live nearby mentioned that this restaurant usually requires a wait during peak dining hours. The space isn't very large, but the atmosphere is pleasant, making it ideal for weekend gatherings.
📝 Overall Evaluation
The quality of the dishes at BANCO Wood-fired Pizza is very high, especially their pizza and Florentine beef tripe, which left a strong impression. Although the space is a bit small, the warm atmosphere makes it an excellent choice for weekend meals. If you plan to visit during peak hours, it is recommended to make a reservation in advance or avoid peak times.
📍 Taipei Ximen Station
Located about a 6-minute walk from Exit 1 of Ximen Station, this wood-fired pizza shop has limited seating, but you can also choose takeout or delivery platforms.
Meals 🥘
Wild Mushroom Spinach Pizza / NT$240:
The characteristic of the wood-fired pizza crust is that it is very thin, allowing you to enjoy the aroma of the dough. The toppings include mushrooms, spinach, and prosciutto, and the combination of the flavorful ham with the crust is delightful.
Argentine Pesto Beef Pizza / NT$260:
The toppings include beef and sweet peppers, but I feel that the flavor of the pesto overpowers the aroma of the crust, which is a bit of a pity. Additionally, the roasted beef is slightly dry, and the texture isn't very good.
Set Meal B: Signature Fried Chicken + Drink NT$180:
The fried chicken has an incredibly crispy skin, and because it uses chicken thigh meat, it is very tender. The crunchy exterior pairs well with the juicy chicken inside. I think this place is more of a fried chicken shop dressed up as a pizza restaurant.
Gusto Pizza is located in the Yongkang shopping district, just a few steps in from Exit 6 of the Dongmen MRT station. The chef, hailing from the UK, carefully crafts traditional Italian-style pizzas following traditional processes. It was once listed among Asia’s top 50 pizzas, and this is actually my third visit.
Today, I enjoyed the Danny Pizza, smoked salmon, and a light sausage, totaling approximately 1330 NTD.
Danny Pizza:
Thick on the outside and thin on the inside, it perfectly embodies the flavor of Neapolitan-style pizza. The crust is thick yet not dry or hard, filled with a chewy texture and the robust flavor of coarse flour. The spiced marinated spicy beef is full of flavor, and the juicy tomatoes provide a wonderful balance.
Smoked Salmon:
Generously laid over the crust, the large portions of salmon deliver a rich smoky aroma upon the first bite. Paired with the refined crust, the chewiness makes it irresistible.
Light Sausage:
Ordering this was actually a surprise... it’s vegetarian. However, the texture and aroma of the veggie sausage are so similar to meat sausage that it’s almost indistinguishable. The combination of garlic and red onion with cheese is also quite balanced. But I still really wanted to try the mistakenly ordered Indian spiced chicken... 🥲 It’s even more lamentable that it wasn't the restaurant's fault 🥲
Overall, being recognized as one of Asia’s top 50 pizzas is a testament to its quality. If you’re in Taipei and want to enjoy authentic Italian pizza, this place is definitely not to be missed.
Highly recommend to everyone!
🌟 A Tainan Exclusive Fried Chicken Shop Delayed by Pizza
🌟 Perfect for Group Gatherings, Unlimited Drink Refills
Introduction
"8818 Pizza House" is a well-established pizza shop in Tainan, operating for over 30 years. Conveniently located right across from the stadium, during the surge of professional baseball in Taiwan, 8818's prime location and upscale dining decor can accommodate around 250 people, often fully booked, making it hard to get a seat. Fans watching the game can be seen with a cheering stick in one hand and fried chicken in the other as a must-have combination.
The interior is decorated in an American sports style, with a spacious environment perfect for gatherings and waiting. 8818 Pizza House offers a variety of dishes from pizzas (both savory and sweet, all uniquely special), fried chicken (a must-order), to risotto and pasta, all at very reasonable prices, making it a fond memory for the locals in Tainan.
Let’s Eat
Couple's Set Meal 💰988
Caesar Salad
The vegetables are very crisp and fresh, with crunchy bread pieces, and the portion is sufficient.
