Reale Cucina Italiana

Located in Taipei, Reale Cucina Italian is the sister restaurant of the well-known Italian restaurant "Bicchierino." It received a lot of anticipation even before its opening. I visited this time with high expectations, especially since I am a huge fan of Bicchierino, particularly impressed by the chef's style and desserts. Moreover, the decor is similar to that of Bicchierino, continuing a consistent minimalist elegance. However, this dining experience turned out to be somewhat of a "high start and low finish"...

First, there is a service charge of NT$100 for water per person, which offers either sparkling water or room temperature water. Although this is not uncommon in high-priced Italian restaurants, one still hopes that the overall service and food quality will provide a matching experience.

The first dish was "Pork Lard,"
a very special appetizer that is quite rare in typical restaurants. It has a smooth texture and a rich, oily flavor, but the saltiness is extremely high. Eating it alone can be too overpowering; it's definitely best to share it, with one piece per person being just right—otherwise, it could lead to kidney problems!

Next came the "Fried Seafood."
The frying technique was indeed commendable, with a crispy exterior and tender interior. The selection of ingredients was also sincere, including swordfish, cuttlefish, and shrimp. However, the overall portion was a bit small, making it insufficient as a sharing appetizer. Although the texture and aroma were up to standard, there weren't too many surprises. 🍤

For the main dish, I chose the "Bacon and Egg Paccheri Pasta."
The sauce was extremely thick and overly salty, making my mouth feel fatigued by the end. The paccheri pasta itself had a nice elasticity and could hold the sauce well, but the overall flavor was too heavy and lacked layers, becoming monotonous over time and missing the balance one expects from pasta.

Fortunately, the final dish, "Tiramisu," was a redemption for the meal.
The on-table assembly had a visual effect, with the rich scents of coffee liqueur, almond liqueur, and orange brandy perfectly blending with the moist mascarpone cheese and soft ladyfingers, making it hard to stop at just one bite. It was the only highlight of the day that I could say, "It's worth having again!"

In summary, Reale is still quite far from Bicchierino, and perhaps I chose the wrong dishes. I originally wanted to try the "Olive Oil Ice Cream," which was truly memorable at Bicchierino, but the overall main course and appetizers didn’t meet my expectations, which deterred me from that thought. Maybe my expectations were too high, and my comparison was too strong. First-time visitors might find it quite good, but for those who are familiar with "Bicchierino," this meal inevitably feels a bit disappointing, and such a price point should offer a higher standard.