🚩 Taoyuan City Government: Italian Restaurant with Over a Thousand Reviews

Today I came to the Taoyuan City Government office for the first time, and I was conflicted about what to have for lunch. I saw this restaurant, Palermo, on Google Maps that had over a thousand reviews. While it’s common for restaurants with so many reviews to give away freebies to get them, I wasn’t sure what else to eat, so I went in. The interior decoration used multiple wood grain designs along with black ceilings and seating, but the wood colors were not very consistent, which made it look a bit chaotic. There were quite a few seats available, and although it was a weekday afternoon, almost all the tables were occupied.

A staff member guided me to a seat, and I scanned the QR code on the table to place my order. The blackboard on the wall had limited dishes and today's dessert. After ordering, I paid at the counter and could use cash or two types of mobile payments.

Today I ordered a main dish + classic set, and here are my dining impressions ⬇️
Clam Chowder: Tasty, with a rich flavor that doesn’t taste like it’s made from powder; there were plenty of ingredients.
Juice: Just juice, not bad.
They served a small cup of vinegar sauce with the main course; the staff said I could drink it before or after the meal, which was normal.
Stir-fried Italian Bacon: To judge a chef's skill, one should order the stir-fried pasta, but unfortunately, this dish was disappointing. I could only taste the oil and no aroma; it was bland, and the pasta portion was quite small, leaving me feeling empty after finishing it.
A five-star review usually comes with a mini brownie, but today it was out, and the staff offered mango mousse instead. The mango sauce was super sweet, while the mousse itself was bland, so considering the price, I wouldn’t really recommend it.

There was only one staff member handling the deliveries and table clearing, but their service attitude was quite good. Surprisingly, the dish I was most satisfied with today was the chowder… Taking into account the pricing and dining experience, I probably won’t be returning.