Creamy Corn Soup *2
American Crispy Fries, 2 Pieces of Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is a must-order item at 8818. The restaurant uses a family recipe with exclusive marinades, giving the chicken a subtle herbal aroma, not like traditional battered fried chicken. The skin is thin and crispy, not greasy, and the meat is juicy and flavorful, really amazing; however, personally, I don’t like eating the skin and often discard half 😂
Handmade Thin Crust 11-inch Seafood Party Pizza
Mozzarella cheese, black olives, squid, fresh shrimp, octopus, onion, zesty and flavorful, with a thin crust that is easy to eat. However, the seafood scent is quite strong.
Coke/Sprite
Unlimited refills available.
Thoughts: Back in the day, mentioning pizza or fried chicken in Tainan would likely refer to 8818. However, as I grew older and more choices became available, 8818 is not as popular anymore!!
If you prioritize the food: Fried chicken is a must-order.
If you value the environment: Spacious and clean, ideal for gatherings, and air conditioning is cool.
If parking is important: Motorcycles can park at the entrance, cars can park in designated spots.
If restroom quality is important: Yes, there’s a big and clean restroom.
If queuing is a concern: The service is very quick, hardly any waiting.
If service matters: Average.
If you focus on value for money: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Simply discussing food and pricing)
📍Wanhua District, Taipei City (Ximending)
A thin-crust handmade pizza shop with special flavors! Fried chicken is also great🍕🍗
I have visited my favorite pizza shop several times🫶🏻I have always preferred this kind of street pizza shop to chain pizza. The aroma of the crust can taste like a kiln oven.
What I like very much is that its taste is very unique and cannot be found outside, and there are also limited-time items and sweet flavors!
Three or four years ago, when we ate it often, I remember there were spicy hotpot and Yilan duck sweet noodle sauce flavored pizzas, which were super delicious! It’s a pity that it’s no longer available now. I hope to have a chance to reproduce it again.
🥫
Items ordered this time
🍄 Wild Mushroom and Spinach Pizza ($240):
The crust is very thin and crisp, and the aroma of flour comes out when you eat it.
The ingredients include mushrooms, spinach, and raw ham. The cheese tastes very fragrant and goes well with it.
🇦🇷 Argentinian Pesto Beef Pizza ($260):
The ingredients include beef and bell pepper, and there is a piece of lemon on top for squeezing. The green sauce has a strong taste and will be a little greasy after eating.
🍗 Drinks + Signature Fried Chicken - Set B ($180):
Fried chicken is made from chicken drumsticks! Crispy skin, tender and juicy. Highly recommended.
In addition, the fried fish is also delicious
✏️
Small note:
🔸 The dining environment inside the restaurant is bright and comfortable, and many people come for takeout
🔸 In addition to the more expensive Ubereats, the store also has its own delivery website where you can order food. There are different free delivery standards according to different distances, and the price is the same as in the store!
🔱 Domino's Pizza (Xinhuan West Road Store) 🔱
"Domino, have you hit me? I'm hungry, daddy is hungry, I'm hungry, I'm hungry."
It’s a very popular slogan in Taiwan, I’m sure no one has heard of it…
But Domino's in mainland China is not that popular. I guess it has to do with the fact that they don't like white people's meals.
We ordered a meal for two, which included a thin crispy pizza, snacks such as chicken popcorn/egg tarts/chicken wings, and two drinks.
The food delivery speed is okay and the environment is quite clean and hygienic.
The crispy pizza tastes pretty good. I like the thin crust. It tastes like a biscuit. There are quite a lot of toppings on it. What we ordered should be his classic pizza, which has sausage, salami and cheese on it. Si, it is delicious.
The egg tart is so-so, far inferior to KFC, but there is no way, the essence of KFC is the egg tart...
The chicken wings taste okay. Maybe I am not interested in chicken wings. I would be happier if it was fried chicken legs.
In addition, there are two drinks in the package. It took too long and I forgot what I drank... Embarrassing
But overall, I think it's just average. Maybe I prefer small pizza restaurants now, and I don't have much idea about this kind of chain brand.