栢麗廳 台中
# Taichung Palais de Chine Hotel
Previously, I had terrible experiences with breakfast and lunch at the Palais de Chine in Taichung. The buffet counter in Taipei is "luxuriously rich" and diverse; how is it that the one in Taichung is just "extraordinarily mundane"? Honestly, I usually have no strict demands when it comes to food, but the first two experiences were really... and I lost interest completely.
Later, I decided to try the "Golden Garden" Chinese restaurant at the hotel and still saw crowds waiting for the Palais de Chine; my curiosity was piqued, wondering if perhaps I just happened to hit a period of "transition," so I went for a dinner on a weekday this time, hoping this would give me a chance to see if I could change my opinion. 🙏
With a mix of anxiety; although I checked the reviews on Google beforehand, I still decided to take the plunge and experience it again, sitting down cautiously as if opening a mystery box.
I walked around the buffet; picked a few dishes to sample, eating with a sense of bitterness 😓. It's no wonder the reviews on Google were poor; how can the dishes at the Palais de Chine vary so much? Even though it's $1280 + 10% per person, and there are angel red shrimp and freshly grilled beef to hold the fort, there is definitely a lot of room for improvement in the selection of ingredients and preparation methods for the various cooked foods and cold dishes. The desserts looked sweet and delicious; however, the taste was another matter entirely. The only items I repeatedly reached for were the fresh kiwi juice and brewed green tea. 😅
In summary, I hope the operators of the Palais de Chine in Taichung can manage it with care and not ruin its reputation. Despite the same price point, there’s a star-rated hotel near Taichung Station where the buffet isn’t extensive, but at least it's curated with care. You don't know where the pain lies until you compare.
# Weekday Dinner $1280 + 10% per person